Toucan Education Program
Tree Planting FAQs
WHAT IS THE '“Plant a tree reforestation program”?
The Plant a tree reforestation program is a result of a collaboration between Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) and Toucan Education Programs (TEP). It is a social enterprise that made a decision to take actionable steps to address the carbon CO2 emissions our business and other travel-related businesses contribute to Belize and the wider world. As an organization, we made a commitment to contribute to the health and protection of the natural resources of Belize.
The Plant A Tree Reforestation ProgramTM is a way individuals, groups, higher education institutions, businesses, and visitors to Belize can make a valuable contribution to carbon sequestration through the purchase of seedlings.
Partnership with FCD affords us the opportunity to fulfill this commitment.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF PLANTING TREES?
Trees play a vital role in the health and welfare of our ecosystem. Yet the forests in many areas in Belize and around the world are under increased threats associated with population growth and increased development to provide food, economic development, and services.
Our reforestation efforts will aid in the reduction of carbon dioxide while restoring ecosystems, contributing to livelihoods, women business engagement while increasing protection against the extremes of climate change in the region.
Additionally, trees play an invaluable role in cooling our planet.
WHAT DOES MY DONATION PROVIDE?
Your donation provides for the purchase and planting of juvenile trees suitable for the planting site, monitoring of seedlings for six months, and reporting on the success of reforestation efforts to you the stakeholder.
WHO PLANTS AND MONITORS SEEDLINGS?
Through the relationships that Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) has with community stakeholders, this initiative involves and supports other groups such as the Arenal Women’s group, FCD-Environmental Youth Group.
Other groups invited to participate in planting and monitoring of seedlings include Cayo Watershed Conservation Alliance (CWCA) and Caring for Our Rivers and Environment (CORE).
As the program scales, we invite and encourage other interested environmental groups to participate in this program. Please contact FCD by email at fcd@btl.net or by phone at 823-2657 to learn how you can get involved.
Partnering environmental groups involved in the planting of seedlings are also responsible for monitoring seedlings for six months and reporting their findings to FCD.
FCD will share this report with Toucan Education Programs who is responsible for disseminating the information to stakeholders.
WHAT TYPE OF TREES ARE PLANTED, AND WHAT AREA WILL MY TREES BE PLANTED IN?
The Arenal Women’s Group will source and propagate native species such as:
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), Cedar (Cedrela odorata),
Ramon/ Maya nut (Brosimum alicastrum), Ciricote (Cordia dodecandra),Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Inga (Inga edulis), etc.
Other species that are considered and suitable for reforestation of riparian areas include
Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum),
Fig/Amate (Ficus sp.),
Bamboo (Guadua sp.),
Flamboyant (Delonix regia) and Bullet Tree (Bucida buceras).FCD plans to use remote sensing to identify degraded areas in need of reforestation in the Vaca Reserve area and will identify suitable native species.
These native species are purchased from the women’s group for reforestation of designated areas.
This initiative will plant trees in conjunction with rehabilitation of areas burned by wildfire, public areas in communities, and rehabilitate riparian areas.
The reforestation of these areas will improve wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and recreation areas in need of vegetation diversity.
Riparian Zones: Areas along the river banks will be reforested using local species that are adequate for these zones.
Forest Reserves: the Vaca Forest Reserve was affected by forest fires and through remote sensing, affected areas have been identified.
These areas can also be prioritized for reforestation.
Community Public Areas: areas such as park and recreation areas in communities in the Cayo District.The contributor does not receive any guarantees on the future use of these trees and the trees are the property of the country of Belize.