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The Caye Caulker Forest Reserve, the northernmost 100 acres of the island, was declared in May of 1998 and co-management agreement signed between the Forest Department and FAMRACC (Forest and Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker) on May 14, 2001. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Trekforce, technical support from the Forest and Fisheries Departments, and financial support from Coastal Zone Management Authority/Institute, a Reserve Headquarters building was built during July and August of 2001. The building will serve as a visitor center, staff residence and research center for both the Caye Caulker Forest and Marine Reserves. Caye Caulker is grateful to the 23 Trekforce volunteers who camped at the site for six weeks and turned a tangled mess of hurricane damage into a beautiful picnic area, a great site for a picnic lunch during a snorkeling trip to the reef.

Photo by Judy lumb

Photo by James Beveridge	The littoral forest on Caye Caulker has three kinds of mangrove, red, white and black, as well as a number of other trees. Shown here is a large red mangrove with its large prop roots. Other trees include buttonwood, gumbo limbo, poisonwood, madre de cacao, ficus, and ziracote. Coconuts and causarina (Australian pines) abound even though they are not native to this area.
Mangroves grow in shallow water and accumulate decaying leaves and fish nurseries under their roots, as well as sponges, gorgonians, anemones, and other colourful sea creatures. Eventually some areas accumulate enough to rise above sea level, at least in the dry season. Between these areas are lagoons that remain year-round, as shown here. This is excellent habitat for crocodiles, turtles, fish, and waterbirds.	Photo by James Beveridge
Photo by James Beveridge	The littoral forest is home to many birds, including some birds rarely seen elsewhere, such as the white-crowned pigeon, rufus-necked rail and black catbird. Some birds remain year round, but many are transients that pass through in the Spring and/or Fall or spend the winter here. Mangrove warblers (shown here) can be seen flitting around in the mangrove all year long.
Native species in the littoral forest include five species of land crabs, hermit crabs, boa constrictors, scaly-tailed iguanas (locally called wish willies), geckos, and lizards. In addition, there some introduced mammals, such as squirrels, agoutis, raccoons, rats, and feral dogs and cats.	Photo by Judy lumb