Dedicate A Tree : Belize Conservation Project

Project Title:	Toledo Forest Management
Location:	Golden Stream Corridor Preserve, Belize.
Project Aims:	Helping native forest to regenerate after Hurricane

Dedicate A Tree in Belize now!

At 6,000 hectares, Golden Stream Corridor Preserve is an important area of forest in land that is fragmented by timber extraction, citrus cultivation and shrimp farming. The land is managed by a local organisation, the Ya'axche' Conservation Trust (YCT) with the help of Fauna & Flora International and by working closely with the communities surrounding the land. As well as being an important site for many species of plant and animal, this forest helps to protect the Golden Stream River and Port Honduras Marine Reserve from flooding and erosion.

Hurricane damage

In October 2001, the Preserve was dramatically hit by Hurricane Iris. It could have been an ecological disaster, as well as a short-term upheaval for the villagers whose houses were flattened. Although hurricanes are a fact of life in Central America, the ecosystem of southern Belize, unbalanced by three decades of intermittent logging, was poorly equipped to regain its natural equilibrium. The preserve's newly protected forests and watershed had just begun to show signs of recovery when the natural disaster struck. FFI and YCT helped with the immediate recovery, but also put in place projects to help the forest recover and work with the local communities. These have included a nursery, community-based woodwork shop that uses hurricane-felled trees, shade grown cacao in regenerating agricultural areas, fire prevention and conservation education.

Photography - Eduardo Schlaepfer

Forest Restoration

The tree planting at Golden Stream Corridor Preserve is using seedlings grown in the local nursery to help the natural regeneration of the site after Hurricane Iris. It does this by planting out small saplings that include species historically felled for timber such as Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Honduras Rosewood (Dalbergia stevensonii). The aim is to plant out over 10,000 trees on the reserve, as well as providing seedlings of economically important species to the local communities to grow on their land and reduce future threats to the reserve.

Your dedication

Your dedication will enable the team to plant one of these fantastic tropical species which will grow, reproduce and support a wealth of other species as it matures over decades in the forest.
The recipient of your gift will get an information pack on the project, including maps of the area, pictures of the forest and profiles of the species planted, as well as a certificate of planting from the Belize team.

Click here to dedicate a tree in Belize. By dedicating a tree as a unique gift idea, you are helping support vital conservation projects made possible by Tree2mydoor's partnership with The Global Trees Campaign named 'Tree2reforest'. You can find out more about the great work carried out by The Global Trees Campaign by clicking here www.globaltrees.org