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.

Environmental Awareness Program FCD is a non-profit, non-governmental organization in Belize, dedicated to motivate the public to protect the environment through conservation awareness while enhancing the development of the human resource.

Located in the historical Maya community of San Jose Succotz, along the Mopan River, Cayo District, the organization has been in existence since 1989 conducting environmental conservation activities. The organization is primarily recognized for promoting civic pride among Belizeans, through outdoor experiential programs.

View of Chiquibul National Park In 2007 the organization began an active co-management program with the Forest Department for the protection of Belize's largest protected area, the Chiquibul National Park comprised of 264,003 acres of tropical forest. This wilderness area is part of a tri-national bioregion forming the largest remaining contiguous block of tropical forest north of the Amazon. It is an area of outstanding biological diversity and provides critical habitat for many endangered species. It also forms a key part of the internationally supported Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

Exploring the Chiquibul CavesIn early 2008, FCD also began a co-management program with the Institute of Archaeology for the proper maintenance and protection of the longest cave system in Central America, the Chiquibul Cave System. This huge cave system located in the Chiquibul forest has been featured in National Geographic. This system is the underground bed of river Chiquibul and consists of four big caves and numerous sinkholes, which were extensively explored during the last decade. These caves are called Kabal, Tunkul, Cebada, and Xibalba.

FCD also plays a key role in the integration and comprehensivve management program of the Chiquibul-Maya Mountain Massif which is comprised of 14 protected areas. This large tract of land is recognized as one of the three most important regions of Belize’s protected areas system. The motto of FCD, Promoting Core Conservation, exemplifies the philosophy and work ethics that is fundamental to the multiple activities of FCD.

The following are the main objectives of FCD.

FCD MAIN OBJECTIVES

  • To foster environmental conservation action
  • To promote civic pride and respect for our natural heritage
  • To promote an understanding of the natural world
  • To improve management of protected areas
  • To develop the human potential through conservation work
  • To integrate local community participation
  • To develop collaborative networking

You Can Join Us

We are an open membership organization and we would consider it our privilege to have you learn more about the impressive wilderness area that we have been mandated to manage for the country of Belize.
Click here to download a printable version of our membership application form.

Likewise we want to invite you to participate in our conservation work. Through Eco-Quest Expeditions, you will not only be able to visit these gifts of nature but also help sustain financially these areas. Our program of Internships for Effective Management is also available to educational institutions that have a commitment for conducting tropical conservation.

Home | About Ecoquest | Contact Us

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