Belize Community Development

About the Campaign:

The Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S) is a small grassroots ecological conservation society that has established a research and education center, nestled in the foothills of the Belize Maya Mountains. We are a small biologist-managed facility with a focus on wildlife ecology research, organic agriculture, sustainable living, and post-secondary education. We believe strongly that ecological conservation can only happen with community involvement, and thus we provide a wide range of community programes to members of our community and involve locals in all aspects of our research and education initiatives.

In our community and in widespread areas of Belize slash and burn agriculture which involves destroying and burning of huge ancient land areas is the primary method of farming used by subsistence farmers resulting in habitat being lost from agricultural expansion.

Over the years we have invited farmers to our center to partake in various workshops on sustainable agriculture and we have found them to be very receptive and interested in new techniques. However, due to limited funding and personnel we are limited in how many workshops can be offered and what tools can be provided to local farmers.

Due to the effects of Covid 19 pandemic this method of farming has readily increased as the country has remained on lockdown, restricting travel and tourism, which was the countries main revenue and source of employment for its residents. As the local people of Belize have lost their means of livelihood to support their themselves and their families, they are naturally turning to farming to generate self-sufficient income.

We aim to support and teach these families alternative ways of income and farming through more sustainable and environmentally friendly methods.

Money raised will go towards:

·         Belize Farming Co-operative, organisation facilitated by T.R.E.E.S and partnered with village leaders and commercial farmers to educate and support them in sustainable farming practices.

·         A Community Backyard Gardens Initiative teaching families how to grow and maintain gardens for their own personal use

·         Farm to Table Production Scheme inviting people through workshops to experiment and learn food processing techniques and recipes as a source of income.

·         T.R.E.E.S Permaculture and Agroforestry Plan to work with the Belize Forestry Department to monitor and increase protection of land areas

·       Community Food Donation Scheme, we have successfully provided food donations to 22 families in 2 villages. We hope to continue these donations to families through increasing our own onsite organic farming, providing employment for locals through working on our site and increasing cultivation for donations

·         Please help us to continue making a difference to wildlife and people in Belize.