FCD centers its effort in the Western Chiquibul-Maya Mountains. Staff operate more specifically in the Chiquibul National Park, Las Cuevas Research Station located in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Valentin region of the Caracol Archaeological Reserve, Bald Hills of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, the Chiquibul Cave System and in the Vaca Forest Reserve. This work is made possible through official arrangements and agreements formalized with governmental line Ministries.
The CNP comprises 29% of the terrestrial conservation zone of the country and represents nearly 6% of Belize´s land area.
FCD administers Las Cuevas Research Station since 2014. It is located within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. It is a key biodiversity area harboring a rich diversity of animal and plant species.
Chiquibul Cave System is the largest known network of cave systems in Central America with 65 km of passages mapped along with more than 60 sinkholes.
The VFR is one of the first five protected areas to be declared in Belize during the early 1930s.
This twenty five thousand-acre Reserve is managed by the Institute of Archaeology. FCD assists in monitoring and conducting surveillance at the Valentin Conservation Post.
The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is managed by the Belize Forest Department. FCD assists in monitoring and conducting surveillance of the Baldy Hills at the Cooma Cairn Ranger Outpost.
Buffer communities are critical to the protection of the CNP and forest reserves, as they help to prevent encroachment and illegal activities in these protected areas.
From the Chiquibul National Park to the Vaca Forest Reserve, FCD is dedicated to protecting these unique and valuable ecosystems. In this section, we will share some interesting and informative facts about the areas where we work.
The Chiquibul Forest is comprised of three protected areas, namely the Chiquibul National Park, the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and the Caracol Archaeological Reserve.
The Chiquibul National Park is the largest terrestrial protected area in Belize with 285,937 acres.
The Chiquibul National Park harbors the largest cave system in Central America known as the Chiquibul Cave System.
The Chiquibul National Park and the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve contains the headwaters for the Belize River Watershed which provides water resources to over 40% of Belize’s population.
Copyright © 2023 Friends for Conservation and Development .
Chi-Hah Street, San Jose Succotz
Cayo District, Belize