Belize Karst Habitat for Conservation’s Managerial Capacity Development
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust developed a CIS 2022/23 Transition Plan to guide PACT investments through its transition from its first Conservation Investment Strategy cycle to the new CIS 2023-2026. The transition plan identified PACT’s strategic direction in financing activities aimed at developing independent streams of funding to support natural resource management and the activities were expected to contribute to the COVID recovery phase of Protected Areas Management to ensure a sustainable rebound and continuous support of biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development.
Here’s a quick update on the work PACT’s Transition Plan has made possible at the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve (TMNR). There the Belize Karst Habitat for Conservation (BKHC) have been busy at work to improve the management effectiveness, governance, and income generation of the first of Belize’s Nature reserves.
Strategic Boundary Definition
Boundary definition plays a crucial role in protected areas management, in particular when balancing the conservation and community benefits. Clearly defined boundaries provide legal clarity, establishing the exact extent of protected area and helps prevent encroachment, land disputes, and unauthorized activities within the protected area. A clearly defined boundary also helps assess resource needs and monitoring management effectiveness and is a big factor in stakeholder engagement and community collaboration, letting our neighbors lend a hand in safeguarding our natural resources.
PACT’s support has enabled BKHC to demarcate the boundaries of the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. This way, the protected area is better defended against encroachment and harm from human activities, in addition to improving the accuracy of data collection.
Improving Management Effectiveness
Management effectiveness refers to how well a protected area is managed to achieve its conservation goals and objectives. The management effectiveness score can be seen as a reflection of various factors including technical capacity, available resources, and effective equipment that are available to a protected area management team.
With PACT’s backing, our partners at BKHC have implemented a Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT). This tool has the potential to unveil insights into the needs of the protected area, allowing for the possibility of improved management effectiveness.
Strategic Action Planning
Strategic action planning is crucial to protected areas management as it helps guide the direction and focus of conservation efforts in a systematic and coordinated manner. Having a strategic action plan helps with goal setting prioritization of activities and reveals opportunities for coordination and collaboration.
PACT’s Transition Plan has been instrumental in formulating an action plan for the TMNR. Equipped with technical gear, skilled personnel, and actionable data, BKHC have been able to chart a course for future success.
Gathering Community Insights
At PACT we’ve seen it proven again and again: Protected Areas Management works best when community is involved. The communities around protected areas are the first to received the ecological benefits, and a great source for insight on how to protect those resources. Apart from collecting useful local knowledge, reaching out to community members encourages stakeholder engagement and support.
Funding from PACT has enabled BKHC to conduct a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices survey within the communities adjacent to the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. This ensures that local perspectives are integrated, fostering a collaborative conservation model that includes the needs and potential input from community members and encourages good stewardship.
Operational Excellence in the Making
All these developments combined with forward-thinking operation planning spell out a promising future for the management of the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. PACT’s support ensures BKHC will have the necessary resources for their strategies, aligned with the broader goals of Belize’s conservation efforts, to see their successful outcomes.
The work being done at the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve isn’t just a local initiative. It’s a testament to PACT’s enduring commitment to Belize’s ecological well-being. Our conservation partners work diligently to showcase the real impact when data-driven and experience-guided conservation meets strategic financing.
Find out more about our Belize Karst Habitat Conservation and the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve from their website or Facebook page.