Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Victoria Peak Natural Monument, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument

Blue Hole Natural Monument

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

• Enhance the management and governance of priority protected areas by addressing existing limitations (strengthening on-site infrastructure/equipment for patrolling, poaching control, developing capacity of staff)
• Support local communities’ initiatives aiming to enhance the livelihoods of local people whilst effectively contributing to protected areas management.

Priority need addressed

Management Effectiveness

Project activities

The project will build BAS’ capacity to effectively manage and use the four high priority protected areas as landscape and seascape models
— Centres of Excellence– for other protected areas in Belize, with a focus on promoting improved long term biodiversity conservation, protection, provision of ecosystem services, and socio-economic benefits across the Belize NPAS.

The project has five objectives with activities carried out to attain the latter, highlights include:

1. Improving enforcement and surveillance—development of framework/plan, training, equipment, on the ground implementation via patrols.
2. Improve sustainable tourism product—marketing, visitor surveys, equipment, and ensuring public resource use plan implementation.
3. Build research and monitoring program—develop in house database and disseminate information local and internationally.
4. Build capacity for adaptive management.
5. Improve livelihoods of communities with income diversification initiatives; improve community communication through development of communication strategy.

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

At the end of the project, two management zones (CBWS/VP and HMC/BH) will be prepared for Green List Certification – a first for Belize. BAS will have improved its capacity to effectively manage and use four high priority protected areas (CBWS/VP & HMC/BH) as landscape and seascape models — Centres of Excellence — for other protected areas in Belize and the region. These areas will have systems in place for improved long-term biodiversity conservation, protection and provision of ecosystem services, and socioeconomic benefits across Belize’s National Protected Areas System.

• Four protected areas will have strategic landscape and seascape enforcement models developed and implemented.
• Four protected areas will have in place a sustainable Tourism plan and marketing to ensure high visitor safety and satisfaction and has the infrastructure, equipment, public use plans, policies contributing towards financial sustainability. 
• BAS will have a management information system in place to support data collection and analysis that informs adaptive management of CBWS/VP and HMC/BH and provides accessible information to support conservation and communication strategies.
• BAS will increase its score for management effectiveness with improved governance and institutional frameworks.
• Pressure on the natural resources of both CBWS/VP and HMC/BH will be reduced through improved community and stakeholder communication, engagement and socio-economic benefit.

Download the project infofiche.

Implementing organisations

Belize Audubon Society (BAS)

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