Since 2020, TBZTEC has been part of a dynamic team of fire management practitioners in Central Belize. The Maya Forest Corridor Fire Working Group was founded by TBZTEC, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (MBWS), Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, and the University of Belize’s Environmental Research Institute (UB-ERI) in collaboration with communities and private landowners.

The MFCFWG’s purpose is to improve fire management practices for the benefit of public health, livelihoods, and ecosystem services in a unified approach.

Initial funding was secured by TBZTEC through a grant from the US Embassy Belize which enabled the Working Group to access training and tools to enhance capacity and a grassroots response to fire risks in our landscape.

To date, the MFCFWG and its partners have trained 50 personnel in basic wildland fire management practices, and equipped them with personal protective equipment and basic fire suppression tools. Some of these personnel went on to receive advanced training in wildlife fire operations, and the Incident Command System.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Wellness, and the Belize National Fire Service an additional 50 community health workers that serve the Belize and Cayo Districts have received an introduction to fire management and emergency response training. These wonderful professionals will help promote responsible fire management to safeguard public health in their communities.

With a view to empower the next generation of fire management practitioners, the MFCFWG has also worked with Belizean tertiary education institutions to provide field courses to 70 undergraduate students in fire management and fire effects monitoring.

These courses also proved invaluable for 13 protected area managers from around Belize working in “sister landscapes” outside of the Maya Forest Corridor.

With continued training, networking, public education and resource building, TBZTEC and its partners will carry on its commitment to reduce the threats of uncontrolled wildfires to wildlife, ecosystems, and public health and safety in the Maya Forest Corridor.