Yax Balam Biological Corridor
Project Developer
- Green Balam Forests
Size
- Small
- ($750,000)
Maturity stage
- Requires incubation
Country
- Guatemala
Financing mechanism
Contact
Jasmine Ward
Link
Environmental benefits
Creating a carbon corridor to biodiversity through:
Forest landscape restoration
Contributing to the Bonn Challenge and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (Guatemala committed 1.2 million ha)
Ecological connectivity
Linking 4 Protected Areas and the largest lake in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (Tikal-El Zotz-BioItza-Cerro Cahui-Lake Peten Itza)
Ecosystem services
Strengthening regulation, particularly through protection and restoration of crucial watershed areas. Increasing provision through agroforestry restoration
Biodiversity
Expanding endangered species habitat and protection (ex. Jaguar, Tapir, White Lipped Peccary, Yucatan Black Howler Monkey). Increasing prevalence of diverse native tree species and seed sources (ex. Ramon, Mahogany, Cedar, Ceiba, Logwood, Sapodilla, Copal)
Carbon capture
Sequestering and locking down carbon at landscape scale through reforestation, monitoring and credit certification
Community benefits
Building a participatory restoration alliance through:
Strategic local partnerships
Securing long term agreements with farmers, communities and landowners for Green Balam consultancy, co-management, or self-managed participation in the corridor initiatives
Knowledge sharing
Facilitating an interactive network for technical assistance and economic strategy support to promote informed adoption of restorative land management
Food security
Diversifying availability of organic, local products from agroforestry restoration
Education
Partnering with student research institutes and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for biodiversity surveying. Developing environmental education programs and demonstration plots with partners (Regenera Consulting; Organizacion Ecologica Sol y Verde)
Wellbeing
Increasing opportunities for forest recreation and spiritual connection with nature through eco-tourism options
Socio-economic community development
Large-scale employment of local Forest Guardians (rangers). Establishment of community managed tree nurseries and “added value” processing centres for timber and NTFPs
Business model
We are currently the owners and managers of Tulan Reserve (430 ha forest conservation site within the corridor landscape), Xibalba Reserve (55 ha ex-cattle pasture reforestation and agroforestry demonstration site), and a tree nursery. We are consulting on several other properties. Our business model is based on the following elements:
- Assuring resilience through diversity and connectivity.
- Land acquisition in areas of key biodiversity value that have significant threat of deforestation. Partnering and providing consultancies for local landowners within the corridor area.
- Designing mosaic management approaches for conservation and restoration that provides a portfolio of options for the land owner and investor. Demonstrating management practices at our two model forest sites to inspire informed adoption.
- Aligning ecological restoration design with diversified income streams, for immediate (incentive programs, carbon credits), continuous (eco-tourism, agroforestry products and NTFP sales, tree nursery sales), and long term (biodiversity credits, certified sustainable timber harvesting) returns.
- Partnering with organisations to develop supply chains, secure carbon certification, and connect the eco-tourism network. For example: ramon nut exportation, or Open Forest Protocol carbon etc.