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Sustainable Harvest International779 North Bend Road
Surry, ME 04684
P: 207.669.8254
F: 207.669.8255
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Until recently, Belize's environment remained relatively untouched, but now Belize joins other less developed countries in confronting serious environmental degradation.  The Toledo district in the south is the poorest district in Belize and perhaps the most threatened.  A very rainy region with a unique coastal ecosystem, Toledo contains an extremely rich mountain habitat, which is home to many rare and endangered species.  Unfortunately, this area is suddenly facing serious deforestation problems caused by two major factors: slash-and-burn farming and the sale of logging rights to big timber companies by the cash-strapped Belizean government. 

SHI began working in the Toledo district of Belize in March 1999 with one field trainer.  A second field trainer was hired in the fall of 2000 and a third in 2003. Nana Mensah began work as our first Belize Country Director in 2006.  The field trainers are Mayan and speak the native language of the local villages.  Today, our Belizean program is an independent affiliate of Sustainable Harvest International, with their own local Board of Directors. Four local field trainers work with 205 families in 25 communities of the Toledo district.

Sustainable Harvest Belize Director, Nana Mensah, reports impressive totals for tree planting efforts. "We have worked with families to plant more than 174,000 trees during fish year 2007. These trees are restoring the land, holding the soil in place and providing food and income to the families we work with."

Click here to meet the SHI Staff in Belize.
Click here to read testimonials from our Belize program.