The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) is unlike any other protected area or wildlife sanctuary in Belize. The nature and functioning of the CBS is completely embedded within the seven Belize River Valley communities that comprise it and it is inextricably linked to the Creole culture and history of the region. The nature of the CBS exists because of the long-held cultural appreciation for the black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) by the people that co-inhabit the region. Villagers in the Belize River Valley have very rarely ever hunted howlers for food and rarely engaged in capturing them for pets or the pet trade. In fact, there is a deep-seated appreciation and enjoyment of the howlers and they have become part of the fabric of the rural lifestyle along the Belize River. Thus, humans and black howlers have co-existed in the Belize River Valley for generations.

Since 1985, the CBS has been working to achieve five main goals: conservation, education, research, ecotourism, and community development. Since the inception of the CBS, howler monkey populations have increased 460% to 590% and the total population of howlers in the CBS is 4,500 – 5,500 monkeys.

Since 1998, the CBS has been managed by the CBS Women's Conservation Group (CBSWCG). The CBSWCG is a non-profit organization that conserves the natural resources of the Community Baboon Sanctuary through education, eco-cultural tourism, scientific research, promotion of cottage industries for the socio-economic benefit of the communities and ecological integrity of the Belize River Valley area. The CBSWCG distribute small grants to entrepreneurs and to strengthen existing businesses in the area. These grant initiatives include training in small business management, organizational management, record keeping, accounting, and business plan development

Positive Legacy invested $10,000 to the CBS to conduct facility and school improvement along with a $5,000 grant to the CBS Women's Conservation Group for micro grant opportunities in their community. 

For more information, please visit CBS’s website: http://www.howlermonkey.org or call 501-633-1748.