Since 1998, the Ya’axché Conservation Trust (Ya’axché) has grown from a small group of concerned individuals to a fully established organization. Our growth represents not only a maturing on the part of the organization but also in the effectiveness of the work that we do. We at Ya’axché are fully cognizant of the challenges and opportunities that we face even while we pursue our mission.
 
At Ya’axché we pursue the idea of sustainable development in a practical and responsible way. We wish to maintain the ecological integrity of the region where we work. At the same time we give equal attention to the relationship that the local people have with the environment. Not only must we protect vital ecosystems, we must make it a way of life, not just for environmentalists but for all citizens who benefit from the natural environment. On the other hand we must increase our efficiency in our exploitation of the bounty of the natural resources to improve our material well-being.
 
As the economy and the population of Belize grow, there will be greater demands on the services of our natural resources. There must be greater recognition among the population about the importance of protecting the services stream that we enjoy so freely. While some may say that only after economic prosperity can people care more about the environment we must resolve within ourselves that we have the full capacity to act in our self-interest and that of nature now. Our quality of life, no matter how materially prosperous we become, is inevitably affected by the quality of our environment.
 
We hope to continue participating as a stakeholder and an advocate for the proper management of our resources in Toledo. This website is meant to clarify our role for us and for others to understand who we are and why we do what we do. We welcome your feedback and even hope that you may join us in the pursuit of our mission.