Government and FCD Sign New 10-Year Agreement to Manage Las Cuevas Research Station

Efforts to strengthen conservation awareness and protect Belize’s natural resources are continuing following the recent signing of a new ten-year agreement between the Government of Belize and Friends for Conservation and Development.  Last week, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, through the Belize Forest Department, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Friends for Conservation and Development for the continued management and administration of the Las Cuevas Research Station within the Chiquibul Forest.  The agreement allows FCD to continue operating the station as a hub for scientific research, ecological monitoring, biodiversity assessments, and environmental education, while also supporting technical training and capacity building in forest and protected area management.  During the ceremony, Standard Operating Procedures for the Vaca Forest Reserve and the Baldy Beacon–Cooma area within the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve were also formally handed over to FCD Executive Director Rafael Manzanero. The SOPs outline FCD’s responsibilities in areas such as surveillance, monitoring, farmer capacity building, and gate management.  Speaking recently with Love News, Manzanero highlighted the organization’s ongoing community outreach initiatives, particularly along the Belize River, where FCD has been working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the river and surrounding ecosystems that sustain many communities.

Government and FCD Sign New 10-Year Agreement to Manage Las Cuevas Research Station Manzanero explained that the Belize River plays a vital role in the livelihoods of many Belizeans, providing water resources, supporting agriculture and tourism, and serving as a key natural corridor connecting communities and ecosystems. Officials say the renewed partnership between the government and FCD will further strengthen conservation science, environmental education, and community engagement efforts aimed at safeguarding Belize’s forests and waterways for future generations.