effective signage in chiquibul forest jim casey greg sluss elica chan kate lucas in partnership with...

Effective Signage in Chiquibul Forest

Jim Casey Greg Sluss Elica Chan Kate Lucas

In partnership with Friends for Conservation and

Development

What is the Chiquibul Forest System?

Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD)

• Non-profit, NGO working out of San Jose Succotz, Cayo District

• Educate the public• Protect the environment of Belize• Manage the Chiquibul

The Chiquibul is under threat

• Illegal incursions (domestic and Guatemalan)– Deforestation – Hunting– Harvest of xate (palm leaf)– Agricultural clearing

• Management plan to enforce protection• Lack of system of standardized signage

State of Signage

• Unorganized

• Minimal

• Non standard

Benefits of Signage

• Direct behavior through education• Improve management technique and

consistency • Allows for safe and effective

implementation of tourism• Increase environmental awareness• Generally informative

Need for Education and Community Involvement

Biodiversity conservation through…• Community involvement• Environmental education• Economic alternatives

• Research Excursion to Chiquibul• Research for Manual

• Interviews• Draft Manual

• Meetings with FCD

The final product!

For the future…

A special thanks to:

Friends for Conservation and Development

Mr. Michael Preston

Jay Ashman

Kaela Gray