At the end of the Senate meeting today, NGO Senator Janelle Chanona rose to address an issue that she says all Belizeans need to pay attention to. She began by explaining the importance of the Chiquibul ecosystem to our livelihoods - the biodiversity that can be found within and the watershed that provides water for hundreds of thousands of people.
This area is co-managed and protected by the Friends for Conservation and Development, who have been there for decades. However, she explained that now, they're having issues conducting their jobs. Here's how Chanona put it.
Janelle Chanona, NGO Senator
"This wider Chiquibul landscape has been under intensive and constant pressures for many decades. It is notable that because of the robust and consistent intervention of FCD, just their presence, but supported by these various MOUs and letters of engagement and collaboration with the respective government agencies over the last 18 years of management, there are results."
"There has been progress. This begs the question, if FCD was not present all those years in this remote location doing this work in protection and conservation, what would the landscape be like today?"
"Conservation organizations like FCD are not obstacles to development. Quite the contrary. They are part of the foundation that has made lawful access, safety, and opportunity possible in the first place."
"Today, FCD is facing a new set of challenges, and these hit at the very center of its operations. FCD's personnel are being barred from reaching their locations of work and the organization's activities are being restricted."
"There have been serious delays in getting the usual permits for FCD to do its work. And going into 2026, this impacts the conservation effort on the ground for scarlet macaws and other key monitoring species programs."
"There have also been instances of losing necessary donor funding because FCD had to await the necessary support letters from the respective government agencies. Beyond this, with the onset of a paved road reaching as far as Caracol and the development of a new economic node in the area, a safe and secure environment will be necessary to provide the confidence for visitation and investment."
"Therefore, we believe it is timely that a multi-stakeholder governance body for the Chiquibul be established and that a sustainable development plan for the Chiquibul Mountain Pine Ridge Caracol Complex is approved so that all the institutions, government, non-governmental, private sector, everyone can be involved and be better aligned in the overall objective of the conservation of the Chiquibul ecosystem for all Belizeans."
"The Chiquibul is a vital part of Belize's territory and one we collectively need to protect and cherish. We therefore ask for the government's and everybody's support for FCD, a 26-year-old non-profit non-governmental organization with a proven track record for protecting this vital ecosystem and the buffer areas for present and future generations of Belizeans."
"And the call for a multi-agency management authority to properly oversee the management of the area with the necessary government, non-governmental, and private sector representatives. The role in the FCD in the Chiquibul complex is necessary."
"Pressures and threats are taking new forms. And when that happens, Madam President, it will not be a loss for one organization. It will be a catastrophic loss for all Belizeans."
