The habitat
In southern Belize, the Maya Golden Landscape (MGL) is a mosaic of globally important protected areas, private, state and community lands. MGL is the home to over 337 species of birds, 20 of fish, 93 of mammals and 92 reptiles, including several endangered species: 2 plant, 2 bird and 3 mammal.
It also provides invaluable environmental goods and services to the predominantly indigenous Maya population (who make up 69% of the district’s population), who face high poverty (46% of the district’s population are below the poverty line) and rely on the region’s natural resources for their livelihoods.
Rosewood Landing forms a part of this majestic landscape, which is the primary southern biological corridor for Belize and the only remaining broadleaf forest link between the Maya Mountains (the Selva Maya) and the forested coastal plains of southern Belize. Rosewood Landing is one of the most biodiversity-rich and geographically unique areas within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and forms a significant portion of the Key Biodiversity Area of the Maya Mountain Massif. The land comprises dwarf mangrove areas, riparian forest and lowland broadleaf forest.
This parcel of land is adjacent to the Golden Stream River, which empties into the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and the Belize Barrier Reef System. Rosewood Landing provides water security for commercial and subsistence agriculture for the ten indigenous communities downstream.

Some of the threatened species in this habitat include:
- Critically Endangered Hickatee turtle (Dermatemys mawii)
- Endangered Yucatán black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra)
- Endangered Central American spider monkey (Ateles gelffroyi)
- Endangered Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii).
- Endangered Yellow-headed parrot (Amazona oratrix)
- Vulnerable lowland and highland White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari)
Local Partner NGOs
Status of registration of the group at the national level
Ya’axché Conservation Trust is a nonprofit nongovernmental organization in Belize; Fauna & Flora International is a UK registered charity.
Governance and management structure of the group
Since its founding in 1997, Ya’axché Conservation Trust has worked towards harmony between nature and human development for the benefit of both. Ya’axché has a staff of 31, and the Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors. With an average annual budget of $2.5 million BZD, Ya’axché focuses on biodiversity conservation and sustainable local and indigenous livelihoods through responsible land- and natural-resource use in the Maya Golden Landscape, a 770,000-acre mosaic of globally important protected areas, private, state and community lands.
