The Mayflower Bocawina National Park is a popular tourist and adventure destination. It is also a popular location for illegal loggers and hunters. Yesterday park rangers came across over 90 pieces of cut lumber, and several other chopped trees. The trees are believed to have been cut by criminals looking to sell the hardwood to nearby sawmills. Jose Perez, Executive Director of the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, spoke to us about the dangers this illegal activity poses to the protected area...
Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO
"What happened is that the rangers have always had information that there's evidence that there's cutting of trees within the park. There are various hardwood timber trees. It seems as though it's these operators who do not have licenses. It's a well-established business it seems. Fortunately, on Tuesday they encountered the lumber, but the guys got away and they were able to salvage the lumber. The rangers of course with limited resources have been trying their best. But we have to see how we can support the group in enhancing their ability to do more but more timely patrols. I think also we need to see how we can work closer with the police and forest department to ensure that we have more boots on the ground."
Alex Courtenay, 7News
"This is not necessarily something that maybe illegal immigrants or just people from the Guatemalans side who are trying to make profit off Belizean forest. This is Belizean people illegally..."
Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO
"Actually last year 2 persons were caught by the police rangers. One of them was a Salvadorian but these are people who reside in Belize. I assume you know the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, the entrance lies just a couple miles off the southern highway. It is understood that some of these people are from nearby villages; the Silkgrass village which is nearby. We understand that there's people who come all the way from Hope Creek Village. These people actually have a livelihood that they have going to supply the local Saw Mills. That is why in our press release, we are asking those Saw Mill owners to please support the effort to stop these illegal logging by not buying from these people who don't have proper licenses to be cutting timber."
Alex Courtenay, 7News
"What sort of strategies can be employed in the future apart from you needing a boost in ranger personnel, but how can people help to ensure that this sort of stuff doesn't continue happening especially in these national parks?"
Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO
"I think the community plays a big role. I think the few rangers that exist can patrol as best as it can, but if there's no demand for this lumber, then of course the suppliers won't have anybody to sell it to. So the community plays a very big role in this, that's one. No matter if the demand decreases, these people will continue. So we have to see how we can increase the patrols and hopefully eventually cut down the instances of these illegal logging."
While these illegal loggers and poachers prey on the Bocawina wildlife, tourists shouldn't be afraid. Perez told us that security is tightest near the most popular hiking and zip line locations.
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