Belize’s Forests Burning Out of Control

We have been reporting on the growing number of fires which have been sparking all over, and there are now regulations to fine persons who start these fires. Tonight, we can report that the forests are burning out of control. Friends for Conservation and Development is reporting that huge fires are burning in the Vaca Forest Reserve and Chiquibul Forest. The F.C.D. says that along the western border at least three large fires have been observed. These fires were caused by farmers who are engaged in agricultural farming. Executive Director for FCD Rafael Manzanero did a flyover today and returned with a clear picture of the environmental damage and dramatic pictures of the fires. Two hundred and eighty-six hotspots have been registered in the Vaca Forest, while in Caracol a total of eighty-nine and in the Chiquibul National Park a total of one hundred and twenty-five hotspots since the start of the year.

Rafael Manzanero

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, F.C.D.

“In the Vaca area we were informed about the forest fires which start precisely two weeks ago. So those fires apparently the ones inside of the Vaca Forest Reserve was created by a farmer who had been working inside of the area. The Vaca has sort of a unique situation because it does allow for certain farmers to operate within the limits of the reserve. And so it would appear that one of them was the main individual that started a fire that has now been consuming- I mean when I went there two days ago over a hundred and fifty acres probably had already been burnt. This morning when we flew over the area there are a lot of forest fires in the Vaca. That is a mixture of individuals involved however some of them are occurring right along the Western border. You can see how it basically came from Guatemala into Belizean territory. Then you can see some more internal to Belize which would be more than likely the fires that I was noting a while ago. So there is a mix of fires in the Vaca. I think the Vaca s dramatic in terms of forest fires. You can see a mix of things there. You can see a lot of smoke. Smoke all around. You can see basically where the forest if burning. It is a very dramatic picture along that landscape particularly all along the Western Border including the Chiquibul.”