PROFILE OF YA’AXCHÉ CONSERVATION TRUST

November 2009

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Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION TO YA’AXCHÉ ..................................................................... 3

1.1 YA‟AXCHÉ VISION .............................................................................................. 3

1.2 YA‟AXCHÉ MISSION ............................................................................................ 3

1.3 YA‟AXCHÉ ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES ............................................................. 3

1.4 YA‟AXCHÉ AREA OF GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS ................................................... 3

1.5 PROGRAMME AREAS AND STRATEGIES: 2009-2011 ......................................... 5

2.0 GOVERNANCE AND STAFFING STRUCTURE…………………………. 6

2.1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ...................................................................................... 7

2.2 MANAGEMENT TEAM ......................................................................................... 7

2.3 COMMUNITY INTEREST GROUPS ....................................................................... 7

2.4 YA‟AXCHÉ ORGANOGRAM ................................................................................ 8

3.0 A BRIEF HISTORY OF YA’AXCHÉ .................................................................. 9

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1.0 Introduction to Ya’axché

1.1 Ya’axché Vision

The Ya‟axché Conservation Trust is a leader in the promotion of economically viable

and ecologically sound development in southern Belize.

1.2 Ya’axché Mission

The Ya‟axché Conservation Trust is a community-oriented organization which advances

integrated landscape management for equitable development in southern Belize through

sustainable land use management, strategic advocacy and awareness, and by supporting

socially innovative and economically viable enterprise.

1.3 Ya’axché Organizational Values

Ya‟axché…

has passion, dedication and commitment to its vision

has respect for ethnic and cultural diversity

is autonomous and objective

is gender inclusive

strives for „openness‟ and transparency

values participation and collaboration

values holistic approaches

values being a proactive advocate

values professionalism

1.4 Ya’axché Area of Geographical Focus

Ya'axché strives for the social, ecological and economic sustainability of the Maya Golden Landscape (MGL) and its surrounding communities, an area that covers

approximately 302,259 acres. Ya‟axché owns and manages the Golden Stream Corridor

Preserve (GSCP), a 15,000 acre private protected area of rich forest along a natural

corridor connecting the Maya Mountains with the Mesoamerican barrier reef

ecosystem. Together with the Belize Forest Department, Ya‟axché co-manages the

Belize Nature Reserve, 105,000 acres of pristine natural forest, considered to be one of

the most biodiversity-rich and topographically unique areas within the Mesoamerican

“biodiversity hotspot”. Ya'axché plays a pivotal role in the effective management of

Colombia River Forest Reserve, TIDE Private lands and Port Honduras Marine Reserve,

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promotes the adoption of „best practices‟ to local communities and private landowners,

and implements a landscape level sustainable development strategy. Ya‟axché has grown

to become recognized as one of the leading conservation NGOs in Belize, and the first

to implement an integrated landscape level sustainable development strategy.

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1.5 Program Areas and Strategies: 2009-2011

Ya‟axché‟s four program areas (also called Key Result Areas) to advance Ya‟axché‟s

vision and mission are:

1.5.1 Sustainable Land Use Management (SLM)

This is the priority and core programme area of focus within

Ya‟axché in that it covers strategic

activities that relate directly to

promoting integrated landscape

management in the wider contiguous

landscape that includes the GSCP.

The activities covered relate to protection of the ecological integrity

of the landscape and efficient use of

resources in it, protected areas

management, biodiversity research,

field management operations, and the

development of community plans.

The impact desired by Ya‟axché is the

sustainable use of the Maya Golden Landscape.

1.5.2 Community Outreach and Livelihoods (COL)

This program reflects the distinct community nature of

micro-enterprise development,

focusing attention on

„enhancing livelihoods‟ as the

main goal of community

enterprise activities.

The activities covered in this

area include eco-friendly micro-

enterprise development within

communities, building local

capacity for micro-enterprise

development, environmental

education, supporting the

implementation of community

plans, and supporting community links with the SLM and ADV programmes.

The impact desired by Ya‟axché is the expansion of opportunities for members of poor communities for eco-friendly income generating activities.

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1.5.3 Advocacy (ADV)

Ya‟axché continues to see advocacy at both the local and the national levels as an

essential strategic programme area.

The advocacy programme will focus on activities that influence the development, improvement, monitoring and enforcement of environmental policies as well as

those that improve the national governance and decision-making structures that

impact the environment and protected areas. Where possible, advocacy activities

will be done in concert with other like minded organizations at the local and

national levels.

The impact desired by Ya‟axché includes the improvement, development and

enforcement of national policies that support the advancement of its mission.

1.5.4 Institutional Governance and Management (IGM)

This is in essence the governance and operational support structure for the

development and implementation of the other programme areas.

It covers activities that relate to organizational governance, strategic plan and policy development and oversight, human resource management and development,

internal systems and procedures, networking, communications, financial

accountability and financial sustainability.

In regards to financial sustainability, Ya‟axché will establish an independent „for

profit‟ company to take over existing enterprise activities, develop other income

generating activities, and support the operation of programme activities.

The expected impact is an organization that operates effectively, efficiently, transparently, and with accountability.

2.0 Governance and Staffing Structure

Ya‟axché is a Membership NGO, but not a mass membership organization, with three

kinds of members:

Board Members: There will be 7-9 board members who are selected and appointed by existing BoD members.

Community Members: These are residents of Ya‟axché communities who are

automatically made members of Ya‟axché on their application. Community

members can participate in Ya‟axché through community representation on the

BoD, through programme sub-committees, and on special community-based

thematic or interest groups related to Ya‟axché.

Special Members: These are non-residents of Ya‟axché communities who have an interest in the organization or are identified by the BoD as potential members.

The BoD decides on their membership based on application or invitation. Special

members can serve on Ya‟axché‟s programme sub-committees.

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Community and Special members receive regular information on the organization such

as newsletters, and are invited to the annual stakeholders meetings and to Ya‟axché

forums.

2.1 Board of Directors

There will be between seven to nine (7-9) board members who are selected and

appointed by existing Board of Directors members.

2.2 Management Team

A Management Team is to be established by the Executive Director to support

management decision-making and planning at the staff level. The membership of the

Management Team will be selected from senior management.

2.3 Community Interest Groups

While community interest groups will not form an official part of the Ya‟axché

governance structure, they are envisioned to play a key partnership and supporting

role in the implementation of Ya‟axché‟s programmes.

Community interest groups can be existing or new groups organized around

specific issues that are of relevance to Ya‟axché. Examples may include: cacao

farmers, women groups, tilapia farmers etc. etc...

Community interest groups will be encouraged to share priorities and ideas to

Ya‟axché through community representatives on the BoD, through participation

on sub-committees and through Ya‟axché field staff.

Community interest groups will be invited to participate in annual stakeholders meetings

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BOARD

Executive Director (IGM)

COMMITTEES

SLM-PM COL-PM ADV-PM

SLM STAFF COL STAFF ADV

STAFF

MP

& all

IGM STAFF

SPECIAL

MEMBERS

COMMUNITIES

AND CIGS FOR

PROFIT

ENTITY

2.4 Ya’axché Organogram

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3.0 A Brief History of Ya’axché

In 1997, a consortium of individuals including an environmentalist, a local leader of the Toledo

Maya Cultural Council, an ecotourism entrepreneur, and three additional Maya community

leaders formed the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve NGO (GSCP-NGO). These persons

made up the first Board of Directors of the GSCP NGO which would later become the

Ya‟axché Conservation Trust.

In March 1998, GSCP NGO was registered as a non-profit organization under the Companies

Act, Chapter 206 of the Laws of Belize. In November 1998, the organization received its first

one-year grant of $60,000 US from IUCN for institutional strengthening, hiring of staff, and

demarcation of boundary lines and procurement of basic equipment. In the same year, GSCP

NGO signed a 12-year institutional Memorandum of Understanding with Fauna & Flora

International (FFI), the world‟s oldest conservation organization based out of Cambridge, UK.

As a result FFI‟s Executive Director was appointed to the Board of GSCP with the then

Americas Regional Director as his alternate. In late 2002, FFI hired its first Belize Country

Manager to further strengthen Ya‟axché institutional capacity and uplift FFI‟s profile nationally.

The name GSCP NGO was legally changed in 2002 to Ya‟axché Conservation Trust, in an effort

to achieve greater resonance with the local Mayan community, and so as not to bind the

growing organization to working solely within the GSCP private protected area. Ya‟axché is the

Maya Mopan name for Ceiba petandra a sacred tree of Maya, which linked ixbalba (the

underworld) to the heavens, and thus has symbolic importance to the Mayan communities.

After Hurricane Iris hit Toledo in October 2001, the huge Ceiba trees were the only trees left

standing, thanks to their deep roots and strong trunks, making them highly visible landmarks in

Southern Belize, and a powerful namesake for the organization.

The first 9,554 acre (3,386 ha) parcel of the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve was purchased

thanks to support from FFI‟s Arcadia fund. The second „Flick‟ parcel, bought in March 2004 and

funded by Grassvalley Trust through FFI‟s networking efforts, increased GSCP‟s area by 5,416

acres (2192 ha), to a grand total of 14,970 acres (6,058 ha). Meanwhile, while the GSCP

expanded in size, Ya‟axché was also growing as an institution due to a committed Board of

Directors, to a small but dedicated staff, and to increasing fundraising successes. Funding support

came from both resident and non-resident international cooperation agencies, and also from

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local sources. In particular, the partnership with FFI gave Ya‟axché critical financial and technical

support in its formative years.

In response to its growing remit and programmatic engagements, Ya‟axché began

complementary efforts to improve its institutional management capacity. Such measures

included registering of Ya‟axché under the NGO Act in March 2005, initiating a management

plan for the GSCP, development of a policy and administrative manual, improvement of internal

accounting systems, expansion of the board, and development of the strategic plans.

Current objectives of Ya'axché are: 1) to undertake and direct management of the Golden

Stream Corridor Preserve, 2) to work for the development of the local communities, and 3) to

advocate for relevant national policies on environmental and sustainable development issues as

well as those affecting local community development. Ya‟axché‟s programmatic remit and

impact now extend far beyond its initial geographical focus, to encompass the Maya Golden

Landscape, the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor, and Belize overall.

As it begins implementation of its 2009-2011 Strategic Plan, Ya‟axché has twenty staff members

and a Board of seven. Collectively, these represent an eclectic pool of enthusiastic, skilled

individuals, who are working together to meet and advance the institutional objectives of the

Ya‟axché Conservation Trust.

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Ya‟axché Conservation Trust

P.O Box 177

# 2 Alejandro Vernon Street

Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District

Belize, Central America

Phone: (+501) 722-0055

Fax: (+501) 722-0108

Phone/fax: (+501) 722-0108

Website: www.yct.bz

Email: yaaxche.info@gmail.com