Protected Areas Management

Ya’axché employs an integrated landscape management approach which results in healthy ecosystems with high levels of biodiversity for protected areas under its care. Biodiversity monitoring has indicated that the populations of indicator species have remained comparable over the years. Because of the linkages between ecosystem health and human well-being, Ya’axché-through its conservation and sustainable development work positively impacts the lives of the people buffering the GSCP, securing watershed that provides important services and other forestry goods/services such as food, housing, medicinal plants, clean air, inter alia. 

Ya’axche’s Science Program is founded on robust science across protected areas and agricultural and community lands for effective management of the MGL. Long-term monitoring is conducted for birds, mammals, and vegetation. Acoustic bat surveys, camera traps surveys for wildlife, and freshwater invertebrate monitoring are conducted and indicating that the MGL is extremely rich in wildlife, providing protection for hundreds of species of birds (including the harpy eagle), 93 mammals, including five species of cats, and 81 reptile and amphibian species. 

The results of monitoring efforts should always be shared with community members to foster support for the conservation of forest and water ecosystems. This can be done via the education and outreach arm of the organization.