Maya Forest Corridor REDD+: Protecting 10,795 Hectares
TL;DR: A large-scale conservation project in Central America integrates carbon finance, biodiversity protection, and community development to protect critical forest ecosystems and indigenous territories from agricultural expansion.
- Project protects 10,795 hectares of Mesoamerican forest.
- Aims to reduce GHG emissions and enhance carbon sequestration.
- Combats poaching and wildfires through ranger patrols.
- Supports regenerative agriculture and sustainable livelihoods.
- Integrates Indigenous practices for holistic benefits.
Why it matters: This project demonstrates a multi-faceted approach to conservation that addresses climate change, biodiversity loss, and community well-being, offering a scalable model for other biodiverse regions facing similar threats.
Do this next: Research the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) standards for project validation.
Recommended for: Conservation practitioners, policymakers, and indigenous community leaders interested in integrated landscape management and climate finance.
The Maya Forest Corridor REDD+ Project, managed by WCS Belize, protects 10,795 hectares of intact forest in the Mesoamerica Biodiversity Hotspot, spanning Maya territories in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico, including the Maya Mountains. Objectives include avoiding agricultural conversion to preserve the forest's role in the larger Maya Forest Corridor, conserving forests to avoid GHG emissions, maintain carbon stocks, and enhance sequestration; protecting wildlife through patrols limiting poaching, wildfire control, and habitat monitoring; and building community resilience via improved fire management, sustainable livelihoods, and climate adaptation. Specific methods feature ranger patrols for poaching control and wildfire mitigation, monitoring wildlife occurrence and habitat use. The project estimates 10,795 hectares of reduced forest loss against a without-project scenario and increased forest cover. It supports regenerative agriculture and sustainable livelihoods to boost household income, with community impacts including increased knowledge. Privately managed lands like Rio Bravo, Gallon Jug, Yalbac, and Laguna Seca (now Belize Maya Forest) focus on avoiding planned deforestation, excluding cleared cattle ranching and fruit harvesting areas from GHG accounting. Interventions protect against sugarcane and agricultural expansion, which has deforested over 65% of the corridor at four times the national rate. Outcomes include net estimated emission reductions, wildlife dispersal across Selva Maya, and resilient communities. Practical details encompass VCS and CCB standards for verified reductions, conservation action plans under BMFT, and integration of Indigenous practices for biodiversity, carbon storage, and economic benefits, providing a replicable model for tropical forest protection and regenerative practices.