Governance Framework for Chiquibul Still Being Discussed

But to have better management of a much broader area, there needs to be a clear definition of the responsibilities for each agency involved.  Manzanero says that part of the plan is still in the making.

Rafael Manzanero

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD

“Certainly, Marion, all of these areas are already under protection and so it is nothing really new. Some of the already have management plan, for example, the Mountain Pine Ridge, they have just finalized a management plan for the area. From what I understand, it is pretty much on the last end of finalizing that management agreement. The Chiquibul National Park has just also finalized a review. So that will be an updated management plan. Caracol might probably also have the same concept as NICH. The Chiquibul National Reserve, which is really more for extraction of timber. There are also management regimes for the utilization of those resources. So in a way, there’s already data, but I think that one of the key points also is the matter of consultations. There have also been some consultations done, some up until last year. The sustainable development plan for the Mountain Pine Ridge and Chiquibul and Caracol, there is a sustainable management plan that was developed for that. So there’s already foundation. The issue has been the governance framework, what is the role of the FCD. What is the role of the other institutions. Does it really mean – we’re already are going to have rangers in the Baldy Beacon area of the Mountain Pine Ridge, but these are still sort of isolated activities. How are we able to do a larger context of framework for governance, not only for FCD. I’m talking in terms of the generic agencies of the government and other institutions that are there. So I think in a way it is more putting a framework on how do we really go into that long-term vision for the management and conservation of that area.”

Marion Ali

“Okay, is there a timeline for that?”

Rafael Manzanero

“From what I understood from Minister Habet, he felt that this coming year, which is 2022 would be the year that we put this thing together. So we are pretty much ready, of course. The Chiquibul is the largest of those protected areas, so certainly we have a lot of data. It is the most complicated one for sure, as you know over the years, so certainly we feel that we are prepared to be there in terms of what it will require to come up with that framework.”