For the first time World Water Day was celebrated by FCD on the 22nd of March under the theme, “Be the Change You Want to See in The World”. The primary goal for this year’s event was to increase awareness on the importance of the water resources and how citizens could participate in the proper care of this resource for future generations through innovation, activism, and governance. Additionally, the event highlighted the binational efforts underway for the care and protection of the Mopan River which is a shared precious resource.

FCD has been conducting river conservation activities since its early beginnings in the late 1980s. In 2013 it solidified a binational river conservation alliance between Belizean and Guatemalan community leaders located near the Mopan River. This continues today, particularly supported within the FCD Advocacy Strategy which encourages for community-based organizations to rally behind river conservation at a local level.

Over 300 primary school students and teachers from Benque Viejo Town and San Jose Succotz Village visited the expo fair which was held at the Marshalleck Cancha in Benque Viejo Town. Eight institutions and groups participated including FCD, FCD Environmental Youth Group, Rotaract Club of Benque, Benque Child Advisory Body, Wildlife Conservation Society, Forest Department and Todos Por Un Mundo Verde and ASIPROM from Guatemala. This event was made possible with the financial support from the US Department of the Interior and the GIZ Selva Maya Program.