11 Special Constables at FCD

To:       Media houses

From: Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD)

Date: 15^th March, 2015

Subject: 11 SPECIAL CONTABLES AT FCD

On the 14^th of March at an event held at Tapir Camp in the Chiquibul National Park, eleven FCD park rangers were sworn in as special constables by members of the Police Department. The training conducted by the Police Academy was led by Sargeant Magdaleno and Corporal Tun, while swearing in was led by Inspector Lanza. The purpose of the training was to enable FCD Rangers to be more effective in addressing illegal activities occurring within the boundaries of the Chiquibul National Park and help regulatory agencies maintain law and order

The Special Constable Training Program forms part of a Specialized Ranger Training now underway in the Chiquibul National Park for FCD rangers that will culminate on Thursday, 19^th March at Tapir Camp.

Thanks to the people across Belize and abroad, and the Government of Belize who helped us increase the ranger unit, FCD has hired new rangers who have been under the rigorous specialized training program since January. Graduation of the FCD rangers will take place on the 19^th of March, 2015 at Tapir Camp.

Once the rangers have passed the training these young men will find themselves operating into the furthest reaches of the park and start up a new phase of environmental monitoring and SMART patrols. The intent will be to document the actual conditions of the park, protect biodiversity and reduce the threats to the natural environment.

The Chiquibul National Park (CNP) is Belize’s largest protected area, with 285,937 acres located in the Cayo District. FCD has been co-managing this area together with the Forest Department since 2007. Access into the CNP from the Belizean side is essentially limited to one road that comes from the Mountain Pine Ridge and crosses the Macal River at the Guacamallo Bridge. To learn more of this exuberant forest visit www.fcdbelize.org and FCD’s facebook.

Swearing in ceremony at Tapir Camp led by Officer Lanza of the Police Academy © FCD 2015