The beginning...
The Ix Jaguar Project was started in 2000 by Dr. Marcella Kelly in the Maya Mountains of Belize in the Chiquibul and Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserves and marks the journey that would lead to the formation of Communities for Wildlife Conservation. Marcella was one of the few researchers in Central America at the time and the first woman to study the jaguar using camera traps. Over the years, the project grew in terms of cameras, field technicians, collaborations, experience, and study sites. Marcella, her graduate students, and field technicians would work tirelessly to make sure the project succeeded. In 2008 due to rising sociopolitical issues between Belize and Guatemala, the project was forced to leave Chiquibul due to safety concerns which included raids on field camps and destruction of camera stations. Marcella decided to start another project in northern and northwestern Belize in Fireburn and the Rio Bravo Conservation & Management Area, Gallon Jug Estates, and Laguna Seca and Yalbac Hills. The northwestern sites historically lacked any formal large scale wildlife monitoring efforts, and Ix Jaguar Project became the first. The variable land management that included sustainable timber harvesting, sustainable crop and cattle farming, and preservation made it the ideal place to study different effects on wildlife communities, especially the jaguars. Beginning in northwestern Belize opened greater opportunities to work and live with the communities surrounding the protected area, making the Ix Jaguar Project one of the few international community-based research projects in Belize. Marcella has had countless leaders, students, and technicians that made the project what it is today including Darby and David who joined the project in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Marcella noticed their passion and work ethic for wildlife research, ability to connect on a deep level with community members, and unwavering commitment to the project. As the project grew over the years long term viability of the project became pertinent, and the trio decided to create Communities for Wildlife Conservation to ensure their passions and visions for wildlife conservation within communities would continue.
