Trekforce builds new ranger station at Davis Falls

It’s a place we’ve visited before?twice actually?and while the hike to Davis Falls may be challenging, our reporters never seem to tire of the magnificent view. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has the latest developments on what may become Belize’s newest national park.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
The eight miles to Davis Falls is not what you?d call a smooth ride … but forty minutes, nine river crossings, and eight ?This way to Davis Falls? signs later, we finally reached a ranger station.

The building was constructed by Trekforce volunteers with funding from the British High Commission and during brief ceremonies, was officially handed over to Davis Falls co-managers, Friends of the Valley and the Forest Department. According to Conservation Officer Earl Codd, the station will serve a dual purpose.

Earl Codd, Conservation Officer, Forest Department
?One of the main activities for us to have a permanent presence out here. That?s the first activity. The second activity, the ranger station will also function as an educational centre at the same time too. We?ll be setting a display of some of the activities that is out here at Davis Falls, some of the features that can be found in the area, pictures, posters, et cetera to serve as an educational purpose at the same time too.?

The ranger station was only one of the tasks completed by Trekforce during their six weeks on the site. The twenty-four member group also made repairs to the trails, re-thatched the shelter at the base camp, made reconnaissance trips into the forest, and completed a biogas latrine.

Twenty-four year old Trekker, Emma Whitehouse says that while the work was hard, seeing the project come together is gratifying.

Emma Whitehouse, Trekker
?Mixing cement, that was way back at the beginning; that was really hard in this heat just with shovels, mixing the cement. We didn?t really know what to expect and it?s been more than we expected. It?s just been amazing, hard but just incredible. It?s such a beautiful area. The falls are amazing. The works been just really good, some people here they?re never even hammered a nail before and coming here everyone?s just learnt how to do everything and somehow we created that so.?

And while they?ve reached the end of the expedition, country manager for Trekforce in Belize, Calvin Ruysen and Trek Leader Luke Collyer hope to see the site develop even further.

Luke Collyer, Trek Leader, Davis Falls Project
?I thoroughly believe now, even last year, especially now in the efforts and everything that?s happening here and around us and the conservation efforts and everything that can happen. So yeah definitely wanted to come back, and if I come back to Belize in another expedition I?ll do it again.?

Calvin Ruysen, Country Manager, Trekforce Expeditions
?Davis Falls is I think an incredibly exciting destination and it?s a beautiful location. We would like if possible to work further with Friends of the Valley in an aim if you like towards somehow giving Davis Falls some sort of protected status.?

Trekforce has already conducted some excursions into the area to gather G.P.S. coordinates for Davis Falls to move to its next level of being recognized as a national park.

Earl Codd
?Obtaining national park status it would reduce the amount of or eliminate extractive activities. Non-timber product will not be able to be taken out. And the timber product, lumber which I refer to, timber product these will not be permissible. Under national park status the area is set aside for tourism and recreation. For research and for the general use of the public.?

And while we came for the ranger station, the main attraction is the falls. President of Friends of the Valley, Dwight Montero, says it?s a must-see and was sure to provide some motivation for myself and cameraman Rick Romero to take the trip.

Dwight Montero
?Coming here is a little hard, but when you reach the fall itself you won?t want to leave the fall. It?s a beauty and you need to see it for yourself.?

Kendra Griffith
?How arduous is to the trip to the falls itself??

Dwight Montero
?Well for me it?s not a problem and I?m pretty sure if I could do it you guys could do it.?

So with the ribbon cut, we were off to the falls.

During the one point two-mile hike, we climbed four hundred and fifty-steps, crossed nine bridges, not to mention a couple of stumps. The going was tough … and after forty-minutes of rough terrain, Davis Falls was indeed a breathtaking sight to behold.

Standing five hundred feet tall, Davis Falls is the second largest waterfall in the country.

For the trekkers, the fall was a big plus, making it easier to cope with the heat, bugs, work, and weeks of sleeping outdoors in hammocks.

Emma Whitehouse
?Swimming in the waterfalls, it?s amazing. It?s just all the plunge pools around the big waterfall, it?s incredible. It?s something that you dream about in England. You see that kind of thing on T.V. and you don?t ever think that you?re gonna be swimming in something like that, so that?s definitely been the highlight.?

According to Montero, the fall hosts about forty visitors per week, but that number is expected to increase as word gets out.

Dwight Montero
?As we speak right now, we did got some requests from resorts down in Hopkins and Placencia. They are saying that what they want to do is incorporate Davis Falls as part of their package where this package will then be sold to tourists and Davis Falls will then be included in this package.?

And with more visitors expected at the site, another issue that management is hoping to one day address is that of access, particularly when the river swells in the rainy season.

Dwight Montero
?Yes, we do have access during the raining season, but it?s not as easy as what we see today. However, we also have in mind that we could find another route near mile seventeen to also reach to where we are standing right now and that route just entails crossing the river once. If we get funding to do that road what we have in mind is to just put a permanent bridge over that crossing so that it will then we an all weather road.?

That all-weather road is expected to cost around five hundred thousand dollars. Monies that Montero says will come from grants once they have their National Park status in hand. In the meantime, he?s trying to get as many people as possible sold on Davis Falls through brochures, a future website, and most of all … word of mouth. From Davis Falls, I am Kendra Griffith for News Five.

Visitors to Davis Falls must first stop at Awe & Sons Store in Alta Vista to purchase tickets. Admission is ten dollars for foreigners, two dollars for Belizeans. For more information contact Dwight Montero at 603-3231 or 670-0296.