Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2025. 8:15 am CST.
By Zoila Palma: Earlier this week, Ya’axché Conservation Trust raised alarm over what it calls a surge in illegal activities threatening the Columbia River Forest Reserve in southern Belize.
Following a 10-day enforcement operation in August led by the Belize Defense Force, Ya’axché rangers documented extensive illegal logging and agricultural clearances within the reserve, including a six-kilometer road with wooden bridges built to facilitate cross-border timber extraction.
While Chiquibul is under control and protected now from Guatemalan ranchers and poachers, the organization called on the Government to act immediately.
BDF Commander Brigadier Gen. Azariel Loria says that more presence is needed to protect the reserve.
“In the past we had problems in the Chiquibul, The Chiquibul is under control but the Chiquibul and the Columbia Forest Reserve they are very remote areas. We need more presence Of course we need presence. It’s an area where we would need more presence from government be it the forest department or whichever NGO present at the Chiquibul we have FCD that are assisting in such endeavors and operations. We in the South because we have been having a lot of concerns with the transnational drug trade. We have not been able to focus, despite the fact that, that we are responsible for the territorial integrity of Belize. We have to pay a degree of attention to the environment and the Guatemalans, they continue to venture across into Belize and Conduct illegal logging but, we have conducted two major operations, one in March and one that happened last month. And we have discovered what you have seen on TV,” Loria told 7News Belize.
The BDF commander asserted that more operations are scheduled for that area to increase long-term presence in the reserve.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.
© 2025, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
The post BDF Commander calls for stronger presence to protect Columbia River Forest Reserve appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2025. 8:15 am CST. By Zoila Palma: Earlier this week, Ya’axché Conservation Trust raised alarm over what it calls a surge in
The post BDF Commander calls for stronger presence to protect Columbia River Forest Reserve appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
