Sizeable portions of two of Belize's forest reserves are in private hands tonight and they will be so for the next forty years. This morning Minister of Natural Resources Johnny Briceno signed long-term forest licenses with Thomas Gomez and Sons for 97,000 acres of the Deep River Forest Reserve and with Bartholomew Young for 67,170 acres of the Swasey/Bladen Forest Reserve. Why are reserved being de-reserved for private interests? After the signing Briceno explained to the Government Press Office the reason for the leases.
John Briceno, Minister of Natural Resources
"The whole idea behind a long term management plan is that we are going to select a company that we believe is committed in the area and for them to manage those forests for the next forty years. It's not for them just to go and cut, they have to come up with a management plan that both the Forestry Department and them will agree to. You may ask yourself well how is it that the ordinary Belizean will be benefiting? Well first of all these two individuals, they are small companies, that live in the Toledo District, they are committed to the Toledo District. But secondly we believe that because these companies are going to be there for the next forty years, it will allow them to develop their business better, to think beyond cutting the lumber and exporting it, but how is it that they can add value to what they do."
Thomas Gomez, Will Manage Deep River Reserve
"We'll be taking care of the area to make sure that we have future trees and future generations will be able to benefit from it."
Bartholomew Young, Will Manage Swasey/Bladen Reserve
"We feel more secured, our company, we will be making more furniture and thereby we will be employing more people and we will be helping the villages around us."
Government is now fielding offers for management plans for the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve and Sittee River.
