BFREE Blog

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Introducing BFREE’s Newest Fellow, Barney Hall

By bfreebz | July 25, 2022 |

We are proud to introduce BFREE’s newest addition, Barney Hall. Barney has joined the BFREE Science and Education Fellowship Program as the third Wildlife Fellow since it was established in 2017. The Fellows Program is a two-year immersive training opportunity for recent Belizean junior college graduates who exhibit leadership potential combined with a clear interest…

Third Hicatee Conservation Forum and Workshop

By bfreebz | July 21, 2022 |

Developing a Conservation, Management, and Action Plan for the Central American River Turtle, Dermatemys mawii, in Belize Co-hosted by Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), Zoo New England (ZNE), and the Belize Fisheries Department, the Third Hicatee Conservation Forum and Workshop was held online via a Zoom webinar…

Freshwater and Terrestrial Turtle Survey – Year Two

By bfreebz | July 14, 2022 |

by Eric Munscher This year, we, members of the TSA – North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (NAFTRG), had a team of ten people fly down to trap turtles on the BFREE private reserve in southern Belize. If you have never been to Belize, I highly recommend it. The country is beautiful and the people…

Genetic Analysis of Dermatemys mawii

By bfreebz | July 12, 2022 |

BFREE’s second Hicatee (Central American River Turtle) Health Assessment of 2022 took place on July 5 and 6. These dates were much earlier than normal because there was an opportunity to conduct a much-needed genetics study. Dr. Natalia Gallego Garcia traveled from Colombia to collect the samples that will be used for genetic analysis. With…

Saying goodbye to 55 Hicatee turtles

By bfreebz | June 2, 2022 |

No, more like saying see you later! By Jonathan Dubon Watching your children grow up and eventually moving on may be hard for some, but it is something that takes place by nature. Although I am not talking about real children, it still feels the same when I release Hicatee turtles that I have helped…

Agami Heron Study

By bfreebz | May 23, 2022 |

Since 2016, I have served on the Agami Heron Working Group. This is a group of scientists and conservationists from throughout Central and South America working together to better understand a very secretive and therefore under-documented bird. My role is to ensure that we collect and submit annual nesting data on a small colony of…

World Migratory Bird Day 2022

By bfreebz | May 22, 2022 |

BFREE celebrated two important bird days on Saturday, May 14 – Global Big Day and World Migratory Bird Day. Global Big Day is an opportunity for citizen scientists to gather essential data about the birds in their area. While World Migratory Bird Day uses a different theme each year to draw attention to challenges migratory…

Cacao Fellow, Mark Canti, Explains the Process of Adopting a Tree from the BFREE Farm:

By bfreebz | May 3, 2022 |

By Mark Canti Hello, my name is Mark Canti. I’m the BFREE Cacao Fellow, and I oversee the cacao adoption program at BFREE in collaboration with the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund. I’m always very excited when I learn that a new tree has been adopted from our farm, and I am eager to tag the newly adopted tree.  I…

Celebrating Earth Day

By bfreebz | April 24, 2022 |

Students from Keene High School help plant cacao seeds.

Creating Strong Rootstock for Heirloom Cacao

By bfreebz | April 21, 2022 |

Grafting is the preferred method of vegetative propagation for cacao (Theobroma cacao). Grafting allows farmers to choose the qualities they want in their trees and reduce expenses related to sourcing cacao trees. But before a tree can be grafted, you must grow the rootstock. This year our seeds are coming from Ana Maria farm in…

Mailing Address
BFREE Field Station
PO Box 129
Punta Gorda
Belize, Central America


Phone

011.501.621.6685

Email
contact@bfreebz.org

US for BFREE is a Florida non-profit,
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

Mailing Address
BFREE Field Station
PO Box 129
Punta Gorda
Belize, Central America

Phone
011.501.621.6685

Email
contact@bfreebz.org

US for BFREE is a Florida non-profit,
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.