PACT and APAMO Strengthen Collaboration through Strategic Partnership Agreement
Belmopan, Belize, February 25, 2025 ─ Today, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO) signed a strategic partnership agreement during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Sustainable Development’s Auditorium in Belmopan. The primary objective of the partnership is to optimize the management effectiveness and operational capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) that manage critical protected areas in Belize. PACT will also provide BZ$319,000 in funding to support APAMO in executing activities focused on enhancing four key areas of collaboration:
- Financial Management Support
- Training and Capacity Building
- Communication and Public Awareness
- General Administrative and Technical Support
Dr. Kenrick Williams, Chairman of PACT’s Board of Directors, and Mr. Eli Miller, APAMO’s Vice Chairman, signed on behalf of their respective organizations. Mr. Abil Castañeda, PACT’s Executive Director, and Mr. Jose Perez, APAMO’s Executive Director, witnessed the signing.
Noting the importance of the strategic partnership agreement, CEO Williams said, “It is about securing Belize’s biodiversity, supporting the communities that depend on these ecosystems, and promoting a model of conservation that is inclusive, sustainable, and community-driven.”
APAMO represents an umbrella of NGOs and CBOs involved in managing protected areas in Belize. In 2019, APAMO’s Central Resource Center was established to support the institutional and sustainable development of protected areas in business development, marketing, financial planning, proposal writing, project management and reporting, event planning, and park management. Since APAMO’s establishment in 2007, PACT has partnered with the not-for-profit organization to ensure the sustainable use and protection of Belize’s natural resources.
Today’s signing is a reaffirmation of PACT’s commitment to its partners in conservation, like APAMO and CBOs, that serve as custodians of our natural heritage, safeguarding its ecological, social, and environmental importance.
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About the Protected Areas Conservation Trust
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is a statutory organization established as a Trust Fund under the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, Chapter 218 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020. PACT sources funds nationally and internationally to finance the sustainable management and development of Belize’s natural and cultural heritage through partnership and collaboration with government agencies, and non-governmental and community-based organizations that manage Belize’s National Protected Areas System. Through its accreditation to international climate financing institutions, PACT also provides access to funding for climate adaptation and mitigation projects.