Press Release: PACT Signs Third Year of a Three-Year Targeted Investment Programme with Belize Fisheries Department valued at $542,275.26
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PACT Signs Third Year of a Three-Year Targeted Investment Programme with Belize Fisheries Department valued at $542,275.26
July 26th, 2022 – The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) announces the signing of year three of an ongoing Targeted Investment Program with the Belize Fisheries Department under PACT’s 2018-2021 Conservation Investment Strategy. This third-year agreement for the programme entitled “Improving the Management of the Marine Reserve Network” is valued at $542,275.26 and represents the final portion of PACT’s 3-year investment agreement valued at $1,150,000.
The first two years of this programme have resulted in improvements and capacity building of Field Staff, as well as a 15% increase in successful prosecutions for fisheries infractions, and the leveraging of $510,748.93 additional funds into the BNPAS. Additionally, 5 marine reserve headquarters and 5 boat piers have been refurbished thus far.
The event was marked with a signing ceremony in the conference room at Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve. In attendance were the Honourable Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA), Ms. Kennedy Carillo, CEO of MBECA; Mr. Raineldo Guerrero, Vice Chair of PACT Board of Directors; Mrs. Nayari Diaz-Perez, Executive Director of PACT, Mr. Rigoberto Quintana, Ag. Fisheries Administrator, and invited staff of PACT, Fisheries Department, and the Government Press Office.
During the Ceremony, PACT representatives shared a background of the development and execution of the Conservation Investment Strategy, pointing out not only the impact on biodiversity management, but impacts on self-sustainability and socio-economic benefits as well. Ag. Fisheries Administrator Rigoberto Quintana outlined the infrastructure improvements and training in enforcement and management practices undertaken in the first two years of the programme. Finally, Minister Perez and CEO Carillo both expressed gratitude for the successful investment and hope to find additional avenues for synergy and cooperation in the future.
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PACT was formally established in January 1996 with the passing of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, No. 15 of 1995, creating the institution as a Statutory Board. PACT contributes to the effective management of Belize’s National Protected Areas System (NPAS) through strategic partnerships and high impact investments. The PACT is managed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of Government agencies, non-government organizations and individual experts.