Securing and protecting tenure rights of the Maya People of southern Belize

Project Overview

Belize is roughly two-thirds forested, out of which almost 45 percent is primary growth forest – pristine and especially biodiverse. The country’s forests are a vital component of Belize’s national economy; however, nobody depends on the forests more than the Indigenous Maya People who call it home.  

Toledo, the southern district of Belize, is home to the Q’eqchi’ and Mopan Maya People, who make up more than half of the local population. Large tracts of forest lands here include the Sarstoon-Temash National Park and the undisturbed tropical rainforest of the Columbia River Forest Reserve, safeguarded by the country’s National Protected Areas System. 

Much of Toledo’s Indigenous population spent years in exile escaping colonial oppression. The return to their homelands has been characterised by insecure land tenure and a long history of extractive exploitation including logging, oil prospecting, unsustainable development and private land sales.   

In recent years, the Maya People of southern Belize have gained significant successes in their struggle to strengthen their land rights. They have had legal victories against oil exploration within customary Maya territories, and a ground-breaking case against the Belizean government, launched in 2007, demanding better recognition and protection of land rights. This case went all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which in 2015 recognised traditional Mayan land rights as equal to Western property ownership. The following year, the government established a commission to facilitate implementation of the ruling. 

This project builds on these events, facilitating the implementation of the 2015 CCJ Court Order by the Government of Belize and the representatives of the Maya People in southern Belize. Its main objective is to draft legislation that formally recognizes 41 Maya communities, guided by delimitation processes defined by each community. In addition, the project seeks to strengthen Maya communities’ customary governance systems. This project therefore aims to secure, guarantee, and enhance land tenure and associated rights for the Q’eqchi’ and Mopan of southern Belize in accordance with the CCJ Consent Order.   

To achieve this goal the project will focus on:

1. Demarcating and titling the estimated 1 million acres of Maya lands and forests collectively owned by 41 communities in southern Belize. 

1. Helping develop legislation to guarantee Maya property and associated rights, including registration of communal titles. 

1. Building the capacity of rights-holders (Maya People) and responsible parties to ensure the proper implementation of these objectives, as well as working with communities to build effective and sustainable institutions to manage community properties in the future. 

The project will directly benefit the 41 indigenous Maya communities in southern Belize, comprising approximately 21,000 people. The project will also produce indirect benefits for the Toledo district.