Trekforce completes demarcation of Chiquibul northern boundary line

Covering the activities of Trekforce volunteers is nothing new for this newscast as we’ve been chronicling their adventures for years. But their latest project, as News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports, was more than just a walk in the park.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
With the slash of a machete, Trekforce, along with Friends for Conservation and Development, commemorated the completion of their second joint project: the demarcation of the northern boundary line of the Chiquibul National Park.

Although spearheaded by the two organisations, the machetes were actually wielded by ten volunteers from England, Ireland, and Canada.

Greg Coe, Country Manager, TrekForce
“For a bunch of people with really not much skills and not much training before you arrive, you have made a huge contribution just in terms of the sheer numbers it would have taken to clear this boundary line if it had just been the F.C.D. rangers.”

Kendra Griffith
“Starting at the Guacamallo Bridge over the Macal River, the ten Trekkers headed due west to Guatemala cutting the thirteen kilometre long boundary line.”

“At approximately every three hundred meters, the Trekkers would erect a sign declaring the four foot wide trail the boundary line of the Chiquibul National Park.”

Rafael Manzanero, C.E.O., Friends for Conservation and Development
“It is very clear to us that the northern zone is also a hot spot because it goes as far as to the border line so it is very important for us to have it marked.”

Marking the border will put the numerous Guatemalan intruders on notice, but it’s not only illegal incursions from across the border that make this northern zone a hot spot, according to Manzanero, the park’s proximity to the Vaca Forest Reserve is also a factor.

Rafael Manzanero
“On this side, on the Vaca Forest Reserve it can happen, extraction of the resources ranging from timber, hunting of wild animals, xate extraction, but all of this do require a permit. In the park it is completely different so that’s why it is important to ensure that we really do have a boundary because if not, anyone operating in the forest reserve can claim they did not know any better.”

Derrick Chan, Chiquibul National Park Manager
“If they are in the park and we capture them then we can detain them and arrest them for the illicit activity. There were some concessions last year and they did came into the park. We just found out as we were opening this line here and hopefully it doesn’t happen again. We were not able to detect it last year because we didn’t have no boundaries for one.”

For Park Manager Derrick Chan, the boundary line will also make the task of patrolling the over two hundred and sixty-five thousand acre park more manageable.

Derrick Chan
“Before we were using logging roads and logging roads don’t necessarily go along the boundaries of the park and we are also using xatero trails which are illegal trails. We actually would come here I would say twice a month because the park it so large for one. I know for my experience that we can go in one day to the end of this trail, thirteen kilometres, camp there and the next day we return. I want to do it at least once a week I want to do it.”

The boundary line will make patrolling easier for F.C.D., but Trekforce Belize Country Manager, Greg Coe, has listed the demarcation as one of the most challenging projects the organisation has undertaken.

Greg Coe, Country Manager, TrekForce Belize
“When people sign up with Trekforce they like to go somewhere remote, they like a challenging project and I am always concerned that we make it a little bit too easy for you and you don’t feel that you’ve pushed yourself enough, but I think I am happy to say that on this trip it seems like you have.”

Ian Craig, Assistant Project Leader
“There are some big hills running west and we have been up and down them over the last few weeks. Getting used to the heat and the humidity out here has been a real challenge as well, as has cutting through some really thick sections of forests that seem to crop up every now and again. As I was saying before, the lack of water in the area has been really difficult for us. We have been drinking from puddles and collecting rain water which has been a real experience, although possibly one we don’t necessarily want to repeat.”

Sentiments seconded by the trekkers themselves.

Katherine Davis, Trekker
“It was tough at points, especially having no water. Not being able to bathe for ten days gets a little bit disgusting and looking after yourself gets hard, but it was great, I loved it.”

Kendra Griffith
“So you would do it again?”

Katherin Davis
“I don’t know if I would do it again. I think that was enough for now, maybe ask me in a few years.”

Claire Alexander, Trekker
“It was definitely tough times. We were doing the same things, hard work everyday. I am glad it’s finished kinda of, but it’s a really good feeling now.”

Katie De Wolf, Project Leader
“They’ve risen to every challenge that has been thrown at them and they’ve remained a hundred percent committed to complete this project.”

The experience has created life long bonds between the trekkers, but they’ve also become attached to their machete.

Katherine Davis
“I’m actually gonna try and bring it through Houston airport when I bring I go home. They are probably not gonna allow me to, but I am gonna try.”

James Wakelin, Trekker
“I’ve named her.”

Kendra Griffith
“What’s her name?”

James Wakelin
“Candy.”

Kendra Griffith
“So you’ll be leaving Candy behind?”

James Wakelin
“I will try and get her through, try to get her back to England. I doubt I will get it through customs but it’s worth a try.”

Kendra Griffith
“What are you gonna do with Candy when you get her back home?”

James Wakelin
“Put her on a mantle piece on the side. Maybe chop a few things every now and then.”

Now that the chopping is over and the blisters and bug bites are healing … the trekkers were happy to have time to relax.

After their official wrap party later this week, many will move on to the next mission, learning Spanish in Guatemala. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

Viewers may recall that a recent Trekforce project established an operational base for the B.D.F. at the southern end of the Chiquibul National Park.