Forest Sounds

Forest Sounds

The Conservation Challenge

Tropical forests are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, harbouring many thousands of species of animals and plants. But this biodiversity is threatened by human activities including logging and hunting. Estimates suggest that every year over 6 million tons of animals are hunted from tropical forests, endangering many species with extinction. Despite the scale of this threat, researchers across the world struggle to monitor hunting, an essential first step needed for effective wildlife conservation. As a result, very little is known about current hunting rates, and the impacts on animal populations.

Our Aim

Our project uses acoustic sensors to listen to biodiversity and monitor the threats facing it. Based in a tropical forest reserve in Belize, we have been recording the sounds of the forest for over 2 years. Our aim is to pick out key sounds from these recordings to understand the health of this forest system and provide information to better protect it. Key sounds needed to do this include threats, such as sounds of gunshots from hunters, and sounds from wildlife, such as birds, frogs, monkeys, and insects.

Project Site

Our project is based in the Central American country of Belize, which boasts healthy forest and rich biodiversity, including tapirs, howler monkeys, and jaguars. Our study site is a protected area called the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, a mountainous and rugged area that has barely been explored by researchers.

What's making a noise?

The thousands of animals present in tropical forests are noisier than you might expect! Some of the commonly heard noises in the forests of Belize include frogs, birds, monkeys, and poachers.

Listen Up!

We need your help to listen to these recordings and identify what is making the sound. With so many recordings, this is not possible without your help. You will be amongst the first people to listen to these sounds from the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve! The data you collect will be essential to help protect the amazing biodiversity of this forest.

Learn More

Find out more about our research and meet some of our team members in the forests of Belize here

Thank you for joining our team to help protect the forests of Belize!