FCD Bridges Belize and Guatemala to Fight Fires at the Border

Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), a local environmental group, has been recognised for its work in tackling forest fires along the Belize–Guatemala border.

The recognition came at the UK-Belize Climate & Nature Legacy Awards, where FCD’s cross-border fire prevention project was honoured for bringing communities and government agencies from both countries together. The effort created shared fire protocols, trained teams on both sides of the border, and set the stage for a joint Belize–Guatemala Forest Fire Taskforce.

For everyday Belizeans, the work matters because wildfires don’t stop at borders. They threaten farms, villages, and the Maya Forest, which is one of the region’s most important ecosystems.

Cooperation between Belize and Guatemala dates back to a 2014 agreement aimed at protecting our natural resources. Since then, FCD has signed three formal agreements with Guatemalan organisations, focusing on biodiversity protection, river conservation, and community development.

British support has played a role too, with the High Commission in Belize backing these initiatives since 2015.