| Rafael Manzanero and the Friends for Conservation have become household names while doing their work to raise awareness about the Chiquibul National Park - and the many pressures it faces.
Well, Manzanero is going to Taiwan, hoping to attract support from NGO's over there to assist the FCD in trying to protect the Chiquibul's endangered scarlet macaw population. He was in Belize City today to work on his Taiwanese Visa, and the media caught up with him:
Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD
"The idea is really to present more about our work and we are also trying to do the protection of the Scarlet Macaws and I would want to present that and see if there would be any NGOs over there that might be interested in supporting the protection of the Macaws here in Belize."
Reporter
"At this time, what's the status in relation to the number of Scarlet Macaws that remain in the area, if you've done that type of survey?"
Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD
"Over the years we only know that there are 100 pairs of Macaws that are left in Belize. We have not really done a comprehensive study for quite some years. It is rather difficult because of the mountains to see if the same population that we see across the Cayo area is the same like in the Toledo District, so we do require a lot of footwork in terms of counting the full population, but we consider that the numbers are still relatively small."
Reporter
"Obviously, in terms of your trip, perhaps any type of assistance that you would get, would be to assist in that sense as well."
Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD
"I would hope that they would be able to support a particular specie. I know that there is a program that they have in terms of endangered species, but that's a program worldwide and so the crossing my fingers that they might be able to support us."
He leaves next week for one week in Taiwan. And in other news related to the FCD, all pledges made at the Chiquibul Telethon held in October of last year have been collected. This translates to 327 thousand dollars.
Manzanero says that over 100 persons have sent in applications to become new FCD rangers, and the selection process has been completed. The new rangers are being trained right now.
| 