Great News for Protected Areas

December 23, 2009 at 2:11 pm · Filed under News and Other Updates ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

The following story was extracted from 7 News Belize.com dated December 22nd 2009. This is great news for the protected areas system in Belize.  Ya’axché thanks to the Government of Belize  for taking action.

From the entire staff at Ya’axché Conservation Trust – Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Major Change in Policy on Harvesting of Xate
2009-12-22

As we come up on Christmas, Belize – Guatemala issues are at the forefront of the public discourse. And one year ago – it was about the same when Guatemalan Lionel Arellanos erected a storage container in Belizean territory. Remember that? Just west of Jalacte? It took months to get it off! But in February, the BDF did bulldoze it. And while that was 2008, in 2009 – the issues are the ongoing Chiquibul incursions and what the Foreign Minister calls our “artificial” border.

And somewhere beneath all this is the issue of Xate. It’s been a hot button territorial issue for years but tonight we can report that there are two important changes at the policy level in Belize and Guatemala. First, according to Ambassador Fred Martinez, the Guatemalans are changing the requirements for export market Xate – requiring that it be gathered from Xate farms and not forests; and second the government of Belize has put a freeze on all Xate concessions in Belizean territory. Ambassador Martinez discussed both developments with us yesterday.

Ambassador Fred Martinez,
“The xate problem is there, the collection of xate leaves. But we are very pleased to see a development in Guatemala where they have passed legislation to verify from where the xate comes from, that is certify that the xate will only come from farming, the artificial farming of xate, and will no longer be accepted for export if it comes from the picking of the xate in forest. We have pushed that cooperation with them, listen you need to help us because your forests are being decimated just the same as ours and we need to do something. A conscious effort has been taken by them very seriously and now they have introduced that.

The Ministry of Natural Resources recently decided to take a serious look at the licensing of xate picking in Belize as some licenses were issued by the previous administration and continued by this new administration with the argument that if the Guatemalans are coming in and picking it and taking it away, might as well you give the opportunity for a few Belizeans to do some money. But this was the argument by the negotiator, please look at this very seriously: for $60,000 of royalty to the Government of Belize, why do we expose ourselves because these three or four people that end up with a license don’t go and pick up the xate, they hire the same Guatemalan xateros to come into Belize and they are the ones we have to stop, they are the same ones who are creating problems; decimating our forest.

Whose controlling them and when you catch them and they holler that my boss has a license and I have a work permit and when they are caught with a gun, because you are not going to go into that forest with just a small machete, you go there with a gun to protect yourself, the gun is illegal so they are caught with an illegal firearm and so the problem is compounded and we’ve been hollering hey, listen let’s make a review and we are so glad to see that the Forest Department is taking a serious look and saying let’s put everything on freeze.

The next xatero that is caught in the forest of Belize that means it is an illegal xatero, there will be no such thing as someone with a license to collect xate because one xatero was passing the license to another one and subcontracting another one and the next thing you know you had hundreds of Guatemalans pouring in with copies of somebody’s license. So we’ve had to take stock, let us look at what’s there. We are under serious threat of these people moving in. It is not a threat orchestrated by Guatemalan government, they themselves have a serious problem. We therefore have to stop and help ourselves to ensure that we do not end up as the Peten has ended up.”

Hon. Sedi Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“We have problems down south, Guatemalans come in but the problem is compounded by the fact that local Belizeans employ them so that when they are caught here with the xate and the like they put a permit and say they have a permit from somebody or when they catch them in here and they are doing wrong they say well I am employed by this Belizean, this Belizean hired me. So we are really in a catch 22 situation; Belizeans need the Guatemalans to do the work in their fields, they bring them in, and the process these people come and do their own thing; destroy the society, the land, the forest and everything.”

And while those changes are happening at the policy level – on the ground – the problem persists. When we were in the Chiquibul three weeks ago we saw multiple evidences of Xatero activities, and returning from the border about four kilometres into Belizean territory, the BDF were on the trail of a trio of Xateros but they scattered and ran before the BDF team could intercept them. We couldn’t capture it on tape because the BDF ordered us to get down because of the risk of live fire.

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Ya’axché’s Annual Stakeholder Meeting

December 17, 2009 at 3:53 pm · Filed under Public Policy and Advocacy ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Annual Stakeholders Meeting 2009

Last week Saturday 12th of December 2009 Ya’axché celebrated the closing of its 11th year by holding its Annual Stakeholder  Meeting. The meeting offers another opportunity for Ya’axché   to communicate with its most important stakeholders – the communities that buffer the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve and Bladen Nature Reserve. Representatives from Medina Bank, Trio, Tambran, Golden Stream, Indian Creek, Big Falls, San Miguel, Silver Creek, Punta Gorda, Jacintoville and Elridge Village all attended the event making for a great mix of people and personalities.  The general purpose of the meeting was to present to stakeholders the work that Ya’axché has done for the year of 2009 and get feedback for improvement in 2010.

Children playing Musical Chairs

Ya’axché first introduced its program areas: Sustainable Land-use Management, Community Outreach and Livelihoods, Advocacy, Institutional Governance and Management. Accomplishments   in protected area management and research and monitoring were the focus of the Sustainable Land-use discussion. The Community Outreach and Livelihoods discussion brought up the fact that Ya’axché is now working with over 90 farmers in organic, forest-friendly agriculture, in addition to assisting students with high school. The Advocacy program has had a busy year working  with the Toledo Healthy Forest Initiative (THFI), APAMO and BAPPA. The Institutional Governance and Management Program was introduced with a discussion about the Board of Directors- those present were introduced: Alphonso Cal, Barbara Locke, Victor Ical, and President Valentino Shal. The Board is now open to community representatives in Trio and Bladen villages. Trio will have a representative in 2010.

Ya'axché Rangers

The entire Ya’axché staff was introduced to the public as well. There was good discussion on the pressing issues of our time including the Hydro Dam, Illegal Xatéros, water pollution and ways to improve relationship with communities.

Lastly the Financial Statement of 2009 was presented.

After the meeting Ya’axché invited the guests for a traditional Mayan lunch. It was a joyous time of the year and Ya’axché sure did spread a Christmas spirit. The kids also had fun games organized by Ya’axché Volunteers.

It has been a very successful year for Ya’axché Conservation Trust and Ya’axché thanks everyone who have been instrumental in the success of our work. Thanks to All.

Representatives having Lunch

To download Ya’axché’s 2009 Annual Report Click on the following link:

http://yct.bz/download.html

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December 13th 2009 Hydro Dam Meeting

December 16, 2009 at 4:08 pm · Filed under Issues in Sustainable Land Use Management, News and Other Updates ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The following are extracts from the meeting at San Pedro Columbia regarding the Potential Hydro Dam in Bladen Nature Reserve and Columbia River Forest Reserve.

Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve Committee
San Pedro Columbia Village
Toledo District
Belize, C.A
December 14, 2009
San Pedro Columbia Village, Toledo District

Addressed to the Prime Minister of Belize Hon. Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Barrow Is Called To Stand In Solidarity With Belizeans And Ensure That Our Laws Are Respected.

Over 300 Belizeans from several communities in Toledo in attendance of a public meeting held on December 13, 2009 in San Pedro Columbia call upon the Prime Minister to act in the interest of Belizeans and our protected areas. Despite a number of requests to our area representative, Hon. Juan Coy and the Chief Forest Officer, Belize Hydroelectric Development & Management Company Ltd. (BHD) none has dialogued with us.  As a result of the many unanswered questions in regards to unsustainable development specifically the proposed construction of a hydroelectric facility in our most pristine areas we formed the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve Committee which sent a team to see firsthand what the development company was doing. The concerns, findings and recommendation generated from this Educational Field Visit and from community members were presented at this community meeting which started at 1:30 pm and concluded at 6:15 pm.  We found numerous violations reference BHD’s permit and the National Park System Act, which has resulted in the following resolution:

We hereby call upon the Government of Belize to REVOKE the concession agreement granted to Belize Hydro-electric Development and Management Ltd (BHD) on December 5, 2008 signed by the Prime Minister Hon. Dean O Barrow. This development activity, in one of Belize’s most pristine areas, threatens the ecological integrity of Bladen Nature Reserve and Columbia River Forest Reserve along with the social well being of several communities in the Toledo District.  We will no longer accept the unsustainable use of our natural resources that are the lifeline of our society.

Furthermore, the Toledo Alcaldes Association convened an emergency meeting with all its Alcaldes on December 14th, 2009 and unanimously stood in solidarity with the resolution tabled at the San Pedro Columbia meeting held on December 13, 2009.

We request that the Government of Belize adhere and publicly respond to the December 13th 2009 public resolution. In the event that this is not addressed in its entirety we will have no other option but to engage in a peaceful protest to demand that our rights and the rights of our protected areas be fully respected and ask for the December 5th 2008 Concession Agreement to be REVOKED.

For more information please contact:
Nicanor Requena, Committee Chairman, San Pedro Columbia Village, Toledo District
Belize, C.A, Cell number: 628-4252, email: nicrequena@gmail.com

Central River in Bladen Nature Reserve

 

Good Afternoon Village Committee, Honourable Juan Coy,  Mr. Jeff, Villagers of Columbia and other invited guests.

Season Greetings to All

Ms Ash making her speech

I am a villager of San Pedro Columbia with concern about this hydro dam that they are planning to build between Bladen Nature Reserve and Columbia River Forest Reserves. These two places are reserves and it can be sold however a Nature Reserve  needs to be de-reserved if so be the case more so this is yet another process for BHD to undertake. In such cases the government should ask the people in the south, especially the villages of Columbia but instead taking the authority to do whatever they want is not right. This dam, if built, might not be beneficial to everyone but will affect many adversely, for sure. What are the consequences of this? Honourable Coy do you think you should listen to the people and do what they want? Yes people want jobs like you’ve said in the previous meeting but not in this form of development by the way, I should not say development but rather “destruction” because it will destroy our beautiful rivers and our environment. There are other means that we can help in getting jobs for people; for example getting funding for people to do farming, raising chickens, doing business like how Plenty Belize and SHI are doing.

Also I know this dam will produce electricity but ­let me tell you electricity is not that important like water which is the essential one for living and land which God made for everyone to enjoy. Let’s look at the past, our ancestors didn’t use electricity but they survive; also, an alternative way of getting electricity is through solar power which does not damage anything but it can also create jobs because someone can be trained to install and maintain it.

By the way I did a survey on the views of the people in my village about hydro dam, which they are planning to build. It resulted to 90% against the dam so this show us that the people don’t want it because of its negative impacts and we use the river for washing, drinking, bathing, recreational purposes, travelling also not only the villagers use it but people from PG and other areas within the country or outside come to enjoy the relaxation given by this river and bathe in the nice, cool, crystal water of this Columbia River.

I am asking you, Mr. Jeff, to please leave this village with its beauty, leave the two reserves alone. What else do you want? You have already built a dam in San Miguel, which is enough. This Esperanza river is the Central River so do you see what we don’t want to happen to us and the rest of the villages? Honourable Coy, can you please do what you think the people deserve? Remember when you wanted their support, they were there with you always and now that you are in position you wouldn’t even bother to look at us. Let me tell you something before you make a mistake, listen to your people do what they want and you will see what they will do in return. Think about your governance because I know you want it to last for 5 years perhaps more. So pass on this concern to the rest of the branch of government. I am asking for the people of Columbia to voice up your concerns; don’t be afraid everyone has rights. As for the future generation like myself let us help the villagers to get what we all want because we are the future of our family, village, and country so let us cooperate and stop this destruction from this dam and let us stop the xateros from the  illegal harvesting of xate. Come on we need to achieve our goals by stopping this.

As for the organization and other individuals strongly supporting this concern with the people of Columbia, I encourage you to continue because your assistance is needed and appreciated.

My name is Aliana Ash. I am a high-school student at TCC and I am 16 years old and if I, at the age of 16, can see that it is a mistake then it is should be clear to adults that this dam is a mistake, with this I say, THANK YOU!!!

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Ya’axché Rangers Trained as Special Constables

November 13, 2009 at 9:42 am · Filed under News and Other Updates, Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , ,

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Special Constable Alejandro Ical (Photo Courtesy Ya'axché)

Last weekend, at a cermony in Punta Gorda Town, Alejandro Ical, a Ya’axché Ranger of Medina Bank was sworn in as a Special Constable by Superintendent Robert Mariano becoming an official member of the Belize Police Department witht the full power of arrest.

Ical, now, joins Ya’axché Head Ranger Marchilio Ack, and Rangers Vigilio Cal, Anignacio Makin, Victor Bonilla, Rosendo Coy, and Ocatavio Cal as Special Constables enforcing natural resource laws in Golden Stream Corridor Preserve and Bladen Nature Reserve. The Ya’axché Rangers take great pride in their work patrolling and enforcing the laws in order to protect Belize’s natural wonders such as Bladen Nature Reserve, the jewel in the crown of the country’s protected areas. The Special Constable Rangers must be upstanding citizens and ambassadors in their communities helping to unite Ya’axché’s work with the  local people with benefits of fresh water, clean air, replenished game stocks and environmentally friendly livelihoods. Ya’axché Special Constables will now volunteer time working with the Police Department in order to familiarize themselves with protocol and procedures from making arrests to prosecuting offenders and keeping a peaceful and safe environment.

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Ya'axché Rangers as Special Constables (Photo Courtesy of Ya'axché)

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San Pedro Columbia villagers upset about proposed dam

November 9, 2009 at 10:24 am · Filed under Issues in Sustainable Land Use Management, News and Other Updates, Resources ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Extracted from Channel5Belize.com
Date: November 5 2009
In the deep south, residents of San Pedro Columbia are vocal against the building of a hydro dam in their community. Research work has already begun by the company, Belize Hydro-electric Company, and at a meeting last Sunday called by the Ya’axche Conservation Trust, an assessment was presented outlining substantive damages to the area, including the Bladen Reserve. Marion Ali travelled to the village on Wednesday and files this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting
San Pedro Colombia Village is located about twenty miles from Punta Gorda. It is a village whose residents still practice their traditional way of life, relying heavily on the forest for medicine and the river for water for drinking, washing and bathing. So when they began noticing heavy duty equipment moving into their forests unannounced, it troubled them.

Zenovia Requeña, Villager
“That can’t work with us because we noh need no electricity because still yoh have to pay for it, it’s nothing free, and we need the water. Water is important to our life.”

Jorge Coc, Alcalde, San Pedro Columbia Village
“The people don’t want the dam to be built in the forest because we are seeing the problem that San Miguel have with water and we don’t want it to destroy our river.”

Alcalde Jorge Coc and villager Zenovia Requeña feel that the building of a dam will have the same effect on the river as another dam two miles away in San Miguel Village. And what impact did the building of a dam in San Miguel have on the quality of the river water?

Craviy Kus, Villager, San Miguel
“We see the problems but we can’t help it because the hydro di work.”

Marion Ali
“What’s the problem?”

Craviy Kus
“The water is very dirty. The ladies when they wash, maybe an hour time the water rise and the rocks gone down.”

Clementina Kus, Villager, San Miguel
“Ih dirty, when ih rain ih worse.”

Marion Ali
“This is since the dam was installed?”

Clementina Kus
“Yes and ih hard fi we wash, we have to fix our rock because everyday we go to the river and wash.”

Marion Ali
“You feel that will happen here as well?”

Jorge Coc
“Well sure, because that’s the same river branch that we use.”

Marion Ali
“Have you seen any change in the river since the research work started?”

Zenovia Requeña
“Yes because the other day some oil mi deh in between the water pan top.”

But the environmental impact is not the only reason why the villagers of San Pedro Columbia object to the building of the dam. They say they were disrespected.

Jorge Coc
“No one come and told us what’s going on, that’s why the people are trying their best to fight where they get their permission when they went there.”

Marion Ali
“Have you been able to reach your representatives here?”

Jorge Coc
“Yes, Minister Coy said he don’t know about it.”

Marion Ali
“Did anybody come and say listen, we’re planning to approve a project for a dam behind here?”

Tomasa Ash
“No.”

Marion Ali
“Nobody came? Not last year, not the year before, not even this year?”

Tomasa Ash
“No I don’t hear of nothing. They just come and do what they want.”

But while the villagers are protesting en masse against the building of the dam in their community, their objections might be too late. In December of 2008 Prime Minister Dean Barrow signed this concession agreement with Hydro Maya. The document served as an endorsement for the company’s efforts to seek permits for purposes of research. But it appears that the Belize Hydro-electric Company had begun doing research even before they obtained a permit.

Bartolo Teul, Prog. Mgr, Ya’axche Conservation Trust
“When we went to investigate we found out in July, August that they did went in there and they did not have any relevant permit from the Forest Department, nor the Department of Environment when they went in the first time.”

Marion Ali
“But they have a concession from in 2008 signed by the Prime Minister himself.”

Bartolo Teul
“Yes, that concession agreement, inside that document it stipulates clearly that the owners had to get the relevant permit from the relevant authorities that manage these areas before they could go in.”

Marion Ali
“Have you ascertained that they don’t have a permit?”

Bartolo Teul
“We did ascertain that at that time they did not have any permit when they went in July. However, just a couple weeks ago we were informed that they were given a research permit. It is dated the thirteenth of October.”

Another issue raised by environmentalists is that the area being tampered with is situated within a nature reserve.

Wil Maheia, Environmental Activist
“The Bladen Nature Reserve, which is such a fragile eco-system that is praised internationally, praised globally because of its diversity, and just having somebody going in there and destroying it to put up hydro power, which does not reduce electricity rates for Belizeans to start with, then I feel that is something very wrong.”

Bartolo Teul
“It is right on the boundary between the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve.”

Marion Ali
“And what’s your position on that?”

Bartolo Teul
“As far as we are concerned, as co-manager of the Bladen Nature Reserve, we felt a bit disappointed that we were not fully informed and got involved in the issuance of this permit. Secondly, our policy with the Forest Department is that when any researcher goes into the Bladen Nature Reserve, there has to be some strict monitoring. I can tell you now that I’ve been informed that they went in on Monday and no member of the Forest Department is along with them. So that posed a concern to us as co-managers.”

Programme Manager of the Ya’axche Conservation Trust, Bartolo Teul says what has villagers even more skeptical is that information on the scope of the research is hard to come by.

Bartolo Teul
“At the meeting Sunday people asked him what exactly are you doing when you say you are doing studies. He refused to give any details.”

Marion Ali
“He as in…”

Bartolo Teul
“The local manager, Mr. Jeff Hansen, for the Belize Hydro-electrical Company.”

News Five contacted the Forest Department twice today to find out more from Chief Forest Officer, Wilbur Sabido about the project. But he was not available. Meanwhile one of the villagers has suggested that solar energy is an alternative to meet the growing demands of electricity supply. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.

Meanwhile the assessment carried out by Ya’axche Conservation Trust says that numerous large trees and slopes have been cleared, and that the reopening of roads caused the blockage of waterways. The assessment also says that in clearing the roads, accessibility to the Bladen reserve was increased which in turn facilitates the entrance of hunters and the depletion of local wildlife. The value of damages is put at close to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. We would like to thank Wil Maheia for providing us with pictures taken at Sunday’s meeting.

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San Pedro Columbia Dedicated to Their Natural Resources

November 6, 2009 at 2:46 pm · Filed under Issues in Sustainable Land Use Management, News and Other Updates, Resources ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The village of San Pedro Columbians of Toledo, called a meeting last Sunday, November 1st to seek answers to questions surrounding the recent permits granted to Belize Hydroelectric Development Management Company Limited (BHD) as well as Xatéros in Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve.  

Villagers from Columbia reported that Guatemalans have been extracting large amounts of  Xaté leaves from the Columbia River Forest Reserve.   It was learned at the meeting that these Guatemalans are legally employed by Belizeans who hold a permit from the Forest Department to extract Xaté.  The villagers were generally displeased that they had not been consulted on these permits and mentioned that if Xaté is to be extracted in the Reserve that buffers their communities should be the ones to benefit.

The larger focus of the meeting was on BHD’s recent permit granted despite BHD’s illegal damages they inflicted on Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve from bulldozing and clearing steep slopes.  Once again, villagers were displeased that they had not been consulted on the matter and were unified against any dam development in such a pristine area.  There were also concerns about BHD’s track record from the HydroMaya dam in San Miguel and their recent illegal development.

The meeting in San Pedro Columbia was very well attended with over 150 community members, the Department of Environment, Ya’axché Conservation Trust, the Police Department, the Belize Defence Force,  and Area Representative  Honorable Juan Coy. 

While Ya’axché is not anti-development or anti-dam, they do support transparent and open planning that will fairly weigh development and conservation needs of Belize and of course follow the due process of natural resource laws.  In fact, Ya’axché is leading an effort to develop a management plan for Columbia River Forest Reserve in order to systemically plan for environmentally-friendly development.   In order for this integrated planning to take place all parties need to be open to discussion and best practices should be utilized. 

Photos courtesy of Ya’axché Connservation Trust.

BNR_Damage_assessmentDamage_Assessment_2

BNR_Damage_Assessment_3

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Rare Crested Caracara found by Ya’axché Ranger

November 4, 2009 at 5:07 pm · Filed under The Animals of Our Protected Areas, What Do We See in This Picture? ·Tagged

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CARACARA (Photo Courtesy Ya'axché)

Ya’axché ranger Victor Bonilla was on his way to work on the morning of Monday, 2nd November 2009, and  noticed a relatively large bird of prey lying on the road. An avid birder, Victor stopped to take a look and was astounded when he identified it immediately as a Crested caracara (Caracara cheriway). This species has rarely been recorded within Belize, let alone the Toledo District, making this a surprising find. This incident also highlights the impact that roads have on biodiversity, something that has concerned Ya’axché for several years now. To monitor this, and as part of its Biodiversity Research, Inventory and Monitoring (or BRIM) System, Ya’axché has made a point of recording all dead animals that its rangers find on the road on their way to and from work along Belize’s Southern Highway every day. Like all of the aspects of Ya’axché’s BRIM system, the information gathered on ‘roadkill’ is fed directly into informing and the organisation’s management efforts.

IMG_1448

Caracara (Photo courtesy Ya'axché Conservation Trust)

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YCT increases damage assessment for Toledo protected areas to $147,000-plus

November 4, 2009 at 4:44 pm · Filed under Issues in Sustainable Land Use Management, News and Other Updates, Resources, Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Extracted from Amandala Newspaper
Author: Adele Ramos – adelescribe@gmail.com
Toledo, Wed. Oct. 28, 2009

The Ya’axché Conservation Trust (YCT) has revised its damage estimates following an August 2009 patrol to assess “illegal damages” blamed on Belize Hydroelectric Development and Management Company Ltd. (BHD) within two southern protected areas: the Bladen Nature Reserve and Columbia River Forest Reserve.

In the mid-week edition of Amandala,  the figures presented tallied to roughly $50,000. However, YCT says that the figure for remediation works alone was $125,000 and not only the $26,700 initially quoted.

“Numerous impacts to the natural and archeological resources of the area were noted to be from forest clearance even on slopes of up to 45° as well as blocked creeks, illegal resource use  and road development,” YCT said in the executive summary of the assessment report. “These activities are of particular consern due to the international biological importance of the area which has been listed as a national focal site for biodiversity conservation.”

The YCT received reports of the illegal clearings in July and a multi-agency patrol including YCT, the Forest Department and the Department of the Environment, visited the area in August.

“It is recommended that BHD cover the estimated $125,000 for the remediation of damage, plus $22,040 for payment to the Government of Belize for expenses incurred to conduct this assessment, plus a fee for the diminished environmental services during the >40-year regeneration period and punitive damages at a fugure set by the Ministry of Natural Resources, ” YCT’s revised report says.

The Government of Belize gave the Belize Hydroelectric Development Company Limited a concession date December 5, 2008. The Forestry Department reportedly gave the company a research permit in October 2009 to enter the protected areas and conduct a feasibility study.

At the time of the clearings detailed above, the company was operating without any approval from the Government to enter and undertake any clearings inside the protected areas. However, there is no indication that the company was fined for undertaking works before applying for the permit.

The company, said the concession, could develop the full hydro potential of the Rio Grande, but in an environmentally responsible manner. In the agreement, the Government of Belize granted BHD the “non-consumptive use” of all water in the Rio Grande – which drains the majestic Maya Mountains – and all its tributaries, upstream of the existing 2.2 megawatt Hydro Maya project at San Miguel, Toledo. This includes the Central River.

The company, in agreement, undertook to establish a minimum of 5 MW of hydro power in Toledo within 5 years. However, it was underscore that the onus is on BHD to apply for permits needed to undertake its work.

GOB claimed, in the document, that the project in in the interest of Toledo and Belize.

In Conejo/Santa Cruz Maya Land Rights Case of 2007, Gregorio Choc, Cristina Coc, and Martin Chen of the Maya Leaders Alliance had complained that the Government had granted a concession to BHD to dam the Rio Grande.

“In the Maya village of San Miguel, the company gained access to 250 acres of village land on which to conduct its activities, including building access roads for heavy machinery and a powerhouse. The villagers were not informed of the effects that this large-scale project will ultimately have on their village lands and traditional practices. Furthermore, consent of the village was not obtained, and no compensation was provided for this compulsory acquisition of Maya lands.”

The Maya of Toledo have an ongoing dispute with the Government of Belize over customary land rights in Toledo. A ruling in that Supreme Court case is pending.

YCT said that the organization had received complaints from villagers in the area that the existing dam, near San Miguel, has been having adverse effects on the river. Environmental authorities have not yet to investigate.

The following map is Ya’axché Property and was inserted in this column for visual aid:

Hydro Maya Dam Situation Toledo Map (291009)pt3

Map courtesy of Ya'axché Conservation Trust

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Illegal Entry and Damages in BNR and CRFR caused Belize Hydroelectric $33,500

November 2, 2009 at 4:20 pm · Filed under Issues in Sustainable Land Use Management, News and Other Updates ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Article from Amandala Belize
Author: Adele Ramos (adelescribe@gmail.com)
Posted: 30 September 2009
Link:http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=9215

Chief Forestry Officer, Wilber Sabido, told Amandala yesterday,Wednesday, that the Belize Hydroelectric Development and Management Company Ltd. (BHD) had been levied a $32,000 charge for damages caused to the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve when, as previously reported, workers of the company opened up several miles of road, and cleared camp sites and a helicopter landing pad without getting the required permit from the Forest Department.

Sabido said that the fine for entering the protected areas would have amounted to $1,500, in addition to the $32,000 in damages, and the company has agreed to pay all the costs. However, the company has paid only 50% of the levy and asked for 30 days to pay the balance.

Back in September, BHD had applied for a research permit, which the Forestry Department granted earlier this month, October—this even before the fine has been fully paid.

When we asked Sabido why the company has been granted the permit when there are still outstanding monies to be paid for damages, he said that the fact that BHD has applied for a research permit means “they are not trying to flee the country.”

This is a first for the Forest Department, said Sabido.

Ya’axché Conservation Trust (YCT), in an assessment detailed elsewhere in this newspaper, has indicated that based on its assessment, remediation works alone required to restore the damaged habitats are estimated at $125,000. The YCT additionally suggested other fines, but understands that it is the government that has the final say on the matter.

Sabido claimed, however, that the Department did not see the need to levy a heftier figure for remediation works because Belize’s forests are very resilient and regenerate very fast. He told Amandala that an officer of the Forest Department will accompany BHP workers on their research missions to monitor their activities.

He said that BHP’s research plan is to set gauges along the river to measure water flow.

The Hydrology Department, he said, has also been engaged and will continue to be involved in the process.

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Solar Water Pump Installed in Medina Bank

October 28, 2009 at 5:24 pm · Filed under Community Outreach and Livelihoods, Issues in Sustainable Land Use Management, News and Other Updates, Public Policy and Advocacy, Resources

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Solar Pump Installation (photo Ya'axché)

On the 16th of October 2009, Christopher Nesbit from the Maya Mountain Research Farm installed a solar Submersible water pump for the community of Medina Bank. This water pump was able to pump over 3000 gallons of water per day on full sun. This came in handy for the much needed portable water for the community of Medina Bank.

The objectives of installing this solar water pump are to provide portable water to 38 households in Medina Bank, provide clean water to 63 children at school and later provide clean water to school kitchen, income generation for the Water Board and Village council and later to provide clean water to the organic garden plot in Medina Bank.

Energy to power the water pump comes directly from the sun. There is no need to use diesel or gasoline fuel for power to generate electricity. The generator that powers the water system uses diesel fuel that emits a significant amount carbon into the atmosphere everyday at Medina Bank adding to the effects of Climate Change. This solar pumping water system is reducing the emission of carbon into the atmosphere, therefore allowing the community of Medina Bank to adapt to a more efficient and sustainable Water system.

This idea of using solar water pump came into the picture when Ya’axché began working with 5 members of Medina Bank in setting up a garden plot with the drip irrigation system. At the time Ya’axche had installed a drip irrigation system using a small gasoline water pump.  This small project was made possible through the Organization of American State (OAS) funding; however the gasoline water pump was consuming a lot of gasoline fuel that is incurring a lot of expense for the garden plot.

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Spring at Medina Bank (photo Ya'axché)

Christopher Nesbit was invited to assess the possibility of setting up a solar water pump for the garden plot in Medina Bank. At the time Medina Bank water system was not working due to damage engine that power the generator.  In Medina Bank there is a beautiful water source, a natural underground spring that pushes out clean water all year round. This clean water from the spring is being used by the community for drinking and cooking at home throughout the dry season. Christopher recommends that a solar submersible pump will work very well at the site.

A solar powered submersible pump cost $3000.00Bze and Ya’axché had no funds at the time to purchase this type of pump and also we had no funds to purchase the PV that is required to produce energy for the pump. Christopher Nesbit from the Maya Mountain Research Farm (MMRF) had connections through BP and asks for donation of 4 Photovoltaic to the Medina Bank water system project. His request was successful. He donated 4 PV to Medina Bank; each PV is producing 180 watts at 36 volts. These four PV’s will be able to operate one DC submersible water pump that will pump over 3000 gals of water per day for the community of Medina Bank.

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Mrs Cara Huddleston (photo Ya'axché)

At this time Cara Huddleston, a volunteer at the Maya Mountain Research Farm, she too wanted to be part of the project in Medina Bank. Christopher and Ya’axché Community Outreach Officer, Auxebio Sho, had discussion of the project and later ask Auxebio to meet with Mrs. Cara Huddleston at the MMRF. Auxebio  arranged a date to meet with Cara at MMRF to discuss more about the project. Auxebio gave Cara a brief history of Ya’axche and its program areas, its goals in conservation and sustainable development for communities like Medina Bank. Cara wanted to help the community of Medina Bank and she pledge to seek funding to purchase the much needed submersible water pump.

Cara went to the US and began asking friends for donations to purchase the water pump that will be used for Medina Bank water system. It took a few months before she could get all the funds necessary for the pump. The pump was purchase in the US and took a few weeks before it finally arrived and delivered by Christopher and Cara at the Ya’axche PG office. The community had the pump and the PV but needed additional funds to purchase the electric wires, PVC pipes and fittings necessary to install the system.

The Village Council and the Water Board of Medina Bank agreed to provide additional funds of $1650.00bze to purchase these items which came to a total cost of $2465.18. The Golden Stream

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Items for Solar Water Pump (photo Ya'axché)

Watershed initiative (GSW) provides the additional matching fund of $815.18 to purchase items. Additional tools and materials were purchase for the training that had an additional cost of $113.55bze.

Cost of the Solar water pumping system in Median Bank Village

Four PV donated by Chris Nesbit, each PV have an output of 180 watts at 36 volts Direct Current-10000.00

Solar submersible water pump purchase by Mrs. Cara Huddleston: $3000.00

Additional items for installation purchased by Medina Bank and Ya’axche/GSW: $2638.73

Labour cost for digging & covering trench done by Medina Bank community: $630.00

Training in Installation/transportation done by Chris Nesbit and paid through Ya’axche/OAS: $3000.00

Total: Bze$19,268.70

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Spring At Medina Bank (photo Ya'axché)

The water source is from an underground spring at Deep River which pushes out clean water throughout the year. The solar submersible pump is set into spring approximately 6 ft bellow and is attached to a concrete frame above with a rope. The water is transported through 11/4 inch PVC pipes connected from the pump to the storage tank approximately 540 ft away. Electricity from the panels to the pump is through two 6 gauge wires that are 540 feet long; this is the distance between the pump to the Panels and storage tank. The 6 gauge wires are protected by one inch PVC pipes that are set along the water line from the panels to the pump. The solar panels are mounted on four 4 feet posts above ground level for easy installation and maintenance and also for easy removal in case of hurricane storm during the hurricane season.

The water is stored in a 2500 gal’s tank and the overflow is channelled to a concrete storage tank that holds 2000 gallons of water. Water from the storage tank is channelled through primary and secondary PVC lines that are connected to 38 households. On sunny hot days the water pump will pump over 3000 gallons of water per day and will keep the storage tank full throughout the day.

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Village Woman Transporting Drinking Water (photo Ya'axché)

The Leaders and community members were excited to see the water system working again, they no longer need to transport water from the spring and up the hill with gallons and buckets. The kids at school have clean drinking water and would be using the water for the garden. No burning of fossil fuel and if the system is monitored and maintain very often it will serve 10 to 20 years.

We greatly appreciate the assistant of Mrs. Cara Huddleston, Christopher Nesbit, and members of Medina Bank community to make this small project successful one of its first kind in the district.

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Solar Panels (photo Ya'axché)

Medina Bank is very thankful and happy for the Solar Water Pump.

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Community Of Medina Bank (photo Ya'axché)

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