 Non-Governmental Co-Manager Award of the Year 2007 by The Forest Department "Operating in the Heart of the Chiquibul National Park they have been setting the trend for effective and integrated protected areas management one day at a time. Understanding the complexities of management and realizing that decision making processes can be rather difficult, this organization has facilitated the strengthening of confidence and cooperation among neighboring countries and has promoted public outreach and awareness in adjacent communities where they are loved and respected, while helping to maintain a healthy and productive Chiquibul ecosystem." Environmental Organization Award of the Year 2007 by The Belize Tourism Board "Eight years ago, the Youth Environmental Action Group [YEAG] transitioned into the Friends for Conservation and Development and has been leading the conservation efforts in the Cayo District since then. FCD has been working in the Chiquibul/Maya Mountain Key Biodiversity area since 2000....to activate management for the Chiquibul National Park. FCD is among the top five most successful projects under implementation with PACT." |
Welcome to FCD's official website.
Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) is a membership non-profit, non-governmental organization whose primary goal is to motivate the public to protect the environment through conservation awareness while enhancing the development of the human resource. Since its establishment in 1999, FCD has made significant achievements in public education and environmental awareness, protected areas co-management, community support programs, monitoring, research, policy recommendation, and bi-national cooperation related to the Chiquibul National Park (CNP), one of Belize’s primary national treasures. The membership of the FCD Board of Directors come from grassroots organizations in Western Belize, and have a clear conviction to the cause of people-centered natural resources management.
Today, FCD is a respected organization whose role in the national conservation agenda is fully recognized by both the Government and the general public. It continues to build its networking capabilities both locally and internationally, while capitalizing on its strengths as a reputable community-based conservation organization.
FCD Programs
Environmental Education (EE)
In pursuit of its mission, FCD has a vibrant EE program not only in the Cayo District but nationwide. Its approach has been to conduct a system level effort, understanding that education has to be broad based and to cover all age groups. Using the Pride methodology and the scarlet macaw as the emblematic species representing the Chiquibul-Maya Mountains, the program seeks to promote actions that can protect the Mopan/Belize River watershed and generate support for environmental services payments. Increasing corporate responsibility is also key.
Biodiversity Conservation
Armed with a five year management plan (2009-2013), FCD has a roadmap for the protection of the Chiquibul National Park (CNP) which is the largest protected area in Belize covering more than 264,000 acres of tropical broadleaf forests. In 2007, the Forest Department and FCD entered into a co-management agreement signifying for the first time an actual management of the park. Results show that by 2008, FCD had shown a continued increase in the Management Effectiveness Score thus demonstrating the continued success of its co-managing Belize´s largest protected area. Yet, this effort needs to be bolstered with the purpose of reclaiming the integrity of the CNP. The primary threats are outlined as agricultural expansion, poaching, xate extraction, logging and mineral extraction.
Cultural Protection
In 2008 the Institute of Archaeology and FCD entered into a co-management agreement for the protection and preservation of the Chiquibul Cave System (CCS). The CCS is the longest and largest known network of caves in Central America. It is nestled in the Chiquibul forest, west central of Belize, with its downstream end extending into Guatemala. Though it begins in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, most of its extension is located inside the Chiquibul National Park. Over 55 km of passages have been surveyed, including the largest known passage and cave room in the Western Hemisphere. This huge unexplored cave system is the underground bed of the Chiquibul River. The system consists of four big caves and numerous sinkholes, which were extensively explored during the last decade. The caves are known as Kabal, Tunkul, Cebada, and Xibalba.
A management plan is currently being developed for this system. FCD is conducting monitoring and surveillance of this area primarily to learn more about its uniqueness and how best to put in place protection interventions.
Bi-national Relations
In May 2007 a technical work plan agreement was reached with partners from Guatemala with the objective of conducting a joint effort for the conservation of the Chiquibul ecosystem which is found in Belize and Guatemala. Under this work plan seven thematic areas have been pursued ranging from training and fundraising to combined patrol and community development. The ultimate purpose is to develop a peace park between Belize and Guatemala that will enable technicians to work and strategize together for the long term conservation of this tract of land. It forms part of the largest and most important watershed in Belize, providing and supporting multiple functions such as a reservoir for biodiversity, drinking water, hydro power, agriculture, and recreation opportunities, among others. The CNP is within one of eleven priority areas highlighted under the Sistema Centroamericano de Areas Protegidas (Central American System of Protected Areas) (SICAP). This initiative has emphasized the importance of the addition of the Maya Mountains to the System while recognizing it as a Transboundary Protected Area for Peace and Conservation (WCPA, 2001).
Research
Research is a vibrant program recently started at FCD. Led by a Research Coordinator, the intent is to learn more about the biodiversity of the Chiquibul forest and surrounding buffer areas in order to better manage it. FCD has also become a service provider in this respect. The Coordinator is able to bring together a diverse range of expertise to conduct research on nocturnal creatures, freshwater organisms, charismatic species such as macaw and orange breasted falcons among others. Presently the research team is conducting research on the Chalillo and Vaca Dams in order to document presence and absence of species.
Internships
Our internship manual identifies areas of priority for FCD. The activities are framed into specific SMART objectives and provides for internships ranging from 6 weeks to 16 weeks. The magic is to engage on a program that best fits an intern and FCD in order to construct the best learning experience. Students may have the opportunity to work closely with an award winning organization in Belize, which operates in the most challenging protected area in the country, and in the largest Cave System in Central America yet unexplored where only a handful of persons have been inside its huge caverns.
Each intern is properly assigned to FCD personnel. A mentorship program is directed by the Executive Director who worked for an international organization for 11 years.
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