Chiquibul Partnership

In November 2007, Trekforce Worldwide (TFW) and Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the long term conservation of the Chiquibul National Park.

This agreement means that  FCD and Trekforce have committed to a long term partnership to protect and enhance the natural environment of the Chiquibul National Park in Belize.

Both organisations play distinctive roles, whilst working towards the common goal of conservation:

• FCD are a non profit, non governmental organisation in charge of the management plan for the Chiquibul National Park
• TFW are a uk-based charitable company who complete conservation projects with a volunteer workforce on behalf of project partners

The partnership will create a unified approach to conservation in Belize's largest national park, with FCD identifying vital projects, key to their management plan, and Trekforce providing the manpower and expertise to see the projects through to completion.

Trekforce's Belize Country Manager, Greg Coe says,
"I'm very excited about the signing of this monumental agreement  It's another small step in the protection of the ecology and biological diversity in Belize. Trekforce will be able to commit its volunteers to projects in Belize vital to the long term needs of one of the most ecologically at-risk areas in Central America."

FCD's overarching objective is to maintain an intact, healthy and productive Chiquibul ecosystem. The objectives and vision of FCD is intricately linked to the ethos of Trekforce:

"A passion for adventure with a real purpose and ensuring that each expedition is driven by a desire to make a difference to the countries and communities we work alongside"

The plan for the Chiquibul National Park is much more than solely preserving the environment, but also working to manage proper use of the resources available to create a sustainable income for the benefit of local communities.

As such, FCD and Trekforce are very optimisitc that this partnership will create a positive impact for the conservation of the Chiquibul-Maya Mountain area for years to come, in the careful planning and execution of valuable projects.

Read more about the conservation objectives of 2008 in the Chiquibul National Park.