News Room

News Room

(September 07, 2023)   -   In the context of the International Clean Air Day for blue skies, whose theme this year is "Together for Clean Air," it is crucial to recognize how climatological phenomena like El Niño can exacerbate the issue of forest fires in Mesoamerica and their effects on the 5 Great Forests.

READ THE STORY

(November 10, 2022) Study across 31 openly accessible online platforms in seven languages detected 230 posts with possible jaguar parts for sale 71 posts were accompanied by images that were positively identified as jaguar 15 different types of jaguar parts were identified, including teeth, skins and claws 98.6 percent of all posts accompanied by verified jaguar parts were in Spanish, Chinese, and Portuguese 64 posts were assessed to be linked to a location, and of at least nine countries, the most prolific c...

READ THE STORY

(May 04, 2021) Findings support global “30 by 30” goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030 Study published in the journal Marine Policy shows a no-take marine protected area (MPA) in Kenya was able to compensate for overfishing by increasing and maintaining the growth rate of fish populations by 42% over 24 years  Study compared two common fisheries management approaches - protected area closures and fishing gear restrictions Gear restrictions provided short-term bene...

READ THE STORY

(July 21, 2020) A Nassau grouper. CREDIT: A. Tewfik/WCS. BELIZE CITY , BELIZE |  JULY 31, 2020 - The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) congratulates the Government of Belize for legislating the expansion of its southernmost marine protected area. The newly expanded Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve now totals an area covering 321,623.5 acres (more than 500 square miles, or 1,301.6 square kilometers). In addition to the existing zones, the expansion includes a strictly protected area (co...

READ THE STORY

(July 07, 2020) Scientists used remote cameras to photograph unusual jaguar in both Belize and Guatemala First known documentation of a jaguar crossing between these two countries Otherwise healthy jaguar is missing part of its tail from unknown injury Finding highlights the importance of securing critical forests on at-risk private properties at the Belize-Guatemala border Download copies of the study, additional images and figures CREDIT: Marcella Kelly PETÉN , GUATEMALA  |&nbs...

READ THE STORY

(February 05, 2020) Populations of white-lipped peccaries, a “new world” pig-like species usually found throughout Central American tropical forests, are in freefall due to changes in forest cover and human disturbance Species plays a major role in seed dispersal, engineers water holes, and is a food source for large predators and human communities Peccaries have lost up to 90 percent of their range Urgent action is needed to protect Mesoamerica’s  5 Great Forests, spanning...

READ THE STORY

(January 21, 2020) Gray Angelfish. CREDIT: V. Alamina/WCS BELIZE CITY , BELIZE |  JANUARY 21, 2020 - The Senate of Belize passed a new Fisheries Resources Bill that will help make the country’s small-scale fisheries more sustainable for both marine life and people. Approved yesterday by majority of the Senate, the new and comprehensive Bill replaces previous legislation in place for almost seven decades and aims to modernize and transform Belize’s small-scale fishing industry....

READ THE STORY

(January 21, 2020) ©V. ALAMINA/WCS JANUARY 21, 2020 - The Senate of Belize passed a new Fisheries Resources Bill that will help make the country’s small-scale fisheries more sustainable for both marine life and people. It replaces previous legislation in place for almost seven decades and aims to modernize and transform Belize’s small-scale fishing industry. The new legislation will ensure the sustainable use and management of the fishery resources and the conservation for the c...

READ THE STORY

(October 08, 2019) A queen conch in Glover's Reef, Belize. CREDIT: Alexander Tewfik/WCS. NEW YORK , NY |  OCTOBER 08, 2019 - A recent study by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), the University of Miami, and Universidad de Puerto Rico has detected a decrease in the average size of adult queen conch (Lobatus gigas) in the waters of Belize, possibly the result of fishers using shell length rather than thickness as a reliable indicator of age. The study represents the first research to ...

READ THE STORY

(September 22, 2019) NGOs, National Governments, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Join Forces to Protect Central America’s Largest Forests to Benefit All Life on Earth Mesoamerica's 5 Great Forests Initiative Photos and Video: Click HERE Mesoamerica’s five forests are home to more than 7.5 percent of the planet’s biodiversity, including the iconic jaguar (photo by Jayro Bardales) NEW YORK , NY |  SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 - Local and international NGOs—...

READ THE STORY