World Nature Conservation Day Commemorated in Lamanai

World Nature Conservation Day Commemorated in Lamanai

World Nature Conservation Day is observed annually on July twenty-eighth, to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. The Institute of Archeology hosted an event today at the Lamanai Archeological Reserve, in light of an ongoing preservation and conservation project. Today’s activities included a series of lecturers, as well as a river tour. Dozens of trees were also planted along the fringes of the reserve. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there and filed the following report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Meet twenty-four-year-old Luis Gonzalez, the park manager at Lamanai Archeological Reserve.

Luis Gonzalez, Park Manager, Lamanai Archeological Reserve

“First of all, my job as my title says is park manager, so I mange the day to day operations in the site, especially with the rangers working with us and the tour guides. So, one of the points I manage the tour guides to see how much people they are bring, to see that they obey all laws and regulations, not running on the temples, destroying the temples, and also the maintenance of the site with the rangers.”

Gonzalez is a resident of Indian Church Village, a small Mayan community that borders the reserve. Majority of the employees here are residents of Indian Church Village. The Institute of Archeology relies on community partnership as a key component of its conservation efforts within the area.

Josue Ramos, Senior Archeologist, Institute of Archaeology

“Over the past we have a history of trying to engage the community, especially here at Lamanai. The Community in Indian Church has benefited a lot from this archeological reserve, but it was more centered on the archeology and tourism aspect. But now we are trying to bring awareness of not just looking at archeological component. It is a mixture of things that we have to collectively take care of all of these things. But the new renewed engagement of the community is also part of the conservation project here to train the locals so that they can know how to do the conservation here, the maintenance so they can also be employed.”

The Lamanai Archaeological Reserve is recognized as the largest living forested area in that part of the Orange Walk District. It sits on just over nine hundred acres of land. Surrounding lands have been deforested for agricultural purposes. The Forestry Department and the Department of Environment have partnered with the Institute of Archeology in commemoration of World Nature Conservation Day.

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, Department of Environment

“So we are here at Lamanai, this entire area is a reserve, it is protected. It is protected primary for its cultural remains, right in terms of the historic pottery, etc. But also, the entire areas is primarily protected from an environmental standpoint, an ecological standpoint. You cannot clear, destroy or extract anything from this area. The reason why that is so is because if we remove, extract and try to develop this area then you will have significant impact on the archeological remains right. We have a beautiful temple right behind us. The reason why we protect a good amount of area around us now is because we are enjoying now and we want future generations to enjoy it. We also want the entire world to enjoy it.”

When Gonzalez decided to pursue studies in park management at Escuela Mexico several years ago, he was inspired by a growing love for the environment and the conservation work that was taking place within the reserve.

Luis Gonzalez

“Well first of all because I love the environment. I love working in nature and protecting the historical things for the value of the future. You know, I live close to the site. I am from Indian Church. So, all my life I have been involved in nature. So, I like the animals, protecting them. I have learnt a lot about the history of the Mayas. So., it is a good opportunity for me to be able to be working in a place I like. One of my very important view that I have is if we have people working from the village they know exactly what we are protecting. So they will inform the village to not do this and that to have everybody protecting the site.”

Among its ongoing work, the Institute of Archeology is currently engaged in the Lamanai Conservation and Preservation Project. The three hundred and fifty thousand U.S dollars grant funded program is geared towards preserving the high temple within the reserve.

Dr. Melissa Badillo, Director, Institute of Archaeology

“People might be familiar that over the years the structure was closed and off limits because the face of the structure was deteriorated. So we have received funding in the sum of just over three hundred and fifty thousand dollars from the U.S. Embassy and we are at the half way mark with the project. So, if you come and visit right now you we see a new façade of the high temple, going in the ball court area in from the high temple’s people will be able to appreciate a holistic view of the ball court area, all the structures around it and the high temple.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.