Tonight, the Friends for Conservation and Development conservation group is reporting that in its professional opinion, there is currently less encroachment taking place in the Chiquibul Forest by Guatemalan milpa farmers and cattle ranchers.
On September 11th, they conducted an aerial reconnaissance mission starting from the Vaca Forest Reserve all the way to the Colombia River Forest Reserve. From that mission, the FCD is concluding that fewer fields are being occupied, when compared to their last assessment.
They are concerned about several areas - including Caballo, north of Caracol, several cattle pastures without fencing have identified. At this time, they appear to be inactive.
Going south in the area of Cebada, there are several active fields that remain. This area contains one of the largest illegal clearings done by Guatemala, and according to the FCD, it has been difficult to address in its entirety. The farming activities consist of the cultivation of beans and corn. The cattle fences in South Cebada appear to be abandoned.
Going further south to the Rio Blanco area, there is a group of fields known as Jimenez Farm, which have remained active for more than a decade. According to the FCD, the area was developed and used by the Jimenez family. It is about 1 kilometer wide and 1.5 kilometers long, and it has several fields in different stages of development. It has fields for corn, beans, and cattle, and it has many ponds.
The FCD said that this overflight was made possible with the support of PACT, the US Department of the Interior International Technical Assistance Program, and the US Department of State - Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
