Belize, 09 de enero, 2020 (IUCN). Another farm in Petén was also visited where the group was introduced to the Jaguar’s Forever Program (Jaguares para siempre). The objective was to show the Belizean farmers that predation can be controlled by using techniques that are cost effective and friendly to the jaguars and the farmers.

Participants were members from Friends of Vaca Forest Reserve (FVFR) and Maya Green Growers Cooperative from the village of San Antonio and the Vaca Area, Belize; from the Guatemala side the members of the livestock cooperative working with improved techniques with the use of silvopastoral systems participated.  

This exchange visit gave farmers from Peten the opportunity to describe and express the advantage of establishing silvopastoral systems and forage banks rich in protein and energy. This was an eye opener for farmers from the Belize side who saw that it is not extensive pasture that you need but an intensive one with multiple divisions and a good protein bank as supplemental feeding during the dry season.  

I am happy to learn from farmers who have dedicated time in learning how to do the silage. I commit myself to copy from your experience and start doing my silage for my cattle, said Gary Canto President of MGGC.

Friends of Vaca Forest Reserve as well as the Maya Green Grower Cooperative are involved in both vegetable production and cattle rearing.

First, I want to congratulate all of you for being committed and believing that such a program can benefit the future of your livestock. I am involved at the moment in sheep rearing and fully commit myself to start my bank and silage, said Mr. Hamid Espat: member of FVFR.

It is expected that the Belizean Farmers who do not have a protein bank will commence the process of establishing their protein bank as well as the preparation of silage. Those who already have established their protein bank promised to improve it by paying closer attention to what they are growing to ensure that their livestock get the best food possible.

This exchange visit is part of the workplan developed for the two groups that the Selva Maya Natural Resources Protection Project (BMZ/KfW/IUCN) is assisting in the Cayo District, Belize. One of the objectives of the Project is to protect the Selva Maya while building the capacity of the farmers in using environmentally friendly techniques that will be beneficial to both the farmers and the environment and in this case the protected areas around which the farmers work.