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Fcdtracks BRIM Training in Chiquibul Page 4 Friends of Vaca F.R launched hy create Friends of the Vaca Forest At the launching of Friends of the Vaca Forest Reserve? The Vaca Forest Reserve has Reserve, which has taken several months to FCD Tracks W The Official Newsletter of Friends for Conservation and Development a diverse set of challenges and opportunities, organize, 20 persons became members. With as outlined in the recently finalized Landscape the support of the Forest Department and Management Strategy. The strategy indicates CATIE, it is expected that the group will receive December 2011, Issue #14 Promoting Core Conservation that management of this area can only occur training in areas of management, alternative successfully with the participation of local land use methods and pilot restoration projects. Inside people. FCD recommends a stewardship role This initiative comes at a time when farmers for farmers and other users of the reserve. In have been trained; have better recognized Employee of the Quarter 2 Delegates visit Chiquibul this regard, Friends of the Vaca F.R. provides the challenges and are more cognizant of the right avenue for a structured and organized the need for community participation in forest Wildlife Bits 2 n order for people to understand the magnitude of the form of participation. management and conservation. Iproblem in the Chiquibul forest, FCD is taking a proactive Partner’s approach in welcoming people to visit the area and providing spotlight 2 a first-hand description of the state of affairs. Organic Honey BRIM Training In Chiquibul Production 2 As a result, on the 1st of December 2012, a high level delegation visited the Chiquibul forest. Foreign Service Expanding ark Rangers recently attended a 3 Officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Ardelle Sabido Bee-keeping and Mr. Rafael Baptist were present. US Ambassador, Mr. week long training in Monitoring and P FCD’s Volunteer Vinai Thummalapally, DCM Mrs. Nini Hawthorne, the Public Evaluation (M&E) methods, presented by Program 3 Relations Officer, Mr. Eric Heyden and Mr. Joseph Boski comprised the delegation. The British High Commissioner, FCDs Biologist, Boris Arevalo. This training Capitalizing on Mr. Pat Ashworth and Deputy High Commissioner, Ms. Jackie Agriculture 3 was particularly important as rangers are Brown, as well as the European Union Head of Office, Mr. now required to collect information while Monitoring the Cosimo Lamberti Fossati also attended the site visit. They Illegal logging is the primary threat in the Chiquibul Chiquibul Cave 3 observed the xatero trails, the milpa farming activities from they traverse areas of the Chiquibul Forest. forest, and thanks to the support of the FAO/FLEGT Caana temples in the Caracol area and observed how the programme several interventions are now active. The Biodiversity Research, Inventory and Friends of Vaca F.R launched 4 Chiquibul Forest Joint Enforcement Unit operates at Tapir The goal for 2012 is to mitigate the illegal logging Monitoring (BRIM) framework developed at Camp particularly in the combat against illegal logging. activities currently taking place. BRIM Training FCD is the roadmap utilized for generation In Chiquibul 4 Mr. Santiago Can - President of of data sets. Thanks to PACT, this research Friends of the Vaca For the 2012 period, Boris is already prepared to Annual General component is increasingly forming a key pillar Meeting 2011 4 Forest Reserve conduct a xate stock assessment, illegal logging 2011 Education Outreach Results of work at FCD. Also given the skills and assessment and scarlet macaw monitoring experiences of Boris, this program is climbing his year was a busy one for FCD’s Programs targeted 32 communities including which will require the skills and knowledge educators particularly near the close of to new heights. T gathered by the Rangers on the training. the year. FCD implemented three programs • Eighteen communities in Belize and oriented towards promoting community pride Guatemala, with the aim of conserving and stewardship of rivers. shared water resources, namely the Chiquibul and Mopan Rivers. Annual General Meeting 2011 Per the 2011 Environmental Education • Four communities, with the aim of Program Review, in Belize 2,600 students promoting awareness of the importance he slogan, “Forward with Confidence and Thom Moran and Roni Martinez. FCD’s and 500 adults were reached. In Guatemala of the Vaca Forest Reserve. Optimism”, was selected for this year’s President, Mrs. Neal applauded the efforts presentations to over 300 students and • Ten communities, with the goal of T 300 adults were addressed, reforestation promoting awareness of the importance Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on of the FCD staff and expressed the Board’s activities occurred, informational materials of forest reserves, apiculture and other November 26 at Casa Caballo Blanco. More support as we advance into 2012 with all were distributed and a walk-a-ton to create eco-friendly activities across the Maya than 35 persons attended the AGM and received the challenges that the organization faces. awareness on watershed conservation was Mountain massif. an overview of the work and accomplishments conducted. for the year. The Board also welcomed 3 new Some of the urgent matters for the Board board members, including Dr. Isabelle Pacquet- to address includes the financial the Durant, Mr. Victor Alegria and Miss Stephanie sustainability of the organization; increase Watershed Conservation Effort Continues Moran. Remaining board members include FCD membership and development of a and developed a two year work-plan for the have conducted several conservation activities, Mrs. Cecilia Flowers Neal, Lenney Gentle, strategic plan. protection of the Chiquibul, Mopan, Macal but more are needed. The group developed and and Belize Rivers. Has this plan been used endorsed specific tasks for 2012, as part of a set and implemented? This was the key question of resolutions passed at the meeting. Mr. Emilio For more information contact: answered this November, at a two day reunion Montero, President of the Chiquibul, Mopan, Macal Friends for Conservation and Development, San José Succotz, Cayo District, Tel: 823-2657, Email: [email protected], website: www.fcdbelize.org held at the Bald Hills, in the Mountain Pine and Belize Watershed Alliance, indicated that Ridge Forest Reserve. community leaders need more technical assistance and urged FCD to continue strengthening the During the event, which was facilitated by FCD alliance, particularly through pilot projects at the n 2010, eighteen community leaders from staff, attendees discovered that the majority of community level. IBelize and Guatemala gathered together participating villages in Belize and Guatemala This publication is produced from recycled material FCD Tracks Page 2 Page 3 Promoting Core Conservation Employee Of The Quarter Expanding Bee-keeping Initiative hiquibul National Park Ranger, Martin favor to all manner of men.” With great enthusiasm orest reserves across Belize are learning more about sustainable livelihood CRodriguez joined FCD in August, 2010. he has demonstrated his zeal to make a difference Funder threat as the human population production. Previously he had been a soldier of the Belize and to build capabilities among his other colleagues increases and seek areas to cultivate. This Defence Force for 12 years. Since taking his post, at Tapir Camp. He is selected as the Employee of situation prompted the Global Environmental FCD partnered with the Cayo Quality Honey Martin has demonstrated the will and commitment this Quarter due to his eagerness to teach, ability to Facility/Small Grants Programme to support Producers Cooperative (CQHPC) and visited for the protection of the Chiquibul ecosystem. As a maneuver in multiple environments, honesty on the the activation of a bee-keeping project in the the Cooperative Buenos Amigos, whose ranger, he is always ready for distance hiking and job, and commitment for the protection of the flora Vaca Forest Reserve. This project can serve members provided tips on bee-keeping patrolling. His virtues are described on his letter of and fauna of the Chiquibul forest. Congratulations as a pilot endeavor, worthy of replication if production. Consequently, some of the acceptance of the job, where he notes, “I shall carry Martin for a job well done!! successful. While the bee-keeping activity farmers from Trio traveled to Guatemala with out my duties to the best of my ability without fear or is at an experimental level, farmers from FCD and the CQHPC to learn more about the village of Trio who are situated nearby beekeeping. FCD also provided a two frame the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve extractor that will enable them to extract their he Chiquibul Cave System is home to senses is apparent in the lack of pigmentation in the Toledo District expressed interest in honey in an improved fashion. Wildlife Bits Tmany unusual species. The Belizean blind as well as eyesight as in the case of the crab is one of these bizarre creatures that Belizean blind crab. The Belizean Blind Crab resides in this unique ecosystem. This blind is adapted to an environment with limited food crab belongs to a family know as troglobites; supply and is extremely energy efficient. It FCD’s Volunteer Program troglobites are small cave-dwelling animals forages on twigs, leaves, bacteria and epigean Capitalizing on Agricultural that have adapted to their dark surroundings. animals including zooplankton; miniature n 2010 FCD Troglobite species include spiders, insects, carcasses, egg deposits, feces and bat guano. opened its fish and crustaceans. They live permanently It possesses a very low metabolism in order I Volunteers Program. Exchange Experiences underground and cannot survive outside the to survive in a low-oxygen environment where cave environment. food is scarce. The Belizean blind crab along Institutions including xchange visits with over 70 other invertebrate species have the New Mexico Eprovide opportunities Blind Crab: Troglobites often have heightened senses of been found in the Chiquibul Cave System.
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