Ya’axché’s Community Forestry Symposium a Success!

The Ya’axché Conservation Trust recently held its Community Forestry Symposium for State Actors under the theme, “Forest Conservation and Governance.”  The symposium, which was held at the George Price Centre in Belmopan, is part of a regional Forest Governance Project, which includes Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, to safeguard forests, increase government transparency and indigenous community participation in forest management.  Belize’s first agro forestry policy is currently being developed; it seeks to guide decisions regarding the issues. C.E.O. in the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, Sustainable Development and the Environment, Doctor Percival Cho spoke at the symposium, emphasizing the need for harmony between forests and agriculture. 

Percival Cho

Dr. Percival Cho, C.E.O., Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development

“As a growing natural resource based nation the need to collectively find ways to balance and improve environmental challenges while providing food security and socioeconomic benefits to our people is a priority to our government. Establishing a balance is now of utmost importance for the increasing effects of climate change felt by our small nation. Extreme climatic variation is now affecting crops, livelihoods and it is our people, economy and our eco systems that will suffer the greatest impacts. Our role as government is to set up the frameworks, legislation and opportunities for the people and economy to adapt and prosper in a changing climate.”