New Decade‑Long Deal Strengthens Chiquibul Research

Belize is boosting its science‑based conservation efforts with a new ten‑year deal for the Las Cuevas Research Station. The government and FCD have renewed their partnership, keeping FCD in charge of the Chiquibul research hub. Officials say the agreement strengthens data‑sharing and cooperation with the Forest Department as they monitor one of Belize’s most fragile ecosystems. FCD’s Rafael Manzanero calls it a meaningful renewal of more than a decade of stewardship, while Minister Orlando Habet says the deal ensures researchers can continue gathering the science needed to protect the Chiquibul for years to come.

 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“The Memorandum of Understanding speaks to the collaboration that the Forest Department and FCD has in collaborating in the management of this particular research station. So the MOU speaks about the continued collaboration with conservation, scientific research and wherever FCD can give us some type of information and share the data that they collect during the time they have the MOU ongoing.”

 

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD

“Today is a historical agreement we are signing. We actually had taken over management and administration of Las Cuevas ten years ago. This is now a second round of gong back to have another ten years of agreement along with he Forest Department that is the regulatory agency in terms of these protected areas. So, that really marks now our formal agreement in place for the next ten years.”

 

With the new agreement now locked in, researchers and rangers say they’re ready to step up the science that keeps the Chiquibul protected.

 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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