Solar Power System Upgrade!

Solar Power System Upgrade!

Thanks to everyone who donated to our Solar campaign last year! We have recently completed the successful installation of the new equipment, which is now fully functional, and powering BFREE into the future. The transport of all the equipment to the remote location of the field station wasn’t easy, as the rains that have continued…

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CrioCo Wild Chocolate Shop

CrioCo Wild Chocolate Shop

Announcing – CrioCo Opens Wild Chocolate Shop in Placencia, Belize A Farm-to-Bonbon Celebration of Craft, Community, and Conservation CrioCo is proud to announce the December 2025 opening of its Wild Chocolate Shop on the Tipsy Strip along the main sidewalk in Placencia, Belize, inviting locals and visitors into a farm-to-bonbon chocolate experience grounded in craftsmanship,…

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Snake Identification and Safety Workshop for Silk Grass Farms

Snake Identification and Safety Workshop for Silk Grass Farms

By Heston Castillo On February 25, 2026, Jacob Marlin of BFREE facilitated a Snake Identification, Handling, Safety and Transport Workshop for senior staff at Silk Grass Farms. Due to my interest and growing experience with reptiles, I had the honor of participating in the workshop as the assistant facilitator. Heston Castillo is featured on the…

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Creating Empathy for Wildlife Workshop

Creating Empathy for Wildlife Workshop

BY JAYC CANTUN On January 27th and 28th, I attended the Creating Empathy for Wildlife Workshop which utilized the North American Association of Environmental Education Guidelines and was co-hosted  by The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. I was one of 13 participants from NGOs across Belize and I…

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Volunteering at BFREE

Volunteering at BFREE

By Kiyana Reynolds Volunteering with the North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (NAFTRG) at BFREE was a truly life-changing experience that deepened my love for nature and strengthened my commitment to conservation. From the moment I arrived, the BFREE team was incredibly welcoming, creating an atmosphere of support, curiosity, and shared purpose. The journey to…

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Summer Survey of Reptiles & Amphibians

Summer Survey of Reptiles & Amphibians

By Parker Gibbons At the end of June and into July, I had the privilege of coordinating a Herpetological BioBlitz at BFREE. I brought along eight people with the sole purpose of finding, photographing, and documenting as many reptile and amphibian species as possible. Over the course of 6 days, we managed to find an…

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Scaling-Up Local Stewardship: A Summer of Listening, Learning, and Advancing Freshwater Conservation in Belize

Scaling-Up Local Stewardship: A Summer of Listening, Learning, and Advancing Freshwater Conservation in Belize

By Jaren Serano, Dermatemys (Hicatee) Social Scientist During my work as Dermatemys (Hicatee) Program Coordinator, I focused on ensuring the Conservation and Management Plan for the Hicatee turtle was finalized and approved by stakeholders including the Belize Government. Through this process, I became particularly interested in the human dimensions of the conservation program for the…

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A Tasty Collaboration

A Tasty Collaboration

During May, Caputo’s did a limited release of 250 Wild Criollo bars as part of their Guardians of Wild Cacao chocolate bar series. The Collaboration from BFREE’s Perspective – by Jacob Marlin The first time BFREE made chocolate bars with our 100% wild Criollo cacao beans in any quantity was through a collaboration with the…

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Wildlife Ambassador Training

Wildlife Ambassador Training

BFREE Staff gather in the BFREE Commons as they prepare for their training program. By Rocento Pau, BFREE Office Administrator On May 9 and 10, the staff of BFREE participated in Belize Wildlife Ambassador Training. This program was offered by Dr. Isabelle Paquet Durand and her team from the Wildlife and Referral Clinic (BWRC) based…

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My BFREE Experience

My BFREE Experience

by Ashira Rancharan My time at BFREE was nothing short of magical. I’ve always loved nature, but being there felt different; I wasn’t just an observer and instead was a part of all that was happening. I’m someone who has always been a little hesitant about volunteering and afraid that I might not do things…

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