PACT Awards $5.23 Million in Conservation Investments for the National Protected Areas System.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2022 — (Belmopan, BZE) The Protected Areas Conservation Trust announces that it is investing $1,671,968.58 in several protected areas in Belize through a one-year Transition Plan, along with three extraordinary investments totalling $3,4564,197.96. The award ceremony, saw eleven (11) protected areas co-managing entities as recipients of these investments. The investments are awarded to support much needed aid in the increase in independent revenue streams of income for effective protected areas management.
Eight Protected Areas Co-Managing entities received one-year investments under the Transition Plan. The Belize Audubon Society (BAS) received a $200,074.20 investment that will help in the improvement of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary’s management effectiveness. Belize Karst Habitat Conservation (BKHC) was awarded $250,000.00 to improve the management effectiveness of the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. The Belize Fisheries Department received a $249,999.24 investment for improving the management of the Marine Reserve Network. The Mayflower Bocawina Environmental & Development Group (MBEDG) was awarded an investment of $150,000.00 for the strengthening of the management and development of the Mayflower Bocawina National Park. The Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation & Development (SACD) received a $172,000.00 investment for the strengthening of their institutional governance and financial sustainability of the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The Toledo Institute for Development & Environment (TIDE) was given a $249,895.15 investment to help increase their management effectiveness of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and Payne’s Creek National Park, while enhancing protected area governance and introducing new financial sustainability initiatives. Ya’axché Conservation Trust received an investment of $250,000.00 to upscale Eco Tourism Belize to support sustainable conservation in the Maya Golden Landscape; and the Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association (STACA) was awarded $150,000.00 for strengthening the governance and management of the Billy Barquedier National Park. These one-year investments will facilitate the transition from current programs to new programs of work being planned for PACT’s next medium-term Conservation Investment Strategy which will provide more long-term, targeted financing for selected protected areas.
Under PACT’s Extraordinary Investment category there were three (3) recipients. The Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO) was awarded $200,000.00 for the strengthening of protected areas management through enhanced institutional governance and capacity. The National Biodiversity Office (NBIO) of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management is being awarded $346,762.50 for strengthening the protected areas system through strategic interventions. Meanwhile, Friends of Conservation and Development (FCD) received $3,017,435.46 to be distributed over a four (4) year period. This investment will be used to strengthen the landscape management in the Western-Maya Mountains, including the Chiquibul National Park, Vaca Forest Reserve, Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (Bald Hills), Caracol Archaeological Reserve (Valentin area), Chiquibul Forest Reserve (Las Cuevas Research Station), and the Chiquibul Cave System.
PACT’s Conservation Investment Program is targeted towards maximizing conservation return on investments. By aiming to increase revenue generation and management effectiveness in these protected areas, the expected outputs of all these investments align with PACT’s mission to sustainably enhance Belize’s socio-economical systems through strategic financing and partnerships. PACT would like to congratulate all recipients and thank them for contributing to the enhancement of Belize’s protected areas.
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PACT is a statutory body that was formally established in January 1996 with the passing of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, No. 15 of 1995. The functions of PACT are to encourage and promote, for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations of the people of Belize, the provision, protection, conservation, and enhancement of the natural and cultural resources of Belize. The PACT is managed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of Government agencies, non-government organizations and individual experts.