Over $26 Million lost in Guatemalan Excursions; FCD makes recommendations

Three Guatemalans have been killed this year in Belizean territory. The most recent was on October fifth when Francisco Quim Cab was killed in the Chiquibul. After a two year study in the Chiquibul National Park, Friends for Conservation and Development, which co-manages the park, released the dismal reports on the incursions that have been taking place. FCD found that the target area of the Guatemalan nationals is over eighty-four thousand acres of forest and they are moving further into Belizean territory. The study also shows that in that two year span, Belize lost over twenty-six million dollars from extracted trees, wasted lumber and diminishing carbon stocks. FCD Executive Director, Raphael Manzanero handed over the report to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Lisel Alamilla, to get government’s attention. One of the main recommendations was to form an Inter-Institutional Commission, focused solely on deterring the constant incursions. And according to Manzanero, that process is already underway.

Raphael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD

Raphael Manzanero

“The main feedback is basically the creation of the working group for the Inter-Institutional Commission. That certainly is one of the key points that we’re looking at in terms of putting it into operation. Of course, that would be led by the Minister of Forestry Fisheries and Economic Development. She was the one who basically compromised herself in terms of launching that commission. So that was really the key one that we would want to see how we are able to create it and of course be a part of it.”

Delahnie Bain

“Anything on any of the other recommendations?”

Raphael Manzanero

“In terms of the other recommendations, we have started to discuss more about the CITES involved. CITES is the Convention for International Trade on Endangered Species, like mahogany in this particular case. Our recommendation has been really to get the involvement of CITES. It is something that now is being more discussed in terms of looking at that possibility. Particularly, CITES has put more of its focus in Belize as a result of the mahogany stocks that are nationally being utilized, in terms of looking at its quota. So the discussions of CITES started a couple of days ago and certainly the study that really came about in terms of illegal logging, it is one that really came at the right time in terms of seeing how CITES could become involved. Of course, however, CITES would have to be looked at from the focus of the Forest Department; we as an NGO, we would not be able really to enable or develop any discussions; it would have to come from FD.  So in that particular stance, we are encouraging for that really to happen because we believe that they can play a very important role.”

While the FCD intends to continue its studies in the Chiquibul National Park, Manzanero says there is a need for more law enforcement officers on the ground.