Accurate information is essential to Ya'axché’s Integrated Landscape Management approach. To ensure that this is available, Ya'axché has developed Belize’s most comprehensive, multidisciplinary strategy for research, inventory and monitoring within a terrestrial environment.

The diversity of plant and animal species within Ya’axché protected lands reaches a level seen in few other places in the world. For example, while the Golden Stream Landscape (of which the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve protects about half) represents about 0.16% of Belize’s landmass, within its borders live 40% of the known animal species in the country. But for as much as we know about this biodiversity, there is even more which we do not know. That is why Ya’axché has committed itself to a comprehensive research and monitoring program. Using an adaptive management approach (assess, design, implement, monitor, evaluate, adjust) Ya’axché staff are constantly recording and monitoring the species of southern Belize. This information is then made available to other researchers and policy makers. Our efforts seek to answer fundamental questions linked to the long-term sustainability of the local environment:

• Are we maintaining the integrity of the broad ecosystem?Are we maintaining good water and air quality?
• Are we ensuring the implementation of legislation and policies for biodiversity protection?
• Are we ensuring that there is public awareness of biodiversity value?

This system includes:

• Developing a Geographical Information System to determine trends in land-use patterns and ecosystem integrity.
• Using camera traps to determine the numbers of jaguars within the Golden Stream landscape.
• Assessments of the health of the freshwater and riparian ecosystems.
• Monthly monitoring of key species of mammal and birds at more than 13 belt transects within the Golden Stream Landscape’s forests.
• Keeping a wildlife log for important animal species seen whilst on patrol.
• Maintaining a patrol log to assess the effectiveness of ranger activities in reducing illegal incursions in protected areas.
• Vegetation surveys to determine forest resource levels.Social surveys to evaluate local attitudes, awareness and knowledge.
• Monitoring of the local economy to guide business growth and to understand impacts on local people.