2008 Conservation Projects

Belize 2008

Chiquibul North

with Friends for Conservation and Development

Boundary clearance and exploration

The Trekforce team cut the 12.2km boundary line from the Macal river on the east, to the Guatemalan border, to ensure that there is no doubt in the legality of any encroachment by loggers or farmers, whether by human error or intentionally. They also erected a sign every 300 metres The north of the Chiquibul National Park borders the Vaca Forest Reserve, but there was no physical boundary line to speak of, so they found themselves encroaching onto national park territory, without evening knowing.

Background

The boundary line is only be a strip of jungle approximately 4 feet wide. In the grand scheme of conservation for the Chiquibul National Park, it was more important to lose this area of jungle to demarcate the national park, to protect the rest of the park from potential logging or poaching.

With a definitive line, anyone illegally encroaching within the national park can now be proved as such, and penalties imposed. This will then further act as a deterrent.

Although, not all workers operating in the area do so illegally. They are also able to know when they are at the national park boundary, and know not to encroach further southwards.

Chiquibul South

with Friends for Conservation and Development and the Belize Defence Force

Ranger Station/Observation Post Construction

The team in this area will be constructed an observation post, with accommodation for 10 people, cooking facilities and a latrine. With this observation post, national park rangers will be able to stay out in the area for longer amounts of time and can more effectively inhibit the illegal incursions of Guatemalans. The project was the most remote carried out by Trekforce in Belize, requiring a day's drive and two day walk to the project site.

Background 

The south of the Chiquibul National Park is largely unknown area. Nestling on the northern side of the Maya Mountains, which split the northwest and southeast of Belize, the Chiquibul area is very inaccessible. On the Guatemalan side of the border, farmers have formed a settlement and have been clear cutting jungle for farmland. Their fields of crops have started to encroach across the border into Belize, and the Chiquibul National Park.