7 News Belize

Taking A Stand in South Cebada, Chiquibul
posted (June 14, 2018)
The South Cebada area is one of the most bountiful and pristine areas in the Chiquibul Forest - but it's also under the most pressure from Guatemalans who are pushing into Belize. The Friends for Conservation and Development recently reported that rangers documented fresh survey lines, and beans, corn and banana plantations by Guatemalan farmers.

So they're pushing in - today Courtney Weatherburne went to Chiquibul to find out what Government is doing to push back:...

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Like first time home owners checking out their new crib - National Security Minister John Saldivar and his colleagues inspected the conservation post in the South Cebada area of the Chiquibul. Of course this new space isn't for them.

It's for the up to 12 soldiers who will be stationed here.

Felix Enriquez, CEO, Defense
"The building itself costs just over $130,000. Inside of it there is accommodation for everyone. It comes with a full kitchen, bathroom, it has a lookout post and it is totally electrified with solar panels lights and refrigerator so while they are here they are comfortable and they are able to do their work."

And these soldiers certainly have their work cut out for them. That's because the Cebada area is known as a critical hotspot.

The area is 10 kilometers South of Caracol and about 10 kilometers North of the Rio Blanco conservation post.

It's a special area because hidden beneath the canopy is the Cebada Cave system. The Cebada area has been under serious threat by Guatemalans living in the nearby communities.

In the past, the soldiers and FCD rangers would only be able carry out monthly checks due to site access difficulties - but that approach was certainly not enough to counter the level of encroachments and illegal activity in the area.

Felix Enriquez, CEO, Defense
"There has been rampant display of illegal farming in this particular area and other activities as well but mostly illegal farming, illegal logging. The Xateros doing a lot of destruction of the Xate and f course other environmental concerns."

"We are happy that today has become a reality and we feel like having this now gives us a strategic advantage that we have been waiting for, for a long time."

Derick Chan, Manager, Chiquibul National Park
"Once you put a conservation post then they start to respect that. But we have to exercise the job of upholding the law, you have to patrol, the patrol will be 5 km that way and 5 km that way along the border, you see tracks, you follow the tracks, you see a clearing you have to wait until the people come and you have to talk to them. If they don't want to leave you will arrest them. It is not like the Guatemalans are attacking us, they are simply coming in because there is no governance so by us putting in a conservation post now we have governance so they will respect, they respect to a large extent the soldiers, the police and the rangers."

At least that is the hope, that a permanent presence will ward off the Guatemalan encroachers, but it has been shown that they just pack up and move on to pillage another un-manned area of the Chiquibul. It is a reality that the BDF and FCD rangers have to address.

Felix Enriquez
"The long term strategy is for us to have more CP's. The two that have been done recently Caballo and Cebada were the ones that were most important but yes you are right, we have seen more activities in the Vaca area and along the entire border outside of here further north recently and we are aware of it and we are strategizing and planning to deal with those as well."

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