MAYA MOUNTAIN MARINE CORRIDOR
The Natural Choice for Responsible Travel
Ridge to Reef Expeditions is supporting TIDE to conserve biodiversity and build a prosperous green economy in the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor of southern Belize.
From the lush rainforests of the Maya Mountains to the coral reefs of the Snake Cayes, the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor encompasses 830,000 acres of some of the most pristine ecosystems in the entire Mesoamerican Biodiversity hotspot.
43 distinct ecosystems provide habitat for 108 mammal species, over 350 birds, over 100 reptiles and amphibians, and more than 50 species of global conservation concern.
As the name suggests, the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor is a wildlife corridor that connects two large blocks of intact forest, the Maya Mountain Massif and the lowland forests of southern Belize.
The biological value of this remarkable area has led to the designation of 12 protected areas, which together safeguard 75% of the land and sea.
The area is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity too. Archaeological ruins at Lubantuum and Nim Li Punit stand as testament to the ancient Maya, whose descendents continue to live here today, alongside Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, East Indian, Mennonite and other peoples, each with its own culture and language, and all united by a Belizean identity.
Maya Mountain Marine Corridor
Species of global conservation concern in the MMMC.
“The views from the Maya Mountains are like a glimpse into the past, back to a different world when forests blanketed the whole of Mesoamerica.”
James Lord, Former TIDE Development Director
Critically Endangered
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Morelet’s treefrog |
Agalychnis moreletti |
|
Central American river turtle |
Dermatemys mawii |
|
Zamia prasina cycad palm |
Zamia prasina |
|
Goliath grouper |
Epinephelus itajara |
|
Hawksbill turtle |
Eretmochelys imbricate |
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Staghorn coral |
Acropora cervicornis |
|
Elkhorn coral |
Acropora palmata |
Endangered
|
Yucatan black howler monkey |
Alouatta pigra |
|
Baird’s tapir |
Tapirus bairdii |
|
Sabrina’s rain frog |
Eleutherodactylus sabrinus |
|
Yellow-headed parrot |
Amazona oratrix |
|
Least sac winged bat |
Balantiopteryx io |
|
Yaxnik / fiddlewood |
Vitex gaumeri |
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Central American spider monkey |
Ateles geoffroyi andAteles geoffroyi ssp. Yucatensis |
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Loggerhead turtle |
Caretta caretta |
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Green turtle |
Chelonia mydas |
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Nassau grouper |
Epinephelus striatus |
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Great hammerhead |
Sphyrna mokarran |
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Star coral |
Montastraea annularis |
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Star coral |
Montastraea faveolata |
Vulnerable
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Woolly opossum |
Caluromys derbianus |
|
Keel-billed motmot |
Electron carinatum |
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Limestone rain frog |
Eleutherodactylus psephosypharus |
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Van Gelder’s bat |
Bauerus dubiaquercus meyeri |
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Elegant myotis |
Myotis elegans / keasyii |
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Large-leaved mahogany |
Swietenia macrophylla |
|
Leatherback turtle |
Dermochelys coriacea |
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West Indian manatee |
Trichechus manatus manatus |
|
American crocodile |
Crocodylus acutus |
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Mutton snapper |
Lutjanus analis |
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Rainbow parrotfish |
Scarus guacamaia |
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Queen triggerfish |
Balistes vetula |
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Hogfish |
Lachnolaimus maximus |
|
Cubera snapper |
Lutjanus cyanopterus |
Near-Theatened
|
Underwood’s mastiff bat |
Eumops underwoodi |
|
Water opossum |
Chironectes minimus |
|
Cacomistle |
Bassiriscus sumichrasti |
|
Jaguar |
Panthera onca |
|
Puma |
Puma concolor |
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Great curassow |
Craz rubra |
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Common slider |
Trachemys scripta |
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Rainforest toad |
Bufo campbelli |
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Chac rain frog |
Eleutherodactylus chac |
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Maya Mountain frog |
Rana juliana |
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Black rail |
Laterallus jamaicensis |
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Black catbird |
Melanoptila glabirstris |
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Mexican giant musk turtle |
Staurotypus triporcatus |
|
Cycad, palmitta palm |
Zamia polymorpha |
Data Deficient
|
Neotropical river otter |
Lontra longicaudis |
|
Red brocket deer |
Mazama americana |
|
Spotted eagle ray |
Aetobatus narinari |
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
Welcome study abroad planners!
For almost twenty years, TIDE Tours has been providing study abroad opportunities to students from around the world. Through our Ridge to Reef Expeditions program, we can now connect students even more closely to TIDE’s conservation and community projects, providing outstanding learning experiences and cultural exchange in a hands-on environment.