FCD to Receive Assistance from Kentucky University

Raphael Manzanero

On Monday, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center and the Western Kentucky University. The agreement seeks to help the region with its climate change efforts through science and education, by acquiring resources and expertise. One of the organizations that is set to benefit from this partnership is the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD). Executive Director of the FCD, Raphael Manzanero says that as early as Friday of this week, they will begin to receive assistance from the Western Kentucky University.

Raphael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD

“The collaborations that we are seeking with the Western Kentucky University is to get technical assistance with Karst Management. Karst Management is basically the management of caverns and limestone areas. Since 2008, we signed an agreement with the Institute of Archaeology in terms of us to manage the largest cave system in Central America. In fact it is believed that the biggest room in the Western Hemisphere is located in the Chiquibul Forest, which is the Chiquibul Caverns. In fact, that big room is called the Belize Chamber because of course it is extremely unique and it makes us very special as country. As we are seeking now how to manage it better and how to protect the area, we are seeking technical assistance. The Western Kentucky University has had long term collaboration with the Mammoth Caves in the U.S which are considered one of the largest, if not one the largest probably with the tunnels in the area. So, for many years they have had the expertise and they also teach for academic modules on Karst Management. And so, we are expecting that they will be able to collaborate with us on that level. In fact the first training is going to take place on the Friday of this week that they are here. They are going to start train our Karst Management unit which is a three man team only to manage that particular system.”