The National Protected areas of Belize are under constant threat from illegal logging. But although Guatemalan's pose the biggest threat in the Chiquibul rainforest, they are not the only ones that wreaking havoc in our forests. Yesterday two men, living in Belize, were caught rend handed in an illegal logging operation inside the Mayflower Bocawina National Park- that's in the Stann Creek District. The Park Rangers of the Mayflower Bocawina Environmental Development Group, were conducting regular patrols in the area when they heard the distinctive sounds of a chain saw. The Executive Director of APAMO works closely with the Bocawina conservation group and he was in fact the one that alerted the authorities about the situation.
Jose Perez - Executive Director. APAMO
"Yesterday, the rangers of the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, this park is located down 6 miles off the southern highway and this park has been plagued for a while now like many other parks in Belize with illegal extraction of timber. Yesterday, due to quick response and mobilization of the rangers and support of the Hopkins police, they were able to go into the park after the rangers heard chainsaws in the area and actually 
were able to catch 2 Hispanic males in the process of cutting down trees. They already had a pile of lumber. It seemed that it was there for a while already working and they were in the process of cutting down other trees. They were apprehended by the police. They are now in the police custody and they will be taken to the court tomorrow."
APAMO could not give us an estimate amount of damage that was done inside the reserve but what we do know is that among the trees that were felled yesterday include mahogany and sapodilla. The Forest Department are scheduled to make a damage assessment tomorrow. Meanwhile the two individuals remain in police custody pending charges.
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