**CLOSED** Request for Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services to Carry out the initial baseline of factors of environmental monitoring (carbon sequestration, biodiversity connectivity index, etc.) under the “Restoring Degraded Lands within Key Areas of the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve and Surrounding Buffer Zones” Project

Background:

Belize has identified areas of degradation and deforestation through the implementation of a Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (IUCN 2020). This has helped in prioritizing 130,000 ha of the landscape for restoration actions and was further solidified through strategic objectives and actions within a National Landscape Restoration Strategy (2022-2030).

Stemming from that strategy, the current project will focus on the restoration of degraded lands within key areas of the Maya Golden Landscape (MGL) in the Toledo District in Southern Belize. The improvement of land management within the MGL will be implemented through a forest landscape restoration approach, ensuring that not only will lands be restored to increase productivity for many farmers, but also that the ecosystem functionality is improved and increases biodiversity and connectivity for wildlife.

In southern Belize, the livelihoods of many indigenous communities are highly intertwined and dependent on the use of these natural resources; however, the unsustainable farming practices utilized such as the ‘slash and burn’ method (swidden farming), are not the most adequate for long term soil viability and usage. Considering that major challenge, the project will seek to build the capacity of 60 farmers (including women, men, and youths) from three (3) Indigenous communities on the propagation of key tree species that will be utilized to restore degraded lands. Two capacity building training courses will be given, focusing on soil care, restoration techniques, and proper seed trials and propagation. Additionally, traditional knowledge from community members and farmers will be combined with applied practices of restoration, to determine a habitat-specific list of tree species most appropriate for the restoration of the Maya Golden Landscape.

Community members will be able to understand the importance of these valuable local tree species and learn how to propagate them within their farms to develop an integrated farming system to ensure food security for their families. The restoration through transplants of key tree species on 500 ha of degraded lands within the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve, Green Creek, and Aguacate Community Conserved area, will be facilitated by the Ya’axché Conservation Trust. A total of 26,250 fruit and timber saplings will be utilized to restore these degraded lands. To fast pace the productivity of these saplings, 6 youths (including women) will be assisting Ya’axché’s nursery keeper in producing the saplings needed for restoration of these lands.

To showcase the restoration efforts made in these key areas of the Maya Golden Landscape, the Ya’axché Conservation Trust and the Belize Forest Department will collaborate on a joint educational
and advocacy campaign, through media shows and community outreach, to highlight the measures taken in restoring degraded lands and bolstering community-based agroforestry and landscape management.