Friends for Conservation and Development anPromotingd De Coreve lConservationopmen t Promoting Core Conservation
ANNUAL REPORT 2019
The 20th Annual General Meeting of Friends for Conservation and Development is made possible through the full sponsorship of San Ignacio Resort Hotel
This publication is made possible through the sponsorship of BRC Printing
HSD
Cover photo: Landscape vista of the Chiquibul Forest. © Photo by Tony Rath Page photos: 7,14, 19 (karst team). © Photos by Tony Rath
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MESSAGE FROMFROM THETHE BOARDBOARD PRESIDENTPRESIDENT
The non--governmentgovernment organizationorganization FFCDCD hashas completedcompleted twentytwenty yearsyears ofof conservation andand wildlifewildlife protection.protection. FromFrom 20072007 itit hashas beenbeen aa coco--managermanager of the Chiquibul NationalNational ParkPark.. SSinceince thenthen itit hashas facedfaced thethe dauntingdaunting tasktask ofof protecting protecting an an ecologically sensitivesensitive arareaea ofof BBelizeelize inin thethe faceface ofof thethe BelizeBelize--GuatemalaGuatemala territorialterritorial dispute, dispute, where cross border,border, peasantpeasant incursionsincursions andand encroachmentsencroachments fromfrom thethe neighboringneighboring Republic ofof GuatemalaGuatemala werewere layinglaying wastewaste toto hugehuge swathswathss ofof pristinepristine BelizeanBelizean forestsforests and and threatening vital water supply sources. From its earlier inception as the Youth threatening vital water supply sources. From its earlier inception as the Youth Environmental Action Group, FCD’s primary interest was the protection of rivers, their Environmental Action Group, FCD’s primary interest was the protection of rivers, their watersheds and headwaters, in this case the Chiquibul and Mopan Rivers. watersheds and headwaters, in this case the Chiquibul and Mopan Rivers. In a situation of protracted periods of diplomatic relations, FCD transformed into a versatileIn a situation multi- taskedof protracted organizatio periodsn which of diplomaticsaw expanding relations, its park FCD management transformed activities into a workingversatile closelymulti-tasked with theorganizatio Belize Defencen which Force saw expandingand the Belize its park Police management Department, activities while strategicallyworking closely engaging with inthe activitie Belizes Defenceto mitigate Force the impactsand the ofBelize the crossPolice-border Department, incursions whil ate itsstrategically source. In engaging 2009 FCD in activitiebecames involvedto mitigate in crossthe impacts border of NGO the cross level- borderand co mmunityincursions to at- communityits source. In initiatives 2009 FCD to abecameddress theinvolved problem in cross with borderits Guatemalan NGO level counterpart, and community Asociacion to- Balamcommunity in the initiatives border adjato acentddress area the knownproblem as with the itsChiquibul Guatemalan-Montanas counterpart, Mayas, straddling Asociacion BelizeBalam andin theGuatemala’s border adja bordercent. area known as the Chiquibul-Montanas Mayas, straddling Belize and Guatemala’s border. In 2009 this activity resulted in the signing of a formal agreement for the protection of theIn 2009Mopan this River activity water resultedshed, inand the the signing adop tionof a byformal nineteen agreement Belizean for andthe protectionGuatemalan of borderthe Mopan communities River water of measuresshed, and to the protect adop thetion Chiquibul by nineteen and MopanBelizean River and byGuatema reducinglan deforestationborder communities and to preventof measures related to forestprotect degradation the Chiquibul practices. and Mopan This wasRiver a remarkableby reducing accomplishmentdeforestation and as to were prevent initiatives related to forest promote degradation sustainable practices. alternative This livelih was oaods remarkable for the residentsaccomplishment of hotspot as were communities initiatives toon promotethe Guatemalan sustainable side alternative of the border livelih oalongods for with the intensiveresidents environmentalof hotspot communities education activities. on the Guatemalan side of the border along with intensive environmental education activities. In July of 2019, FCD in collaboration with signed a Declaration of Good Asociacion Balam Intent with eighteen Belizean and Guatemalan NGOs to intensify cross border work with In July of 2019, FCD in collaboration with Asociacion Balam signed a Declaration of Good communities along the entire length of the border, testimony to the insightful and solid leadershipIntent with of eighteen these organizations. Belizean and ThisGuatemalan is another NGOs milestone to intensify which illustratescross border the workability with of NGOscommunities to accom alongplish the critical entire mitigation length of activities the border, in areas testimony of potential to the conflict. insightful and solid leadership of these organizations. This is another milestone which illustrates the ability of OnNGOs this to auspic accomiousplish occasion critical mitigationof FCD’s activities20th Anniversary in areas of I potentialbelieve itconflict. is appropriate to recognize the inspired work, dedication and perseverance of FCD’s Executive Director, th RafaelOn this Manzane auspiciousro, FCD’ occasions Park of M FCD’sanager Derric20 Anniversary Chan, FCD’s I believeprofessional, it is appropriatetechnical and to administrativerecognize the inspiredstaff for work,their significant dedication accomplishments. and perseverance Thank of FCD’s you Executivefor your service Director, to Belize.Rafael Manzanero, FCD’s Park Manager Derric Chan, FCD’s professional, technical and administrative staff for their significant accomplishments. Thank you for your service to IBelize. avail myself of this occasion to express gratitude to Bayron Castellanos, Director of Asociacion Balam, whose keen diplomatic sense and political acumen has helped immensely toI availfoster myself cordial of relations this occasion between to theexpress two organizations,gratitude to Bayron friendship, Castellanos, and mutual Director respect of thatAsociacion are the Bala essentialm, whose ingredients keen diplomatic which havesense sustained and political this acumenunprecedented has helped level immensely of cross borderto foster problem cordial solving relations and between cooperation. the two organizations, friendship, and mutual respect that are the essential ingredients which have sustained this unprecedented level of cross border problem solving and cooperation. 3 | Page
3 | Page s s FCDFCD entersenters itsits thirdthird decadedecade itit isis poisedpoised toto assumeassume greatergreater responsibilitiesresponsibilities for the protectionprotection ofof thethe upstreamupstream BelizeBelize iver iver b b extendingextending itsits rangerranger coveragecoverage to the headwatersheadwaters ofof thethe acal acal iver iver inin tthehe easterneastern a a a a ountains ountains wherewhere thethe challengeschallenges are different different he he assumption assumption ofof thisthis responsibilit responsibilit b b FCDFCD isis aa reflectionreflection ofof thethe highhigh level of confidenceconfidence placedplaced b b thethe GovernmentGovernment ofof BelizeBelize onon itsits abilit abilit toto e uall e uall protectprotect this vital areaarea of of Belize’s Belize’s patr patrimon imon