Guatemalan Incursions Continue: Three Detained in Chiquibul National Park

Yesterday we reported on the detention of three Guatemalans found on Belize territory inside the Chiquibul National Park.  The three men have since been handed over to Police and Immigration.  This recent encounter is one of several reported over the years, underscoring the issue of illegal incursions, illegal hunting, cultivation, and gold panning.  According to the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), most of the trespassers are from Monte Los Olivos. Adding to that is a recent report by Global Brigades, indicating that Monte Los Olivos, located 1.5km from the western border of Belize, has a population of 6000 people who have no water system in the area and the furthest education level is primary school. Chiquibul National Park Manager, Derick Chan spoke more on this contributing factor to the illegal incursions into the Chiquibul.

Despite the challenges that the Guatemalans face in their country, Chan says that FCD is actively working to put a stop to the issue.

With a constant presence at the Rio Blanco Conservation Post since 2008 by FCD, the forest has been recovering with areas registering regrowth.