Home     Testimonials    South Africa 2001    Belize 2005      Contact me 

Have Adze Will Travel

Belize Project Description - For pictures click here
The malformed, stunted or irregular growth of trees, hollow trees etc will be rejected by the forester, timber buyer, sawmill and furniture maker as they all want to see a straight defect free tree butt as from it will come strong clean planks of timber; only good for wood chips or firewood - unless- I get there first. 25 years of experience has taught me to search out for what we may call defective timber and there you will find beauty.

In February 2005 I set up a workshop in the Maya Forest in Belize to develop my work in Functional Art. In the rain forest in Belize there is plenty of discarded timber that would provide a terrific challenge to extend my skills and give the local people a useful source of income that will also be of benefit to the survival of the rain forest. I was staying at Las Cuevas with Maya Forest Enterprises Ltd who work to help manage and conserve the Maya Forest in partnership with the Government of Belize.

Maya Forest

Las Cuevas Research Station and Explorers Lodge lie in the heart of the Chiquibul Rainforest in the Maya Mountains of Belize providing a comfortable base for scientists undertaking important biological and archaeological field research, and for visitors wishing to experience this remote, unexplored part of the world. Las Cuevas works to help manage and conserve the Maya Forest in partnership with the Government of Belize.

The Mission is in support of the Government of Belize's commitment to

Agenda 21 of the Convention on Biodiversity (1992) and is important because tropical rainforests are coming under increasing threat globally. 

Whilst they only cover 7% of the Earth’s land surface they contain more than 50% of the world’s total plant and animal life.  Deforestation throughout much of Central America means that the Chiquibul Rainforest in Belize is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the region for many endangered species. 

Working with a global team of scientist the research conducted at Las Cuevas is providing the knowledge and practical initiatives for an economically and environmentally sustainable future for this and other tropical forests.

Las Cuevas Partners

Government of Belize Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources

Conservation Management Institute

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh