Protecting Our Wildlife Corridor
The Silk Grass Wildlife Preserve (SGWP) is a Belize non-profit organization dedicated to the permanent preservation and responsible management of a 24,700-acre first-growth rainforest adjacent to Silk Grass Farm in Stann Creek, Belize. SGWP bridges the expanse between the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve to the south, the Mayflower Bocawina National Park to the north, and the Sittee River Forest Preserve to the west. The mission of SGWP is to conserve the rainforest ecosystem in perpetuity and protect the land from destructive human activities.
SGWP sits at the northeastern edge of the Chiquibul Maya Mountain Massif, a 1,260,800-acre area in southwestern Belize. The Chiquibul Maya Mountain Massif is among the most intact tropical forests north of the Amazon, and accounts for 22.2% of the land mass of Belize. The defining characteristics of this area are its (1) contiguous forest, (2) species richness and habitat diversity, (3) archaeological history, (4) environmental services, and (5) aesthetic landscape.
SGWP plays an important role in Belize’s tropical rainforest biome, one of the most biodiverse ecologies in the world. With more than 1,000 tree species drawing carbon gasses down from the atmosphere, SGWP serves as a giant reservoir for carbon. It is also home to a number of threatened and endangered species, including Belizean rosewood trees, red-eyed tree frogs, jaguars, white-lipped peccaries, tapirs, and more.
Interdependence + Stewardship
In 2020 we endowed Silk Grass Wildlife Preserve — the 24,700-acre rainforest adjacent to Silk Grass Farm — with shares of Silk Grass Farms & Enterprises, making the Preserve a key stakeholder in the performance of the farm and business and protecting the Preserve in perpetuity. We believe this innovative partnership between natural lands and sustainable business serves as a model of interdependence and caring stewardship. Read our Silk Grass Wildlife Preserve Statement of Purpose.
Conservation + Protection
SGWP is protected from illegal hunting, poaching, fishing, logging, land clearing, road building, gathering of protected non-timber forest products (seeds, leaves, flowers, fruits, barks, pulps, roots, and oils), and removal of cultural artifacts. This is accomplished through regular ranger patrols, boundary demarcation, signage, digital security, and community education and engagement.
The SGWP operating budget includes 100% of the profits from Silk Grass Farms. The activities of SGWP will eventually extend to include research, education, training, and leadership programs in wildlife conservation.