Protecting Our Wildlife Corridor and Natural Resources
The Silk Grass Nature Reserve is a Belize nonprofit organization dedicated to the permanent preservation and responsible management of a 24,500-acre first-growth rainforest adjacent to Silk Grass Farms in Stann Creek, Belize. The Silk Grass Nature Reserve bridges the expanse between the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve to the south, the Mayflower Bocawina National Park to the north, and the Sittee Forest Preserve to the west. The mission of the Reserve is to conserve the rainforest ecosystem in perpetuity and protect the land from destructive human activities.
The Silk Grass Nature Reserve sits at the northeastern edge of the Chiquibul Maya Mountain Massif, a 1,260,800-acre area in southwestern Belize. The Chiquibul Maya Mountain Massif is among the most intact tropical forests north of the Amazon, and accounts for 22.2% of the land mass of Belize. The defining characteristics of this area are its (1) contiguous forest, (2) species richness and habitat diversity, (3) archaeological history, (4) environmental services, and (5) aesthetic landscape.
Formerly known as the Silk Grass Wildlife Preserve, the nonprofit changed its name to the Silk Grass Nature Reserve in 2026. This name change goes deeper than the words. It reflects our team’s multigenerational goals and our broader focus on the plants and animals within our boundaries. Being designated a Nature Reserve also aligns our conservation work with the standards set by the Belizean government and international groups.
The Silk Grass Farms Nature Reserve is led by Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Canton. Learn more about his vision for the development of research at the Reserve in this interview.
The Silk Grass Nature Reserve plays an important role in Belize’s tropical rainforest biome, one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. With more than 1,000 tree species drawing carbon gases down from the atmosphere, the Reserve serves as a giant reservoir for carbon. It is also home to a number of threatened and endangered species, including Belizean rosewood trees, red-eyed tree frogs, jaguars, white-lipped peccaries, tapirs, and more.
Interdependence + Stewardship
In 2020, we endowed the Reserve with shares of Silk Grass Farms & Enterprises, making the Reserve a key stakeholder in the performance of the farm and business and protecting the Reserve in perpetuity. We believe this innovative partnership between natural lands and sustainable business serves as a model of interdependence and caring stewardship.
Conservation + Protection
The Silk Grass Nature Reserve's activities include research, education, training, and leadership programs in wildlife conservation. Regular ranger patrols, boundary demarcation, signage, digital security, and community education and engagement protect the Reserve from illegal hunting, poaching, fishing, logging, land clearing, road building, gathering of protected non-timber forest products (seeds, leaves, flowers, fruits, barks, pulps, roots, and oils), and removal of cultural artifacts.