Cattle ranching continues to be a problem in areas such as the Chiquibul Forest. And while the Friends for Conservation and Development are out there consistently, it only takes a small break for Guatemalan ranchers to start setting up fences and livestock. According to the executive director, the Guatemalans have already passed the one kilometer adjacency zone, and the activities continue to increase. He told us more on Sunup on 7 this morning.
Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD
"In terms of cattle ranching, it has already been jumping so high in terms of the numbers but it is still really a steadily increase that has been occurring so if we look over the last two years, we might be looking at 200 acres or so of an increase and so we are still looking in terms of extent along the area. There are some areas that are beyond the one kilometer so they may have passed already 1.5 in terms of that kilometer so we are still seeing an increase that area and of course it's not only in the Chiquibul, we also have in the Vaca Forest Reserve which is also cattle ranching occurring and in some part of the Colombia River."
Derric Chan, Park Manager, FCD
"I must say that the BDF they have been working really hard especially this year and last year and I think that's one of the things that have kept it low otherwise people just take the land and put their cattle in there but we've been working really hard along with the BDF so the interventions we do is we fly over, we identify the areas and then a planning is done that's usually with the BDF, an operation we go in there and cut the fences and like I said the people know they're in Belize so they will come and take their cattle. Maybe two weeks later they come back and build their fence. So I think it's a thing of a constant work, battle, whatever you want to call it but it requires different types of intervention, education. And also from the Guatemalan side there needs to be their own intervention to discourage this but I cannot say if they are encouraged or discouraged to put their cattle in the national park."
The FCD has completed its yearly activities, which will be compiled into an annual report that will be presented at its AGM on December 6th.
