Cooma Cairn Ranger Outpost Inaugurated

Earlier this week, a ranger outpost was inaugurated in the north-eastern area of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve known as Cooma Cairn, Bald Hills region. For the past fourteen months, rangers from Friends for Conservation and Development have been posted in the area to support the Forest Department with monitoring forest fires and incidences of bark beetle infestation, as well as any human activity within the reserve. The building was originally occupied by BATSUB and will now serve as a central hub for F.C.D.’s monitoring program in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve which is the gateway to the Chiquibul National Park. The outpost and the presence of the rangers helps with documenting and preventing any illicit activity in that region, but also help with monitoring the conditions of the upper Macal watershed, which is linked to four sub-watersheds, including Labouring Creek that provides water to Roaring Creek and Belmopan. The refurbished ranger outpost is now operational as a result of endorsement from the Forest Department and financial support from the Bull Run Overseas Limited.