Jan 25, 2021
Was There a Land Grab in Mountain Pine Ridge under the Previous Administration?
The Caracol Road Project was always a divisive issue in the House of Representatives. The road is being done in phases – and the current administration has shared that they do not support the entire project. In the first week of January, Minister of Infrastructure Julius Espat told the press that he supports the first two phases, but the third portion from Blancaneaux Lodge to Caracol Archaeological Site hasn’t been awarded, and he would like to see the monies be used for something else. It’s left to be seen if that will happen, but one of the other government ministers who had always criticized the project is Orlando Habet, Cayo North East area representative. Habet says that he believes the project was pushed by the previous administration because of certain interests in the area. On our trip to the Chiquibul over the weekend, News Five has learned that hundreds of a
Jan 25, 2021
New Threats on the Horizon for Chiquibul!
Over the years, we’ve reported on the transboundary threats to the Chiquibul Forest – the illicit activities that were carried out exclusively by Guatemalans. Those activities include illegal logging, cattle ranching, and poaching – and over the years, Friends for Conservation and Development have employed a number of strategies to address these incursions. Now, they are gearing up to prepare for new threats on the horizon – this time, these threats are not cross-border – these threats are internal and very local in nature. News Five joined the F.C.D. and government officials for a two-day trip to the Chiquibul to learn more about why this protected area could be facing new threats and what government can do to help. Here’s the report.
Dec 11, 2020
BNCF awards $80K in grant funding!
The Belize Nature Conservation Foundation has awarded two more grants in its 2020 projects cycle. Two NGOs that co-manage sites in the Belize National Protected Areas System were awarded funds to strengthen the management of their sites. A brief virtual ceremony was held on Thursday to acknowledge the handing over to the awardees. News Five joined the online session to find out more about how the funds will help to advance conservation work in Belize. Here’s the story:
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The Belize Nature Conservation Foundation awarded eighty thousand dollars in grant funds to two registered terrestrial management organizations. The monies are to be used for the management of protected areas in Belize. Chairperson of the BNCF Amanda Burgos Acosta presented the grants in a virtual ceremony on Thursday: