Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Congratulations, FCD Environmental Youth Group!  They won Club of the Year at last night's Belize Youth Awards in Belize City.  Well deserved, as they work on many different projects around Cayo that focus on sustainability and environmental awareness.  

"FCD Environmental Youth Group is Awarded Club of the Year at the National Youth Awards 2019. This Award is Awarded to an organization that has consistently led, engaged and encouraged youth development activities and programmes that positively impact young people in whatever field of development."

Feelgood news of the day.  The FCD Environmental Youth Group teamed up with the Positive Environmental Group to do a river clean up in Bullet Tree.  A big thanks to all that helped make the river a nicer place.  Betta No Lita!

"FCD Environmental Youth Group joined forces with the Positive Environmental Group (PEG) in a river cleanup which was carried out at Bullet Tree Falls. The river cleanup was a success and we want to thank PEG for inviting us."

The FCD EYG and Todos Por Un Mundo Verde signed the historical Declaration of Yaxha.  The declaration pledges their continued support of conservation efforts for the Chiquibul and Mopan River Valley.  They want to eliminate pollution of the Chiquibul, Mopan, Macal, and Belize rivers.  Congratulations to all the youths that participated in this herculean effort.  

"Friends for Conservation and Development Environmental Youth Group Acting President Ricky Cunil and President of Todos Por Un Mundo Verde Sindy Sagastume sign historical youth declaration for Belize and Guatemala the Declaraion of Yaxha along with their delegations. DECLARATION OF YAXHA We, the youth members of the environmental groups Todos Por Un Mundo Verde established in Melchor de Mencos Peten, Guatemala and FCD Environmental Youth Group established in San Jose Succotz, Belize, meeting at El Sombrero Eco Lodge, Yaxha, Flores Peten, Guatemala on March 2nd and 3rd, 2019, express our commitments to join efforts to work together to work together for the conservation and protection of natural resources that we have in our countries ad for the Chiquibul and Mopan River which we share... 

It is worth mentioning that the groups have implemented activities such as: awareness and education outreach, local and binational clean-up campaign, reforestations, binational workshops and exchanges and dissemination of information through the media, all these contributing to the strengthening of both groups.

Recognizing that pollution is currently a global problem that seriously affect humanity since developed or developing countries are the ones that produce the most garbage, many of these ending up in the oceans, and negatively affecting the lives of many species leading to their extinction. Pollution by smoke is the cause of many diseases such as cancer or asthma in humans, mainly in large cities mostly in the Asian continent, but we are not oblivious to this reality. Our ecosystem is directly affected by deforestation, illegal logging, forest fires, clandestine gold ranching, poisoning of rivers for fishing, all leading to the extinction of many species that inhabit rivers and terrestrial species. Due to our local geography, the headwaters of the Chiquibul River originates in the Maya Mountains of Belize and this river crosses over to Guatemala, passing through several communities that are settled on the riverbanks and joins the Macal River still in the territory of Guatemala in the community of Los Encounters. The Mopan River then later enters Belizean territory and joins the Macal River which discharges into the Caribbean Sea. Humans are the only specie that causes pollution par excellence because they produce waste in almost all the activities carried out and much of that garbage do not reach their proper destinations at the garbage dump sites; thus causing pollution of the environment and especially of our waters.

Only by working together can we do great things for our environment, which is why we ratify our commitment to work hard to achieve the fulfillment of the visions, commitments and recommendations that have been embodied in this binational youth declaration that will guide our actions to be taken by the organized groups in Guatemala and Belize respectively. VISIONS We, the youth have a Vision of a world where the natural resources in our countries are valued and protected, where we can coexist in harmony and sustainability with nature without compromising our environment. 1. Strengthen the collaboration work to achieve the accomplishments of the activities embodied in binational actions plan 2018-2019 developed jointly by both environmental groups. 2. Together, work towards the mitigation of the pollution of our rivers by contamination such as garbage, toxic waste, extensive livestock and grey waters. 3. To be directly involved with the topic of environmental awareness and education; with this we seek to educate children and young people so that they can change their attitudes and behaviours, thus instilling a culture of protection and conservation of our natural resources. 4. With the resources available, work for the conservation, protection and mitigation of the pollution that affects our rivers and which can be carried out through presentation and workshops in the areas where there is greater contamination. 5. Carry out clean-up campaigns and involve the people who reside in the areas where the activities are carried out in order to influence a change in environmental culture."

The Friends of Conservation and Development Environmental Youth Group had their meeting to elect this year's committee.  It's great to see so many youths making a difference in the world.

"The FCD Environmental Youth Club was established by FCD which is an NGO.  The club was founded on the 15, April, 2011.  This club is an environmentally friendly club which is set out to promote sustainability and awareness to the public."

Feelgood news of the day.  The Friends for Conservation and Development Environmental Youth Group organized another Mopan river clean-up yesterday, and they collected 87 bags of trash.  Thank you, FCD EYG! 

Edit: They've completed their Calla Creek Village Cleanup.

If only there was a way to prevent litter, they could focus on other projects, like scholarship fundraising and helping the aged.  Beta No Litta!

"FCD Environmental Youth Group conducted a River and Roadside Clean Up along with members of the Mormon Helping Hands Youth Group in Succotz. We want to thank FCD for providing us with the canoes and the Village Council for their Support in another successful clean up. We collected 87 bags of garbage in total, garbage that was collected from within the river and river banks as well as the roadside. Join the movement and helps us have a clean and health Mopan River. We will be conducting a river clean up tomorrow May 5, 2019 at Calla Creek Village."

Feelgood news of the day.  The FCD Environmental Youth Group celebrated World Water Day with a river clean up, and they also installed garbage drums along the Mopan in Succotz.  Thanks, FCD EYG!  Hopefully the drums will be used, which will free them up to concentrate on other important community service projects.

"Today FCD Environmental Youth Group while conducting a river cleanup camping along the Mopan River in commemoration of world water day they installed garbage drums. This is part of an MOU signed with the Village Council where FCD Environmental Youth Group adopted one mile of the river bank. The much needed drums where installed in key areas to alleviate the problem of improper garbage disposal by people who visit the Mopan River.

FCD Environmental Youth Group continues committed to the protection of our beautiful Mopan River."

The Friends for Conservation and Development Environmental Youth Group had a cleanup campaign this weekend.  They are located in Succotz, as is the FCD.

Their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/FCD-Environmental-Youth-Group/221645711231948