LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS: Towards Sustainable Fishing Communities in the Mesoamerican Reef Region

October, 2008 Livelihood Transitions: Towards Sustainable Fishing Communities in the Mesoamerican Reef Region

April 2006 Compilation Matthew McPherson

Desing and technical review Nestor Wincleoxhel L.

Edition María del Rosario Calderón

Cover photo Matthew McPherson.

The denominations used in this report or the way in which the data it contains is presented, do not imply on behalf of the members of the Global Conservation Program from USAID, any judgment over the legal status or countries, territories, cities or zones or of therities, nor from the delimitation of their frontiers or boundaries.

About this Report: This report was made possible through support privid- edd by the Global Conservation Program, U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Award No. LAG-A-00-99-00045-00. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily re ect the wiews of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

ii LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRESENTATION v

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xi

INTRODUCTION xiii

CHAPTER 1 REGIONAL AND LOCAL ECONOMIC TRENDS IN THE MAR REGION 1 1.1 Regional population trends 1 1.1.1 Demographics 1 1.1.2 Regional Development and Economic Indicators 2 1.2 Regional economic sector trends 3 1.2.1 Tourism 3 1.2.2 Agriculture and Forestry 6 1.2.3 Fishing and Fish Processing 7 1.2.4 Manufacturing and other activities 8 1.3 Local economies in the platform site communities 8 1.3.1 Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Coastal Communities 8 1.3.2 Communities of Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve 10 1.3.3 Communities of Punta de Manabique 13 1.3.4 Communities in Cayos Cochinos 16

CHAPTER 2 DEMAND AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES 19 2.1 Demand and opportunities related to the tourism market 19 2.1.1 Demand for Tour Guides 20 2.1.2 Demand for Collateral Offerings for the Tourist Market 26 2.1.3 Tourism Based Alternative Livelihood Opportunities 29 2.2 Opportunities and demand linked to domestic markets 31 2.2.1 Trades: Enhancing existing skills 31 2.2.2 Small Businesses, Cooperatives and Value Added Opportunities 33 2.2.3 Summary of Domestic Market Opportunities 36 2.3 Opportunities linked to export markets 37 2.3.1 Seaweed Cultivation 37 2.3.2 Conch Mariculture 38 2.3.3 Grouper Farming 38 2.3.4 Summary of Opportunities for Development of Goods and Services for Export Markets 39

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS iii CHAPTER 3 RAPID ASSESSMENT OF ECOTOURISM GUIDE TRAINING AS AN ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD STRATEGY 41 3.1 Total numbers and types of training in alternative livelihoods 42 3.2 Impact and success to date of training programs 43

CHAPTER 4 COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS AGENDA 51 4.1 Lessons learned from evaluated experiences 51 4.2 Essential elements for success 56 4.3 Five pillars of the alternative livelihoods strategy 58 4.4 Community alternative livelihoods agenda 62 4.5 Speci0 c opportunities for immediate implementation 66

NOTES 69

LIST OF REFERENCES 81

APPENDIX I 85

APPENDIX II 88

APPENDIX III 92

iv LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS PRESENTATION

The Mesoamerican Reef region corresponds to one been the best mechanisms to offer alternatives to of the most amazing ecological, marine and coastal their economical activities. Some of the lessons areas in the region. It contains the second largest learned indicate that 0 sheries as tourism are clear barrier reef in the World and a complex coral reef threats to the ecological integrity of the region, system that stretches along the Caribbean Coast in the way these are currently being developed. from in México, passing through However, making a detailed analysis of the highly and Guatemala and partially in Honduras vulnerable socioeconomic conditions of the region including the Bay Islands. This zone is not only and the economic tendencies and labor offer in important from an ecological viewpoint but also it, sustainable tourism and sustainable 0 sheries from a social one, since more than two million are clearly the best opportunities for alternative persons inhabit this area, who directly or indirectly community livelihoods. The challenge is to identify depend on the stability of coastal and marine how to develop alternatives from sustainable tourism resources for their livelihoods. From these, it is and sustainable 0 sheries which allow incorporating estimated that eight thousand 0 shers and more than rural communities in this case, 0 sheries. forty thousand persons depend on 0 shery resources and a high percentage of the population depends on The document explores the revision of some of the development of tourist activities which in the the “community livelihood” try-outs developed last ten years have become their main income source. by diverse organizations and projects, 0 nding that in general terms, the proponed activities are not On the other hand, the Mesoamerican Reef de0 cient. However, these have not been carried has a complex protected areas system which out in the best way, therefore, success in achieving approximately covers 625 miles, which are generally community economical improvement has been managed with limited effectiveness and in some limited and the impact over the condition of cases are described as “protected areas in paper”. 0 sheries resources and biodiversity associated to Management effectiveness in these areas has become these, has been rated below the expectations. The one of the priorities to guarantee biodiversity identi0 cation of opportunities for community and ecological stability conservation on which economical alternatives requires the evaluation of many economical activities of the region depend regional economic trends. upon. Many communities perceive protected areas as obstacles to the development of their The lessons learned from the analysis of conditions economical activities. Therefore, there is not a within the region demonstrate that there is a joint vision between managers, co managers and lack of attractive job opportunities for 0 sher conservation practitioners and those who depend communities in coastal zones. At the same time, on the extraction of resources to guarantee their the production system of the self named 0 shermen subsistence or economical wellbeing. In this are complex and include various different elements complex context, it is easy to identify the rapid fall within their production chain. However, it is of 0 sheries stocks, specially of those species that are important to highlight that this report identi0 ed frequently used, like caracol, lobster, groupers and that 0 shermen feel a particular pride in being called snappers. At the same time, it is easy to identify a that way and they feel very fond of the free way of rapid deterioration of the condition of ecosystems life that 0 sheries represent to them. Therefore, like mangroves and coral reefs, because of an the perception of changing their way of life for a inappropriate coastal development. different one, that implies the word “alternative”, is This document presents an analysis of the conditions really rejected by many of the 0 shermen, particularly from a different perspective: which has been the by those who are well economically established, participation from Fisher communities in these or those who have many years of practicing this processes? and it also tries to identify which have tradition.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS v On the other hand, the revision of the condition • Assure market access. of labor supply and demand in the region and • Have enough funds to promote community its economic trends, demonstrate that tourism activities is the best transition opportunity from the • Have organized communities with whom to 0 sheries economical activities. The challenge work through cooperative or microenterprise is to incorporate communities to the existing Systems tourism markets to avoid competing under highly • Ensure the incorporation of other services disadvantage conditions, and at the same time to reach goals both in a social and economic create the atmosphere for the development of way. micro businesses that allow to have these tourism • Focus on complementing 0 sheries activities and of 0 sheries activities as an effective and pro0 table avoid trying to substitute them, but to let them solution for them. as part of a natural evaluating process. • Apply a participatory process focused on the Our findings reveal that only young fishermen economy diversi0 cation , maybe through women and those who have diverse production groups and not only 0 shermen. Systems are more opened to exploring • Avoid the duplication of systems practiced in new opportunities. At the same time, the past. prior experiences with a limited success percentage are not of high motivation for their The document presents an analysis of data from participation in new initiatives. The main the region, for many of the described elements, challenge in this activity, once the economic, as well as speci0 c analyses of four years in the life social and market aspects are defied, will be to of the Sian Ka’an Biological Reserve in Mexico, identify the impact that fisheries stocks should Cayos Cochinos Archipelago Natural Marine have, achieving the conservation goals, plus the Monument in Honduras, Gladden Spit Marine social and economic goals that these initiatives Reserve in Belize and Punta de Manabique Wildlife propose. Refuge in Guatemala, which allow illustrating with concrete examples the 0 ndings and relate them Finally, it is important to emphasize that this to the vision of microeconomics at the local level document presents great opportunities and with the processes and economical trends in the expectations for the formulation o fan alternatives Mesoamerican Region. program, including phases like:

• Identifying the most suitable communities, I hope this document placed in your hands serves as a which have higher possibilities of achieving different motivation, better focused and more effective success. to promote a work approach in the development • Establishing alternatives oriented by the of alternative livelihoods, than the intents we have communities performed in the past, and which allows us to promote • Developing a highly participative process from an effective conservation through the development bottom to top, and creation of socioeconomic conditions for the • Incorporating activities and products in existing surrounding communities. markets • Assuring that these activities have the expected It is The Nature Conservancy’s wish and my own conservation impact and achieve an adaptative that through this document we may work together management that allows learning and adjusting in the achievement of this dream. to the process without having a frustration sensation and desertion of the activities that are Best regards, not as successful. Néstor Windevoxhel, M. Sc. To achieve the incorporation of these elements in Director the future, the following are needed: Mesoamerican Reef Program EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Organizations working for the conservation of economic alternatives for 0 shers will require the Mesoamerican Reef have drawn attention taking into account the following: to the need to provide coastal communities with alternative livelihoods to achieve the dual 1. Few attractive job opportunities exist for 0 shers goals of reducing 0 shing effort and raising the in coastal 0 shing communities in the region. economic standard of living of 0 shers and their This implies that alternative livelihoods families through alternative sources of income. programs cannot simply tap into existing labor The purpose of this consultancy was to advance markets but will require the development of this effort by identifying promising opportunities new products and services through attention for alternative livelihoods that are acceptable to markets and commercialization to diversify to 0 shers and providing recommendations for local economies. project implementation based on an assessment of recent alternative livelihoods projects. 2. Fisher livelihoods are already characterized by a high degree of occupational multiplicity. This report provides a regional and local It was found that 0 shers display an interest perspective on alternative livelihood in economic alternatives as supplementary opportunities by focusing on coastal communities activities but they do not express an interest adjacent to marine protected areas in the four in a complete abandonment of 0 shing, which MAR countries: Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, represents not only a job but a lifestyle and a Mexico; Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine part of the cultural identity of many coastal Reserve, Belize; Punta de Manabique Wildlife groups. Reserve, Guatemala; and Cayos Cochinos National Monument in Honduras. The identi0 cation of 3. Livelihood opportunities are not equally alternative livelihood opportunities involved distributed across the region. Due to conducting an assessment of regional and local uneven regional development patterns and economic trends, supply and demand for labor, corresponding discrepancies in demand for and opportunities for economic diversi0 cation goods and services, livelihood alternatives are and 0 shermen perception through the formation not equally available among communities in of microenterprises. It also included a rapid the region. evaluation of the success to date of ecoguide training programs organized to provide 4. Tourism presents the greatest opportunity for alternative sources of income for 0 shers. transition. Overall, the growing demand for goods and services within the tourism The assessment methodology included a trip industry clearly demonstrates the best through the region and site visits to coastal opportunity for the promotion of economic communities; interviews with key representatives alternatives in the region. Tourism related from the public, private and non pro0 t opportunities for 0 shers and their families organizations; focus groups with 0 shers in key that are described include specialized eco MPA communities; and an extensive review of tour guiding, artesanal craftmaking, small existing information and data sources. guesthouses and ecolodges, development of cultural and community tourism experiences The assessment of existing regional and local and food and beverage services targeted to economic and labor trends show that fomenting tourists.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS vii The assessment of the effectiveness to date of commercially. No trainees were identi0 ed recent efforts to provide fishers with alternative that completely abandoned 0 shing and livelihoods through ecotourism guide training although it is dif0 cult to measure, there is revealed that this work clearly holds wide little indication of a signi0 cant reduction of appeal to fishers as a complementary activity. In 0 shing effort by any of the trainees as a result areas of relatively high tourism visitation such as of economic alternatives. Punta Allen, Sian Ka’an and , Belize, many fishers already juxtapose fishing with Based on the analyses, an alternative livelihoods guiding activities on a seasonal basis. More agenda that is phased over a 0 ve year timeframe specifically, however, the evaluation revealed the has been developed. The agenda is based on 0 ve following: pillars or fundamental processes that should serve as a foundation for alternative livelihoods 1. Problems with recruitment of 0 shers: The initiatives in the region: programs have been characterized by recruitment dif0 culties due to lack of interest. 1. Community based tourism development to Approximately 40% of participants overall channel bene0 ts of regional tourism growth were not 0 shers. There was a particular lack to 0 sher communities. of interest amongst the older and better established commercial 0 shers. Recruitment 2. Enhanced capacity for enterprise problems were related to issues such as development and management in 0 shing inadequate targeting of potential trainees villages to diversify local economies. and lack of attention to 0 shers’ schedules in planning training. 3. Specialized training in 0 elds that already provide supplementary income for 0 shers to promote 2. Relatively low levels of employment success: increased access to income in those 0 elds. Approximately 25 35% of the trained 0 shers currently receive some income through 4. Technical and economic feasibility studies tourism activities. However, the program for new innovative activities to substitute/ was most successful for 0 shers who were mitigate 0 shing and enhance community already involved in tourism activities before incomes. training and among younger 0 shers. Fly 0 sher trainees faced the greatest challenges 5. Research and monitoring to understand in securing employment after training. 0 sher livelihoods and improve adaptive Employment success overall was impacted project management. by the fact that the majority of trainees come from areas of low tourism visitation Using these principles, the regional agenda for and express a resistance to relocation. The providing alternative livelihoods is comprised of assessment also revealed the need for more the following components: attention to the delivery of complementary services such as job placement, internship and Phase 1: Identi0 cation of target communities and mentor experiences, relocation incentives, appropriate strategies This phase is provision of guide certi0 cation and other designed to ascertain the communities specialized skills to meet alternative in which a reasonable amount of impact livelihood goals. and success can be achieved.

3. Little reduction of 0 shing effort: The results Phase 2: Establishment of community driven of the training indicate that even those alternative livelihood strategies 0 shers who work in tourism continue 0 shing Through a series of consultative viii LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS processes with different communities, account the following nine essential elements to mutually develop a plan for how of success: best to implement strategic livelihood interventions. • Ensuring market access and demand prior to investment; Phase 3: Implementation of community based • Capitalizing on existing activities of 0 shers alternative livelihood strategies This and communities; phase is the longest term in which • Enhancing success through the delivery of interventions will be implemented at the complementary services to meet alternative community level. livelihood goals; • Focusing on supplemental rather than Phase 4: Adaptive management Monitoring 0 and evaluation of strategic interventions alternative employment for shers; will be conducted and compared • Appropriate targeting of project against baselines derived from Phase 3 beneficiaries; to determine impacts as well as make • Applying a participatory bottom up necessary adjustments to improve the approach; strategies. • Focusing on women for diversi0 cation of local economies; Finally, lessons learned in the region indicate • Avoiding replication and building upon that the long term success of alternative past efforts and seeking complementary livelihood programs will require taking into partnerships.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report could not have been carried out A very special thanks also to Elicia Blumberg, without the strong support from individuals in Peace Corps Volunteer working with Friends each country for the organization of site visits, of Nature for diligently carrying out the census focus groups, key informant interviews and of tour operators on the Placencia Province the gathering of materials. Special thanks to all (presented in Chapter 2 and Appendix II) and staff from TNC´s Mesoamerican Reef Program and Adrián Oviedo, from the Fundación Cayos for her ongoing support to clarify issues related Cochinos for the extensive logistical support and to trainee activities. Finally, we would like information they provided throughout this project. to acknowledge the significant contributions of Maya Gorrez from BlueMaris Ventures to Thank also to the individuals who facilitated this report. Maya not only provided ongoing local contacts, arranged for transportation and valuable insights based on her broad experience generously shared their knowledge of their with fisher programs in Asia and Belize, but respective areas. These include Omar Ortiz also comprehensively edited the first draft of and Eulogio Puc from CONANP; Carlos the report and made extensive contributions to Mechel Bay in Guatemala; and Lynette Acosta and her husband Max, Peace Corps Volunteers the community livelihoods agenda presented in working with the Fundación Cayos Cochinos. section 4.4.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS xi

INTRODUCTION

The Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) is the second In order to mitigate the economic impact longest barrier reef system in the world and of increased restrictions on reef dependent extends approximately 1000 kilometers from communities and reduce the number of individuals the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico that rely on potentially damaging extractive south through Belize, Guatemala and to the Bay activities, The Nature Conservancy’s Mesoamerican Islands in Honduras. The reef contains high Reef Program and numerous other organizations biodiversity and also covers an area of unique in the region have initiated projects designed to cultural diversity. The reef is of critical economic provide 0 shing communities adjacent to marine value for a region in which coastal and insular protected areas with viable yet more sustainable areas contain a population of over 2,000,000 alternative economic options to reduce the including signi0 cant numbers of traditional overharvesting of reef resources. Numerous projects Maya and peoples. The reef provides have been proposed and implemented. However, structural protection against storms and erosion the broadest strategy employed to date has been a 0 and contains extensive 0 shing grounds which region wide training of shers to become tourist 1 traditional and other peoples have long relied on guides in different areas of specialization ( y 0 for their subsistence and economic livelihoods. shing, nature guides, diving, snorkeling, and Furthermore, the colorful corals and 0 sh, white kayaking) to facilitate their employment in the sandy beaches, exotic cultures and spectacular burgeoning tourism economy of the region. ruins of the region attract thousands of tourists The Nature Conservancy’s MAR Program is a day from around the world, providing jobs interested in providing support to complement to local people and revenues for government existing alternative livelihood initiatives, to coffers. expand the scale and multiply the effects of successful alternative livelihood programs and Explosive tourism driven coastal development in diversifying into new areas of training and and population growth over the last 20 30 support to foment the development of new years have elevated concerns regarding the economic alternatives for 0 shers and 0 sher degradation of the reef and a clamor has been communities. The purpose of this report is to raised to adopt effective conservation measures provide information that can guide effective to mitigate the anthropogenic pressures that investments towards these ends. threaten it. International donors, environmental NGOs and local conservation groups have Objectives joined with governments of the region to consolidate a system of marine protected areas The report involved the following objectives to and establish regulatory processes designed to contribute towards the identi0 cation of alternative reduce pressure on reef resources. These ongoing livelihood possibilities for 0 sher communities in efforts for effective conservation, regulation and the MAR region. enforcement are critical for the sustainability of the reef. But new restrictions also reduce access Identi0 cation of labor supply and demand trends. to 0 shing grounds and represent a threat to the This objective involved identifying existing livelihoods and socio cultural fabric of long and emerging economic sectors and activities time user groups in communities for which reef that could offer employment opportunities access represents a source of subsistence and a to residents of local communities if training traditional lifestyle. is provided or other limiting factors are

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS xiii addressed. The effort focused in particular on to other 0 shing training programs carried out in identifying opportunities for direct resource the region. A list of other initiatives developed users (fishers and their families) that could throughout the region to generate economic serve as alternatives to replace or reduce their alternatives was also developed to build synergies utilization of natural resources and, at the and facilitate collaboration and the replication same time, sustain or improve their existing of successful ideas and projects. Results of this economic conditions. The objective included an assessment are presented in Chapter 3. identification of the major limitations to take advantage of existing and emerging employment Develop a Community Livelihoods Agenda. The opportunities being generated in the MAR report required the elaboration of a Community region. Results of this objective are presented Livelihood Agenda that would constitute in Chapter 2. a unified vision to enhance and diversify economic alternatives for communities adjacent Identify commercial opportunities for the to marine protected areas in the MAR region formation of microenterprises. Similar to labor with emphasis on the small communities opportunities, the project objectives included adjacent to TNC’s platform sites of Sian an identi0 cation of microenterprise formation Ka’an, Mexico, Cayos Cochinos, Honduras, opportunities in the MAR that could be and Gladden Spit, Belize as well as Punta de promoted by local individuals or community Manabique in Guatemala. Although the agenda groups for the provision of services that is regional in scope it takes into account local are not currently offered or are supplied by economic, cultural, and social differences and individuals or companies from outside of the commonalities in formulating the vision for the communities. The consultant also identi0 ed region. and de0 ned opportunities for training as well as other needs (e.g. information, investment The agenda, presented in Chapter 4, identifies capital) within the MAR region and populations alternative livelihood opportunities that of local communities for the formation of can be implemented by local communities microenterprises. Results of this objective are and strategies to execute recommendations presented in Chapter 2. and address other limitations for locals to take advantage of existing and emerging Assessment of results of fishers training programs. opportunities. The objective of the assessment involved developing recommendations to strengthen the Project Methodology effectiveness, ef0 ciency and impact of the TNC sponsored 0 shers training program through The above objectives were achieved through an increased understanding of the impact of a desktop assessment of existing materials the TNC sponsored and other 0 shers training and data and a rapid field based assessment. programs on improvement in economic status The methodology included four specific of 0 shers, changes in economic behavior, and components: reduction of 0 shing pressures on ecological targets. Compilation and review of existing information about the region. A compilation was carried Within the scope of this objective a compilation out as well as a review of second literature and was made with a list of the numbers of 0 shers an analysis of existing data sources. Materials trained and the types of training provided in the consulted included organizations’ reports and 0 shers training programs that have been carried project documents that describe community out to date in the region. Information regarding consultancies, workshops, socioeconomic and impact of TNC sponsored training was compared project assessments. The literature review xiv LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS provided information regarding previous Interviews with key informants and reconnaissance projects, regional and national economic trends visits: The majority of the information used in in tourism and other areas, and the desires the report was obtained during a trip through and aspirations of the local populations for the MAR region that took place from February 5 training and other economic alternatives. This 28, 2006. The reconnaissance trip through the information was gathered with the assistance of region began in Cancun, Mexico and ended in La the TNC MAR Program and its local partners Ceiba, Honduras and travel took place primarily as well as through contacts established during by land and sea. During the trip, rapid site visits the field trip to region. were conducted to key communities in the three platform sites and Punta de Manabique. Other Creation of a multi scaled socioeconomic baseline visits included the of0 ces of government of0 cials, of the region. A compilation was made using an TNC partners and other key stakeholders in extensive set of data and developed a baseline of major coastal cities in the four countries. key indicators to develop an understanding of regional and community based socioeconomic The methodology employed during the site patterns and trends. The data sets were derived visits included: a) Informal and semi structured using existing national datasets obtained over interviews with key informants to generate the Internet, purchased from the countries’ qualitative information focused on local respective Statistics Bureaus or from other socioeconomic trends, dimensions of labor sources. and commercial demand and opportunities, 0 sher training programs and other alternative Community level datasets were also obtained livelihood projects and; b) Focus group and from local surveys and census data that had been individual interviews with 0 shers who have carried out by TNC’s partner organizations in participated in TNC sponsored training the platform sites and other local sources. A initiatives at each site designed to generate an joint work also performed with Elicia Blumberg, understanding of the impact of the training on Peace Corps Volunteer with Friends of Nature, their economic behavior, use of resources and to conduct a short survey of tourist operators on quality of life. the Placencia province to understand demand for tourist services. TNC and/or its local partners provided logistical support to identify and establish a schedule of interviews with key informants (e.g. local authorities, community leaders, representatives of government ministries, business men and employers, representatives of NGOs and grassroots organizations) and to organize the focus groups with 0 shers. In Mexico, Omar Acosta and Eulogio Puc of CONANP participated in the visits. In Guatemala, Carlos Mahual of TNC, and in Honduras, Lynette Acosta, PVC with the Fundación Cayos Cochinos. A full list of 0 eld contacts is provided in Appendix I.

Focus group in Rio Esteban, Honduras © Matthew McPherson

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS xv

CHAPTER 1 REGIONAL AND LOCAL ECONOMIC TRENDS IN THE MAR REGION

Promoting alternative economic livelihoods Approximately 52% of the population of will require identifying activities that will take the region is located within six municipalities advantage of existing and emerging markets in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. for labor, goods and services at the regional Furthermore, the bulk of the population, and local levels. The viability of activities to including the major urban centers, is concentrated 0 promote alternative livelihoods will depend rst within 20 miles or less of the coast. The highest of all on the local economic context. In turn, density coastal populations occur in northern the local economic context depends on broader Quintana Roo and in Guatemala economic trends in the region. and Honduras.1 This chapter provides an overview of the The region not only has a large population major socioeconomic trends and sectors in the MAR region and local communities but also displays an explosive population in platform sites as a 0 rst step in identifying growth rate of 4% a year since 2000. regional and local market based opportunities Population growth has been most pronounced for alternative livelihoods. It begins with in areas of rapid tourism development in the a review of major regional demographic northern Quintana Roo municipalities and economic trends. This is followed by a such as Benito Juarez (Cancun/Playa del Carmen) description of population and economic trends with an annual growth rate of approximately in the platform site and Punta de Manabique 6% a year over the past 10 years and Solidaridad communities. This information sets the stage (Riviera Maya) with 17% a year growth over the for the more detailed assessment of demand same period.2 and opportunities for alternative livelihoods provided in Chapter 2. Very high total fertility rates, ranging from an estimated 3 to 5 children per 1.1 Regional population trends female throughout the region, also contribute 1.1.1 Demographics to population growth. In some areas, however, high fertility is being offset by emigration. The four countries within the Mesoamerican For example, the municipalities of Livingston Barrier Reef region (Mexico, Belize, and Puerto Barrios in Guatemala as well as Guatemala and Honduras) include a total Brus Laguna and Puerto Lempira in of 34 coastal and insular municipalities/ Honduras have been stable or experiencing districts with a total estimated population a slow overall decrease in population over in 2005 of around 2,100,000 people.1 the last 10 years (Table 1).

1 From this point forward all references to the MAR region refer only to the coastal municipalities and not the full region, which includes municipalities within the watersheds that drain into the coastal area.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 1 Table 1 Summary of Municipal Coastal Demographic Indicators by Country

Estimated % average yearly Estimated Number of % population living Country population population growth rate population density Municipalities in urban areas (2005) (intercensal period) 2005 (per km2) Belize 4 (districts) 174,900 2.08 14.75 53.6

Guatemala 2 127,038 -.69 35.79 45.4 Honduras 22 700,577 3.02 25.63 66.3 Mexico 6 1,075,647 4.67 30.87 86.6 Sources: Calculated by author based on data from the CSO 2000a; INE Honduras 2001; INE Guatemala 2002; and INEGI 2000.

1.1.2 Regional Development and General Labor Force Indicators4 Economic Indicators Labor Force Participation Rates range from a high of 60% in Belize to 36.5% in Honduras. Human Development Index Levels The low LFPR 0 gures that predominate in The Human Development Index is a generally most of the region are indicative of a low accepted UNDP measure of development based level of formal sector employment on relative achievement in economic growth, opportunities. As will be discussed in much education and health. Municipal level HDI greater detail in the section below, agriculture 0 gures for MAR coastal municipalities show remains the primary source of employment a wide variation of human development levels overall in the region. However, activities throughout the MAR region ranging from Arizona and Balfate, Honduras that display HDI linked directly and indirectly to tourism values just above .6 re1 ective a low “medium clearly represent the most important provider level of development” to Juan Santos Guardiola of employment in Quintana Roo and rival in the Bay Islands, Honduras and Benito Juarez agricultural activities as the primary source and Cozumel in Mexico that display HDI levels of employment in Belize. Earnings and of over .8 commensurate with a high level of productivity are also highest in Quintana Roo development (UNDP Mexico 2003; UNDP where the reported GDP per capita in 2000 Honduras 2003).3 Also overall indicators of was US$10,160, more than double that income, education and human development for reported for any other municipality in the economic and other conditions in Quintana Roo MAR region. In contrast, average per capita are signi0 cantly higher than for the rest of the GDP in the Honduran municipalities was MAR coastal region (Table 2). only $2520 in 2003 (Ibid).

Table 2 Average of Selected Indicators of Service Access for MAR Coastal Municipalities

% with sustainable % of Population % of Population % with sustainable % of Population Country access to with only Primary with Secondary access to water with no education sanitation Education Education Belize 79.4 91.4 26.8 50.7 18.1 Guatemala 85.1 82.6 25.1 52.8 18.6 Honduras 85.4 73.8 16.5 59.2 16.8 Mexico 90.1 83.5 12.3 40.5 46.1 Sources: Calculated by author based on data from the CSO 2000; INE Honduras 2001a; INE Guatemala 2002; and INEGI 2000.

2 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 1.2 Regional economic the region and governments and international sector trends organizations have numerous plans to extend tourism activities into undeveloped areas with The region is characterized by uneven economic tourist potential. development at a regional scale particularly in relation to tourism which, along with agriculture, Current Economic Contribution of Tourism. constitutes the most important economic sectors Quintana Roo: The magnitude and importance for employment and earnings in the MAR of tourism in Quintana Roo is reflected in the region. Fishing and 0 shing related activities are fact that the state is responsible for over 30% of of relatively low importance if viewed in terms tourism related exchange earnings in Mexico, of overall regional employment and economic a country that the WTTC ranks as having contribution. However, the aggregate 0 gures the 10th largest travel and tourism economy do not necessarily re1 ect the value of the sector in the world (WTTC 2006; SECTUR due to the fact that in many coastal communities 2006). Quintana Roo currently receives over 0 shing represents the main source of employment 10,000,000 overnight and cruise ship visitors and a traditional livelihood. The region only a year and the state has an average daily tourist has a small manufacturing sector. Other sectors population of over 65,000 people (Ibid; of economic importance include construction, IDB 2004). Mass tourism development is transportation and wholesale and retail concentrated in the northern part of the state commercial activities. and is dominated by large resorts that cater to “sun and fun” beach tourists. 1.2.1 Tourism Hotel and restaurant services employ Tourism represents the most important approximately 18.9% of the economically active economic sector for labor absorption and population in the coastal municipalities of revenue generation in the northern part of the the state overall but this sector is far more MAR region. In those areas where tourism important in Solidaridad (Riviera Maya) where is already well entrenched such as northern 33.5% of the economically active population is Quintana Roo, central Belize and in the Bay employed in the hotel and restaurant sector Islands of Honduras projections indicate and in Benito Juarez (Cancun), Cozumel and continued robust growth in tourist visitation Isla Mujeres, where the sector accounts for into the future. Tourism is also viewed as the more than 20% of the EAP. (INEGI 2000). hope for future economic growth throughout Furthermore the EAP dependent on tourism

Table 3 Summary of Selected Economic Indicators

Average GDP Labor Force % Reported % Employment Fishers and Hotel Country per capita Participation Employment in the in Tourism 0 sh processing Rooms per (US PPP)1 Rate2 Agricultural Sector3 activities4 as a % of PEA5 Capita6 Belize n/a 60 20.1 6.2 3.7 45 Guatemala n/a 36.7 39.7 17.6 3.8 n/a Honduras 2520 36.5 n/a n/a n/a n/a Mexico 10160 58 8.4 18.9 0.6 18.1

Sources : 1 UNDP Mexico 2003; UNDP Honduras 2003. 2 CSO 2005; INE Guatemala 2002; INE Honduras 2001; INEGI 2000. 3 CSO 2000a; INE Guatemala 2002; INEGI 2000. 4 CSO 2004; INE Guatemala 2002; INEGI 2000. Tourism 0 gures for Guatemala include commercial sector activities and are not comparable with the Belize and Mexico 0 gures which only include activities related to the hotel and restaurant sectors. 5 CSO 2000a; Heyman and Graham 2000c; INEGI 2000. 6 BTB 2004; SECTUR 2006

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 3 is probably double in these municipalities Guatemala: In 2005 tourism was responsible if employment provided by indirect linked for 2.6% of total employment in Guatemala activities such as tour agencies, car rentals, and 2.9% of the country’s GDP. Tourism souvenir shops, transportation and construction employment in the country is expected to is taken into account.5 In contrast, the two grow at 3.3% a year and contribution to GDP southern municipalities of Felipe Carrillo at 3.6% a year over the next 10 years (WTTC Puerto and Othon P. Blanco only receive 2005a). approximately 4% of all overnight visitors to the state and the hotel and restaurant sector The MAR coastal municipalities represent a accounts for less than 5% of the EAP. relatively small overall contribution to tourism at a national level. In 2004, the Izabal province Belize: Belize is not particularly rich in typical accounted for 7.1% of the national capacity in “sun and fun” beach vacation resources hotel rooms and an estimated visitation of compared to its northern neighbors. Tourism 50,000 60,000, representing approximately in the country therefore relies on smaller scale 5% of total arrivals to the country (ACS 2005).6 adventure and experiential tourism based Livingston is the most important destination on the country’s coral reefs, sub tropical for international visitors in the province with rainforests and archaeological resources an estimated 40,000 visitors a year, primarily (Tierney 1999). San Pedro is the country’s short term low budget backpacking adventure largest tourist destination with extensive tourists. Cruise ship tourism is also becoming hotel and resort development. Caye Caulker, increasingly important in Puerto Barrios and in Dangriga, Hopkins and Placencia are the other the 2005 6 season received 29 calls by cruise important tourism destinations and Belize ships or approximately 60,000 visitors on City is the focal receiving point of cruise ship board (Quitro Osorio Pers. comm.). visitation. Honduras: Tourism was responsible for an In 2004, Belize received a total of 215,000 estimated 8.5% of total employment in Honduras overnight visitors and approximately and 4.4% of GDP in 2005 (WTTC 2005b). The 850,000 on board cruise ship visitors that Bay Islands (Roatan, Guanaja and Utila) is the travel to destinations proximal to the port most important Honduran tourist destination in in Belize City. Tourism directly employed 1 the MAR region. Nevertheless, the Bay Islands in 9 Belizean workers and when including only accounts for approximately 8% of all rooms indirect employment was responsible for up in the country. In 2004, Roatan received 31,000 to 23.1 % of total labor force participation in air arrivals and over 150,000 cruise ship visitors the country (WTTC 2004a; CSO 2004). (IHT 2005). Furthermore, 23.5% of Belize’s GDP is directly or indirectly tied to tourism activities, one of The most important coastal destinations are the highest tourism dependency rates in the Omoa, La Ceiba and Tela. The only available Caribbean region (WTTC 2004b). In the visitation figures are for Omoa, which received MAR coastal districts, direct employment a reported 63,000 tourists in 2003 although in tourism accounts for 16% of the EAP in only 4000 of these were international visitors. the , 15.5% in the Stann Creek La Ceiba has 66 hotels and Tela has 43 hotels district, 8.5% in the and 4.8% in (Ibid). Unfortunately however disaggregated the (CSO 2004). Tourism data could not be obtained to provide a more related employment is also expected to grow precise idea of the overall importance of at an annual rate of 4.8% over the next 10 years tourism for employment in the region vis à vis (WTTC 2004a). other sectors of the economy.

4 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Expansion of the Tourism Sector. Plan Puebla Panama: The PPP constitutes an Continued growth of tourist visitation is forecast extensive plan for regional economic integration for existing tourist destinations in the MAR of southern Mexico and Central America. The region. For example, visitation in Quintana Roo project is being led by the governments of the is expected to grow at an average of 6.9% annually region as well as the IDB. over the next 10 years and Belize is expected to see annualized increases in tourism demand The PPP focuses on developing regional tourism and GDP of 5.6% and 6.2% respectively (WTTC through improved regional road networks and 2004a). Areas with low tourism visitation such the Mundo Maya Sustainable Tourism project. as the Toledo area and southern Quintana Roo Already the Southern Highway that links the will likely bene0 t from the spill over of overall Toledo province and Guatemala to northern visitation increases. However, more important for Belize is nearly complete. Furthermore, in the undeveloped areas than projected growth rates last year a newly paved highway was inaugurated are existing plans for tourism development. These between Puerto Barrios and San Pedro Sula, suggest possible rapid expansion in the demand facilitating land travel to destinations in for tourism services in many key areas of the MAR northern Honduras such as Puerto Cortes and coastal region including the platform sites and Omoa. The improved road network promises Punta de Manabique. Existing projects include the to enhance tourist mobility; increase regional Plan Puebla Panama; the Costa Maya project; and circuit tour development; and provide easier plans for Honduran resort development and cruise access to previously marginalized areas such as ship expansion, as described in more detail below. Toledo in Belize.

Table 4. Selected Tourism Indicators for Key MAR Areas

Place Overnight Visitors Overnight Visitors Daily Tourist Projected Growth Trends Cruise Ships Visitors 1993 2003 Population 2003 (next 10 years) 2005 Northern Quintana Roo 2,982,376 (entire state) 5,596,198 65,422 6.9% (entire state) 2,738,189

Southern Quintana Roo n/a 228,000 1,800 Plans to develop the Costa 650,263 Maya Ambergris 23,500 50,500 950 n/a n/a Belize District 31,000 38,500 750 5.6% (entire country) 850,000

Stann Creek 6,200 15,642 300 n/a n/a (Hopkins/ Dangriga)

Placencia 3,500 14,245 270 n/a n/a Toledo 9,500 12,000 50 100 n/a n/a Livingston n/a 40,000 220 n/a n/a Puerto Barrios n/a 10 20,000 50 150 Growing cruise ship 60,000 visitation

Omoa n/a 63,076 (only 4,076 n/a n/a n/a foreigners)

La Ceiba 9,280 (air arrivals to 6,866 (air arrivals n/a n/a n/a Goldson) to Goldson)

Bay Islands 20,989 (1996) 28,368 (air arrivals 1,165 n/a 161,580 (Roatan) (Air arrivals to Roatan) to Roatan)

Sources: Quintana Roo, Toledo, Omoa (IDB 2004); Ambergris, Belize District, Stann Creek and Placencia (McPherson 2005; estimates by author using BTB 2004) Bay Islands,La Ceiba (IHT 2005)

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 5 The Mundo Maya Sustainable Tourism Program Cruise tourism. Cruise tourism in the Caribbean (PTSMM) is designed to foment regional has grown faster over the past decade than land sustainable socioeconomic development and the based tourism and this trend is likely to continue. preservation of historical, environmental, and Cruise ship lines continue expanding, requiring cultural heritage in Guatemala, Honduras, El new destinations and new attractions. Although Salvador, Belize and southern Mexican through the overall economic contribution of cruise tourism the promotion of low impact cultural and is much less signi0 cant than overnight visitation, ecotourism activities in the Mayan dominated cruise ships require a diversity of attractions areas. Current investment plans focus primarily to provide day trips and provide employment on the restoration of Mayan Archeological areas opportunities for tour guides, transportation and incorporation of Mayan communities into a service workers, handicraft production and sales regional tourism circuit. However, the Mundo and among other commercial activities.7 Maya clearly intersects with the Mesoamerican Reef area. The PTSMM proposes incorporation Areas of high recent cruise ship growth include of areas such as the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Belize, Mahahual in the Costa Maya and Puerto Punta Gorda and Omoa, Honduras as part of Barrios Guatemala. Belize has experienced a proposed marine link into the Mundo Maya phenomenal growth in the cruise sector in the last circuit (IDB 2005). The IDB/PTSMM tourism 10 years and in 2004 received 406 calls by cruise assessment also ranks the Toledo district as a high ships with a total of over 850,000 passengers potential tourism site and program investment on board (BTB 2004) who spend no more than plans currently include an improved port and seven hours on land. Cruise ship visitation in Visitors Center in Punta Gorda (IDB 2004). Mahahual has been promoted as part of Costa Maya development and since the opening of a port in the Costa Maya project: Ongoing plans by the Mexican early 2000s has gone from virtually no visitors to government to open southern Quintana Roo to over 500,000 on board visitors in 2005. Finally, tourist development include the construction of Puerto Barrios appears to be on the verge of a an international airport in Tulum and the Costa boom in cruise ship visitation. The 2005 6 season Maya development project. The Costa Maya included 29 calls with approximately 60,000 on project encompasses the area between Punta board visitors. However, the tourism committee of Herrero in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Puerto Barrios has been working to attract major and Xcalac/Chetumal in the extreme southern cruise lines and recently established a center in the part of the state. The project proposes a model Port of Santo Tomás to receive cruise ship visitors. of low density, high quality tourism development They hope to receive up to 70 calls in 2006 7 that will take advantage of the protected areas which would involve over 150,000 on board visitors in the region such as Sian Ka’an and the Banco and approximately 70,000 tourists that would del Chinchorro. The 0 rst stage of the project actually get off the boat for tours and shopping. proposes the installation of 3500 hotel rooms, a golf course, beach clubs and commercial and 1.2.2 Agriculture and Forestry recreational areas at Pulticub at the entrance to the Sian Ka’an Reserve. By 2020 it is hoped that Agricultural and forestry represent the traditional the Costa Maya will attract an estimated 360,000 economic base for the MAR region municipalities overnight visitors a year, providing 14,000 jobs and continue to be very important on a regional and generate more than half a billion dollars in scale for the absorption of labor and generation of foreign exchange earnings (FONATUR 2005). revenue.

Honduran resort development: A resort development Although the economy of Quintana Roo is project is underway in Tela, Honduras that promises dominated by tourism and the agriculture and to signi0 cantly expand tourism visitation in that area. forestry sectors only employ approximately 10.5%

6 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS of the EAP overall, southern Quintana Roo traditional plantations are now being replaced remains highly dependent on those sectors. by African palm. Agriculture continues to hold In Felipe Carrillo Puerto, agricultural and a predominant importance for employment in forestry activities employ almost 50% of the the area, with 64% of the EAP in the Livingston EAP. Most agriculture consists of family farms municipality and 27% of EAP in Puerto Barrios dedicated to cultivation of traditional crops such occupied in the sector (INE Guatemala 2002). as beans and chili peppers as well as Besides employment on the large plantations, small scale livestock production and apiculture. small family farms with mixed cropping systems The municipality also produces 190 tons of remain important in the interior areas of two chicle a year and 35,000 m3 of precious woods Guatemalan municipalities. for export.8 In Othon Blanco, agriculture and forestry activities are responsible for employment Agriculture also remains the most important of 20% of EAP. Most important is sugar cane economic activity in the northern Honduras production. Vegetables and fruits cultivation, municipalities. However, data is not available to primarily chili peppers and oranges, provide estimates of employment in the sector. are also important and the municipality is 1.2.3 Fishing and Fish Processing the primary producer of livestock in the state (Ayuntamiento 2005). There are over 6000 0 shers in the insular and coastal municipalities extending from Holbox In Belize, tourism is the most important foreign in Quintana Roo to La Ceiba, Honduras. exchange earner but agriculture remains the Nevertheless, 0 shing and 0 sh processing most important sector for direct absorption of represents a relatively low percentage of labor and distribution of income (Vasquez pers. employment in all coastal municipalities comm.). Agriculture and forestry account directly and probably only exceeds 5% of PEA three for 20% of the EAP in the country and 9% of municipalities in the region. GDP (CSO 2004a; CSO 2004b). Quintana Roo. Sugar cane farming and processing are the main There are approximately 2000 0 shers in agricultural activities in the northern districts Quintana Roo. The majority of 0 shers participate of Corozal and Orange Walk and account for as members in of one of 29 0 shers cooperatives 9 18% of the EAP in those two districts. Citrus in the state. Most 0 shers are located in the plantations and family based citrus farms northern part of the state in the area extending dominate central Belize, accounting for 17% of from Holbox to Puerto Morelos. The southern 10 the EAP in the . Banana part of the state, encompassing the area between farming is the most important activity in Cozumel and Chetumal Bay, only includes central southern Belize and occupies 14% of approximately 30% of 0 shers in the state. the EAP in the Stann Creek district and 12% of the EAP of the Toledo district.11 In the Toledo Fishers account for less than 1% of the EAP in all district another 36% of EAP is occupied in of the costal municipalities except Isla Mujeres small scale family based production of mixed where they account for almost 10% of the EAP. produce and cacao produced for export to Also, in 2000 the total value of catch in the state Europe (Ibid).12 was approximately $192,106,000 pesos accounting for less than 1% of the state’s GDP. However, The economy of the Puerto Barrios area in the per capita income of 0 shers is reportedly Guatemala historically has been dominated twice that of the national average and the highest by vast agroindustrial operations focused on in the region providing a clear incentive for banana production. Bananas on many of the continued 0 shing activity. Approximately 65% of

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 7 all production is consumed in Quintana Roo with from Rio Motagua to Tela. But there are also a the primary 0 nal purchasers of 0 sh and seafood signi0 cant number of 0 shers in the Bay Islands being the hotels and restaurants in Cancun and and in the La Ceiba municipality for which 0 gures the Riviera Maya (IIT 2001). are not available.

Belize. 1.2.4 Manufacturing and other activities Belize has a total of approximately 1800 2000 small scale commercial 0 shers. Some 66% of There is little manufacturing activity in the these come from the Sarteneja village in northern MAR region. Small scale industrial activities are Belize. Most of the Sarteneja 0 shers base concentrated in the major port cities of Puerto themselves in Belize City and 0 sh all along the Barrios and Puerto Cortes. The other activities Belizean coast (Majil pers. comm.).13 There are of economic importance for labor in the region only around 200 0 shers in southern Belize in the include construction, transportation, wholesale area extending from Monkey River to Barranco. and retail trade activities, and government services Shrimp aquaculture on large farms is important which as a whole account for a large percentage of in Stann Creek and accounts for a large part of the EAP throughout the region. employment in the sector in that district. 1.3 Local economies in the platform site communities Fishing and 0 sh processing activities accounted for 2.4% of the EAP at a national level and 2.5% The coastal communities within and adjacent of EAP in Belize district, 3.9% in Corozal, 6.5% in to the platform sites and Punta de Manabique Stann Creek and 1.5% in Toledo. Marine exports are subject to the regional economic trends contributed approximately 4.5% of GDP in 2004 described above but also have distinctively local (CSO 2004b). Farmed shrimp represented socioeconomic situations that will need to be approximately 79% of the value of marine exports. taken into account when planning for alternative Lobster is the primary naturally harvested marine livelihood activities. The following sections export and accounted for approximately 15% of the provide a brief overview the demographic and value of marine exports. socioeconomic conditions in these communities. This description of the local context provides Guatemala and Honduras: a foundation for understanding the analysis of 0 There are approximately 1500 shers in the alternative livelihood opportunities provided in Amatique Bay area. Fishing accounts for 7.7% of the next chapter. EAP in the Livingston municipality and 1.1% of the EAP in Puerto Barrios (INE Guatemala 1.3.1 Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve 2002). The vast majority of 0 shers are artesanal Coastal Communities Garifuna and mestizo 0 shers but there is also a politically and economically important group The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve which is of 60 semi industrial shrimp trawlers based in located in the center of the state of Quintana Livingston that operate in the Amatique Bay Roo is increasingly subject to vice like coastal area. Many Guatemalan 0 shers remain highly development pressures from the Riviera Maya to dependent on licit or illegal 0 shing in Belizean the north and the Costa Maya to the south and waters in areas extending from Gladden Spit/ represents a barrier to continued mass tourism Glovers Reef to the . infrastructure development coming from both directions. In the north, the small hotels from Little information is available regarding numbers Tulum extend almost to the northern Arco Maya of 0 shers in Honduras. Heyman and Graham entrance of the Reserve. In the south, plans (2000c) estimated 647 0 shers in the coastal area currently exist to develop a tourism hub and 3500

8 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS hotel rooms on the coast adjacent to the southern entrance of the reserve at Pulticub. The Mexican authorities that oversee the reserve have promoted low impact ecotourism to generate revenue for park management and provide sustainable economic alternatives for reserve communities. In light of these policies, tourist visitation to the Sian Ka’an Reserve has grown progressively reaching a recent average of over 50,000 visitors a year, although in 2005 visitation was down to 38,573 visitorsas a result of the Restaurant of the Punta Allen Tourism Cooperative © Matthew McPherson impact of Hurricane Wilma in the state (CONANP 2006).14 production in Quintana Roo, remains the Some 10 peripheral communities/ejidos are foundation of the local economy (Solares Leal & considered to be within the direct area of Alvarez Gil 2003). in1 uence of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Lobster fishing now exists in juxtaposition to along the terrestrial perimeter. Another three tourism related activities and services, which coastal communities are located within the have become an increasingly important source reserve: Javier Rojo Gomez (more commonly of income for the community since the mid referred to as Punta Allen); Maria Elena and 1990s.17 Most fishers in Punta Allen fish for Punta Herrero.1,16 lobster during the season (July 1st to February 28th) and engage in tourism activities late in Punta Allen is located in the heart of the Sian the season and in the off season (November Ka’an Biosphere Reserve on the tip of a peninsula to June) to optimize their time and earnings. that juts into the northern part of Ascension Punta Allen has received support from the Bay. Access to the community is either by boat or authorities, access to credit through local via a 1 ½ hours drive from Tulum along a sandy cooperatives, marketing support and ongoing and pitted road. The road becomes impassible collaboration from national and international during heavy rains and constitutes an impediment organizations in order to develop a growing to access the community. The village currently and successful community based ecotourism contains a population of approximately 450 industry.18 Tourism has now supplanted 0 shing inhabitants and 120 houses. In contrast to the for 0 n0 sh in the lobster off season. The village Garifuna communities of the platform site in has a few stores, small businesses and restaurants Belize and Honduras, commercial 0 shing is not that cater to locals, but there are no other a longtime traditional practice of the residents signi0 cant productive activities other than 0 shing of the community. Many of the individuals and tourism to support the local economy. who began 0 shing for lobster in the late 1960s were former farmers and urban workers who Punta Allen has become regarded as a model migrated to the area. Nevertheless, lobster for the sustainable community management 0 shing expanded rapidly in the mid 1970s with of its lobster 0 shery. The Vigia Chica Fishers’ the growing in1 uence of tourism in Quintana Cooperative was granted an exclusive 20 year Roo. Despite a period of crisis after Hurricane concession to marine territory in Ascension Gilbert, the highly productive lobster 0 shery, Bay that functions much like the ejido system which is responsible for 15 20% of total lobster for agricultural lands. The concession is divided

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 9 amongst approximately 50 of the 84 cooperative Punta Herrero, a primary school building that is members into privately controlled 0 shing grounds in disuse and other permanent infrastructure.22 or campos.19 The lobster 0 shers are not owners Like Punta Allen, the economy of Punta Herrero but retain rights of exclusive access to particular is based on lobster harvesting although 0 shing campos very similar to private tenure. The rights for 0 n0 sh remains important in the off season are sustained by formal documents and transferable for lobster. Similarly, the outpost has a 0 sher’s by inheritance (succession), cession or sale to another cooperative based in Chetumal and a territorial member of the cooperative.20 This system allows the marine concession in the Bahía Espiritu Santo cooperative to maintain tight control over access to divided into campos. There are 45 0 shers in the lobster 0 shing grounds. Furthermore, Punta Allen Punta Herrero, all are members of the 0 shing 0 shers have adopted the use of arti0 cial habitats called cooperative although only 21 own campos. lobster shades or “casitas cubanas,” which appears to be a more sustainable system of lobster harvesting Punta Herrero receives regular but very small than traps, nets and hooks by allowing for selective scale tourist visitation and has received assistance harvesting of species within legal size limits and from UNEP and CONANP to develop avoiding berried females. ecotourism services. The tourism cooperative includes 21 members, all 0 shers, and operates as Punta Herrero is located approximately 1 hour a branch within the 0 shers cooperative. Through drive from the town of Mahahual and 2 ½ hours the different projects, 0 shers have received from Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Punta Herrero (and training in 1 y 0 shing, in bird watching and English the nearby settlement of Maria Elena) differs language. The community also developed tours, from Punta Allen in that it is a permanent 0 sher a brochure and a website to market tourism in outpost where 0 shermen bring in and sell the the community, although the website is no longer catch. The majority of 0 shers in Punta Herrero functioning and most tourists arrive via a resort maintain their families and primary homes in located in Mahahual. the city of Chetumal. The regular population of the village is therefore dominated by adult males 1.3.2 Communities of Gladden Spit and who spend most of their time in Punta Herrero Silk Cayes Marine Reserve and periodically travel back and forth to the city.21 There are approximately 30 permanent houses in There are no communities within Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR) although the area has become increasingly important as a tourist attraction over the last 10 years. Whale shark tourism increased from 2 tour operators in 1998 to a reported 15 or 16 currently. Furthermore, whereas approximately 500 whale sharks tourists were recorded in 2001, in 2004 (April, May and June) FON data shows 1,299 whale shark tourism visits, an increase of 160% over 2001 visitation 0 gures. In the 0 rst two quarters of 2004 FON registered 3204 total visits to GSSCMR, with 87.6% (2,807) Punta H e rr e r o, Si a n K a’a’ nM ex i co ©Mtth a ew MPh c erson of these visits tourism related,

10 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS primarily snorkeling (44.7%), scuba diving for all six communities in 2000 was 5,652 and (27.4%), and kayaking (8.7%). At the same time projections would place the current population due to restrictions and over0 shing the area has at approximately 6,546 (Table 5).23 become increasingly less important as a local 0 shing ground. The population displays considerable ethnically diversity. The communities of Seine Bight and There are a total of 6 peripheral villages Hopkins exhibit a predominantly Garifuna that are considered to be within the direct population and Creoles predominate in Placencia, area of in1 uence of GSSCMR: Hopkins, Independence and Monkey River. Mayan and Independence, Placencia, Seine Bight, Sittee mestizo populations are also growing in many of River, and Monkey River. The total population the communities. Table 5 Projected Population in GSSKMR Communities, 2001 to 2004

Population Growth Rate Community 2001 2002 2003 2004 2000 1991 to 2000

Hopkins/Commerce Bight 994 2.33% 1017.15 1040.83 1065.07 1089.87

Mango Creek/Independence 2881 4.80% 3019.16 3163.94 3315.66 3474.66

Placencia 458 2.49% 469.41 481.11 493.10 505.38 Seine Bight 831 5.71% 878.48 928.67 981.73 1037.82 Sittee River 312 0.14% 312.45 312.90 313.34 313.79 Monkey River 176 -0.61% 174.92 173.85 172.79 171.73 To t a l 5652 3.74% 5863.14 6082.17 6309.39 6545.09 Source: CSO 2000. Growth rates calculated by author

Table 6 Primary Industries in Which GSSCMR Employed Individuals Work, 2000

Industry Male Percent Female Percent Total Percent

Tourism 202 17.1% 233 39.2% 435 24.5% Construction 251 21.3% 9 1.5% 260 14.7%

Wholesale and Retail Trade Repair 130 11.0% 80 13.5% 210 11.8%

Bananas 155 13.1% 41 6.9% 196 11.0% Fishing and Fish Processing 137 11.6% 38 6.4% 175 9.9% General Government Services 76 6.4% 80 13.5% 156 8.8% Compulsory Social Security Community Social and Personal 40 3.4% 70 11.8% 110 6.2% Service Activities Others 189 16.0% 43 7.2% 232 13.1% Totals 1180 100.0% 594 100.0% 1774 100.0% Source: Belizean Census 2000. Data extracted from CSO database at www.cso.gov.bz

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 11 The villages surrounding GSSCMR constituted 53.6% of all the economically active demonstrate greater economic diversity and population in GSSCMR communities working a wider array of local employment and small in tourism related places of employment. business opportunities than the smaller and This includes a division of labor with men more isolated coastal communities of Sian dominating tour guide opportunities and Ka’an. In 2000, the primary employment women tending to predominate in services such sectors in the GSSCMR communities included as hotel/guesthouse owners and managers, shop tourism (24.5%), construction (14.7%) and owners and workers and restaurant owners and wholesale and retail trade repair (11.8%). workers. Fishing and 0 sh processing (including employment in the shrimp farms) employed As a result of these new tourism opportunities, 9.9% of the population. Employment also the populations of these former fishing demonstrates gender based differences. The and agriculture dependent villages have primary employment industry for males was become increasingly reliant on tourism construction (21.3%) and for females was the activities for income.24 In 2000, 36% of the tourist industry (39.2%). Females are also more economically active population in Hopkins, frequently employed in government services 55.8% in Placencia, 40% in Sittee River, 61.1% and community, social and personal service in Seine Bight, 10% in Independence and activities, whereas males are clearly dominant 15.4% in Monkey River reported their place in agricultural activities and 0 sh and 0 sh of employment as tied to a tourism related processing (Table 6). activity.25

Tourism has diversified the local economy At the same time that tourism related and in particular provided opportunities for employment has increased dramatically, the women to enter the workforce. New economic numbers of fishers has remained stable or opportunities include: setting up or managing perhaps declined slightly during the same guesthouses, crafts shops, cultural tourism, tour period (McPherson 2005).26 In the 2000 guides and tour operators, waiters, bartenders, census, 7.5% (133) of all employed individuals dive instructors, boat operators, setting up small in the GSSCMR communities reported businesses and shops, and taxi drivers. The fishery related employment as their primary boom in construction of hotels and retirement occupation. The average for Hopkins was homes also is of increasing importance for local higher at 12.1%. Fishing remains important but employment. The shift towards tourism also the overall contribution of commercial fishing clearly favors the employment of women, who to the local economy is probably declining

Table 7 Percentage of Tourism, Farming and Fisheries Related Employment, Hopkins vs. All GSSCMR communities

Hopkins All GSMR Communities Males Females Total Males Females Total Tourism Related* 6.9% 36.1% 18.1% 7.8% 28.7% 14.8%

Farming Related* 12.1% 5.6% 9.6% 6.4% 3.0% 5.3%

Fisheries Related* 19.0% 0.9% 12.1% 9.1% 4.2% 7.5% *Includes all employment related to category, both own-account and paid “Elementary occupations” in the sector. *Source: Data generated from CSO 2000b, interpreted, analyzed and compiled by author

12 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS in light of the rapid expansion of the tourist 1.3.3 Communities of Punta de Manabique industry in the GSSCMR communities and the concomitant local economic diversification.27 A total population of 1754 individuals lives within Furthermore, as is occurring in Sian Ka’an, the limits of the Punta de Manabique Wildlife fishers in GSSCMR communities are Reserve. This population is distributed into eight increasingly juxtaposing fishing activities with small coastal villages and three terrestrial villages. tourism jobs. In a census conducted of Hopkins There is also a relatively large community called fishers in 2004, for example, 63% reported Machquitas Chiclero located within the buffer working as a recreational fisher guide, tour zone of the reserve. guide or in another tourism related job. The tourist related jobs were primarily reported as Economic activities that the coastal population secondary or tertiary sources of income (Ibid). of the reserve engages in for livelihoods include 0 shing, agriculture, charcoal making, caretaking Rapid tourist growth in Hopkins and on the for summer homes, subsistence hunting and small Placencia Peninsula is clearly producing cross scale commercial activities. The most important cutting transformations of the social and of these activities for the coastal communities economic context of the GSSCMR communities. is commercial 0 shing. There are 228 registered The focal points of tourist growth are Hopkins 0 shers in the eight coastal communities which and the Placencia Peninsula. Tourist visitation to indicates a very high percentage of households these communities is currently growing at a faster within the reserve depend on 0 shing for rate in any other area of Belize.28 Completion of part of their family income and subsistence. the road from Dangriga to Placencia promises to Furthermore, 10% of registered 0 shers in the further open the area to tourists. reserve are women.

Table 8 Communities and Total Population within the Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge

Number of Community Location Total Population # of 0 shers Households Cabo Tres Puntas Coastal 71 304 69 Estero Lagarto Coastal 18 73 16 Jaloa Coastal 15 72 4 La Graciosa Coastal 17 85 13 Punta de Manabique Coastal 33 130 31 San Francisco del Mar Coastal 59 244 50 El Quetzalito Coastal 53 251 38 Santa Isabel Coastal 13 59 6 Creek Grande del Mar Terrestrial 30 173 1 Machacas del Mar Terrestrial 31 181 0 Creek Negro del Mar Terrestrial 32 182 0 Subtotal 372 1754 228 Machaquitas Chiclero* Buffer zone 97 524 n/a TOTAL 469 2278 228 Source: Data for 2005 community census and 0 sher census provided by FUNDARY.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 13 The vast majority of fishing is small scale center of the protected area extending from commercial fishing. The most important Cabo Tres Puntas to San Francisco del Mar. species fished for is the majúa, which is a type The coastal communities practice small scale of anchovy that appears in massive schools off farming of crops such as plantain, yucca and of the coast of the peninsula. Majúa fishing is corn. Most of the agriculture is for local seasonal with the high season being February consumption. In the Cabo Tres Puntas area April. The majúa and is dried and salted before fishers grow watermelon on a small scale for being taken to market and activity that involves sale in Puerto Barrios. This watermelon is the whole family. Of secondary importance for famous locally due to its taste and fetches good most communities is fishing for lobster. The prices in the market. community of Cabo Tres Puntas has access to a small nearby reef for lobstering but the The production of charcoal is the primary most important lobster fishers come from economic activity for the 13 families living San Francisco de la Mar and dive for lobster in the community of Santa Isabel and is almost exclusively within Belizean waters also a supplemental activity for La Graciosa in the Sapodilla Cayes. Fishing for different and Estero Lagarto during the low season commercial species of scaly fish takes place for fishing. The charcoal is produced throughout the year but the high period is using artisanal charcoal ovens and sold during the Lent season when demand is high to intermediaries in Puerto Barrios. The for salted fish. gathering and selling of firewood is another supplementary activity in Santa Isabel in the The primary agricultural activity is rice winter months when charcoal production is farming. The rice zone is located in the difficult.

Majúa being dried in Punta de Manabique (Photo courtesy of Carlos Mechel Bay)

14 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Numerous summer homes of wealthy However, a number of small projects have been individuals have been built along the coast of initiated to promote small scale ecotourism to Punta de Manabique and caretaking of these bene0 t locals. A Visitors Center was built in homes is an important supplementary economic Santa Isabel and the community has developed activity for many families, especially those from the community of Punta de Manabique a short walking trail and a display for tourists where the heads of all but 3 or 4 families in explaining the charcoal making process. In the community work part time as caretakers. Estero Lagarto a hostel is being built with There are also some individuals who have trades the capacity to house a maximum of 6 to 10 in the different communities. For example, a individuals and the community can provide trained mechanic lives in Estero Lagarto and water tours in a nearby river in wood dories. a few individuals dispersed throughout the communities are involved in carpentry and A 50 meter long above ground nature trail has rustic furniture making, mostly for sale to the been built in Punta de Manabique. As will be local communities. discussed further in Chapter 2, the plan is to develop a tourism circuit between the three Currently tourism visitation to the protected communities of Estero Lagarto, Punta de area is very low (less than 50 individuals Manabique and Santa Isabel to take advantage of a month) and tourism does not constitute an important economic alternative for the these resources and generate alternative income communities in the protected area. for those communities.

House in Estela Lagarto, Punta de Manabique © Matthew McPherson

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 15 1.3.4 Communities in Cayos Cochinos from the community. The population in all the communities is over 60% Garifuna (Galvez Of the four protected areas in this study, the 2002). Chachaguate is the only of the 0 shers’ communities most profoundly affected by outposts that maintains a permanent population restrictions that have curtailed their fishing of any size. The caye consists of 56 densely activities appear to be those adjacent to the packed households, the majority of which appear Cayos Cochinos Natural Marine Monument. to remain occupied year round although the There are three villages and three fishers residents retain strong kinship and economic ties outposts with influence in the Cayos Cochinos with Nueva Armenia. In contrast, only 7 families Natural Marine Monument. Sambo Creek, live permanently on East End and the population Nueva Armenia and Rio Esteban are coastal surges primarily during the months of March and communities in which the populations have April during the height of 0 shing season. Bolaños a long history of fishing within the protected does not have a permanent resident population area. Each of these villages has a corresponding and the island is only occupied during 0 shing fishing outpost on one of the cayes within the season. Cayos Cochinos archipelago: Chachaguate corresponds to Nueva Armenia; East End to The primary economic activities include Rio Esteban and Bolaños to Sambo Creek. fishing, agriculture, a wide diversity of small The total population of the coastal communities scale commercial activities and tourism is 5615 people with a notable population skew in oriented activities. Migration to the United favor of females indicative of male outmigration States is very prevalent and although data is not

Chachaguate, Cayos Cochinos © Matthew McPherson

16 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS available, it is likely that remittances constitute majority of 0 shers with 106; another 70 were a significant source of income for many of the identi0 ed in Rio Esteban and East End and 39 families in the area. were found in Sambo Creek. Chachaguate is the community that the majority of the 0 shers (25%) Fishing. use as a landing site. The census also indicates Fishing remains of great importance not only as that 73% of 0 shers are Garifuna and that there an economic activity but as one of the traditional is continued recruitment of young people into activities of the Garifuna communities. A 0 shers 0 shing in the communities. Twenty one percent census in 2002 identi0 ed a total of 224 0 shers in (21%) of 0 shers are under 25 years of age and 80% the three coastal and two interior communities. of 0 shers are under 50 years of age. Nueva Armenia and Chachaguate display the

Table 9 Population Indicators for Communities adjacent to Cayos Cochinos

Community Total Houses Total Population Males Females M/F ratio Sambo Creek 745 2720 1257 1463 0.86 Nueva Armenia 338 1501 740 761 0.97 Río Esteban 404 1394 669 725 0.92 Subtotals 1487 5615 2666 2949 0.90 Chachaguate 56 150 (est) n/a n/a n/a East End 20 35 (est) n/a n/a n/a Bolaños 16 0 n/a n/a n/a Source: Gálvez 2002

The different categories of 0 shers in the area more importantly, women traditionally act as include, in order of magnitude: independent small scale intermediaries in the purchase and artesanal 0 shers that focus on scaly 0 sh; specialists local sale of second grade 0 sh which they resell in lobster and shrimp, the majority of whom locally to individuals, restaurants and door to door come from Rio Esteban and Nueva Armenia and in the nearby towns. Rotating credit funds were use scuba tanks to dive for lobster; and salaried identi0 ed to provide capital to women to purchase artesanal 0 shers who work for middlemen (Galvez 0 sh, equipment and other needed supplies. 2002).29 There are also women who 0 sh primarily in the rivers, estuaries and mangrove areas near the communities.

The commercial impact of 0 shing extends far beyond the 0 shermen, however. In all the communities there are two or more middlemen who purchase high value commercial species such as lobster, shrimp and top grade 0 sh. These establish long term relationships with individual 0 shers, providing them with loans and facilitating equipment in exchange for the right to purchase the catch. Even Fishers from Chachaguate, Cayos Cochinos © Matthew McPherson.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 17 Agriculture. run restaurants and small hotels and do odd jobs In all of the coastal communities but especially such as washing clothes. A signi0 cant number Rio Esteban and Nueva Armenia there are of men, including 0 shers, obtain part time numerous individuals, men and women, who employment in construction as carpenters and dedicate themselves to farming. Furthermore, the masons. There are a number of artisans in the Garifuna 0 shers traditionally supplement 0 shing communities, both men and women, who produce with small scale agriculture for consumption and handicrafts. commercialization. In Nueva Armenia 0 shers will devote 5 or 6 days to 0 shing during the high seasons Tourism. and spend one or two days in the 0 elds growing Cayos Cochinos received over 4000 visitors in primarily yucca, plantain and corn. The community 2005 and a significant number of those visitors of Rio Estevan displays a higher dependence on passed through Chachaguate. Most are stop farming and livestock. Fishers in the community over visitors who stay for approximately 1 2 seasonally rotate agricultural activities (high hours and three small restaurants run by women season October to February) and 0 shing (high on the caye are contracted by the tour operators season March and April). Some very small scale to provide lunch. There are also 6 very simple subsistence agriculture takes place on East End. cabanas on the caye that can be rented to No agriculture takes place on Chachaguate due tourists, and people will abandon their homes soil characteristics and lack of space. to rent to tourists.

Small scale commerce and direct employment. Outside of Chachaguate, there is very little Micro enterprises in the communities are tourism. More details are provided regarding dominated by women and involve a wide diversity tourism the Cayos Cochinos communities in of activities but primarily the production and the next Chapter that describes demand and sale of foodstuffs. In Rio Esteban there are 105 opportunities for economic alternatives in 0 sher women who are casaba producers. Women also communities in the region.

18 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS CHAPTER 2

DEMAND AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES

Alternative livelihood programs have the dual market demand and opportunities analysis goals of reducing the 0 shing effort and raising is discussed within three broad industry the economic standard of living of coastal categories: the tourism market; the domestic 0 shing communities or individual 0 shers market; and the export market. Under each through alternative or supplemental sources of of these categories, enterprise prospects are income. In the MAR region few attractive job identi0 ed that would cater to these markets and opportunities exist in or adjacent to most of the constitute productive alternatives for 0 shers 0 sher communities. The vast majority of available and their families in the rural communities in 0 jobs are low paying unskilled labor opportunities which they live. The opportunities identi ed that 0 shers may engage in at times to supplement serve as the foundation for the community income but hold little appeal as an alternative to alternative livelihoods agenda that is the subject 0 shing. of Chapter 4. 2.1 Demand and opportunities Local economies will therefore need to be related to the tourism market diversified if alternative livelihoods programs are to have a meaningful long term impact. The growing demand for goods and There are numerous opportunities in the region services within the tourism industry clearly to tap into existing or emerging markets for demonstrates the best opportunity for the goods and services. But ensuring that these promotion of economic alternatives in the opportunities are transformed into economic region. As discussed in Chapter 1, there is alternatives that appeal to current fishers and a promise of increasing tourist visitation draw future generations out of fishing without throughout the MAR region including in areas rapidly undermining the sociocultural integrity adjacent to the three TNC platform sites of local communities will require careful and Punta de Manabique. At the same time, planning and monitoring. New products and tourism related opportunities have been little services will have to be developed that can exploited in the fisher communities in many of generate income and employment through the areas. attention to markets and commercialization. The capacity of local communities will have The following analysis is focused, however, on to be developed to take advantage of market specific areas in which a predisposed interest demand by facilitating access to capital, from fishers is known although a broader range information and skills. of alternatives were also explored. While traditional tourism employment options are This chapter identi0 es opportunities for labor numerous and varied to include such jobs as and enterprise development in different areas of waiters, receptionists, bartenders, gardeners, the MAR region that could constitute potential and administrators, they do not appeal to alternatives for rural 0 shing communities based established fishers who are accustomed to a on existing market demand conditions. The seafaring, independent lifestyle. It is also often

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 19 assumed that small scale fishers are poor and production of handicrafts and the provision of thus assumed they will easily substitute fishing lodging, food and beverage and transportation for other economic opportunities. However, services. Opportunities to foment the potential in many areas of the MAR such as Quintana for alternatives embedded in all of these Roo, fishers probably generate earnings that are activities will prove more successful if linked to equal to or even significantly above per capita comprehensive community based tourism plans average income (IIT 2001). Job satisfaction with a market focus. with fishing may also be high relative to other options (Pomeroy et. al. 1997). Fishers 2.1.1 Demand for Tour Guides throughout the region remain attached to the lifestyle: relative independence; working on Most fishers combine fishing with other the water; the potential for the occasional big complementary economic activities to generate score; and catching and growing their own supplementary income or subsistence products. food. Established fishers in the MAR region Depending on the location, these activities therefore do not indicate a desire to abandon include agriculture, hunting, charcoal making, fishing, expressing instead a clear preference for businesses and trades. In recent years tour flexible livelihood alternatives that in contrast guiding has become the activity par excelence to full time jobs can supplement fishing and used by fishers to supplement their income in enhance their existing income.30 coastal areas of high tourist visitation such as Punta Allen, San Pedro and Hopkins/Placencia. In light of these lifestyle preferences it is In these same areas the labor market has not surprising that in local and regional responded naturally to the demand for tour meetings carried out with fishers to determine guides. Throughout the region the numbers their desires for alternative activities they of tour guides also have been augmented by consistently express a preference for tour training programs provided by local tourist guiding activities (e.g. MBRS 2005; Garbutt boards and NGOs. However, the supply pers. comm.). Eco tour guiding can be carried and demand for tour guides in the region out independently; it takes advantage of fishers’ varies according to the destination. Existing water and boating knowledge and skills; it can conditions regarding the demand for the various be relatively lucrative; and it displays sufficient types of tour guiding in key sites in the region flexibility and seasonality to be practiced in are discussed below. conjunction with fishing. In line with expressed fisher preferences, many international Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and Southern organizations in the MAR have prioritized Quintana Roo. providing fishers access to guide opportunities CONANP ensures that tour guide through training.31 The description of supply opportunities in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and demand for tour guide services provided will benefit local communities by requiring below provides a perspective on the demand that all tours carried out in the reserve be potential for further guide training. accompanied by a local guide. Guides must be trained and certified as “Naturalist Guides” Other collateral opportunities linked to the by CONANP and SECTUR and participate tourism market involve the development in an annual course to maintain their valid of microenterprises to produce goods and certification. services that cater to tourists. These include the

20 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Table 10 Tourism Cooperatives in Sian Ka’an Communities

Name Location Members Number of Boats Services Offered

U Voochel Muyil 6 4 Maya lagoon tour, birdwatching, nature tour Alux-Es Muyil 7 4 RARE Member Snorkeling/ecoadventure, wildlife Gaytanes Punta Allen 11 10 observation, restaurant services Snorkeling/ecoadventure, wildlife Vigia Grande Punta Allen 46 24 observation, restaurant services, bikes.

Snorkeling/ecoadventure, wildlife Punta Allen Punta Allen 24 24 observation, restaurant services Las Boyas Punta Allen 5 2 Fly 0 shing

21 “Lancheros de la Punta Herrero (only 9 1Fly 0 shing, snorkeling, bay tours, kayaking Bahia S.C. de R.L.” licensed guides)

Currently a total of approximately 140 guides local guides on staff and may also contract out are certified to provide tours within the tours to the cooperatives in Punta Allen and reserve. The majority are affiliated with one Muyil. Local freelance guides also work for of the seven tourism cooperatives located in members of the different cooperatives and tour Punta Allen, Muyil or Punta Herrero (Table operators. 10). These cooperatives offer different types of tours including Eco adventure (bay tour The cooperatives in Punta Allen and Muyil and snorkeling), scuba diving and fly fishing have developed a significant capacity to and vary significantly in size and membership. provide tours which currently far exceeds All of the cooperatives use a calendar to normal demand. In February 2006 the equitably distribute eco adventure and scuba four cooperatives in Punta Allen reported a tour opportunities among their members.32 combined total capacity (boats, trained guides, The cooperatives provide services directly to equipment) to receive approximately 330 tourists or contract with local enterprises or tourists a day for different tours. At that time, operators from the Riviera Maya to provide they were receiving an estimated total of 150 tours. Recently four of the cooperatives to 180 visitors a week representing only 6 to joined together to formed a company called 8% of total capacity (Table 11).33 The Muyil Community Tours Sian Ka’an with financing Cooperatives, with a total of 8 boats and 13 from RARE to compete with large tour licensed guides and an average of between 6 operators. to 27 tourists a day in 2005, also report their operations are significantly under capacity. Another ten locally owned lodges, guest houses There is less capacity and a steadier demand and tour operators are also located within the for fly fishing, offered by three of the Punta reserve and offer wildlife observation, lagoon Allen cooperatives, due to the smaller number tours, and snorkeling tours. These lodges and of qualified guides and the specialized nature of tour operators are also the primary organizers the service. Fly fishing is difficult area to break of fly fishing tours in the reserve. Most have into however, as will be explained in Chapter 3.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 21 Table 11 Capacity vs. Demand in Punta Allen Cooperatives, February 2006

Capacity Demand % of Capacity

Organization Adventure/ Adventure/ Fly Adventure/ Fly Fishing Fly Fishing Eco-tour Eco-tour Fishing Eco-tour Cooperative 20 40 tourists 120 tourists a day 5 boats a day 3 a day 2.5- 5% 60% Vigia Grande a week Do not offer Gaytanes 80 tourists a day 30 40 per week n/a 5.4 - 7% n/a 1 y 0 shing Servicio Turístico 120 tourists a day 5 boats a day 100 per week 3 a day 12% 60% Punta Allen Do not offer this 3 to 4 a Las Boyas 4 boats a day n/a n/a 75 100% type of tour day

In the south of Sian Ka’an, the Punta Herrero GSSCMR and Southern Belize35. tourism cooperative reported an inability to There are approximately 280 certified tour meet current demand for tours. The cooperative, guides in the communities surrounding which has nine certi0 ed guides, receives very GSSCMR in Belize which includes Hopkins small groups for kayaking from the Maya Beach and Placencia, two communities of relatively Garden Hotel in Mahahual on an almost daily high tourism visitation. All tour guides must be basis from July to September. The capacity to licensed by the Belize Tourism Bureau though provide tours is limited by the lack of equipment. a local tour guides association.36 In order to The cooperative only has two double and two receive their license they must take a course single kayaks limiting tour sizes to groups of 6 that lasts approximately six weeks and can cost or less. Furthermore, the cooperative only has up to $600 US. one 25 foot long skiff for certi0 ed to use for eco adventure (snorkeling) and bay tours, which can A census of tour operators conducted for be used to provide tours to up to 6 people a day. purposes of this consultancy provides detailed The cooperative does not have a boat to use to information on the demand for guides in provide 1 y 0 shing tours. Occasionally they have the Placencia Peninsula and Hopkins village had to turn away large groups due to lack of boats (Appendix II). The census identi0 ed 41 resorts or kayaks.34 and independent tour operators on the Peninsula Further south in Quintana Roo along the area that provide tours. Fifty four percent (54%) of marketed as the Costa Maya, the recent explosive these operators are Belizean born and forty 0 growth of cruise ship arrivals in Majahual has four percent (44%) are foreign. Eighty ve resulted in a still unmet demand for services to percent (85%) of the operators actually organize attend to the cruise ship tourists. Xcalac, which is tours while 15% of the operators in the census a 0 shing community and point of departure to the only act as intermediaries between tourists and Banco de Chinchorro, a haven for scuba divers, organizers.37 Eighty two percent (82%) of the also has a tourism cooperative with trained guides organizers have one or more guides on staff and that is 1 oundering due to lack of visitation to the the other eighteen percent (18%) rely exclusively community (Merediz pers. comm.). This could on hiring freelance tour guides. However, quickly change however as a result of the ongoing eighty eight percent (88%) of all tour organizers growth of cruise ship visitation and plans for hire freelance tour guides within their normal Costa Maya. operations.

22 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Table 12 Overall Demand for Tour Guide Services on the Placencia Province

Additional hires Additional hires Specialization Total on staff per week high season per week low season

Dive guides/instructors 36 55 19 Dive assistants 16 42 12 Sport and 1 y 0 shers 23 64 24 Others 48 88 28 TOTALS 123 249 83

There are 123 guides on the staffs of resorts • A need for more expertise in marine or tour operators with 29% consisting of dive operations/ sailing guides or instructors, 13% dive assistants, 19% • A need for safety training (wilderness fly fishers and 39% “others” including nature emergency medicine; boat safety) guides, birders, and kayakers (Table 12). The highest weekly demand for freelance guides The demand for guides in the Toledo area and occurs in the tourism high season from Southern Belize differs signi0 cantly from the November to June when there is an estimated GSSCMR area. In those areas the number weekly demand for an additional 100 120 of available guides vastly outweighs available full and part time guides. In combination work opportunities. Tourist visitation is low with guides on staff the demand during high and the majority of tourists are in transit to or season represents approximately 75% 85% of from Guatemala and do not stop to take tours. available certified tour guides on the Peninsula. Informants reported that in the Punta Gorda Approximately ninety nine percent (99%) of area, there are approximately 12 15 individuals all guides are Belizean and most are locals that make a good living as tour guides. Most of (Romero pers. comm.). these guides have strong connections to the El Pescador Punta Gorda resort. These are former In light of continued growth of tourism on the 0 shers who provide 1 y 0 shing tours for the peninsula it is likely that overall demand for resorts and also provide other freelance or resort tour guides in the area will continue to grow.38 based guide services such as charter trips to the The census unveiled a demand on the Placencia Sapodilla Cayes and snorkeling. This group of now Peninsula for guides with specific skills as well experienced and well equipped guides reportedly as more specialized training and certification monopolizes the demand for guides in the Punta programs in different areas of expertise. These Gorda area. include: Due to the amount of guide training conducted • Guides with training in birding (the most in anticipation of growing tourism demand frequently mentioned need). in the future, there is signi0 cant overcapacity • A need for additional certi0 ed divemasters. of available tour guide services in the Punta • A need to enhance skills of guides in Gorda area (see Chapter 3). Jobs could perhaps customer service and relations. be found in Placencia or Belize City but most • A need for additional expertise in jungle 1 ora trained guides have been unwilling to abandon and interpretation of marine life. their homes in Toledo district for relatively • A need for expertise in interpretation of low paying guide jobs in other areas of Belize Mayan ruins (Garbutt pers. comm.).

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 23 Amatique Bay and Punta de Manabique. Reliable information is not available regarding the total number of individuals working as tour guides in the Amatique Bay area. Hotels in Puerto Barrios cater primarily to national visitors and guide activities revolve primarily around the cruise ship tourists. The recently formed Puerto Barrios Tour Guides Association has 35 members, many of whom are bilingual Livingston,Livingston Guatemala ©Mtth a ew MPh c erson professionals licensed by INGUAT.39 The tour guide association reports In the Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge, that all of their guides work regularly during the FUNDARY has trained 24 individuals in guiding cruise ship season (October to April) and that and services to provide nature and river tours in due to ongoing growth of cruise arrivals there is a the small villages of Punta de Manabique, Estero shortage of quali0 ed guides to provide tours. The Lagarto and Santa Isabel. The village development Amatique Bay Resort also located near Puerto councils (COCODES) also are being prepared to Barrios has four professional guides on staff. 40 function as local tourist associations with rolls to distribute tours among available guides. Currently The town of Livingston is the traditional tourist there is virtually no demand for these services. attraction in the Amatique Bay area and receives Other than during Holy Week, when visitation 3000 5000 tourists a month, mainly a low budget consists primarily of locals bathing on the beach, backpacker crowd with an average length of stay the Punta de Manabique communities only receive of two or three days. The primary attractions 4 or 5 visitors a month. Amatique Bay Resort are the nearby Rio Dulce canyon, the Playa takes approximately 10 tourists a week to Punta Blanco and Siete Altares and the Caribbean style de Manabique to view the elevated nature trail but partying ambience of the village. The town has a these are accompanied by the resort’s own guides. recently formed tourism committee but there is no professional guides association. Tour guiding Eco tourism and cultural tourism is more is provided by boat captains on trips to Rio Dulce developed in the interior areas along Rio or by informal guides who peddle their services Dulce and Lake Izabal where there are Maya to tourists in the street. Higher income tourists communities and established nature trails and generally come with an agency accompanied by local nature guides, birders, and archaeology professional guides from Guatemala City. guides. The offering for marine based tourism activities has not been developed in the Amatique In the Livingston municipality, FUNDAECO Bay area. No local dive shops operate in the area has reportedly been involved in training guides for and the few divers that visit come from diving tours of the Cerro San Gil located to the south schools in Guatemala City and generally go to of the town and the Rio Sarstún to the west, but the cayes in Belize since no diving sites have information was not available regarding total been developed in the bay. Fly 0 shing is also not numbers. TIDE also provided training to 12 guides promoted by any tour operators in the region in 1 y 0 shing and to 6 divers from unspeci0 ed although there are occasional requests for sport communities in the Amatique Bay area. and 1 y 0 shing tours.41

24 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Cayos Cochinos Natural Marine Monumen. and Hotel Canaria. He regularly hires one or two The focal point of tourist visitation is the Cayos local bilingual guides and local boat captains, has Cochinos protected area which received over 4 boats of his own and at times contracts for more 4000 visitors in 2005. Approximately 5 to boats in La Ceiba. 10 individuals from the communities within and adjacent to the Cayos Cochinos protected Most tour groups stop over in Chachaguate area work as tour guides with some regularity. to explore the caye and eat lunch in one of the Otherwise, little formal local guide capacity three small restaurants on the beach before has been developed in the communities within heading back to the mainland. There are no and adjacent to the protected area. In Nueva organized experiences for tourists on the island. Armenia there are three guides certi0 ed in a 30 Furthermore most visitors to Cayos Cochinos day training program provided by Hotel Escuela depart from either Sambo Creek or Nueva Madrid through the Honduran Tourism Institute. Armenia but the communities have not been In Rio Esteban there is only one individual who able to capture bene0 ts from these passers by. occasionally works as a guide. There is reportedly In the coastal communities, tourists are very one locally trained divemaster from Chachaguate irregular, consisting primarily of locals who who works with HCRF and in Rio Sambo there visit during the annual Garifuna celebrations are a small number of bilingual guides who work and Holy Week. Recently HCRF initiated a with the local tourism operator. TIDE provided strategy to channel tourism bene0 ts into Nueva training to 4 individuals from the communities Armenia by requiring that all students involved but none of these are working as guides. in the Operation Wallacea scienti0 c tourism program stay overnight in the village before Almost all tours to Cayos Cochinos are provided departing to the Scienti0 c Station in the Cayes. by external tour operators such as Garifuna Tours, This could prove to be of signi0 cant bene0 t the Coco Tours and the Plantation Resort that come community. Channeling income of groups of 40 from La Ceiba and Tela. The organizers bring to 50 students a week into the village can serve their own guides and divemasters. The tour as a stimulus for the community to organize and operator who takes the most visitors to the area provide the necessary services for their student is a local 0 sher from Sambo Creek who receives clientele. This experience could then serve as the business through referrals and also provides foundation for other community based tourism services for the Hotel Palma Real, Hotel Helen, initiatives in the area. Tourists on Chachaguate, Cayos Cochinos Cayos Chachaguate, on Tourists McPherson © Matthew

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 25 2.1.2 Demand for Collateral for some households. The tourism cooperatives Offerings for the Tourist Market and associations in Mexico and Belize report a demand for handicrafts and souvenirs and there The tourism cooperatives and 0 shing villages are skilled artisans present in many of the coastal report an unful0 lled demand for collateral goods villages of the MAR region. The key to converting and services that can be offered to tourists handicrafts production into a viable alternative in villages. These include locally produced involves the development of marketing and handicrafts and souvenirs, food and beverage, commercialization strategies around traditional or lodging, transportation and cultural experiences. unique products. One promising strategy would involve the production of handicrafts strategies Involvement in activities other than guiding for speci0 c tourist destinations such as villages or often holds more appeal to women as economic protected areas. These constitute natural niche alternatives than men. Although there are some markets for souvenirs and the products could be female 0 shers in the region, males typically sold at strategic locations near the visitation sites dominate the capture 0 sheries and are the primary (Palacio and Jones 2005). at sea laborers. Tourism has clearly provided the foundation for increasing women’s involvement Sian Ka’an: In Quintana Roo traditional in the local economy in the communities where handicrafts production is concentrated in the Maya there is signi0 cant visitation such as Punta Allen, villages in the interior of the state as opposed to Hopkins and Placencia. In Punta Allen women the coastal areas.42 In coastal Punta Allen the are involved in administrative duties in the tourism cooperatives do not have any handicrafts, cooperatives, work as waitresses and cooks and local products or souvenirs available to sell to managers in the restaurants, are housekeepers of tourists despite receiving 10,000 or more visitors guesthouses, and own small convenience stores a year. Cooperative members indicate that this is and cafeterias. In Hopkins women are the primary an unmet market need and express great interest managers of the numerous small guesthouses in the possibility of home production of souvenirs and restaurants that have sprung up in recent with local sea resources such as Sargasso, seashells years. Informants in the region also commented and driftwood and other materials such as papier- that home based productive activities (guest mâché and pottery and textiles. They report that houses, handicrafts, small restaurants near their there is much interest but no prepared artisans in houses) are attractive for women because they the community for this work. do not interfere with traditional household responsibilities. The Maya women of Muyil traditionally make hammocks and elaborately embroidered hipiles Due to the fact that handicrafts and services may (Maya dresses). They have also received training appeal more to females there is less likelihood in sewing and embroidery of modern style that occupational shifts from 0 shing will occur as clothing and non traditional images from a a result of these activities. However, alternatives government project. The women sell their that target women still hold much importance for crafts on the side of the road near the entrance raising the economic standard of living of coastal to the reserve and also take products to the 0 shing communities or individual 0 shers, through market in Tulum but there is no information supplemental and increased incomes and greater available regarding sales volumes or the economic economic diversi0 cation of the communities. importance of this activity in the community. In Punta Herrero, the 0 shers interviewed expressed Handicrafts. an interest in 1 y tying to produce specialized 1 ies Handicrafts production could provide a part time to sell to 1 y 0 shers. In the south, communities alternative for men and women to generate spare such as Xcalac reportedly produce handicrafts out cash and potentially evolve into a full time activity of shells and other materials.

26 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Belize The majority of handicrafts sold in carvings and ash trays; baskets and 0 gures Belize are Maya style handicrafts produced by made from rattan; shined conch shells, pottery locally based Maya artisans or imported from 0 gurines; necklaces, bracelets and pendants made other areas in Central America. There are also of hawksbill turtle shells, black coral, coconut Garifuna or Creole artisans in the coastal fisher shells, corozo seeds, wood and shells. Most of villages such as Hopkins, Placencia and Monkey these are sold informally on the beach to tourists River with the capacity for the production in Chachaguate. In Rio Esteban there are also of handicrafts with wood, shells and other artisans who make jewelry, belts, seine nets and products. Local handicrafts viewed for sale in hammocks, straw hats and a specialist who makes GSSCMR communities include drums, crude Garifuna drums and other wood carvings. Other Maya carvings, bowls, walking sticks and other local items that could potentially be marketed to wood carvings and products, and necklaces tourists include prepared bottles of gi0 ti (with and earrings made with shells. These items are or without spirits), a spiced rum marinated in a sold in Placencia and in Hopkins by itinerant bottle with local herbs, bark and spices.44 salesmen, on street stands, craft shops and in hotels and resorts and both men and women are Informants indicate that the sale of Garifuna involved in their production. Other handicrafts handicrafts to tourists can produce relatively good include traditional Garifuna dolls made in income. For example, a female vendor interviewed Barranco and Placencia, slate carvings, fish on Chachaguate reported sales of 10 or more hangings made from dried coconut fronds, and items of jewelry a day at US$5.00 to $10.00 an numerous other items.43 item. The drum maker in Rio Esteban reported high demand for his drums which sell for over Amatique Bay/Punta de Manabique: In Guatemala US$200 a pair. In Nueva Armenia the community there is a long tradition of Maya artisan work and has recently formed an Artisans Committee the markets in Livingston and Puerto Barrios are to organize sales to the Operation Wallacea 1 ooded with handicrafts from around the country. students. Although efforts need to be made to In Punta de Manabique, however, no tradition of 0 nd suitable replacements for the use of CITES handicrafts production was identi0 ed. Demand listed materials, besides local sales there may be for unique local souvenirs could be stimulated if an opportunity and to expand the distribution of there is an increase of tourism visitation to the these goods perhaps to La Ceiba, Tela or the Bay protected area communities. Islands.

Cayos Cochinos: Tourism in Cayos Cochinos provides a ready made small scale niche market for the sale of souvenirs and handicrafts to visitors to Chachaguate and to students and researchers that participate in the Operation Wallacea project. Furthermore the Garifuna communities display much capacity to produce a wide variety of handicrafts. A number of artisans were identi0 ed in the Cayos Cochinos communities that make handicrafts using locally found materials. In Nueva Armenia products identi0 ed include: wood Fisher/artisan in Nueva Armenia, Cayos Cochinos © Matthew McPherson

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 27 Ecolodges, Food and Beverage Services, lodge is currently being built in Estela Lagarto Transportation and Cultural Activities. in Punta de Manabique with the support of The proliferation of small guesthouses and FUNDARY and cabins for fly fishers are also restaurants in communities such as Hopkins being built near Monkey River with private and Placencia shows how tourism can begin to financing. There is a proposal to build a small provide opportunities for the establishment ecolodge and restaurant on the beach in East of services that cater to tourists.45 In Punta End so tourists can reside in Cayos Cochinos. Allen each of the cooperatives has a restaurant. However, although the perception in many of These establishments are managed primarily by these communities is that the lack of adequate women. There are numerous small restaurants lodging is the missing ingredient to attract in Hopkins village run by women who often more visitors and diversify their offering of hang a certificate on the wall received from services to tourists, hotels and guesthouses having participated in state sponsored training clearly do not draw tourists without a more programs in food and beverage services. On comprehensive tourism marketing strategy. tiny Chachaguate there are 6 private cabanas for Abandoned ecolodges and cabins were found rental to tourists and there are three restaurants in Punta de Manabique and Rio Esteban and in run by women on the beach. other areas guesthouses are being underutilized. Ecolodge or guesthouse programs can clearly be Communities such as Punta Allen, Punta important to expand visitation to communities. Herrero, Monkey River and Rio Esteban But independent of a broader community based express a need for ecolodges or guesthouses tourism strategy to market and draw tourists, to draw visitors to the communities. An eco there are high risks of failure.

Ecolodge in Estela Lagarto, Punta de Manabique. © Matthew McPherson

28 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Potential demand also exists for small enterprises 2.1.3 Tourism-Based Alternative designed to offer cultural experiences to Livelihood Opportunities students. Garifuna entrepreneurs in Hopkins offer drumming classes, cultural performances The tourism industry remains the fastest (drumming and dance) and traditional medicinal growing economic driver in the region and, services for tourists and in Honduras they have a therefore, is expected to continue to provide traditional dance group that performs for tourist the most lucrative and immediate livelihood groups. Santa Isabel has developed a program opportunities for fishers. However, as the to demonstrate charcoal making. The Garifuna, analysis above suggests, these opportunities Creole, ladino, mestizo and Maya communities are not equally distributed across the region in the region all have cultural and economic due to corresponding discrepancies in the activities such as the making tortillas and casaba levels of tourism development and quality of bread, dance classes, artisan activities, and experience offered by each area that determines others that could be identi0 ed in conjunction the variations in levels of visitation received with communities to be transformed into small by the different destinations. While certain enterprises targeting tourists. areas have a need for additional guides, overall, in most of the MAR coastal region there are Finally there are some indications that a growing more guides available than the demand for need for water transportation services targeted at their services. Many trained and certified both the local market and tourists may constitute guides either are not working or only working an alternative for 0 shers. In Puerto Barrios, for on a very irregular basis. As such, a single example, a number of former 0 shers now work strategy approach for taking advantage of within the lancheros (skiff driver) association tourism based opportunities across the region that provides services for cruise ship visitors and is not applicable. Rather, it is recommended transportation to Livingston and other areas. that a tailored approach, in combination with Santa Isabel has received funding to establish a other alternatives discussed in Chapter 4, be daily boat service to Puerto Barrios for villages in considered on the basis of individual sites. In Punta de Manabique. Punta Negra and Monkey addition, existing opportunities for livelihood River reported the need for community managed alternatives for fishers in the tourism sector are transportation systems for local use. Across the limited based on current conditions. Therefore, region as well, tour operators report a need for limiting factors need to be considered to better boat captains with improved skills in water safety understand the economic potential of the and basic seamanship and captain’s licenses. opportunities.

Specialized Tour Guiding . The transition from 0 shing into tour guiding appears to be the most successful thus far. To capitalize on these successes, the livelihoods approach must now respond to the demand for guides with higher levels of specialization and experience. In Guatemala and Mexico there is a demand for bilingual guides as in Majahual, Puerto Barrios and Belize City to lead cruise ship tours. The cooperatives in Muyil require archeological certi0 cation so they can expand their current offering by leading tours in AnnouncementA t off drummingd i classesl targetedt t d tot tourists,t i t Tulum. In the Placencia area there is a demand Hopkins Village, Belize © Matthew McPherson for divemasters and dive instructors, birding

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 29 specialists, more highly specialized nature guides materials necessary to make quality 1 ies may and archeological guides. There may also be be cost prohibitive. However, the potential a demand for divemasters and instructors in for innovation by using local materials is also a northern Belize and the Bay Islands. possibility.

Limitation: Willingness of labor supply to Community and Cultural Tours. relocate to where the demand is. Although there Ecotourism, which features adventure and culture maybe a surplus of well trained tour guides in based experiences, is the fastest growing section of one area and a shortage of the same expertise in the tourism industry. The cultural diversity and the another, it does not necessarily correspond to an strong community orientation in the region provide automatic equilibrium of talent distribution. A an excellent foundation for the development of better understanding of the adversity to relocation community based cultural tours designed to provide will help identify ways to alleviate this challenge. the ecotourist with a glimpse of the traditional In some cases, resort owners (demand) may not lifestyle. For example, Monkey River in Belize has be able to reach quali0 ed tour guides (supply) developed basic infrastructure in the community and the simple provision of a venue to advertise to accommodate short term tourist visits. Tour jobs more widely, such as a Tour Guide Bulletin, guides who are often from the community then can mitigate this lack of communication. In other provide an overview of the small 0 shing village, cases, various incentives such as higher pay scale, its history and traditions based on 0 shing during housing bene0 ts, family visitations etc. may have a walk through the village. The same potential to be explored in order to motivate movement may exist for Nueva Armenia and Chachaguate in into areas of higher demand. Cayos Cochinos which would require the training of two or three local guides as well as coordination Fly 0 sh Lure Production. with tour operators. As is being attempted in Cayos Fly 0 shing lures are very specialized, often tailored Cochinos, community and cultural tours can also be towards speci0 c species and dif0 cult to make. linked to scienti0 c tourism activities for students Good lures (design has high success rate) are highly and researchers in the protected areas. prized by serious 1 y 0 shers and can be a novelty item for which 0 shers are willing to pay a lucrative Developing guest house programs and ecolodges price. Fly 0 sh guides in the region can capitalize provides an opportunity to augment numbers and on the growth of the industry by producing good length of visitation in local communities, thereby quality 1 ys that they can market during their own increasing the “ripple effect” and diversi0 cation of expeditions or through tour associations and employment and services targeted towards tourists cooperative, marine supply stores and tour operators such as food and beverage, cultural exchanges, who offer 1 y 0 shing services. Although 1 y 0 sh transportation and others and thereby channeling lure making may not constitute a full alternative more tourism revenues into communities. to 0 shing, it is highly compatible with the 0 shing culture and can be an effective transition into Limitation: This opportunity is dependent retirement by older 0 shers. upon the presence or development of unique community features or experiences known to Limitations: The creation of 1 y 0 shing lures be of interest to tourists. It also requires a high requires highly developed skills in both design level of community wide organization to ensure and production. This usually comes from the agreement and participation of residents. direct experience in 1 y 0 shing and an in Tours must be well structured and designed to depth understanding of the sport. Although maintain the client’s interest and a scheme for lures are generally very expensive, and the the distribution or use of the pro0 ts must be willingness to pay by avid 1 y 0 shers is high, the transparent and in place.

30 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Artesanal Craftmaking understand the technical and 0 nancial viability There are skilled artisans in many of the of potential value added enterprises. Fomenting MAR coastal villages, especially the Garifuna microenterprise activities will require identifying communities, and the potential to expand the speci0 c conditionalities for successful business niche based market is great. This would require development that are discussed more thoroughly not only the provision of training to generate in Chapter 4. goods but also stimulating the demand through the establishment of craft centers or stalls 2.2.1 Trades: Enhancing existing skills around MPA facilities and in strategic points along regular tour circuits, in cruise ship ports Fishers and their households demonstrate high and other strategic locations (Silvio et. al 2000; levels of occupational multiplicity in most of Dudenhoffer pers. comm.). In some cases, in the rural coastal villages in the MAR region. In may be possible to generate unique products that Hopkins, Belize a recent 0 shers census showed can be identi0 ed with a speci0 c community as that 83% of 0 shers were engaged in non 0 shing with a trademark or a cultural heritage symbol. activities and 63% were involved in three or more Capitalizing on these existing traditions is a good different activities (primarily construction and way of stimulating cultural interest but also of tourism). Furthermore, 66% of 0 shers surveyed maintaining cultural identity. reported specialization in a trade, primarily carpentry and masonry (McPherson 2005). Limitation: Handicraft production requires the development of highly skilled craftsmen and A similar pattern exists throughout the MAR women to generate products of high quality and region. In Punta Allen, Ambergris Caye, and adequate quantity. Although there are 0 shers in Placencia, lobster 0 shers combine 0 shing activities the region with trade skills that could transition with tourism (Solares Leal and Alvarez Gil 2003, into artesanal craftmaking, in most coastal areas Pomeroy and Goetze 2003; Majil pers. comm.). there is not a long and well established tradition In Punta de Manabique, 0 shers also farm, produce of commercial craftmaking such as the one that is charcoal, and work as caretakers in summer homes found amongst the Mayans in the interior regions. of the wealthy located in the protected area. In Local capacity and the degree of interest of 0 shers Nueva Armenia and Rio Esteban, 0 shers are in participating in this activity will need to be highly reliant on farming for subsistence and local assessed. sales and to a lesser extent livestock, carpentry, handicrafts and a diversity of other activities.

2.2 Opportunities and demand One opportunity to increase the ability of 0 shers linked to domestic markets with existing skills to earn greater income would be by enhancing their existing non 0 shing skills. Possibilities exist to tap into domestic market The primary opportunities for consideration opportunities through enhancing the existing include carpentry/furniture making and engine/ skills of 0 shers in different trades, promoting boat repair. the development of small businesses, enhancing local business development and management Carpentry/Furniture Making. skills and adding value to products for improved Interviews and data indicate that carpentry is pro0 ts in local markets. Activities should focus on a trade that may be of some interest to fishers existing local capacity and creativity to diversify across the MAR region. The potential may local economies and income sources. For these exist to provide further specialized training initiatives to be successful, planning should take to existing carpenters to enhance their ability place via a bottom up approach in communities. to generate alternative income through the Further research will also be needed to use of their skills. If appropriately equipped

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 31 and trained, carpenters could also use local by participants. Consideration should, therefore, sustainably harvested materials and tap into be provided to the possibilities for addressing this domestic markets for house construction and perceived opportunity. repair and furniture. Insuf0 cient information is available to measure Indicators of potential interest and demand the demand and economic viability of these for this trade include the fact that in Hopkins activities from a local or regional perspective but village approximately 30% of 0 shers reported some general observations can be made. First of carpentry related activities as an alternative all, engine and boat repair skills may have broad income source. Informants also report the appeal to 0 shers but in the small communities presence of a small number of carpenter/0 shers demand will likely be insuf0 cient to translate in Placencia and Monkey River. Past surveys these skills into a viable economic alternative in the Gulf of Honduras area also indicate that for more than a small number of individuals. In 2% of 0 shers in Southern Belize and Guatemala the towns, an experienced mechanic can garner and 4% in Honduras report carpentry work as a relatively decent wage in comparison to other a supplementary economic activity (Heyman opportunities but it may not be enough of an and Graham 2000b). However, it is likely that incentive to draw 0 shers out of their 0 shing many more 0 shers than re1 ected by these low communities into town.2 Engine repair and percentages have experience through working skilled 0 berglass work is highly also valued and on boats, building and repairing their houses and well remunerated by recreational boaters and fashioning crude furniture for their households. therefore training may be more successful for Fishers in the community of Santa Isabel in Punta 0 shers in larger towns and especially areas where de Manabique expressed interest in the sustainable there are marinas like Livingston, San Pedro, harvesting of timber as well as non timber forest Placencia and Roatan. products for the construction of rustic furniture and other products to sell locally and in Punta de Manabique this option was suggested by some 0 shers an alternative to both 0 shing and charcoal making.46

Other construction related trades in which there may be interest include masonry, another trade that appears to be practiced by many fishers throughout the region. In poorer fisher communities such as Nueva Armenia, a skilled mason reportedly can receive approximately the same daily income as a fisher. Another trade which could be of interest to fishers in some areas is Maria’s Place (restaurant) owner, Hopkins. © Matthew McPherson welding and metal work. 2 For example, in Independence Belize a mechanic reportedly Engine and boat repair ( 0 berglass work). earns the equivalent of US$20 25 a day depending on their skill level. In comparison, a divemaster earns In the most recent consultation carried out US$50 a day plus tips. In Placencia, carpenters who are by MBRS with 0 shers regarding livelihood contractors can earn up to US$40 a day. In Guatemala an alternatives, engine and boat repair was ranked as experienced mechanic similarly can earn up to US$20 a day. In comparison, depending on prevailing prices a majúa fourth in terms of overall priorities and was also 0 shermen can bring anywhere from US$60 to US$300 in a the 0 rst non tourist guide alternative identi0 ed single day.

32 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 2.2.2 Small Businesses, Cooperatives and communities, for example, women are Value-Added Opportunities the primary local marketers of fish and a successful rotating credit fund exists to Many fishers in the MAR region supplement supports that activity. They also run small their incomes through running small local general stores and produce pastries and businesses. Heyman and Graham (2000a c) sweets such as coconut bread (pan de coco). reported that 6% of fishers in Southern Belize, Sweets and fish are sold door to door in 4% in Guatemala, and 6% in Honduras reported nearby communities and in the local markets. small business ownership as supplementary Other small business opportunities that are economic activity. In the 2004 Hopkins census, frequently mentioned include sewing shops 27% of fishers reported owning a business (to make and mend clothing), pastry shops, (McPherson 2005). Women are also very and t shirt production. However, an example involved in micro entrepreneurial ventures of the low level of capacity for small business throughout the region. management includes a finding by Peace Corps volunteers in Nueva Armenia that local pan de The demand clearly exists in fisher communities coco producers had priced their product so low for improved capacity in business related to be competitive in the market that they skills for the creation, administration and were actually losing money from this activity. management of private and cooperative This went unobserved by the producers because entrepreneurial ventures. Opportunities also they failed to take into account indirect costs exist to enhance existing ventures through such as transportation when gauging their improved planning and marketing and to profits. foment value added enterprises for farmers and fishers. Some effort has been devoted to generating Demand for General Small Business Training. microenterprise skills in the region. For Throughout the MAR region fishers and example, small business management was local community association representatives included as part of MBRS and TIDE frequently express the need to improve the UNDP training programs. In Guatemala, the performance of cooperatives, tourism oriented PROGAL project has extensive experience businesses, and local small businesses and also in financing productive projects through discuss unfulfilled ideas for new enterprises a community based approach. In the to produce goods and services for the local communities surrounding Cayos Cochinos market. Similarly, in the recent MBRS fisher the InterAmerican Foundation also provided consultation, another need identified by HCRF with funds to provide training and participants involved increased local capacity seed money for the formation of micro in areas such as management, cooperatives, enterprises which have received little ongoing marketing, financial planning and tax and support.47 Many local small business projects business regulations. A recent alternative have not demonstrated high levels of success livelihoods assessment carried out in Monkey due to factors including low profit margins and River, Punta Negra, and Punta Gorda also conflicts between partners and proved to be a highlighted the need for support for small source of frustration for local NGOs. But with business development (King 2005). the exception of the PROGAL project which provides ongoing support and is slowly showing Women are particularly active in non tourism some success, most other small enterprise microenterprise activities throughout the projects do not appear to have included region and especially in Garifuna communities systematic follow up, credit options or ongoing surrounding Cayos Cochinos. In those assistance.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 33 Improved Pricing and Value Added. a Service Center with cold rooms, freezers and A number of projects and proposals exist in the processing areas. The objective of the project is region that provide ideas regarding opportunities to break the dominance of local intermediaries to support enhanced income through value added over 0 sh purchases through purchases and to existing products including improved storage storage, and to add value to shrimp and 0 sh to maximize price at time of sale, direct marketing through processing. and processing. These include the following: Both of these are interesting initiatives designed Value Added to Fish Products. The women in San to enhance income by addressing the low Francisco de la Mar are traditional producers of value that 0 shers receive for their product. dried salted 0 sh (seco salado) and are now trying Nevertheless, a notable feature of these projects to extend value added to 0 sh products through is that market feasibility studies have been contracted the introduction of new products including 0 sh only after the projects were 0 nanced and moving forward. chorizo and sausage, 0 sh ham, smoked snook This re1 ects a chronic problem throughout the (robalo), and 0 sh preserves. Production is region: investment in and initiation of projects carried out in a local processing plant and 0 sh are before the carrying out of market studies and purchased from local 0 shers and stored in a solar development of a business design. refrigerator. A market study was contracted and they will soon open a stall in the Puerto Barrios There is a clear interest and perhaps an market to sell the products.48 Although there are opportunity to foment enhanced value of 0 sh still numerous challenges to be overcome, this products in the region through, for example, project could serve as a model to be replicated in producing smoked 0 sh or selling 0 llets or other other areas if successful. designer 0 sh products for the tourism market. It is recommended that marketing studies should In Livingston, the local Shrimp Fishers be conducted to identify the right alternatives Association has partnered with a regional and better understand the demand and income 0 shers network (Red de Pescadores) to set up a potential for value added 0 sh products. Any such service center for 0 shers. They have received initiatives should also require environmental support from an Italian donor (CISP) to build impact assessments.

Members of Centro Mar, Punta de Manabique (photo courtesy of Carlos Mechel Bay)

34 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Value Added to Charcoal. Households in during bloom produce a very high quality honey the community of Santa Isabel, Punta de which is produced in Florida and in some areas Manabique depend primarily on charcoal of Asia. The viability of this potential alternative production for their livelihoods which is a would have to be explored in coastal areas in the laborious, low income activity. However, during proximity of primarily freshwater mangroves slow seasons for fishing in the region, many in the region. Fishers would also have to be other communities in Punta de Manabique and consulted regarding interest in engaging in the nearby areas also begin to produce charcoal activity. saturating the market and provoking a severe decline in market prices.49 Aquaculture. Numerous reports and interviews indicate that Furthermore, they are only selling their 0 shers would like to be involved in aquaculture charcoal for a very small fraction of the price activities. In Punta de Manabique 0 shers have that charcoal sells for in the stores in Puerto experimented with aquaculture to reproduce snook Barrios. For that reason, they propose forming and they also have developed a local technique to a local Charcoal Association and doing their preserve lobster at sea to enhance value through the own sorting and packaging to control the price sale of live lobster to local summer home owners. of sale and circumvent the intermediaries.50 However, only one small scale aquaculture project There are some regulatory hurdles that would was identi0 ed in the region, in Punta de Manabique, have to be overcome as well as a guarantee of which is in its initial stages. Furthermore, experts sustainable harvesting for such an initiative to consulted regarding the viability of coastal be implemented. aquaculture emphasized that this activity is expensive to set up, environmentally delicate, and requires Employment in Conservation Initiatives. a high level of expertise to be successful. For that An emerging demand exists for the assistance reason careful consideration to these issues will be of 0 shers in the monitoring of reef resources, required before initiating any coastal aquaculture protection of MPAs, and perhaps the projects in the region. Exploratory alternatives could rehabilitation of mangroves and other coastal also include ventures such as coral reef farming and resources. Training to date appears to have mangrove oyster production, an option that has focused primarily on training local individuals to been promoted in Jamaica (e.g. Borneman 2000; work as volunteer park guards and reef monitors Whitford 2000; Aiken et. al 2002). although there have been some reported hires of 0 shers in paid guard and monitoring positions. There should be continued focus on expanding opportunities to provide local 0 shers the skills necessary to acquire remunerative positions as research assistants, reserve personnel, and other positions related to resource conservation and rehabilitation of ecological resources in the region.

Mangrove Honey. Honey reportedly has a high demand in markets throughout the Central America and apiculture is a popular sustainable alternative supported by numerous projects in the Fisher/charcoal maker from Santa Isabel, © Matthew McPherson region. Hives set by black mangroves Punta de Manabique

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 35 2.2.3 Summary of Domestic Market with engines and 0 berglass requires workshops Opportunities and equipment to avoid environmental contamination and health risks. Engine repair It will be far easier to increase incomes and requires appropriately designed cement 1 ooring diversify local economic opportunities by to avoid oil contamination and systems in place enhancing existing skills and activities than for the appropriate disposal of oil, batteries and through the introduction of unfamiliar discarded parts. Fiberglass work, which uses alternatives or develop local markets for resins and other materials, can release toxic completely new and unfamiliar products. air pollutants and if not handled appropriately Furthermore, economic diversi0 cation will require can cause skin irritation and pose other health initiating new entrepreneurial opportunities in risks. Training in rural communities would the 0 shing villages of the region. have to be accompanied with measures for the construction of appropriate workshops, capital Enhancement of Skilled Trades. to purchase tools and safety equipment and Fisher participation in skilled trades could be the establishment of disposal procedures for enhanced in areas such as carpentry and masonry dangerous byproducts. and engine and boat repair. Specialized training in different forms of carpentry (i.e. construction, Small Enterprise Development. furniture, detailing) could be carried out to The intrinsic diversi0 cation of occupations within improve or develop new skill sets among trainees. communities in the region provides a broad set Similarly, mechanic skills can be enhanced through of opportunities depending on conditions in additional training on different engines due local markets. In capitalizing on this natural to the fact that working with the recreational inclination, businesses can be developed together boater market would require a high degree of with the community as a whole, groups or specialization. However, the most salient need individuals that respond to speci0 c needs in the will likely be for capital with which to acquire community be it a bakery, an establishment to proper equipment and construction of appropriate provide tourism services, or in the production workspaces to enable a functional work of specialty goods. There is a clear demand environment. With the boom in development overall however for improved small enterprise along the MAR coast as well as the annual development capacity in the communities. destruction conferred by hurricanes, the need This could be achieved through carrying out for skilled carpenters and masons will be a good business development workshops for male and source of employment. Similarly, the numbers of female microenterprise owners and budding recreational and 0 shing boats that require regular entrepreneurs either in local communities or maintenance throughout the region can provide in strategic locations within the region. The a steady stream of work. It is recommended that workshops should both provide training in 0 shers in different communities be consulted business planning, marketing , 0 nancing and to gauge interest in these areas before planning long term management as well as have a practical training programs. goal in mind: all participants will complete the program with viable business plans in hand to Limitations: Due to the highly specialized either enhance their existing enterprises or create skills required by these trades, not all 0 shers new alternative businesses in their communities. will be interested in pursuing this line of The training should be conducted by individuals work. Moreover, it is unlikely that all of those who have signi0 cant hands on experience as who are interested will be able to completely small business entrepreneurs. The development transition out of 0 shing due to 1 uctuations of business ventures may also be reliant on the in demand tied in with seasonality. Another development of value added products and their important issue involves the fact that working potential market.

36 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Limitations: Enterprise development will likely mariculture activities are suggested to develop necessitate some level of capitalization through for both domestic and export potential. a grant, direct funding or micro loan. Small Seaweed cultivation has long been promoted business training initiatives also need to be as an economic alternative for fishers in Asia accompanied by strategies to provide necessary and initiatives are already underway to foment follow up and technical assistance to individuals seaweed mariculture in Belize. Two other with viable business designs. alternatives that would be oriented primarily towards export production, grouper and conch Value Added Products. mariculture, are described as exploratory Processed seafood products, mangrove honey alternatives. and small scale aquaculture are all potential viable ventures depending on local natural 2.3.1 Seaweed Cultivation resource, capacity and market conditions. The determination of appropriate products should The cultivation of seaweed (red algae) in coastal be evaluated at the local scale and based on the areas has proven to be a pro0 table economic types of natural resources available that can be activity for 0 sher households in the Indo Paci0 c processed into a 0 nished product that fetches a area and the Philippines in particular. Seaweed is higher price. The processing of seafood, primarily easy to cultivate, requires a low initial investment of 0 sh which is available year round, is likely to and can provide rapid and high returns. be more acceptable than honey production or Furthermore, seaweed farming is relatively aquaculture because it is more consistent and benign from an environmental standpoint compatible with the 0 shing lifestyle. However, compared to other forms of mariculture prior to production, a market must be secured to (Crawford 2002). ensure the entry of the value added products into the economy. In Belize, Jamaica, the Eastern Caribbean and some areas of Honduras and Panama seaweed is Limitations: Finished products may add value consumed in local beverages and desserts (Smith to resources that would have been harvested 1998). In Belize seaweed is considered to have regardless and is a way of maximizing the effort medicinal, revitalizing and aphrodisiac qualities. It placed into resource extraction. Therefore, this is sold by street vendors in Dangriga and seaweed may not necessarily alleviate pressure on the shakes and ice cream are popular throughout the resource but could signi0 cantly contribute to country. One of the naturally occurring varieties the standard of living of 0 shing communities. of seaweed found in Belize, Eucheuma isiforme, In addition, value added products may have the also displays high export potential and by the late adverse effect of increasing resource extraction 1990s the country was exporting 800kg (air dry due to the higher level of bene0 t derived from weight) of Eucheuma to the USA for use in health the same resource. In this regard it must be foods (Smith 1998). The seaweed reportedly fetches noted that alternative livelihood strategies are four times the price as an export to the U.S. than not standalone activities and often work best in in the domestic market (CCT 2003). conjunction with other strategies that relate to MPA management and resource management. To date the supply to meet local and export demand has been satisfied by harvesting natural 2.3 Opportunities linked to stocks in accessible near shore areas. These export markets naturally occurring stocks are being rapidly depleted. Efforts are therefore underway to Export products display inherent challenges explore the viability of Eucheuma cultivation including price competitiveness, quality as an economic alternative for fishermen. assurances and quantity guarantees. Three The Dangriga Development Initiative, in

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 37 collaboration with a researcher from the Currently there is only one commercial Strombus Wildlife Conservation Society and with seed gigas farm in the world; the Caicos Conch money from the UNDP/COMPACT project, Farm, on Provo in the Turks & Caicos Islands. has provided assistance to fishers to establish This farm was developed by Chuck Hesse, an seaweed farms on the islands in the Tobacco American permanent resident of the Bahamas Caye Range in the South Water Caye Marine who is a marine scientist and former SCUBA Reserve. Fishers are now reportedly earning instructor for the US Navy. Over the last two up to US $125 a month from seaweed sales. decades Hesse has reportedly developed a cost Furthermore, a group of international donors effective method for the commercial production including WWF is financing a pilot farm and of conch based on the commercialization of workshops for fishers to disseminate seaweed juveniles with a two year growth period. Last cultivation methods (Ibid, ICRAN 2006). year the farm sold over 200,000 pounds of live juvenile conch as “ocean escargot” to upscale Seaweed farming appears to hold considerable restaurants in the United States. Besides conch potential as an income earner and supplementary production, the farm also receives a hundred economic activity in Belize which could perhaps thousand visitors a year as an ecotourism be replicated in other areas of the MAR region. attraction and sells live juveniles to the The product displays domestic market demand; aquarium trade. A conch farm of this kind also promise for export; ease of production; and pro0 t may provide opportunities for the production potential. On the other hand, the experience of collateral goods including dried conch offal in the Philippines raises questions regarding for Asian markets, culture conch pearls, conch the degree to which seaweed reduces 0 shing. shell and pearl jewelry and eggs to restore wild Seaweed farmers who are 0 shers were often stocks (Robinson 1999). found to continue 0 shing although they may reduce their effort. Seaweed is subject to market Finally, further substantiating the possible price collapses and during bust cycles 0 shers tend viability of this activity was a recent to reenter the sector or intensify their 0 shing announcement of a breakthrough in activities (Crawford 2002). Other issues that reproducing Queen Conch under cultured need to be explored include: the assumption that conditions by researchers of Harbor Branch seaweed farming will be most attractive to and Oceanographic Institution’s Aquaculture appropriate for professional 0 shers as opposed Division (Harbor Branch Oceanographic to other groups; the issue of competitiveness and 2006). exports (i.e. whether Belizean seaweed can be produced at a suf0 cient quantity and low enough 2.3.3 Grouper Farming cost to compete with producers in Asia); and the competition for use of inshore areas (Smith Due to the economic importance of grouper and Renard 2002). A marketing assessment in the MAR region and threats to SPAGs, reportedly being sponsored by WWF should the potential for implementing grouper address some of these issues. aquaculture or mariculture techniques should be explored. The Aquaculture Department of the 2.3.2 Conch Mariculture Southeast Asian Fisheries development Center (SEAFDEC/AQD) in the Philippines has been Due to the economic importance of local Queen developing nursery and grow out techniques for Conch consumption and exports in Belize, hatchery bred grouper. These efforts remain in Honduras and southern Quintana Roo and the the experimental stage but have produced some precarious condition of the natural stocks, conch encouraging results regarding the production of mariculture should be explored as a potential the orange spotted grouper. In earthen ponds, for option in the MAR region. example, “survival ranges of 50 67% in the nursery

38 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS and 72 85% during grow out” have been achieved. 2.3.4 Summary of Opportunities for Also reported is the fact that the culture system Development of Goods and Services could prove highly pro0 table with a payback for Export Markets period of 1.7 years.3 Of the three mariculture alternatives presented TNC has also been involved in supporting a Fish seaweed clearly is the most promising option Culture Project in Komodo Park in Indonesia for due to local market demand and demonstrated the production of different species of grouper, success of seaweed cultivation in Asia. Both of sea bass and mangrove jack. The project included the other options present limitations including the construction of a hatchery and brood stock high set up costs, breeding complexities and cages and the creation of partnerships with possible commercialization issues and will require 0 local research institutes to provide technical signi cant research to understand the costs and support. Community involvement involves the viability of transferring these technologies to the establishment of village based grow out farms. MAR region. How,ever, if shown to be viable, The experience obtained in that project could these could eventually prove to be the most perhaps be drawn upon for the development of economically lucrative and culturally acceptable mariculture activities in the MAR region (Mous alternatives with the greatest potential to directly 0 et. al 2003). reduce shing pressure in the region.

3 This information was found at www.enaca.org/modules/ mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid 114

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 39

CHAPTER 3

RAPID ASSESSMENT OF ECOTOURISM GUIDE TRAINING AS AN ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD STRATEGY

The preceding chapter provided an overview to reduce 0 shing pressure on marine resources of opportunities for labor and enterprise while increasing the standards of living in 0 shing development in different areas of the MAR communities have not been met. The assessment region that could constitute potential revealed that the training has primarily targeted alternatives for rural 0 shing communities based communities in which there is a low level of on existing market demand conditions. This demand for tour guide services and in these areas chapter complements that analysis by providing employment success has been minimal. The an assessment of the impact of programs to recruitment of 0 shers has been hampered by lack train 0 shers to be ecotourism guides. The of interest in training especially on the part of training of ecotourism guides has been the older, more established 0 shers. In areas of higher primary activity carried out on a regional scale demand for ecoguide services, a signi0 cant in recent years to provide 0 shers with skills to number of participants earn some income using generate alternative sources of income. This their training but employment achievement evaluation focuses on training sponsored by has been more successful for non 0 shers and TNC, MBRS and the UNDP GEF SGP part time 0 shers with pre established tourism between 2003 and 2005.51 experience than for participants who were full and part time commercial 0 shers. To date, the The training is assessed based on the following transfer of knowledge and skills alone has not parameters: the degree to which recruitment proved suf0 cient to reduce 0 shing effort or and selection has successfully targeted 0 shers to move established commercial 0 shers out of for training; the percentage of 0 shers who, after 0 shing. training, are generating income from formal or self employment obtained as a result of Tourism remains a high potential alternative training related skills development; and the especially for younger fishers. However, results numbers of 0 shers who have reduced 0 shing suggest that due to the fact that opportunities effort or stopped 0 shing entirely as a result of are not equally distributed across the region new economic activities made possible by the and there appears to be resistance to relocation, training. Information was obtained on the more effort needs to be dedicated to the past and current activities of 44 participants in delivery of complementary services to meet ecotourism training through direct interviews and alternative livelihood goals. These include consultations with acquaintances. The assessment initiatives such as job placement, internship is further supported by information obtained and mentor experiences, relocation incentives, through interviews with key informants from provision of guide certification and other implementing agencies and project reports. specialized skills that will enhance income potential and other activities to facilitate The evaluation indicated that currently, the the incorporation of trainees into tourism overall goals of alternative livelihood strategies alternatives.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 41 3.1 Total numbers and types training to 57 participants from Mexico and of training in alternative Northern Belize in Snorkeling/Kayaking, livelihoods SCUBA Open Water; Sport Fishing and Nature Guiding. All fifty seven of these The leading sponsors of 0 sher targeted training participants also took a course in small business initiatives in the region are MBRS; The Nature management. TIDE trained at least 39 Conservancy and the UNDP. A brief overview participants from southern Belize, Guatemala of the training that was funded by each of these and Honduras in the same fields. TIDE also organizations is provided below while a detailed offered Spanish language SCUBA and kayaking analysis of the trainings follows. courses for Guatemalans and Hondurans.

MBRS: MBRS sponsored ecotourism guide The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy’s training for approximately 113 individuals in the MAR Program sponsored 1 y 0 shing and SCUBA northern and southern transboundary areas, Divemaster training for 29 participants in 2003. although only ninety six participants could be The training targeted 0 shers from communities con0 rmed as having received the training from in the areas adjacent to Gladden Spit and Silk the lists provided by project implementers.52 Cayes Marine Reserve. Friends of Nature in MBRS contracted two local NGOs to carry out Placencia carried out the recruitment of 0 shers the training: Green Reef, an NGO based in and organized the courses. Sixteen individuals San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, BZ and the Toledo were trained in 1 y 0 shing and 13 individuals Institute for Development and Environment received SCUBA training to the Divemaster level. (TIDE) in Punta Gorda, BZ. These two The SCUBA training was partially 0 nanced by a NGOs were chosen by MRBS to recruit and UNDP COMPACT grant. organize courses due to their track records and strategic locations in the northern and southern UNDP: Funding from the UNDP GEF transboundary areas to facilitate cross border Small Grants programs was used to train 86 training of 0 shers. participants in the Toledo District of Belize in courses organized by TIDE in 2004 2005. All training was carried out in the summer Training included ecotourism guide specialties of 2004. In the north, Green Reef provided (birding; kayaking; sports 0 shing; and SCUBA TNC/FON Fly Fishing Trainees Trainees Fishing Fly TNC/FON Arrivillaga) Alex courtesy of (photo

42 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS diving) as well as courses in hospitality and 3.2 Impact and success to date small business management which were of training programs primarily attended by women. Due to slightly different project objectives, the recruitment for Broadly accepted quanti0 able objectives or these courses does not appear to have targeted monitoring measures do not appear to have been 0 shers as strictly as the MBRS and TNC developed to evaluate the success of the training 0 nanced courses. by any of the organizations and no pre training information was gathered on course participant Summary of Training. status to provide a baseline for evaluation and Through funding from these organizations, a total monitoring.53 The evaluation of program impact of 201 course participants from four countries is therefore based on the following general were provided with ecotourism guide training indicators derived from discussions with project from 2003 2005 (Tables 3.1 and 3.2). Fifty sponsoring organizations regarding expectations three percent (53%) of the participants were from for training results: southern Belize; 22% from Northern Belize; 11% from Guatemala; 7% from Honduras and 6% from a. The degree to which recruitment and selection Mexico. The primary specialization offered was has successfully targeted 0 shers for training. sport 0 shing (31%) followed by SCUBA diving ‘Fishers’ refers to individuals who dedicate the (25%); kayaking/snorkeling (18%); nature guiding majority of their productive time in the capture (17%) and birding (8%). Furthermore, under of natural stocks of crustaceans, scaly 0 sh or UNDP funding 18 individuals in the Toledo other marine species and obtain a signi0 cant area were provided with training in Hospitality amount of their annual income and/or household Management and another 18 with training in sustenance through these activities. Occasional Small Business Management (Table 13). or casual 0 shers do not fall within this category.

Table 13 Summary of Training Provided by Nationality and Training Area of Participants

Training Area México Belize Guatemala Honduras Totals Ecotour Guide Diving Total 737 6 1 51 Dive master n/a 20 0 020 Open Water 7 6 0 1 14 Advanced n/a 11 6 0 17 Fly Fishing 2 45 12 4 63 Kayaking and 132 0 4 37 Snorkeling Nature Guiding 2 22 5 5 34 Birding 016 0 0 16 Sub-total 12 152 23 14 201 Business Management targeted to females, UNDP Tide Hospitality 0180 0 18 Management Small business 018 0 0 18 management Sub-total 0360 0 36 TOTALS 12 188 23 14 237

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 43 Table 14 Summary of Training provided with TNC, MBRS and UNDP Sponsorship in the MAR region Number of Participants Course Location Organization Date Source/ TOT MAL FEM MX N. BZ S. BZ HON GUAT (Notes) MBRS Snorkeling and kayaking San Pedro, BZ Green Reef 31/5 – 6/6/2004 11 11 0 1 10 0 0 0 2,5 Scuba Open Water San Pedro, BZ Green Reef 31/5 – 6/6/2004 13 13 0 7 6 0 0 0 1,2,5 Sport 0 shing San Pedro, BZ Green Reef N/a 16 16 0 2 14 0 0 0 5 Nature Guiding San Pedro, BZ Green Reef N/a 17 13 4 2 15 0 0 0 5 Nature guiding Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 7/6 – 11/6/2004 17 n/a n/a 0 0 7 5 5 2 (a) English SCUBA Open Water Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 29/6 – 7/7/2004 11 11 0 0 0 11 0 0 2,3 Spanish SCUBA Open Water Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 6/7 – 16/7 or 13/7 – 21/7/ 2004 6 5 1 0 0 0 0 6 2,3(b) English Kayaking and snorkeling Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 26/7 – 30/7/2004 5 5 0 0 0 5 0 0 2,3 Spanish kayaking and snorkeling Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 9/8 – 12/8/2004 n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 n/a n/a 2(c) Sport 0 shing Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 2/8 – 6/8/2004 17 16 1 0 0 5 0 12 2,3(d) Subtotals 113 90 6 12 45 28 5 23 (e,f ) TNC Dive Conservation Placencia, BZ FON 2003 13 10 3 0 0 13 0 0 4 Fly Fishing Placencia, BZ FON 2003 16 16 0 0 0 16 0 0 4 Subtotals 29 26 3 0 0 29 0 0 UNDP Birding Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 4/10 – 7/10/2004 9 7 2 0 0 9 0 0 3 Hospitality Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 8/10 – 9/10/2004 11 3 8 0 0 11 0 0 3 Kayaking Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 1/11 – 5/11/2004 11 10 1 0 0 11 0 0 3 Fly 0 shing Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 25/10 – 29/10/2004 10 10 0 0 0 10 0 0 3 Small business management Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 30/10 – 31/10/2004 18 8 10 0 0 18 0 0 3 Hospitality Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 9/4 – 10/4/2005 7 0 7 0 0 7 0 0 3 Kayaking Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 18/4 – 21/4/2005 6 6 0 0 0 6 0 0 3 Birding Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 17/5 – 20/5/2005 7 6 1 0 0 7 0 0 3 Diving Punta Gorda, BZ TIDE 2005 7 7 0 0 0 7 0 0 3 Subtotals 86 57 29 0 0 86 00 3 TOTALS 228 173 38 12 45 143 5 23 Sources: 1 Newspaper article in the Ambergris Today online site: “Fishermen get training for alternative livelihood” found at http:// ambergristoday.com/archives/3 6 04/index.html#story3. 2 News feature on MBRS website, 2004: “MBRS Offers Eco Tourism Training for Fishers” found at http://www.mbrs.org.bz/english/news2004.htm. 3 Lists of participants provided by TIDE. 4 List of participants reconstructed with assistance from Friends of Nature representatives. 5 Report: Project Update: Training in Forms of Sustainable Livelihoods for Communities Dependent on Marine and Coastal Resources in the MBRS Region. Green Reef Environmental Institute, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. August 2004 Notes: a Not included in lists provided by TIDE, only in MBRS News feature. b The dates in the article and the list provided by TIDE do not correspond, and the TIDE list does not include Honduran participants mentioned in the MBRS news feature. c This was mentioned in the MBRS news feature but was not included in the TIDE list. d The news feature mentions participation of Hondurans which were not included in the TIDE list. e A total of eleven MBRS were identi0 ed during 0 eldwork in Honduras. Sources however only list 5 Honduran trainees. It is possible that a signi0 cant number of the approximately 31 unidenti0 ed trainees were Honduran. f Disaggregation by sex does not include the 17 reportedly trained by TIDE in Nature Guiding in 2004.

44 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS b. The percentage of fishers who, after that training took place. This percentage is training, are supplementing their earnings driven by the fact that fifty two percent (52%) or generating a significant amount of their of TNC/FON trainees were non fishers. Green income from formal or self employment Reef/MBRS reports also indicate problems acquired as a result of training related with the recruitment of fishers due to the fact skills. that the primary occupation of 40% of their trainees was something other than ‘fisherman.’ c. The percentage of 0 shers who have reduced TIDE representatives also reported struggles 0 shing effort or stopped 0 shing entirely as with recruitment of fishers although available a result of new economic activities made data is insufficient to corroborate their possible by the training. statements.

The fact that objectives were not articulated Lack of sufficient interest was reported as for these training projects also means that no the primary reason for difficulties in the timeframe was established for measuring impact. recruitment of fishers into training. FON and It should be noted that most of the training that TIDE representatives reported deliberately was evaluated took place within the last two to filling course quotas with non fishers due three years which should be suf0 cient time to to inability to attract sufficient numbers of expect individuals to have made some sort of commercial fishers. There was a particular move into employment using the skills acquired in lack of interest amongst the older and better training. established commercial fishers.54 The courses appealed primarily to younger individuals, To understand the degree to which ecotourism fishers and non fishers, many of whom already training has successfully contributed to the displayed some degree of involvement with objectives, the consultant was able quantify tourism activities before training (Mendez pers. past and current activities for 44 participants comm.). For example, 33% of MBRS/Green trained by TNC/FON in Placencia and MBRS/ Reef trainees were licensed tour guides before TIDE in Monkey River, Belize and Honduras undertaking the training. Lack of interest also either through direct interviews or consulting appears directed towards particular fields of acquaintances. This information is summarized specialization. Informants report, for example, in Table 3.3. Other information summarized that it was easier to attract fishers into sports from Green Reef/MBRS reports complements fishing and diving courses than into nature this data (Table 3.4) as does qualitative guiding courses. information obtained through interviews with fishers and project sponsors throughout the Employment Success. region. Approximately 48% of the sample of 44 participants trained by FON/TNC and TIDE/ The information that was obtained leads to the MBRS are generating income from work following conclusions regarding the success of in their field of training. Only 25% of these training to date towards achievement of general participants report tourism employment as objectives: constituting either the primary or a significant source of income. Recruitment of Commercial Fishers. Representatives from FON, TIDE and MBRS For the remaining 23%, tourism provides report some difficulties in the recruitment of occasional or opportunistic employment. fishers into the ecotourism training. Of the Green Reef similarly reported that 33% of their 44 training participants interviewed, 41% were participants were already earning some income neither full nor part time fishers at the time in the tourism industry in August of 2004, only a

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 45 few months after the completion of training. a specialty in which demand for services is These figures indicate that training has limited to well known, highly experienced successfully enhanced the ability of participants guides, are extremely low. Five of the 22 to generate income from tourism activities. FON/MBRS fly fishing course participants However, when evaluating the success of the in the sample obtain income through tourism training in light of the broader objectives activities. However, two of these participants of the project the figures prove somewhat already were heavily involved in tourism before misleading. The majority of participants taking the fly fishing course: one was already reporting employment was either non a fly fisher for a resort and continues to work fishers or already involved in the tourism for the same resort and the other individual industry before the training and rates of is primarily a dive instructor who occasionally fisher employment are significantly lower. For guides fly fish tours. Of the other three example, the most successful training in terms participants that receive occasional tourism of employment was FON/TNC’s divemaster employment, one occasionally works as an course. Eighty five percent (85%) of FON/ assistant to a fly fisher in Hopkins and the TNC divemaster trainees receive income from other two usually work as Monkey River guides employment that involves diving and diving and rarely if ever lead fly fishing expeditions. represents either a full time job or a significant percentage of earnings for 54 % of the course Pre existing demand for services clearly plays participants. However, only three (23%) of the a fundamental role in employment rates. For course participants were fishers. Two of the example, TIDE representatives reported that three fishers obtain occasional diving work very few MBRS or UNDP sponsored trainees but commercial fishing remains their most currently work as guides on more than very significant source of income. irregular basis due to low visitation and low demand for tour guides in the Toledo area.55 As will be discussed in greater detail below, Only three of the nine Honduran trainees (33%) factors such as willingness to migrate, produce some income through tourism. These demand for services and job opportunity play an important role in the acquisition of come from areas such as Omoa and Nueva employment. The majority of dive participants Armenia where tourism visitation remains who procured employment came from low. Two of the Hondurans reportedly obtain villages within easy access to the Placencia frequent work as nature guides in the Omoa area, an area that displays a high demand for area. The other works occasionally as a diver. divemasters. On the other hand, employment Only one of these three (the diver) was a fisher 56 rates for participants in the fly fishing course, at the time of training.

46 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Table 15 Results of Recruitment and Training by Area for TNC/FON and MBRS/Honduras

% (number) % (number) % (number) % (number) % (number) of % (number) of % (number) of Fishing most Fished in % (number) Who worked of course participants total participants total participants important combination of Total full or part participants working for whom Area of Training who still 0 sh activity before with other Participants who time in tourism working occasionally in 0 shing is still commercially training activities before were 0 shers before training signi0 cantly in 0 eld or using most signi0 cant part-time training 0 eld of training skills in job activity

TNC/FON (Belize) 29 participants total

Fly 0 shing (16) 56 (9) 25 (2) 69 (11) 19 (3) 13 (2) 19 (3) 44 (7) 25 (4)

Dive master (13) 23 (3) 0 (0) 23 (3) 8 (1) 54 (7) 31 (4) 23 (3) 0 (0)

Sub-Total 41 (12) 7 (2) 48 (14) 14 (4) 31 (9) 24 (7) 34 (10) 14 (4)

TIDE/MBRS Trainees from Monkey River 4 participants (3 individuals from Monkey River took Diving with FON and Sport Fishing with TIDE/MBRS. These are included in the FON/TNC training numbers).

Sport Fishing (2) 100 (2) 0 (0) 100 (2) N/a 0(0) 100 (2) 100 (2) 0 (0) Kayaking & 50 (1) 0 (0) 50 (1) N/a 0(0) 0 (0) 50 (1) 0 (0) Snorkeling (2) Sub-Total 75 (3) 0 (0) 75 (3) N/a 0 (0) 50 (2) 75 (3) 0 (0)

MBRS (Hondurans) 11 participants total Sport 0 shing/ 100 (4) 0 (0) 100 (4) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 75 (3) 0 (0) Kayaking (4) 100 (1) Diving (1) 100 (1) 0 (0) 100 (1) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 (1) 0 (0)

Nature Guide (1) 33 (1) 0 (0) 33 (1) 0 (0) 66 (2) 0 (0) 33 (1) 0 (0) Birding (1) 100 (1) 0 (0) 100 (1) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 (1) 0 (0) Kayak only (2) 100 (2) 0 (0) 100 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 (2) 0 (0)

Sub-Total 82 (9) 0 (0) 82 (9) 0 (0) 18 (2) 9 (1) 73 (8) 9 (1)

TOTALS 55 (24) 5 (2) 59 (26) 10 (4) 25 (11) 23 (10) 48 (21) 11 (5)

Table 16 Characteristics of Green Reef/MBRS trainees

Percent report Fields with low 0 sher Percent obtaining some Primary occupations Percent licensed tour Total trained occupation as participation (% of course income from tourism of “non-0 shers” guides before training 0 shers participants not 0 shers) activities after training

Tour guide -- 9% Nature guide (82%) 57 60% Student -- 9% 33% 33% Sport 0 shing (38%) Housewife -- 7%

Source: Green Reef 2004

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 47 Reduction of Fishing Effort. of the community. Similarly San Pedro and The results of the training indicate that even those Caye Caulker fishers reportedly have become 0 shers who work in tourism continue 0 shing part time fishers, balancing their time between commercially and supplement their incomes lobster fishing and tour guide activities (Huitric with tourism activities. All of the trainees in the 2003). The fishers interviewed in Punta sample of 44 FON/TNC and TIDE/MBRS Herrero and Monkey River expressed a strong Trainees who 0 shed commercially either on a full interest establishing a similar system in their or part time basis continue to 0 sh commercially. communities in which they could replace the Furthermore, interviews suggest that only two or need to fish for species with lower commercial three (9 13%) of these 0 shers may have become value with steadier income earned from tourism suf0 ciently involved in tourism after their training activities. to have altered the amount of effort they dedicate to 0 shing. However, insuf0 cient information is The implicit assumption also exists that as available to evaluate in depth the degree to which fishers move into more profitable activities these participants have reduced their 0 shing effort associated with tourism they will automatically as a result of their involvement in alternative reduce the time they devote to fishing. activities. However it is evident that fishers can engage in tourism activities without substantially reducing This pattern is what would be expected their fishing effort. According to Collins given the way that fishers in the MAR region (2005), for example, the sports fishing guides attempt to optimize their time and earnings who work for the resorts in Punta Gorda also by balancing fishing and tourism activities continue to work as commercial fishers. Her when possible. Under the right circumstances survey showed that the reported fishing effort it is clear that involvement in tourism can of the fisher ecoguides displays little difference provide sufficient incentive to transition from that of the non guide commercial fishers some individuals out of fishing altogether. For she interviewed. In the case of lobster, traps example, the one fisher from Sambo Creek only need to be checked once or twice a week who now works as an independent local tour and the additional time can be devoted to other operator reported that his tourism business activities including tour guiding. Fishing often generates so much income and requires so takes place in family groups, and income earned much time that he has completely abandoned by one member from tourism activities can be commercial fishing.57 More commonly, however, used to invest in the intensification of fishing fishers interviewed in the MAR region express activities of other family members. an interest in using tourism alternatives as a replacement for the fishing of high risk, Finally not all fishers in the region welcome low value species and to supplement income tourism initiatives as a supplementary activity. during the off season or months of low fishery Many Garifuna fishers in Cayos Cochinos and productivity. the shrimp trawlers in Livingston, for example, display significant trepidation regarding In Punta Allen, for example, most fishers have tourism, expressing the fear that it will bring abandoned fishing for scaly fish (escama) in a loss of traditional landing sites and further the lobster off season in favor of tour guiding restrictions on fishing grounds to “save the activities. They report these fish are much more fish for the tourists.” In depth research valuable as resources to attract tourists and fly in the region is clearly required to better fishers than as a commodity sold in the market. understand the dynamic relationship between On the other hand they continue to consider supplementary economic activities and lobster fishing to be the economic foundation fishing effort.

48 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Other Initiatives for Alternative Livelihoods in pressure on resources. But not all of the the MAR region (Develop synergies). projects are targeted towards fishers. These There are numerous other more geographically other initiatives are presented by country in focused training initiatives and projects to a tabular format (Appendix III) and include provide economic alternatives in the MAR both tourism oriented and other types of region and TNC Platform site communities training and projects. The information that were identified in the fieldwork stage is provided to identify potential areas of the project. These initiatives share similar of collaboration, to avoid duplication of objectives those of the TNC/MBRS/UNDP effort, and to facilitate building synergies in sponsored training programs to improve developing alternative livelihood activities in economic conditions in communities in the the region. proximity of protected areas and reduce

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 49

CHAPTER 4

COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS AGENDA

The 0 rst three chapters of this report provided achieve alternative livelihoods and other related an analysis of opportunities and limitations of community based goals. potential alternative livelihood activities in the MAR coastal region. This chapter builds on that Recruitment (ensure appropriate information to propose a concrete action plan for targeting of project bene0 ciaries). promoting economic alternatives in the region. Clear Identi0 cation of Alternative Livelihoods Strategy Goals Recruitment will be more The chapter begins with a discussion of some successful if establishing prede0 ned goals for of the key lessons learned from the alternative training outcomes and more carefully targeting livelihood experiences and especially the eco participants in recruitment. No criteria appear guide training programs discussed in chapter 3. to have been established regarding which 0 shers These past experiences served as the foundation ideally should be targeted for ecotourism training for developing a list of recommended essential to most successfully achieve the goal of reduction elements for success of alternative livelihoods of 0 shing effort. For all alternative livelihood activities in 0 shing communities in the MAR, projects it would be useful to consider questions followed by a discussion of the “0 ve pillars” such as: Should projects target younger 0 shers or foundational strategies for alternative/ who still are not heavily invested in 0 shing and complementary livelihoods programs at a regional therefore may prove more amenable to switching level including methodological considerations occupations? Should projects attempt to target the for the achievement of each strategy. The most productive 0 shers to quickly reduce pressure 0 ve pillars incorporate all of the different on 0 shing grounds? Or should projects target alternatives discussed in chapter 2. This chapter older 0 shers, providing opportunities to move then concludes with a proposed Community more quickly retire from commercial 0 shing? Alternative Livelihoods Agenda broken down into three progressive phases. Each phase is further In light of our limited overall understanding of disaggregated into speci0 c objectives, activities, 0 sher economic behavior and the 0 sher household locations, targeted groups and indicators of diversity, this is a strategic decision that needs to success. The agenda focuses on TNC platform be made by the MAR program. Targeting younger site and Punta de Manabique communities but 0 shers may hold greater promise of success of could be easily adapted to incorporate other key actually transitioning individuals into livelihoods communities in the MAR region. other than 0 shing but also may imply postponing signi0 cant reductions in 0 shing pressure at 4.1 Lessons learned from present to secure a gradual reduction in numbers evaluated experiences of 0 shers and 0 shing pressure in the future. Targeting the most productive and older 0 shers The following encapsulates lessons learned from would seem to be a logical a strategy to reduce the experiences evaluated. The majority of these 0 shing pressure within a shorter timeframe. But lessons should be applied to future training experience suggests that this strategy probably and non training based initiatives to effectively holds much less promise of success due to the fact

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 51 that established livelihood preferences, family and employees of resorts or tour operators. Therefore, community commitments, existing investments successful recruitment requires understanding in 0 shing and pro0 tability factors make it much the relationship between achieving the goals and more dif0 cult to draw well established 0 shers the appropriate audience to engage as well as into alternative livelihoods that will encourage a using appropriate methods and alternatives with reduction in overall 0 shing efforts and investment. which to engage the target audience. It is strongly recommended that target audience for different Identi0 cation of Appropriate Alternatives Different types of economic alternatives be clari0 ed through activities clearly appeal to different groups based further discussions with 0 shers of different age on factors such as age, earnings, time dedicated groups and levels of experience regarding the to 0 shing vis à vis other activities, location and types of training and economic activities they are migratory disposition. Establishing clearer criteria interested in. and gaining a better understanding of community values and lifestyles will enhance the ability Timing and Duration of Event Fishers weigh the to tailor make programs, attracting targeted cost of lost 0 shing opportunity in making a groups of 0 shers into project participation and decision to participate in training. Commercial increasing the potential for achievement of 0 shing is highly seasonal and successful activities objectives. Alternative livelihood programs would to engage 0 shers are those planned outside of clearly bene0 t from a region wide socioeconomic known lucrative 0 shing timeframes such as the and opinion survey applied to a well designed opening of lobster and conch harvest or the peak statistically representative sample of 0 shers and of the Nassau grouper spawning. Working with their households to understand the different the 0 sher’s schedule increases the chances for classi0 cations of 0 shers by type, the diversity success not only by showing respect for their of economic activities of 0 shers and their time but also by engaging at a time when they households, income, livelihood preferences and are free and more apt to participate. Moreover, other critical variables that can be used to improve careful consideration needs to be paid to distance targeting for alternative livelihoods initiatives. from home and 0 shing schedules when planning courses. The problems that Green Reef reported Clear Identi0 cation of Target Audience Clear in transboundary recruitment (only 12 of the generational issues also emerged in the 57 course participants came from Mexico) may recruitment of participants into ecoguide training have been related to the fact that participants programs. Efforts to recruit older established were reportedly required to relocate to Belize for commercial 0 shers were largely unsuccessful. a signi0 cant period of time (up to a month) in Informants concur that the ecotourism guide order to participate in training.58 As a result, in courses hold greater appeal to younger 0 shers the north the trans boundary strategy may have and non 0 shers and activities such as SCUBA favored the training of younger 0 shers with fewer diving especially tend to hold greater appeal to 0 nancial ties to 0 shing and Belizeans who lived in younger individuals. For example, the average closer proximity to the training site. age of all participants in the FON/TNC courses at the time of training was 26 and the oldest As shown in Table 17, the best months to carry out divemaster in Hopkins village was 27 years old activities with 0 shers across the region appear to at the time of the study. On the other hand, lack be mid January to perhaps early to mid March of education and literacy may be a problem that and September. Strong consideration should be discourages older 0 shers from taking courses. given to avoiding planning activities with 0 shers They also may simply not be interested in working during the 0 rst two months of lobster season in with tourists and are more accustomed to self Mexico and Belize (mid June through August) as employment and unwilling to consider working as well as the Easter Season (early March through

52 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS April) which is a period of high tourism activity conducting activities close to the 0 shers’ home base as well as 0 n0 sh 0 shing season throughout the whenever possible. Whether during the season or region (and majúa in Guatemala). The table also in the off season, it is strongly recommended that shows that there are country speci0 c periods of the 0 shers in each country be closely consulted high/low activity based on differing 0 shing targets and a process of socialization be carried out with and local restrictions. Other considerations involve them before scheduling any activities.

Table 17 Fishing and Tourism Seasons in the MAR Region Fishing Seasons

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Lobster Mexico Conch Finfish Lobster Belize Conch Snapper Majúa Finfish Guatemala Lobster Shrimp* Lobster Finfish Honduras Conch Shrimp* Main Tourism Seasons Mexico Belize Tourism Guatemala Honduras Color code legend: = Early high season = Regular season (less activity) = Off season, little to no activity = Lowest activity periods proposed for activities with fishers

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 53 Market Access. In light of these observations, the achievement Much of the ecotourism training provided of project objectives requires greater ongoing appears to have been conceived under one of attention to enhancing services such as job three assumptions regarding employment of opportunities, job placement, earning potential, participants: 1) that the guides themselves and attitudes and cost incentives related to daily, were going to be able to attract clients and seasonal or permanent relocation. generate greater demand for their services in their home area; 2) that tourist visitation Job Placement (Enhance ability of bene0 ciaries to and hence demand for guide services would succeed). Alternative livelihood programs need increase in the near future in the home area to to deliver services beyond training to increase meet supply; or 3) that the participants would probabilities of success. In the case of ecotourism relocate to areas where demand exists for their training, complementary activities could include new talents. However, the following examples job placement strategies, internships and clearly demonstrate a lack of information to mentorship experiences, assistance in procuring substantiate these assumptions and a mis equipment, and more specialized training when connection between the trainings and what they needed. were intended to achieve. Following are considerations to take into account The ecoguide training projects have primarily in follow up initiatives. targeted 0 shers from areas with low visitation and often provided training in specialties not available Guide licenses: Guides in Belize require licenses in the trainees’ home communities. In the north acquired through a 6 week training course of Belize, for example, 42 of the 45 Belizean course provided by certi0 ed BTB instructors and participants came from Sarteneja, an important supported by a local guide association. Although community because it is the base of operations for individuals may have to pay up to $600 and travel the majority of Belizean 0 shers but which receives to distant locations to take the course, with a large very little tourism visitation. Also, six individuals enough group the course can be provided locally from Sarteneja were trained as SCUBA guides and at a signi0 cant discount. although, according to Green Reef (2005), “there is not good diving off of that coast.” In Guatemala obtaining a professional tour guide license requires a year of study Due to time The divemasters trained by FON/TNC in considerations this program is beyond the reach Monkey River are able to access the Placencia of most commercial 0 shers but scholarships could and local markets for occasional employment be facilitated to train one or two young 0 shers in but express that that daily transportation costs each community as licensed professional guides. to town are prohibitive and that potential earnings in town are insuf0 cient to entice them Apprenticeship programs: Fly 0 shing is the 0 eld to move to Placencia where they can practice that holds the greatest appeal for 0 shers and diving full time.59 Similarly, the Toledo district accordingly was offered to more participants (33%) received around 15,000 visitors last year, or than any of the other 0 elds. It was also the 0 eld approximately 41 tourists a day, yet between in which participants have probably displayed the 2004 and 2005 there were 78 individuals lowest rate of success in acquiring employment. trained to be ecoguides (i.e two guides for every daily tourist). Twelve 1 y 0 shers and six SCUBA Low rates of employment are the result of the divers were trained from Guatemala yet in the job market structure and entry requirements Amatique Bay area there are no organized sports for procuring employment as a 1 y 0 sher. Fly 0 shing activities and no dive shops or dive 0 shing is a highly specialized and costly sport tourism industry. characterized by demanding practitioners who

54 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS are willing to invest top dollar but expect high internships appear to have produced positive quality service in return. To meet demand, results. A number of shops provided free training each community and a limited number of to upgrade the students’ certi0 cation status. At specialized resorts has a small group of older and least one of the dive shops expressed interest in experienced 0 shers with established reputations, hiring their interns. Internships not only provide clientele, and the resources necessary to acquire students with hands on experience but also the equipment necessary to guide tours. The establish contacts between trainees and potential experienced 1 y 0 shers interviewed indicated employers and should be used more frequently as that the best way to get into 1 y 0 shing is not by a strategy to increase employment rates. taking a course but through an apprenticeship Other specialized skills and experiences: As noted with an independent 1 y 0 sher in the community in Chapter 2, the best way of capitalizing on or in one of the lodges. An apprenticeship is a the existing base of 0 sher/ecotourism guides means of gaining experience and slowly building in the region will be to consider responding a reputation and a client base and obtaining the to the demand for guides with higher levels of equipment and capital needed to establish oneself specialization and experience. Job opportunities independently.60, 61 exist in the region for guides who are bilingual and have higher degrees of specialization in Internships and appropriate levels of training: In nature, marine or archeological interpretation. contrast to 1 y 0 shing, SCUBA was the 0 eld in Better trained guides with higher earnings which the highest number of trainees has been potential may also display a greater willingness to able to acquire employment. Scuba diving appeals relocate. primarily to younger 0 shers and non 0 shers, both males and females, and provides more Need for Equipment, Credit and Business training: employment opportunities than 1 y 0 shing.62 Trainees indicated that in some cases the lack Certi0 ed divers can either obtain employment of equipment such as kayaks and SCUBA with a resort, work full or part time with different gear impede ecotourism opportunities. Fly tour operators or procure a position with 0 shing equipment is expensive. Furthermore, organizations that are conducting reef monitoring reports indicate that in areas with low tourism activities. demand 0 shers are unwilling to invest their own money equipment, preferring instead to make The key however to procuring most positions investments in 0 shing (Green Reef 2004). The is the ability to supervise dives which requires MBRS 2004 report recognizes that alternative PADI certi0 cation to the Divemaster level. 0 nancing mechanisms such as a revolving fund Certi0 cation below the Divemaster level provides or other low interest credit schemes need to far fewer employment options. MBRS/Green be developed to support 0 shers and 0 shing Reef and MBRS/TIDE participants initially communities in the development of alternative only received training to the Open Water level.63 livelihoods. Training in marketing techniques, The fact that TNC/FON provided Divemaster including internet marketing, was also a need level certi0 cation in their training and that FON expressed by tourism cooperatives/associations facilitated the required 20 hours of logged dives and NGOs throughout the region. required to achieve this level is one of the primary reasons for the high employment rates that were Evaluation of Success of Training (Build in achieved by TNC/FON through this training. strategies to track project success) Except for the case of Green Reef/MBRS, Green Reef also organized internships for 15 participant lists of trainees were lost or SCUBA divers in dive shops in Ambergris Caye incomplete and had to be reconstructed by with funding from the USAID/UNF/ICRAN memory. No baseline of trainee characteristics Meso American Reef Alliance Project. The was established before training. No ongoing

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 55 monitoring procedures appear to be in place to 2. Capitalize on existing activities of 0 shers and track the progress of trainees. This makes future communities: As noted in Chapter 2, it will evaluations of project success more dif0 cult, time be easier to increase incomes and the diversity consuming and costly and less precise. of local economic opportunities by enhancing the earning potential of existing skills and It is usually a simple process to establish a baseline community enterprises than through the of key indicators based on project objectives at introduction of unfamiliar alternatives. the beginning of any project to be used to for Similarly it will be easier to tap into existing project evaluation. In the case of training, before markets opportunities than creating new initiating the course participants should be asked markets for unfamiliar products. to complete a short questionnaire in which they de0 ne their age, dependents, current sources of 3. Enhance success through the delivery of income, 0 shing practices, and other indicators. complementary services to meet alternative The same exact questionnaire could be applied livelihood goals: As noted in Chapter 3, periodically to track change in indicators. Future alternative livelihood programs should training initiatives should include an explicit deliver ongoing follow up services to increase methodology to track and evaluate the success of probabilities of success. For training this 0 shers in obtaining employment and changing could include services such as job placement 0 shing practices over time. strategies or further enhanced of skills. In the case of small enterprise development this 4.2 Essential elements could include services such as facilitation of for success 0 nancing, business management mentorship and ongoing small business extension services. In the assessment process, numerous themes emerged repeatedly as critical to the success 4. Focus on supplemental rather than alternative of alternative livelihoods initiatives. These are employment for 0 shers: As discussed in summarized below as the recommended guiding chapter 2, 0 shers and their households principles that should be followed in order to already exercise a high degree of occupational increase the likelihood that projects will meet multiplicity and have an interest in economic the objective of establishing long term economic alternatives to supplement their 0 shing alternatives in communities that will reduce lifestyle. It must be realized and accepted 0 shing pressure on marine resources while that complete abandonment of 0 shing improving the standard of living of residents. for many communities is an unrealistic expectation. A resistance towards the total 1. Ensure market access and demand prior to transition from 0 shing into other alternatives investment: As noted in Chapter 2, one of is not only a characteristic of 0 shers in the the issues observed in the region involved MAR but has been well documented as a the implementation of alternative livelihood characteristic of 0 shers in the Philippines, projects and promotion of speci0 c economic Canada, the United States and in many activities without any assessment of market other areas of the world. For many coastal demand or with market studies initiated communities, it is not a mere economic only after major investments in training and activity but rather a traditional practice and infrastructure had been made. The likelihood an intrinsic part of cultural identity. of success for all projects will be greatly enhanced by assessing market demand for Alternatives should therefore emphasize alternative skills and products, developing supplementary activities that are compatible 0 nancial forecasts, and establishing strategies with the 0 shing lifestyle with the goal of for commercialization before investments. promoting a shift from full to part time

56 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 0 shing and initially reducing pressure on livelihood transitions have a much greater species of low commercial value. This would opportunity for success if they are developed involve taking into account the seasonality by the communities themselves, re1 ect of commercial 0 shing and an emphasis on traditional values and respect the customary economic activities involving 1 exible, part way of life. Cultural shifts towards natural time or self employment opportunities. resource stewardship, for example, will occur Consideration also needs to be paid to the naturally but must be given time to evolve. potential income that can be generated by alternatives in comparison to existing 7. Focus on women for diversi0 cation of local activities. economies: In most areas women are engaged in a wide range of economic activities 5. Appropriately target project bene0 ciaries: As including the processing of 0 sh products, noted in chapter 3 different alternatives will different kinds of handicraft production appeal to different groups based on factors and other home based small production such as age, earnings and investments in activities, small businesses and door to door 0 shing, location and ethnicity. A clearer sales. Alternatives that target women clearly understanding of the target audience will hold critical importance for local economic assist in identifying appropriate alternatives diversi0 cation and increased household and establishing appropriate objectives for incomes in 0 sher communities and should different groups. For example, as mentioned constitute an important component of any previously groups such as young 0 shers or community alternative livelihoods agenda. part time 0 shers perhaps should receive preferential attention from alternative 8. Avoid replication and build upon past efforts: livelihood initiatives because they are more International organizations, government likely to be amenable to making a complete agencies, and NGOs have been very active transition out of 0 shing than well established in much of the region. Virtually all 0 sher middle aged or older 0 shers. communities have experiences with past projects and many are involved with current 6. Apply a participatory bottom up approach: initiatives to promote local economic Although the community livelihoods agenda development. Regional cooperation below establishes broader regional scale and coordination among implementing objectives and strategies, experience indicates organizations should be furthered to avoid that successful promotion of alternative duplication of past efforts in communities livelihoods at a community scale requires a and to 0 nd ways of building upon existing bottom up approach and a sustained process experience and opportunities. Ongoing of local engagement. Community initiatives efforts should promote synergies among must be comprised of pre , during and post implementers and target audiences to engagement strategies as opposed to one off maximize results from the investment of events or activities. Moreover, it must be 0 nancial and other resources (Gorrez 2005). realized that no single strategy approach will be appropriate for all sites due to uneven 9 Seek complementary partnerships: Currently, regional development and the diversity the alternative livelihood agenda in the MAR of socio economic, ethnic and natural region is dominated by conservation based environments in the region. Villages should NGOs whose primary focus is to protect and be incorporated in a participatory fashion conserve biological entities. As such, many in as many of the processes as possible to of these organizations engage in community establish local ownership of these processes based livelihood development as a means as well as facilitate local learning. Alternative of reducing pressure on overexploited

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 57 biological resources but not necessarily is not limited to ecotourism but can encompass as a means of raising economic standards. a wide variety of tourism sub types including From this standpoint, the conservation ethno tourism, agro tourism, adventure community is often ill equipped for the tourism, as well as history and nature tourism long term necessities of transitioning based on local opportunity. livelihoods, particularly from the business and development aspects. In this regard, Approach. community constituents would be better Fomenting community based tourism served through stronger and strategic alliances development will involve initiating a region wide between conservation, humanitarian and systematic process of “bottom up” planning in development organizations in the region that, local communities. Numerous types of learning together, can achieve both natural resource based activities will be required including training, and community development goals in the community exchanges, and local and regional most appropriate way. workshops. The process will also require the involvement of a wide range of actors: local 4.3 Five pillars of the alternative community organizations, local NGOs, donors livelihoods strategy and representatives from private sector tourism enterprises. Capacity building and planning 1) community-based tourism development to channel bene ts will be oriented towards the goal of developing of regional tourism growth to marketable and economically viable community  sher communities tourism based offerings that will generate demand for goods and services in 0 sher villages and serve Description. as the basis for alternative livelihoods. The development of community based tourism in 0 sher villages should constitute one of the Critical components of this process include: fundamental strategies to promote economic preparing communities; developing products and alternatives in 0 sher communities. The ripple business plans; catalyzing collaboration with the effect of increased tourist visitation to villages private sector; identifying or developing 0 nancing can provide a wide range of opportunities for mechanisms; providing skill development in key local economic diversi0 cation. Furthermore, the areas and monitoring impact.64 successful development of community based tourism in villages may be critical to stem the Preparing communities. expansion of mass tourism into ecologically Communities need to be prepared to develop a sensitive protected areas and protect traditional vision for local tourism development that: will communities from the encroachment of large be in harmony with local goals and objectives; scale, commercial tourism development schemes reinforce and capitalize on the local culture and (Merediz pers. comm.). heritage; elevate self determination and take into account potential trade offs and bene0 ts; Community tourism refers in general to and pro0 t from the past experiences of other tourism activities that are developed, operated, community based tourism initiatives inside and and supported by local community members. outside of the region. A process for preparing Local communities should capture a significant communities should include the following: share of revenues through coops, community associations, joint ventures, and local Strengthening of community cultural identity: entrepreneurs, and tourism activities should Community based tourism should reinforce local respect and reinforce local cultural traditions cultural heritage and tourist activities should and natural heritage. Community based tourism not contribute to excessive cultural erosion.

58 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS The culture and heritage of local communities There is also extensive experience in the Peten is also an asset that should be used to attract region of Guatemala and in the interior of Belize tourists. Certain priority markets, particularly with ecolodge development and ecotourism that the European market, look for opportunities to could be bene0 cial for exchanges. experience unique local cultures. The Garifuna, Creole, ladino, mestizo and Mayan communities Establish a regional network for community-based in the region all have unique cultural and heritage tourism in the MAR region: A network or features that should be incorporated into local association of 0 sher community based tourism tourist offerings. The communities should also enterprises and associations in the MAR coastal be engaged in a process through which tourism region can stimulate the exchange of ideas and be reinforces local values and heritage to minimize used to develop transboundary circuits, support loss of indigenous identity and values and joint project development and promotional and the folklorization of local cultures that often marketing activities. The network could also accompanies tourism. establish a “brand label” to market and certify the authenticity of community based tourism projects Training and learning exchanges: Communities in the region. Numerous examples exist that could should be empowered to make decisions about serve as inspiration for such a network including local tourism development through an increased the National Federation of Community Tourism understanding of what tourism is, different (Federación Nacional de Turismo Comunitario) options for local tourism development and in Guatemala and the Redturs project.5 potential positive and negative impacts. Many, if not most, of the villagers who are interested Develop a product and a business plan. in developing local tourism have themselves Detailed plans should be developed in a never experienced what it is like to be a tourist. participatory fashion with the support of external Exchange programs prove motivational and experts in community tourism. Representatives effective means of swapping information and of communities be incorporated in every stage experiences regarding bene0 ts and challenges of to ensure learning and that local priorities are different approaches. incorporated into the plans.

Exchanges should take place between novice Business plan design should include the following communities and communities with established key elements: community tourism projects.4 Punta Allen has already collaborated in numerous exchange • A vision and goals for local tourism activities with 0 shers from Placencia and • A proposal for local attractions and Monkey River in Belize and other communities complementary activities from Honduras and Guatemala. Also in the • Market feasibility studies and needs MAR region, the Ak’ Tenamit organization in assessments. Livingston has won an award for its guesthouse • The establishment of yearly objectives program in Plan Grande Quehueche. They also • The identi0 cation of marketing strategies for are currently training specialists in community each attraction based sustainable tourism with the capacity to • Budgetary costs provide technical support and are willing to share • Financial projections based on varying market their expertise with communities in the region. scenarios • The identi0 cation of potential funding sources 4 These exchanges may more effective if they take place between communities that share similar ethnicities and productive structures (e.g., 0 sher communities or agricultural communities) or at least similar languages, if possible. 5 See http://www.redturs.com/main.asp LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 59 The 0 nal product should be a detailed plan Include continuous monitoring of impact including market assessments, budgets and The business planning process should include 0 nancial projections that will serve as the the development of local baseline data on foundation for further support to communities to income, opinions, household economic activities develop and expand tourism based alternatives. and others that will allow for monitoring of the impact of tourism development activities. Catalyze partnerships between private Local community organizations can be engaged companies, non pro0 ts and communities in this process to ensure the transparency Some NGOs in the MAR region have already of the process, the local dissemination of recognized the need to complement training the information and the transmission of by generating demand through improved methodology to locals. marketing and commercialization strategies. Amigos de Sian Ka’an has developed a proposal 2) Enhanced capacity for enterprise for commercialization of community products; development and management in TIDE has established an independent, for  shing villages to diversify local pro0 t ecotourism agency called TIDE Tours; economies FUNDARY has helped develop a circuit and brochure to promote tourism in Punta de Description. Manabique. In the absence of opportunities in the job market, community alternative livelihood strategies need Despite the fact that these are positive steps in to focus on local economic diversi0 cation through the right direction, experience shows that business enhanced small enterprise development capacity development is generally not among the strengths in communities. The intrinsic diversity of small of most non pro0 t NGOs.65 Collaboration and scale economic activities within communities in partnerships also should be catalyzed with private the region provides a broad set of opportunities sector agents including local tour operators; depending on conditions in local markets. resorts; hotels; cruise ship lines and business and Capitalizing on natural business opportunities guide associations. Many of these companies are in local communities requires improved capacity looking to diversify the attractions that they offer in business related skills for the creation, to their clients and they can provide 0 nancing, administration and management of private and training and marketing assistance to develop cooperative entrepreneurial ventures. community based tourism products will be of mutual bene0 t if carefully negotiated.66 Approach. Training: Practical applied training in marketing, Develop 0 nancing mechanisms to support administration and financial management for locally based tourism initiatives It is dif0 cult small businesses should be offered in fisher to 0 nance non traditional tourism initiatives communities to existing small business owners, through normal credit sources. Special 0 nancing representatives from tourism cooperatives and mechanisms are needed to provide capital to budding tourism or other micro entrepreneurs. support community tourism initiatives and Workshops should provide hands on training individual local tourism entrepreneurs. in business planning, marketing, financing, record keeping and management by assisting Provide speci0 c skill development in key areas participants to develop small business plans The community based plans will identify speci0 c to either enhance their existing enterprises or needs for local capacity building and training that create new businesses in their communities. will provide the basis for ongoing support to meet The training should be conducted by individuals speci0 c needs in areas such as guide training or who have significant experience as small administrative skills. business entrepreneurs and managers.

60 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Small business extension services or support centers: communities be consulted in an ongoing fashion Consideration should be given to establishing to gauge interest in speci0 c areas of specialization small business support services in the region and that training also be provided in areas of to provide ongoing entrepreneurial assistance emerging opportunities. in 0 shing villages. This could take the form of a small business extension service developed with Scholarships: In order to facilitate the movement of local universities or through extension of0 ces younger members of 0 sher families out of 0 shing based in NGOs, small business incubators, or and perhaps provide communities with access business support centers. Support service should to highly specialized individuals in areas such as be strategically located so that it is easily accessible tourism or business administration, possibilities to communities and provide guidance through should be explored for the development of a business design, implementation, marketing and scholarship program for selected 0 sher’s children other areas needed to increase pro0 tability. to pursue higher education in urban areas.

Financing: Viable projects will require some level 4) Technical and economic feasibility of capitalization through a grant, direct funding studies for new innovative activities or micro loan. Financing programs could include to substitute/mitigate  shing and a combination of seed grants, rotating funds, enhance community incomes. micro credit funds or other schemes. Whatever 0 nancing program is developed should take into Description. account local opinion since local cultural and In Chapter 2, a number of examples and ideas experiential particularities often exist related to were provided regarding potential opportunities loans, credit, and property. to develop projects that would provide 0 alternatives to shing. These included: processed 3) Specialized training in  elds that seafood products; mangrove honey; small scale already provide supplementary aquaculture; seaweed cultivation; grouper farming income for  shers to promote and conch mariculture. The viability of these increased access to income in ventures will depend on local natural resources, those  elds. capacity and market conditions as well as appeal to 0 shers and compatibility with 0 sher lifestyles. Description. The occupational multiplicity of 0 shers and 0 sher Activities. households creates an opportunity to provide These activities will involve extensive training to improve non 0 shing skills of 0 shers to consultation with experts and the contracting promote increased earnings and greater devotion of feasibility studies for technical and market of time to supplementary activities. viability. Initiatives that are already underway to foment seaweed mariculture in Belize should Approach. be monitored for the potential development of Training areas: The speci0 c areas identi0 ed for complementary activities or the expansion of training as described in Chapter 2 and 3 include seaweed production to other areas. the following: Tour guide specializations and certi0 cate programs; certi0 cation and licensing in 5) Research and monitoring to under- basic seamanship and water safety; apprenticeships stand  sher livelihoods and improve for 1 y 0 shers; 1 y 0 sh lure production; artesanal adaptive project management craftmaking; and skilled trades (carpentry for construction, furniture or detailing; engine and Description. boat repair). However, it is recommended that Alternative livelihood planning would be 0 shers and household members in different enhanced signi0 cantly by greater knowledge of

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 61 the livelihoods of 0 sher and 0 sher households in that make them favorable for working different areas in the MAR region. Furthermore, with to jointly implement an alternative adaptive management requires ongoing livelihoods agenda. Phase 1 will also monitoring and evaluation of project successes serve as the venue through which and failures. functional working relationships with target communities and complementary Activities. partners will be cultivated and existing • As discussed in Chapter 3, key indicators need relationships strengthened. Through to be identi0 ed and monitoring procedures these processes, the foundation for established to track the success of all implementation will have been laid. The alternative livelihood initiatives. following outline the potential activities that could be carried out in Phase 1. • Knowledge regarding local 0 shers and their families would be greatly enhanced by the Activity 1: Identify Alternative Livelihoods Agenda application of a region wide socioeconomic Objective Based on the MAR Team’s and opinion survey of a representative sample understanding of the resource status of 0 sher households in the region or the within the Platform Sites as well as application of a 0 sher census in platform site the broader context nationally and communities using the same methodology internationally, overarching objectives and questionnaire. should be developed to serve as the bases of determining success in the future. • Attract researchers in the social sciences to the area to carry out Masters, Ph.D. and Activity 2: Identify Target Communities. Using postgraduate level studies in anthropology, the objectives designed in Activity 1.0, sociology, and economics regarding local speci0 c criteria should be developed economies and 0 sher lifeways and survival and used to help de0 ne the best set strategies. of communities to work with that are strongly associated with the MAR 4.4 Community alternative Platform Sites and Punta Manabique. livelihoods agenda The criteria may include such attributes as the largest 0 sher population, most Using the 0 ve pillars as a foundation, the 0 shery dependent, relative standard of Community Alternative Livelihoods Agenda living and comparative income. These described in detail below consists of a four phase target communities should also provide program to for key communities in the Platform the unique opportunity to implement Sites and Punta de Manabique. The four phases of the agenda as well as possess several the agenda are designed for careful and meticulous factors that indicate a positive and implementation over the span of 0 ve years and after enabling environment for success. gaining successes, can be expanded to include other 0 sher communities in the MAR region. Activity 3: Identify Appropriate Strategies. Using information from this study, the socio Phase 1: Identi0 cation of Target Communities economic report and model (being and Appropriate Strategies. This phase developed) as well as local knowledge will be focused on gaining a better of the communities, an approach can understanding of which communities be developed to engage the target have the largest impact on the resources communities in the most appropriate in the MAR region and what social and sensitive manner. After a period and economic organization they have of socialization and building of trust,

62 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS target communities can be engaged in of incremental benchmarks used to structured processes to produce strategic determine progress made toward interventions based on the Five Pillars. achieving goals as well as the inclusion Before agreeing on strategies, however, of an overall monitoring plan that the communities must be engaged to will indicate if goals and objectives agree upon 0 ner scale goals and objectives have been successfully met. Baseline based on the community aspirations values for pre project social, economic, as well as the goals of the alternative cultural measures can be derived from livelihoods agenda. Once community this and other reports. If necessary, level goals have been set, then the most specially designed rapid surveys can be appropriate strategies derived from carried out to establish conditions prior the Five Pillars can be agreed upon. to the project. Targeted surveys can Strategies are not mutually exclusive then be conducted to periodically assess so that it is likely that a combination ongoing project impacts (both positive of strategies will be necessary to and negative). implement as complementary and parallel processes. Intrinsic to this process is the Activity 6: Begin to Secure Partnerships. In identi0 cation of the speci0 c groups this stage, potential implementation of community members towards partners from complementary 0 elds whom these strategies are oriented. such as community development The intended livelihoods audience and other social economic focused is identi0 ed by both project and organizations are identi0 ed and community level goals as well as an in secured to participate in program depth understanding of the values and implementation as partners in culture of the target communities. sustainable alternative livelihoods. Seeking support and technical Activity 4: Develop an Implementation Plan. knowledge from other humanitarian Together with the communities, and development based organizations develop a detailed plan for will ensure that conservation biases are implementing priority and agreed upon kept in check and alternative livelihood alternative livelihood strategies. The approaches are vetted by development implementation plan should articulate experts. Sharing responsibilities both broad and 0 ne scales goals, with partners may also be an effective how these integrate with community means of sharing the 0 nancial cost of goals and how the strategies will implementation. be implemented to achieve those goals. Within the planning stage it is Phase 2: Year 2 Establishment of Community- critical to establish responsibility and driven Alternative Livelihood Strategies. accountability with the appropriate Phase 2 is comprised of activities entity be it TNC, its partners or necessary in the 0 rst stages of the communities themselves. The program implementation and more budgetary costs of implementation directly draws upon the Five Pillars of should also be detailed and can be used Alternative Livelihoods development. as the basis of fundraising efforts. In this phase, MAR and Partner Teams will work with communities on Activity 5: Establish a Success Monitoring Plan. transforming the alternative livelihood Another important aspect in the strategies into viable product generation implementation plan is the articulation activities. Teams will work very

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 63 closely with key community members could include the implementation of to conceptualize and document how learning workshops on business plan the strategies will function within development, enterprise management their own setting. This process will as well as 0 nancial management and build their skills in basic business accountability. These learning modules development and management as well will set the stage for future activities as lay the groundwork for alternative skills that will include business and strategic training. Phase 2 is critical for engaging planning as well as implementing the communities in an in depth manner startup activities. that can in1 uence their choices in the future. The timeframe allocation for Activity 2: Business Plan Development/Skill Phase 2 can be shorter or longer than one Enhancement Planning. This activity year depending largely on the time and involves the development of viable capacity of key players including the MAR business plans with the targeted and Partner Team members. If this work community members that articulates is carried out by a focused community basic elements such as the product development partner (e.g. RARE, SNV), offering and how it will be generated, then it is more likely that it can be carried the competitive advantage of the out faster and more ef0 ciently. Relying project, the management structure of on the MAR Team and its conservation the proposed business activity and NGO partners alone may cause delays financial projections. Such a plan given the multiplicity of responsibilities need not be long and tedious, however, of team members who will not be able if livelihood alternatives are designed to completely focus on this project for a to be meaningful in the long term, long period of time. These delays can be then, due diligence must be given perilous to the program as the attention to these plans. At this stage, it may span of communities is very short and be possible for business enterprise momentum may be lost which then startup activities to be implemented increases the amount of resources and involving the consolidation of the energy necessary to revive the process different learning activities to set up later on. the business. For skills enhancement type strategies, this process could Activity 1: Alternative Livelihood Strategy involve a strategic planning process Conceptualization. Here the MAR that identifies not only how and when Team and/or its Partners will conduct the training will take place but also a series of highly structured dialogues how community members trained with the community target audience to in new skills or have enhanced skills operationalize the speci0 c alternative will successfully compete in the livelihoods strategies developed in relevant market through appropriate the 0 rst phase. These dialogues must job placement strategies. Post be substantiated by real information training activities are key elements to on the economic potential of these maintaining community interest and strategies in the existing marketplace, demonstrating results that in turn understanding the competitive gain credibility within the community, landscape and how the strategies thereby potentially increasing can be made into viable alternatives the level of interest of other over the long term. Depending on community members or neighboring the strategies chosen, this activity communities.

64 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Activity 3: Implementation of Skills Enhancement 2. This phase will require consistent or Development Training. Speci0 c effort from the MAR and Partner Team activities involving skills training in order to build on the successes and can be implemented based upon the momentum of the 0 rst two phases. readiness of the constituents and the Speci0 c activities are not articulated labor demand in the marketplace. If here as they are dependent on the the demand for certain skills is clearly strategies that have yet to be chosen demonstrated within this timeframe, but also that must be developed by the such as the immediate need for communities themselves. However, quali0 ed divemasters in Placencia, it is envisioned that in this phase, the then this opportunity should be taken business plans will be undertaken and advantage of. However, this must community members will be mobilized be done thoughtfully and long range to generate, market and sell goods and contingencies, post training follow up services. For other strategies, training and job placement strategies should not components and skills enhancement be sacri0 ced for opportunity. activities will take place as well as the implementation of job placement Activity 4: Re0 nement of Monitoring Parameters. strategies to help ensure the success of As new life is breathed into the trainees in the workforce. alternative livelihood strategies at this stage, it is important to revisit the Phase 4: Year 5 Adaptive Management. Using success benchmarks and indicators the monitoring program developed developed in Phase 1. These success in the previous phases, monitoring indicators can be revised and re0 ned should be conducted to determine if based on the detailed concepts designed both program and community goals through Activities 1 to 3. and objectives have been achieved. Monitoring data should help gauge the Activity 5: Fundraising. At this stage, the 0 nancial impacts of the alternative livelihoods requirement of implementation on the communities and on the marine inclusive of business plan investments, resources from which extraction training costs, long term trainee pressure was being rechanneled through support etc. should be identi0 ed. the alternative strategies. Based on funding needs, appropriate sources of 0 nancial support should Activity 1: Direct Monitoring of Program Success. be identi0 ed and approached. In Data from target community members addition to traditional grant funding will be gathered to determine whether and private donor support, long term business and training goals were met. sources such as venture capital funds, Some basic monitoring parameters small enterprise funding (TNC’s could include pro0 tability of the EcoEmpresas Program) and microloans business and whether or not 0 nancial should be explored and secured for the expectations are being met, number of following implementation years. trainees that have successfully found work in other industries outside of Phase 3: Year 3-4 Implementation of Community- marine resource extraction, changes in based Alternative Livelihoods Strategies. This income as a result of these alternative Phase will involve the execution of all livelihoods, changes in the community the strategic alternative livelihoods that can be attributed to the alternative concepts and plans generated in Phase livelihoods program intervention.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 65 Activity 2: Analysis and Interpretation of The correlation between various socio Monitoring Information. The econ and biological parameters can be information gathered in the previous established over time. activity should be analyzed holistically and compared with the baseline Activity 4: Community Reporting. In addition to values that were set at the beginning usual program reporting, a strategy for of the program. Analysis results can reporting results from the last 0 ve years then be interpreted based on the of effort should be formally disclosed to level of achievement of the various target communities. This could be in the goals and objectives that were set form of a series of community meetings 0 both for the program itself but also in which monitoring ndings (i.e. data, for the communities. Through analysis and interpretation) are discussed this interpretive process, strategies with appropriate community members. can then be evaluated and adapted, It will be equally critical to discuss the adjusted or discarded based on a implications of the monitoring results determined level of success. Useful on the alternative livelihoods strategies lessons learned and best practices and solicit input from the communities should be derived from this process themselves. This activity will not only from which other programs can continue to build trust among community learn. Moreover, holistic analysis and constituents but it also provides a formal venue through which community interpretation of the data will allow stakeholders can voice opinions, assumptions regarding community suggestions and concerns regarding values, social norms, economic the program or any aspect of its standing, standards of living and implementation. This feedback process market trends used in Phases 1 also reinforces and continues to instill and 2 to be revisited and updated. the value of community ownership of These assumptions are critical to the alternative livelihoods program. maintain throughout the lifespan of the program to distill the enabling 4.5 Speci c opportunities for conditions that led to success. immediate implementation

Activity 3: Impacts of Livelihoods Strategies To ensure the systematic implementation of on Marine Resources. Alternative community alternative livelihoods strategies, it livelihoods monitoring results should is recommended that community livelihoods then be cross reference with biological programs begin with the process focused monitoring data to determine the implementation of activities as detailed in impacts of livelihoods transition on Phase 1 of the Community Livelihoods Agenda. marine resources, if any. If the program However, Table 4.1 also provides a summary is designed to transition 0 shers out of of speci0 c activities that present immediate the 0 shing industry to reduce pressure opportunities to support alternative livelihoods on marine resources, then a reduction in the platform site communities. To improve can be indicated by a decrease in chances for success, the implementation of these number of 0 shers, a decrease in time activities should take into account the essential devoted to 0 shing or a decrease in elements of success detailed in section 4.1 of income derived from 0 shing activities this Chapter as well as the approaches provided with a corresponding increase in under the Five Pillars. income generated from other activities.

66 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Table 18 Immediate Opportunities for Implementation of Alternative Livelihood Activities in Platform Site Communities

General objective Activities Methodological considerations Target communities/ Stakeholders

Some communities already have developed Hopkins; cultural-heritage based products (e.g. Hopkins, Monkey River; Practical courses with local Nueva Armenia) Estela Lagarto; tourism stakeholders and Punta de Manabique; leaders to develop cultural- Enhance the quality of existing activities and Santa Isabel; heritage based tourism identify unexploited possibilities. Chachaguate/ products and attractions to Nueva Armenia; market to tourists. The process should also contribute to the Rio Esteban/ reinforcement of local cultural heritage. East End

Include local community-tourism leaders and entrepreneurs and let them have the experience Hopkins; of being a tourist. Monkey River; Estela Lagarto; Prepare communities Experiential exchanges to Exchanges/visits to communities with Punta de Manabique; and enhance products broaden local vision and functioning community-based tourism Santa Isabel; for community-based experience with community- initiatives within or outside of the region as Chachaguate/ tourism based tourism. appropriate (the receiving communities will Nueva Armenia; Pillar 1 have to be carefully selected). Rio Esteban/ East End Before and after exchange, include process to clarify and reinforce local vision for community-based tourism.

Identify and target existing artisans, interested Punta Allen and Punta Herrero in Sian 0 shers and female members of 0 sher families. Ka’an, Punta de Manabique; and Monkey River; will need to identify potential Training in home-based Identify the most appropriate crafts and products. production of crafts and souvenirs that can be produced locally and souvenirs targeted towards provide training to ensure quality. In Chachaguate/Nueva Armenia; Rio tourists. Esteban/East End will be able to work with Include training in small business management, existing artisans to reinforce product quality, sales techniques and marketing strategies. uniqueness and commercialization strategies.

1. Training in customer relations and customer Complementary training For #1, offer to all past trainees and 0 sher service for tour guides; to enhance ability of past guides in platform sites. ecotourism guide trainees 2. Facilitate mentorship experiences for 1 y and existing 0 sher guides For #2, conduct a pilot project with 0 shing trainees. Will need to contact to obtain employment and unemployed or underemployed 1 y 0 shing established 1 y 0 shers and 0 shing lodges to income in tourism. trainees in the Gladden Spit communities. set up mentorship experiences. Prepare communities and enhance products Fortify local tourism associations by targeting Tourism cooperative in Punta Herrero; for community-based two or three quali0 ed male or female members Village Council in Hopkins; tourism from each community for the training who can Tourism association in Monkey River; (continued) Training in marketing provide ongoing advice and training to other Community Development Councils and sales techniques for members of the associations. (Cocodes) in three Punta de Manabique community-based tourism communities; and ecotourism products. Candidates should be selected by local Village board of trustees (Patronato) or associations in consultation with training tourism Chambers of Commerce in Cayos provider to ensure they have needed Cochinos communities. quali0 cations.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 67 General objective Activities Methodological considerations Target communities/ Stakeholders

Offer to potential 0 sher/ecotourism Enhanced capacity for Practical general entrepreneurs as well as to women micro- enterprise development microenterprise entrepreneurs in communities. and management in development/management 0 shing villages to All platform site communities and sales/marketing training As described above, the courses ideally would diversify local economies courses. be accompanied by a mechanism to provide Pillar 2 sources of funding for business plans that show promise of success as well as follow-up services.

Specialized training in 0 elds that already Training 0 shers to enhance Ask partners to conduct rapid survey of 0 shers provide supplementary their skills in carpentry, in their respective areas to gauge interest income for 0 shers to Fishers in all platform site communities. masonry, engine and boat of 0 shers in speci0 c trades and areas of promote increased access repair. specialization. to income in those 0 elds Pillar 3

Technical and economic feasibility studies for Develop activities to First investigate existing seaweed farming new innovative activities complement existing 0 sher Hopkins, Monkey River, Placencia and programs in Belize to gauge success and to substitute/mitigate seaweed farming activities in others depending on economic and technical possibilities of transfer to other areas in the 0 shing and enhance Belize and expand seaweed feasibility. MAR region. community incomes. production to other areas. Pillar 4

Will address a critical gap in knowledge Research and monitoring regarding 0 sher household economic behavior, to understand 0 sher Engage local partners to coordinate with Application of a region-wide types of 0 shers in the MAR region. livelihoods and improve 0 sher cooperatives and associations, socioeconomic and opinion adaptive project universities and researchers to apply the survey of 0 sher households. Select either a representative sample of 0 sher management survey locally. households in the region or apply of a 0 sher Pillar 5 census in platform site communities.

68 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS NOTES

1 Population density in the coastal 7 Cruise tourism is relatively inexpensive and municipalities as a whole remains relatively people don’t want to spend more than US low (26.71 individuals per km2). The majority $30 or $40 for tours. At the same time, they of the population in the coastal municipalities expect a high level of service. A cruise ship (75%) is concentrated in towns and cities may have 2000 passengers and of those 1000 that would be classi0 ed as urban according to or more may come off the boat. national standards of the different countries. 8 Taken from Municipal website found at 2 Another indicator of the high immigration (http://www.qroo.gob.mx/qroo/Estado/ driving population growth in those areas is Felipe.php#5) the fact that in Benito Juarez only 28% of those interviewed in the 2000 Mexico census 9 For example, there are 7000 farmers reported having been born in Quintana Roo involved in the sugar industry in different and in Solidaridad the 0 gure was 32%. The levels. The cane cutters are family members only municipalities outside of Mexico in of the farmers but also they use Mexicans which 50% or more of the population consists and Guatemalan migrant laborers. Of of immigrants are Roatan and Utila in the Bay approximately 90 million BZ earned in Islands of Honduras, another area of intense foreign exchange in sugar, perhaps 60 million recent tourism growth. is divided amongst the farmers and 30 million goes to the industries. In the north 3 For example, the average HDI for the there is also livestock production, and grain Honduran municipalities (.708) is slightly producing corn, beans and rice) (Vasquez higher than the country as a whole for pers. comm.). 2003 (.667) whereas the Quintana Roo municipalities display an average slightly lower 10 Citrus production revolves around farmer than the Mexican index (.803 vs .814 for the associations. Citrus involves many small country in 2003). farmers but also some very large plantations those are owned by the individuals/ companies that started the industry in the 4 Comparison of municipal level economic 1930s and 40s. Oranges are ripped from the indicators is impeded by information gaps end of November to the end of May. Migrant and the different standards and classi0 cation workers from Honduras and Guatemala are systems used to de0 ne labor participation and the ones who perform the harvesting. occupational categories. 11 The bananas are sold in Europe by Fyffes, 5 For example, tourism is responsible for which has its office in Ireland. Belize up to 90% of all economic activity in the bananas reportedly fetch premium prices municipality of Cozumel (Ayuntamiento in Europe to sell the bananas the farm Municipal 2005). must be certified as having been produced without child labor and with corporate 6 Izabal, Guatemala had 54 hotels and 1268 responsibility. Bananas production appears rooms representing 7.1% of national capacity to be in an growth phase. The Big Creek in 2004 and an average monthly occupation port is being expanded for the shipping of 0 rate of 44.8% in the rst three months of bananas (Vasquez pers. comm.). 2005 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 69 12 Cacao, is marketed in England by Cadbury Muyil which is the only of the terrestrial (organic cacao called, apparently, green gold communities that has developed signi0 cant in Europe for the production of special ecotourism activities. These terrestrial ejidos chocolates). are dominated by Mayan populations that traditionally lived off small scale farming 13 The village of Sarteneja is the major area (milpas), hunting and rubber tapping from which Belizean 0 shers come. Many (chicleros) with only small scale interaction leave their boats in Belize City (under Swing with markets. Currently, however, these Bridge). The Sarteneja 0 shers 0 sh all along communities provide labor for the hotels in the coast including in the south where larger the Riviera Maya the hotels send a bus to boats serve as the base for free divers for pick up and return the workers daily to their lobster and conch. The Sarteneja 0 shers sell communities (approximately 1 hour trip each primarily to the Northern Coop in Belize way). The tourism has increased the need for City. Northern also has a receiving plant in cash in the communities as they adopt a more Independence (Mejil pers. comm.). materialistic lifestyle (Caamal pers. comm.).

14 Arc Maya, the northernmost entrance to the 17 Although lobster remains the economic reserve and point of departure to Punta Allen, mainstay of Punta Allen, tourism is already the visitors center and the 0 shing lodges, entrenched within the local economy of the received 71% of these visitors. Muyil received village and represents a signi0 cant source 12% and the Pulticub entrance which leads of local income. In 2002 3, for example, to Punta Herrero received 5%. The majority the community received a total of 11,623 of visitors were European although there are visitors (Solares Leal and Alvarez Gil 2003). also signi0 cant numbers of visitors from the Most 0 shers in Punta Allen have altogether US. Forty percent of Mexican tourists visit abandoned commercial 0 shing for scaly 0 sh during Holy Week. (escama). There are also a signi0 cant number of non 0 shers in the community devoted 15 Ejidos adjacent to Sian Ka’an and exclusively to tourism. These include tourism approximate number of inhabitants cooperative members and non member Community Population freelance licensed guides who work for José Maria Pino Suárez 150 inhabitants cooperative members. Fishers report that Chunyaxche 100 inhabitants tourist guiding activities take place in the Tres Reyes 130 inhabitants season that was previously devoted to 0 shing Felipe Carrillo Puerto 17000 inhabitants for 0 n0 sh, an activity that carries higher Chanca Veracruz 400 inhabitants economic risks and that is signi0 cantly less Andrés Quintana Roo 300 inhabitants lucrative than lobster 0 shing. Limones 2000 inhabitants Villa Cortés 50 inhabitants 18 Punta Allen has already achieved signi0 cant Chumpón 650 inhabitants Cecilio Chi 60 inhabitants advances in developing locally based eco Tulum 8000 inhabitants tourism. Muyil and Punta Herrero also have Punta Allen 800 inhabitants received training and established tourism X-Hazil n/a cooperatives to capture and distribute the 0 Source: List courtesy of Eulogio Puc from CONANP bene ts of local tourist visitation. All of the communities in Sian Ka’an but especially 16 Punta Allen and Punta Herrero are the two Punta Allen display signi0 cant advantages coastal communities visited by the consultant over communities in other areas of the MAR and are the focus of this assessment. The for the development of community based consultant also visited the Mayan village of ecotourism. These include the following:

70 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Support from the authorities: CONANP has over the past 15 years. Most recently UNDP’s actively supported low intensity tourism COMPACT Project provided funding to development in communities surrounding support the replacement of boat engines in Sian Ka’an. They were involved in organizing Punta Allen to more environmentally friendly the 0 rst cooperatives in Punta Allen and four cycle engines. The UNDP and others Muyil and have offered or channeled have also provided funding to Punta Herrero signi0 cant assistance in the form of training and Muyil to support ecotourism development and other kinds of support to assist the in those communities, but eco toursim in communities in the process. To date, the these villages and especially Punta Herrero is focus and primary bene0 ts of these efforts signi0 cantly less developed than in Punta Allen. have accrued to Punta Allen. Marketing: Especially the cooperatives in CONANP effectively regulates tourism in the Punta Allen are making special efforts reserve to ensure that bene0 ts accrue primarily to conduct direct marketing efforts to to the local residents. Tourism guide licenses circumvent the intermediation of lodges and are limited to individuals from communities large tour organizers. Different marketing in the area of in1 uence of the reserve. All approaches are being attempted. In 2004 external tourism operators are required to work the RARE organization supported the with local guides. CONANP has provided formation of an alliance of four tourism authorization to eight private ecotourism cooperatives from Muyil and Punta Allen. companies to operate in the reserve but these The alliance, called Community Tours of are all owned in whole or in part by individuals Sian Ka’an, established a centralized of0 ce from local communities. CONANP also in Tulum for the participating cooperatives, provides annual training to tour guides, developed an offering of tours and established required to keep their licenses updated. The a website for direct marketing (http://www. Board of Trustees for the protected area siankaantours.org/). Although this initiative also regulates the number of boats that are apparently is not yet self sustainable and authorized to offer tourism services. the long term success is still in question due to the fact that funding is about to expire, Access to credit and capital: Every tourism the Tourism Cooperatives in the region cooperative member in Punta Allen has at least have obtained signi0 cant experience with one boat that is authorized exclusively for use in marketing, product development and other tourist activities in the Reserve. This represents areas that could prove useful in the future. a signi0 cant outlay of capital by individuals in the community. Members of the Vigía Chico 19 Not all of the members of the cooperative are Fishing Cooperative in Punta Allen have been owners of campos. These work as chalanes able to move pro0 ts generated from lobster assistants to campo owners. On the other 0 shing into equipment required for 1 y 0 shing hand, there are a number of cooperative and eco adventure tours (snorkeling and bay members who own multiple campos. trips). Also many have been able to access signi0 cant credit through the Cooperativist 20 The sale is not of the campo per se but of the Federation of Quintana Roo which receives access rights and the shades that are located signi0 cant economic support from the Mexican within the campo. Federal Government (Merediz pers comm.) Furthermore, Punta Allen has bene0 ted from 21 There are only four 0 shers whose families reside its proximity to the mass tourism destinations with them in Punta Herrero. The families of all from the north and received considerable of the other 0 shers reside in Chetumal. The fact assistance from international organizations that the community is so heavily dominated by

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 71 males, and that they do not have the distractions 25 Between 1999 and 2003, Stann Creek and and social controls imposed by wives and Placencia report growth of employment in children, may be the reason that the population hotels at a higher than national average with has a reputation of heavy drinking and rowdy 70.5% and 51.6% respectively. Employment behavior in contrast to the more “serious and in hotels has increased at a national rate of religious” people of Punta Allen. 34.1% over the 5 year period between 1999 and 2003. From 1991 to 2000 there was 22 The 2000 Census only reported a total a reported increase in service workers and population of 23 males and 8 females in 12 shop sales workers in Hopkins from 3.2% to occupied households. Twenty 0 ve of the 25.3%. individuals censused were over the age of 15 and 19 were economically active. However 26 This was established when attempting to 0 the regular population appears a bit larger gauge numbers of shers per community for than this. Probably most of the 0 shers were the 2004 Fishers Survey conducted by FON. censused in Chetumal at the location of their For example, the 2000 census reported the 0 primary domicile. same number of shers (30) as the number identi0 ed by the Hopkins Survey team in the 23 This assumes a constant growth rate of 3.76%, community in 2004. the same rate recorded for the communities in the 1991 2000 intercensal period. 27 The only data found to approximate contribution of 0 shing to the local economy is the 2000 census data on annual income 24 Economic trends in the communities since for working people over 15 years of age. This the early 1990s include a strong movement data indicates that in 2000 the income of individuals away from own account reported by 0 shers/0 sh processors constituted economic activities into private sector between 7.9 and 10.4% of all reported income paid positions. Furthermore, there has earned in GSSCMR communities in the been a movement away from employment 2000 census. But it should be noted that the in the agriculture /forestry/fishing sector income reported by 0 shers is only related in and an increase in employment in services part to 0 shing activities, so the income 0 gures and crafts related occupations between do not correspond to the overall economic 1991 and 2000. The first trend appears importance of 0 shing to local households. to be related primarily to abandonment of agricultural activities although there 28 The communities surrounding GSSCMR also may have been a slight decline in display the most rapid growth in Belize in a fishing as a main occupation during the number of growth indicators. For example: period. The second trend is likely related to a diversification of the local economy • Since 1992, the Stann Creek area (including as a result of tourist expansion during Dangriga and Hopkins) has displayed the the period. Employment in the service highest percentage growth in tourist beds sector appears primarily related to tourist of any tourist area in the country with a (hotel, restaurant and guide) jobs and total growth of 360%. The Placencia area greatly favors women. Furthermore, the was second in growth with 297%. These economic participation of women in has compare to a national growth rate of 72.2%. increased dramatically in the last 15 years From 2000 to 2004 the number of beds in all occupational categories but especially increased by 20% in Stann Creek and 44.7% in work as “service workers and shop sales in Placencia despite the destructive effects workers” and in small business ownership. of Hurricane Isis in 2002.

72 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS • Based on conservative occupation estimates, to restrict 0 shing activities. This area also the total number of hotel bed nights per appears to the one in which 0 shers have been year (2003) in Stann Creek was 109,500 most severely affected by restrictions imposed and in Placencia was 99,718, representing by the declaration of the protected area. an increase of 91% and 69.5% respectively over visitation in 1999. At an average of 7 32 Membership in the cooperatives provides nights overnight stay per tourist, which has advantages over freelancing because they been cited as the Belizean average, Stann provide services to their members such as Creek would have received 15,642 tourists group rates for insurance; the facilitation (average of 43 tourists a day) and Placencia of permits and marketing. There are also a 14,245 (average of 39 tourists a day). At an series of permits that all tourist boats and average per day expenditure of US$100 per 0 shers in the reserve need to have some day per tourist (national average calculated of which may be facilitated through the by BTB), the total direct value of tourism cooperative: Permiso de Capitania de Puerto to the local economy of Stann Creek in (this is paid for by the cooperative); Permiso 2003 would have been US$10,950,000 de SAGARPA (Secretaria Agricultura y and to Placencia of US$9,971,000. Pesca) to 0 sh; Permit by SEMARNAP (Environmental Secretariat) to provide 29 Lobstering with scuba is standard in the area. tourist services. The 0 shers in Rio Esteban say that there are two reasons for this. First of all, there are 33 In Punta Allen there is less capacity and a high levels of thievery from traps which has steadier demand for 1 y 0 shing tours than discouraged their use. Second, lobster 0 shing other eco tours due to the specialized nature is now restricted in the shallower lobster of the service. The cooperatives reported the banks within the protected area that used to ability to offer 14 1 y 0 shing expeditions a day be accessible through free diving. The lobster and a nominal demand of 10 12 expeditions banks to which they now have to access are a day, representing 60 to 80% of capacity. Fly farther away from the community and longer 0 shing specialists work regularly because and deeper than the ones in the protected local clubs and 0 shing lodges, which receive area and need to be accessed using tanks. a steady in1 ux of sport 0 shers during the season, contract the cooperative’s 1 y 0 shing 30 The consultant noted a clear contrast in the guides. Fly 0 shing tours are off the rolls aspirations of 0 shers, for example, with those due to the fact that clients request speci0 c of farmers in the highlands of the Dominican guides based on a recommendations or past Republic who will clearly state that farming experience. Nevertheless, the 1 y 0 shers pay is no longer an economically viable activity their 10% per trip quota to the Cooperatives and will make signi0 cant efforts to move in order to reap the bene0 ts of membership, their male and female children out of rural including appearing on the eco/adventure areas and into cities where they have a chance tour rolls. to establish a non farming existence (e.g. McPherson and Schwartz 2001). 34 Although visitation remains very low, the cooperative reports that at times they do 31 It should also be noted that there are areas not have sufficient equipment to meet where 0 shers view tourist development with demand. Demand does not appear to trepidation. This was found particularly in be sufficient as of yet, however, for the the Garifuna communities of Cayos Cochinos fishers or the cooperative to have sufficient where 0 shers expressed fear that a focus on incentive to access local credit options to tourism would generate increasing pressures purchase equipment.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 73 35 The consultant did not visit northern visitors is the City Tour (low price plays a Belize or San Pedro. However, according to factor in the popularity of this tour) followed informants signi0 cant efforts are currently by the Rio Dulce/Livingston and Quiriguam underway in the 0 shing village of Sarteneja tours. to develop community based ecotourism as an alternative to 0 shing (Appendix III). A 40 In Guatemala, a professional guide needs very signi0 cant number of guides have been a license based on a one year training trained the Sarteneja area by Green Reef and course broken into a series of month long other organizations. However there is as yet training modules. The training is provided low demand due to infrastructure problems by different institutions but INGUAT primarily the access road to Sarteneja. Some does the evaluation and authorizes the of the trained divers from Sarteneja have license. Informants report that the training reportedly migrated to Belize City to work curriculum is very comprehensive and with the cruise lines. In San Pedro, many includes training in tourism services, nature 0 shers have made some transition into and cultural interpretation, basic English working in tourism but most also continue to language training and others. The course is 0 sh for lobster and perhaps other species. not accessible to most individuals from Punta de Manabique communities as a result of the 36 There are reportedly 76 certi0 ed tour guides time, cost and educational level involved in in Hopkins and approximately 50 that are taking the training. active. These tour guides are af0 liated with the Dangriga Tourism Association. 41 According to a representative from About 50% of active tour guides work FUNDARY, no individuals in the Amatique full time through the resorts. In Monkey Bay area are recognized as specialized 1 y River there are reportedly 30 35 guides 0 shers. Furthermore, no tour operators with 50% working on a consistent basis promote 1 y 0 shing in the region. The providing Monkey River tours (10 guides) Amatique Bay Resort would occasionally and 1 y 0 shing (5). In the Placencia Tourism subcontract FUNDARY to conduct 1 y Association there are reportedly 176 licensed 0 shing tours because they were the only local tour guides, all are Belizean and most are organization with the appropriate type of local. boat and knowledge of the area to provide the tours (Mechel pers. Comm.) 37 Six farm out all of the tours they offer to other operators. 42 The primary handicrafts production areas in Quintana Roo are identi0 ed in the following 38 Coastal tourism and cruise ship tourism also website: http://artesaniasqr.qroo.gob.mx/ acts as a hook for terrestrial tourism up rivers to Maya ruins and jungle tours. 43 For an example of Garifuna/Placencia dolls see: http://www.destinationsbelize.com/ 39 The main tours provided to tourists are dolls.htm Quiriguam, Rio Dulce, Rainforest, City Tours, Amatique Bay, Green Bay, Livingston, 44 For example, in the Dominican Republic the Playa Blanca. All the guides have to be sale of bottles of mamajuana, similar to gi0 ti, bilingual and they should have a license is widespread and can be found in virtually (currently it appears there are some guides every souvenir shop and tourist market in working that don’t have a license). The 35 the country. The bottles are most commonly guides reportedly work on a consistent basis. sold prepared with spices and leaves but the The most popular tour amongst cruise ship purchaser must add the rum.

74 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 45 Local tourist oriented businesses in Hopkins village include the following:

Small Locally Owned Hotels in Hopkins

Name Price Capacity

Howard’s Inn $60 BZ 4 rooms

Look to the East $25 BZ 6 rooms (2 family and 4 single)

Wabato $45 BZ 3 rooms Heartland Inn 2 rooms, foreigners only

Caribbean View $25 BZ 6 rooms

Ransoms Cabanas $20 BZ 4 (family room and 3 singles)

Hopkins Inn (foreign owned) $60 US 8 rooms Tanie’s House $26.75 BZ 3 Seagulls Guest House 4 Whistling Seas 5 All Seasons 2

Totals Small Inns 47 (capacity @100 tourists)

Other tourist related locally owned small businesses in the community

Name Type of Business Bel a Bea Pizza restaurants

Drumming center and offer breakfast/lunch/dinner. Lebeha Give classes for tourists to learn to play drums.

Dats Place Restaurant La Runihati Restaurant

Located at entrance to town. Restaurant, also arranges tours and King Cassava taxi service

Harbour House Internet Café Provide Internet, burn CDs Monica’s Place Restaurant Hopkins Internet Faxing/Internet service Inmingo Restaurant Restaurant

Sell items made by local artisans as well as other touristy knick Culture Gift Shop knacks.

Tina’s Place Pizzeria, pastries, bicycles Watering Hole Restaurant B.L. Dinner, 0 shing tours, pool table Hopkins Laundry Service Laundry All Seasons Not only hotel but rents scooters

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 75 46 This would require modi0 cations to existing scheme that includes local packaging and an protected area regulations that do not permit “ecological” branding to enhance value of extraction of wood products for purposes the charcoal could be considered for Punta other than household use. However, de Manabique. CONAP in Guatemala has to date “looked the other way” regarding the commercial 51 This report speci0 ed conducting an production of charcoal and are in the process evaluation of TNC sponsored training of drafting regulations that would permit programs and comparing those results to the making of charcoal for commercial the impact of similar programs conducted by purposes through sustainably harvested plots. other organizations in the region. However, Similar allowances could perhaps be made the sponsoring organizations and NGOs that for the sustainable production of other wood implemented the training programs, have products. failed to keep complete records of numbers of individuals trained and have not established 47 In Nueva Armenia, two businesses were any baseline or follow up procedures to funded. A group of women received money monitor program impact. Trainee numbers to purchase a freezer to make ice to sell to therefore had to be reconstructed based on 0 shermen. Sales are slow, there are internal interviews with implementing organizations con1 icts within the group and energy costs and 0 shers, news articles, and partial lists are prohibitive, and this business is failing. provided by implementing organizations. Seed money and training was also provided to a group of intermediaries who purchase 0 sh. The evaluation of the impact of training is The primary partner of this venture said he based on focus groups and interviews with was already making money before receiving a relatively small sample of participants the training but that the seed money allowed and interviews with program sponsors and them to purchase a freezer without having to implementers. The interviews were used access bank credit and he is anxious to receive to gather information on trainees’ past and more “free money” from any project that will current activities. The information reported provide it.. is therefore based in part on informant recall as opposed to a direct survey or census of 48 They want to expand they operations to trainees. Although the information obtained by pass the intermediaries and sell smoked is suf0 cient to make some reasonably fish, fresh fish and fish fillet in the market. con0 dent observations about amount, type They would also like to compete with and impact of training to date in the southern the local intermediaries and become a part of the MAR it should not be construed major purchaser of fish in the Manabique as a statistically representative evaluation of peninsula. training impact. The recomendation in this case is that a well structured random survey or 49 Prices can reportedly drop from a normal 20 census of all training participants to date be quetzales for a 35 pound sack to as low as 3 developed and applied to use the information quetzales a sack. make adjustments before any future training is embarked upon. 50 In the supermarkets of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic there is a charcoal 52 On the other hand, in its Annual Work Plan sold in stores called Carbón Ecológico (July 2005) MBRS reported having trained a (Ecological Charcoal) that is produced total of 165 individuals in diving, snorkeling, using sustainable methods and with kayaking, nature guiding, and recreational increased benefits for producers. A similar 0 shing. This number does not correspond

76 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS with the numbers provided by the NGOs that reportedly monopolizes the demand for implemented the training. guides in the Punta Gorda area.

53 An MBRS Mid Term Review Report 56 No speci0 c information was obtained (March 2004) recommended that the goal regarding the employment status of eighteen of “35% of 0 shers trained in alternative Guatemalans who were trained in diving and livelihoods derive at least 50% of their 1 y 0 shing by TIDE/MBRS. However, it is incomes from an alternative assuming there unlikely that these are working in their 0 eld is a market for this kind of tourism” be of training on a consistent basis due to the adopted, although it is unknown whether this lack of dive shops and 1 y 0 shing organizers in objective was of0 cially accepted. Furthermore the area surrounding the Amatique Bay. It is the qualifying statement at the end of the possible that the 0 ve nature guides are having goal relieves MBRS of all responsibility more success in that region. of ensuring that the training they provide actually conforms to a pre existing or 57 Cayos Cochinos visitation records show that potential demand for services and therefore this individual provided guide services to employment possibilities, rendering the over 1200 tourists in 2005. In an interview indicator useless as a measure of success of he proudly reported regular earnings of the training project. The GEF SGP displays US$4000 or more a month. He says that broader objectives: aid in the sustainable he earns too much money and is too busy development of the Toledo District through guiding tours to 0 sh anymore. training and capacity building to ensure residents have the opportunity to participate 58 According to the MBRS Progress Report in successful non extractive enterprises. No. 6 (January June 2004): “During the last week of May and throughout the 54 Nevertheless representatives of TIDE month of June fishermen were trained in justi0 ed recruitment of non 0 shers by stating Belize and Mexico in open water diving, that young people and females in the family canoeing and snorkeling, recreational also play a role in exploitation of marine fishing and nature guides; each of these resources: women and kids do 0 shing off courses included a business administration shore and there are a few women who also go course. Unfortunately the participation of to sea. E.g. In Punta Negra there are women delegates from Mexico was very limited, driving boats, catching and handling 0 sh but since for each course 6 participants were not diving. expected from each country and only for the diving course was this group complete; 55 TIDE informants reported that in the in others there was only an average of 2 to Punta Gorda area there are approximately 3 participants. Moreover in the southern 12 individuals who are making a good living region, TIDE started training for Nature as tour guides. The majority of these guides Guides and diving for Honduras, Guatemala were trained in 1999 2000 by Orvis Fly and Belize in June. Further courses are Fishing. These guides are all former 0 shers scheduled for July and August 2004. The and work for or have strong connections to manuals produced are being edited for the El Pescador Punta Gorda resort. Not subsequent publication and distribution.” only do they work as 1 y 0 shers but they also 59 Examples: provide other free lance or resort based guide • Dive Master trainees in Monkey River services such as charter trips to the Sapodilla indicated that it would be difficult for Cayes and snorkeling. This original group of them to make a living as divers without now experienced and well equipped guides migrating into Placencia. The Dive

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 77 Masters make approximately 100 BZ a 62 For example, the oldest dive master in day or a little more working with resorts Hopkins, Belize is only 27 years old. or tour operators. But transportation to Placencia from Monkey River is costly. 63 Efforts were later made to rectify the SCUBA It takes 6 gallons of gas (around 60 BZ oversight by providing further training round trip) to get to Placencia which and internships for individuals trained to would consume a significant amount of the Open Water level. Some of the course their daily earnings. The consultant did participants also were able to continue their not ask if they had ever considered using training to Divemaster status through their a pool transportation option to reduce own initiative. costs. 64 The process proposed in the report builds • An informant from the Belizean Fisheries upon initiatives that are already underway Department reported that a BTIA/UNDP in some MAR communities, ideas provided project to train individuals to be tour guides in interviews with stakeholders throughout in Sarteneja had high success rates but only the region including 0 shers, needs already because the trained individuals migrated to identi0 ed in MBRS and other project Belize City to work with tour operators and documents, and descriptions of projects guide tours for the cruise ships coming into being carried out outside of the region. An Belize City (Mejil pers. comm.). interview with Steve Dudenhoefer, the founder of the very successful Ak’ Tenamit • TIDE reported that two of the dive project in Livingston and President of the masters they trained moved to Belize City PROGAL project, was particularly important to work. These two were both “younger in providing an understanding of the process guys without family commitments.” But involved in developing community based they reported that the majority of those tourism projects. trained have families and don’t want to leave their home communities. 65 For example, according to a recent survey of ecolodge developers: “Experience shows 60 Setting oneself up as an independent 1 y … that NGOs are useful for community 0 shing guide involves signi0 cant investments training, community development planning in boats/equipment. A good reel can cost and environmental impact assessment and up to US $700 US, a pole costs can cost US monitoring… [but display limited] capacity $200, and in Belize and Mexico one must to assist with business needs…. NGOs are have a skiff that has the right characteristics not well equipped to assist with ecolodge and that is certi0 ed for 1 y 0 shing. development.” (IFC 2004:26)

61 The four 1 y 0 shing trainees in Hopkins, 66 Numerous examples of successful Belize who were interviewed by the collaborations and of interest by the consultant said that due to the fact they public sector to collaborate in eco tourism do not have equipment to provide the tour ventures were identi0 ed during 0 eldwork themselves, if someone asks them for a 1 y interviews. These include, for example, a 0 shing tour they normally will refer them to mutually bene0 cial arrangement between a an established 1 y 0 sher in the community tour operator based in Antigua, Guatemala or to one of the resorts in return for a and Ak’Tenamit to market its ecolodge; the commission. interest expressed by the Puerto Barrios

78 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Tour Guide Association to develop tourism scuba diving in Punta de Manabique; and the activities in Punta de Manabique to offer interest expressed by tour operators in Cayos to cruise tourists (including an offer to Cochinos for improved community based help in developing appropriate attractions services. It is recommended that more private and providing training to village based sector actors be identi0 ed and involved to guides); potential collaboration between foment the potential for mutually bene0 cial FUNDARY and PANADIVERS, a dive development of community based tourism shop based in Guatemala City, to develop attractions and products.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 79

LIST OF REFERENCES

Airen, K.A., D. Morris, F.C. Hanley and R. on the coastal communities of southern Manning. Aquaculture in Jamaica. Naga. Belize, Central America (1999 2004). An World0 sh Center Quarterly (Vol. 25, No. 3 & Internship Report Submitted to the Faculty 4) July Dec 2002. of the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science in partial Association of Caribbean States (ACS). 2005. ful0 llment of the requirements for the degree Tourism Statistics Guatemala. of Master of Arts Miami, Florida, June 2004.

Ayuntamiento de Cozumel. 2005. Plan de Columbia College Today (CCT) 2003 Alumni Desarrollo Municipal de Cozumel 2005 Pro0 le: Brie Cokos ’01: Seaweed Farmer in 2008. Conzumel. Mexico. Belize. January 2003. URL: http://www. college.columbia.edu/cct/jan03/pro0 les6.php Ayuntamiento de Othon P. Blanco. 2005 Plan de Desarrollo Municipal 2005 2008. CONANP 2006. Informe Anual de Uso Publico Chetumal, Mexico. en Sian Ka’an. Unpublished report. Cancun, Mexico. Belize Tourism Board (BTB). 2004. Tourism and Travel Statistics. Belize City, Belize. Crawford, Brian. 2002 Seaweed Farming: An Alternative Livelihood for Small Scale Borneman, Eric. 2000. Future Trends and Fishers? Working Paper. Coastal Resources Possibilities in Sustainable Coral Farming. Center, University of Rhode Island. Speech delivered to the US Coral Ref. Task Force, February 6, 2000. FONATUR 2005 Panorama Inmobiliario en Mexico. http://www.nahb.org/0 leUpload Central Statistics Of0 ce (CSO) 2000a. details. aspx?contentTypeID=3&contentID= Population Census 2000, Major Findings. 48538&subContentID=33127 Belmopan, Belize. Galvez, Ernesto 2002 Aspectos Socioeconómicos 2000b. Belize 2000 Population and Housing y Culturales del Plan de Manejo de la Reserva Census On Line. censos.ccp.ucr.ac.cr Marina de Cayos Cochinos. Unpublished report submitted to the World Wildlife Fund 2004a. Belize Labour Force Indicators by and the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation, District. www.cso.gov.bz Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

2004b. Belize GDP Statistics. www.cso.gov. Gorrez, Maya 2005 Building Synergies in the bz/statistics/Quarterly%20GDP%20up %20 Mesoamerican Reef Region: An Analysis of to%204th%20quarter%202005.pdf Conservation Investments to Strengthen Collaboration and Partnerships. Report 2005 Belize Main Labour Force Indicators. presented to The Summit Foundation, World URL: www.cso.gov.bz/statistics/2004 05_ Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, labour_force_survey.pdf MBRS, October 2005.

Collins, Emily. 2004. Socioeconomic impacts Green Reef 2004. Project Update: Training of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve in Forms of Sustainable Livelihoods for

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 81 Communities Dependent on Marine and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas, Honduras Coastal Resources in the MBRS Region. (INE). 2001. Linea de Base Intramunicipal. Unpublished report to the MBRS program http://www.casapresidencial.hn/erp/index. by the Green Reef Environmental Institute, php Ambergris Caye, Belize, August 2004. Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e 2005. Project Evaluation Report: USAID/ Informática (INEGI). 2000. XII Censo UNF/ICRAN Meso American Reef Alliance Nacional de Población y Vivienda 2000. Project Internship Program. Unpublished http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/default. report, Ambergris Caye, Belize, May 2005. asp?c=701

Harbor Branch Oceanographic. 2006 Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas Guatemala Breakthrough Event in Queen Conch 2002 Censos Nacionales XI de Población y Aquaculture. www.hboi.edu/news/features/ VI de Habitación 2002. Características de queenconch.html#conch_video. la Población y de los Locales de Habitación Censados. CD Rom, Guatemala City, Heyman Will and Rachel Graham, eds. 2000a. Guatemala. The Voice of the Fishermen of Southern Belize. Toledo Institute for Development and Inter American Development Bank (IDB). Environment, Punta Gorda, Belize. 2004. Estudio de Oferta y Demanda para el Programa de Turismo Sostenible Mundo 2000b La Voz de los Pescadores Maya (PTSMM) Reporte Final (Borrador) de la Costa Atlántica de Honduras. PA Knowledge Limited Washington D.C. PROLANSATE y TIDE, Tela, Honduras. 2005. Evaluación Ambiental y Social 2000c La Voz de los Pescadores de la Costa Estratégica (EAE) del Programa de Turismo Atlántica de Guatemala. FUNDAECO y Sostenible Mundo Maya. PA Knowledge TIDE, Guatemala. Limited, Washington, D.C.

Huitric, Miriam. 2003. Lobster and conch International Finance Corporation (IFC). 2004. 0 sheries of Belize a history of sequential Ecolodges: Exploring Opportunities for exploitation. Paper presented at “Rights and Sustainable Business. Washington, D.C. Duties in the Coastal Zone” Conference, www.ifc.org/ifcext/enviro.nsf/Attachments Stockholm, Sweden. June 2003. ByTitle/p_EBFP_ecolodge/$FILE/ Ecolodge_Publication.pdf. International Coral Reef Network (ICRAN). 2006. ICRAN Newsletter March King, Clifford. 2005. Report on Needs 2006. http://www.icran.org/PDF/ Assessment and Baseline Household Income Newslettermarch2006.pdf Survey, An Initiative for Determining Alternative Income Options. Unpublished Instituto de Investigaciones Turísticas (IIT) 2001 report submitted to Caribbean Regional Estudio de Oferta y Demanda de Productos Environment Programme (CREP), Belize Pesqueros en el Estado de Quintana Roo. City, Belize. Universidad La Salle, Cancún, Mexico. MBRS. 2004. Reporte de Avance Técnico y Instituto Hondureño de Turismo (IHT) 2005 Financiero: Reporte No. 6. Periodo Enero Oferta Hotelera de Honduras por Zonas Junio 2004. Unidad Coordinadora del Según Año. Proyecto. Belize City, Belize.

82 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 2005. Taller Regional de Pescadores Pomeroy, Robert S., Richard B. Pollnac, Brenda Identi0 cación de Temas para Capacitación M. Katon & Canesio D. Predo en Alternativas de Generación de Ingresos. Unpublished report of workshop conducted 1997 Evaluating factors contributing to the in Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala, 8 y 9 de success of community based coastal Marzo del 2005. resource management: the Central Visayas Regional Project l, Philippines. Ocean and McPherson, Matthew. 2005. Measures of Success Costal Management, Vol. 36. Nos 1 3, pp. for Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine 97 120. Reserve: A Demonstration Project within Measuring Conservation Success: Navigating Robinson, Fiona 1999. A conch farmer who the Waters of the Meso American Reef does well by doing good: Chuck Hesse raises project. Report submitted to The Nature an endangered Caribbean shell0 sh for the Conservancy, Belize City, Belize. U.S. market. SEAFOOD STAR: March 1999. http://www.seafoodbusiness.com/ and Timothy Schwartz. 2001. Gender and archives/99mar/seafood%20star.html Shifting Population Trends in Protected Areas in Dominican Hinterlands: The Implications Secretaría de Turismo de Quintana Roo of Female Outmigration for Conservation in (SECTUR) . 2006. Indicadores Turísticos the Dominican Cordillera Central. Report 2005. http://sedetur.qroo.gob.mx/ prepared for FLACSO, WIDTECH and estadisticas/2005/marzo.php TNC, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. November 2001. Sievanena, Leila, Brian Crawford, Richard Pollnac, Celia Lowed 2005 Weeding through Mous, Peter J., Sudaryanto, Trevor Meyer. assumptions of livelihood approaches in 2003. Report on the Komodo Fish Culture ICM: Seaweed farming in the Philippines Project: A pilot project to establish a and Indonesia Ocean & Coastal Management multi species reef 0 sh hatchery in Loh 48: 297 313. Mbongi and village based grow out farms in communities surrounding Komodo National Silvio, Mauricio et. al. 2000. Análisis Social del Park, West Flores, Indonesia. Report from 1 The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Asia Area de In uencia del Sistema de Arrecife Center for Marine Protected Areas in Mesoamericano (SAM). Septiembre 2000. collaboration with the Komodo National Park authority. September 2003. Bali, Smith, A.H. 1998. Seaweed resources of the Indonesia. Caribbean. In: A.T. Critchley and M. Ohno. (Eds), Seaweed resources of the world. Japan Palacio, Joseph and Will Jones 2006 Speaking International Cooperation Agency, Yokosuka, out for the Reef: The Voice of Coastal Japan, pp. 324 330. Communities in Belize. Unpublished report submitted to The Nature and Y. Renard. 2002. Seaweed Conservancy MAR Program, Guatemala cultivation as a livelihood in Caribbean City, Guatemala. coastal communities. Paper presented at the ICRI Regional Workshop for the Pomeroy, Robert and Tara Goetze 2003 Belize Tropical Americas: Improving Reefs Case Study: Marine Protected Areas Co Condition Through Strategic Partnerships. Managed by Friends of Nature. Caribbean Cancun, Mexico, June 2002. CANARI Conservation Association, 2003. Communication No. 309:8.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 83 Solares Leal, Ileana and Oscar Alvarez Gil. 2003. World Bank. 2004. Saving Fish and Fishers Socioeconomic Assessment of Punta Allen: Toward Sustainable and Equitable A Tool for the Management of a Coastal Governance of the Global Fishing Sector. Community, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Agriculture and Rural Development Mexico. International Coral Reef Action Department Report No. 29090 GLB. Network and UNEP CAR/RCU. Kingston, Jamaica. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). 2004a. Belize Travel and Tourism Forging Tierney, Patrick. 1999. Visitor and Merchant Ahead. The 2004 Travel and Tourism Perceptions of Belize Tourism: A Multi Year Economic Research. Comparison of Two Destinations. Prepared for the 1999 Congress on Recreation and 2004b. The Caribbean: Impact of Travel Resource Capacity Snowmass, Colorado and Tourism on Jobs and the Economy. Department of Recreation and Leisure London, UK. Studies San Francisco State University, September 9, 1999. 2005a. Guatemala Travel and Tourism, Sowing the Seeds of Growth. The 2005 UNDP Honduras. 2003. UNDP Indice de Travel and Tourism Economic Research. Desarrollo Humano 2003. Tegucigalpa, London, UK. Honduras. 2005b. Honduras Travel and Tourism, México. 2003. Indicadores municipales de Sowing the Seeds of Growth. The 2005 desarrollo humano en México. http://saul. Travel and Tourism Economic Research. nueve.com.mx/disco/index.html London, UK.

Whitford, Gwenith. 2000. Farming Coral: 2006. Mexico Travel and Tourism Striving to Revive the ‘Underwater Climbing to New Heights. The 2006 Rainforest’. Caribbean Compass, Travel and Tourism Economic Research. December 2000. London, UK.

84 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS APPENDIX I

Key Contacts Interviewed During Site Eulogio Puc Kinil CONANP Visits (Feburary 5 – 28, 2006) Reuben Alejandro Odil Presidente Vigilancia Mexico Cooperativa Turística y Pesquera

Diana Bermúdez, TNC Program Director Saul Manuel Loya Montejo Secretario (via e mail) Cooperativa Turística y Pesquera

Omar Ortiz, Assistant Director Sian Ka’an Efraín Hail Cham Delegado Cooperativa Biosphere Reserve, CONANP Turística y Pesquera

Candido Caamal Uitzil President of Sociedad Gustavo Merediz Executive Director of ASK Cooperativa, “U Voochel Maya” Belize Antonio Camaal, member and tour guide, Sociedad Cooperativa Alux Es Mr. George Ramirez, Chairman of the Village Council, Hopkins Aldo Gabriel Ancona, RAGA Tours Ashbert Miranda, 0 sher and tour guide, Hopkins Sam Meachan TNC funded hydrological researcher (tracking cenotes and underground Kamalley Nolberto: Dive instructor and 1 y 0 sh water 1 ows that connect to Tulum). trainee, Hopkins

Rafael Pérez Ramírez Consejo Vigilancia Peter Miranda: 0 sher and part time tour guide, Cooperativa Vigía Chica (and former President Hopkins and community founder) Mario Nunez: 0 sher and 1 y 0 sh guide for resort, Miguel Angel Brand Secretario de Consejo Hopkins Administrativo de Cooperativa Servicios Turísticos Los Gayetanes Hilaria Zuniga BTB representative from Hopkins Siliva Chuli García Herencia Punta Allen and Secretaria/Socia Cooperativa Vigía Chica Arthur Vernon: Fly Fish guide from Placencia

Adrina Najara Cooperativa Servicios Turísticos Eloy Cuevas: Fly Fish guide from Monkey River Punta Allen Jason Williams: Dive conservation training Alfredo Martí Secretaria de Vigilancia y participant, Monkey River Guardaparque, Cooperativa Vigia Chico Eloy Cuevas Jr.: Dive conservation training Juan Cooperative Vigía Grande participant, Monkey River

William, Administrator of Boca Paila Fishing Alrin Muschamp: Fly 0 sh training participant, Lodge Monkey River

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 85 Derwin Garbutt: Fly 0 sh training participant, TIDE Tours, Punta Gorda (correspondence via Monkey River e mail)

Evaristo Muschamp, Jr. Fly 0 sh training Guatemala participant, Monkey River Carlos Mechel Bay, Consultant for TNC (Numerous other 0 shers from Monkey River who were interviewed informally). Juan Carlos Villagran, Executive Director TNC/ PRODAS Raymond Mossiah, Chief Statistician, BTB Gladys Ramirez, Consejo Comunitario de Mrs. Shaun Morgan, Director, Ministry of Local Desarrollo Estero Lagarto Government and Labour Blanca Rosa, in charge of Aquaculture and Fishing Mr. Adel0 no Vasquez, Labor Of0 cer, Ministry of for FUNDARY Local Government and Labour

Mr. Isaias Mejil, Fisheries Department Carlotta Caly Pineda, President of Centro Mar Project in San Francisco de la Mar Mr. Oscar Lara, MBRS Jean Luc Betoulle, Director General, Fundacion Lidia Villanueva, Hotel Owner and one of the Mario Dary founders of FON, Placencia Ing. Oscar Joel Rosales Lemus, Coordinador Dr. Joseph Palacio, Anthropologist and Regional, Programa de Gestion Ambiental Local Freelance Consultant and with MAR Program (PROGAL)/Proycto JADE

Elicia Blumberg, Peace Corp Volunteer, Cristina Rodriguez, Presidenta de los Guias de Community Development, FON Turismo de Izabal

Justino Mendez, Community Development , FON David Adolfo Quitro Osorio, Presidente, Comité de Turismo de Puerto Barrios Shannon Romero, FON (Tourism Specialist) Frily Galvez, In charge of Tourism for Ellie Dial, Director of Tourism Center, FUNDARY Placencia Javier Jacinto, In charge of the Cabo Scienti0 c Lindsay Garbutt, Executive Director, FON Station JO Dennis Garbutt, Manager/Head Ranger Port Honduras Marine Reserve, TIDE Cesar Paz, Guardarecursos

Dr. Robin Coleman, Science and Stewardship Cesar Ramirez, CODECO, Estero Lagarto Director, TIDE Eustagio Ochoa (Don Taco), Presidente Comité Will Maheia, Executive Director, TIDE de Pescadores y COCODE, Santa Isabel

Frederick Vernon and Jonathan Labozzetta, Ruben Garcia, founder of Santa Isabel

86 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS (Other fishers, men and women who Gilmer René Aranda, Gerente de Promoción y participated in the community meeting in Santa Mercadeo, Sebastian Hotel Isabel) Omar Acosta, main tour guide for Cayos Steve Dudenhoefer, founder and Advisor for Cochinos, Sambo Creek Ak’Tenamit project, President of PROGAL. Rosy, Community Leader and member of Julio Oli Vernon, Presidente de la Cooperativa de Patronato, Rio Esteban Pescadores de Livingston Leanoer David, Member of the Patronato, Rio Pascual, Local Representative of CISPS Esteban

Angélica Méndez, Directora de Red de Jose Angel Moya, Member of the Grupo Del0 nes Pescadores del Caribe

Ismael (Nanico), Fisher and member of Red de Juan Garcia, President of the East End Patronato, Pescadores, Punta de Manabique Rio Esteban

Manfried Hunger, Hotel Manager, Villa Caribe, Jose Angel Moya, President of Grupo Del0 nes del Livingston and President of Livingston Tourism Caribe, Rio Esteban Committee. Jose Mirina, Fisher in East End, Rio Esteban Luis Calderón, Encargado de Manejo Forestal, CONANP Nororiente President of the Junta de Agua, Rio Esteban Honduras Italo Bonilla, Scuba Instructor and Science Assistant, HCRF Adrian Oviedo, Director, HCRF

Lynette Acosta, Peace Corps Volunteer, HCRF Adoni Cubas, Director de Ciencia y Manejo, HCRF Max, Peace Corps Volunteer, Madera Verde and HCRF, La Ceiba Carolina, tourist service provider on Chachahuate René Arzú(0 sh/lobster intermediary and owner 0 of Vista Mar), Nueva Armenia Fausto, sher and artisan on Chachahuate

Vincente, President of Fishers Association, Nueva Exon Aranda, resident of East End and Reserve Armenia Guard, Cayos Cochinos

Jose Batista, Member of Fishers Association, Fishers and women on East End (informal Nueva Armenia interviews)

Anthony Ives, Director of Scienti0 c Tourism for Gustavo Cabrera, Director Ejecutivo, Cuerpos de Operacion Wallacea project Conservación, Omoa

Arlette, owner of Arlette’s Restaurant and Hotel, Calina Zepeda, Director Ejecutivo BICA Utila Nueva Armenia (via e mail)

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 87

APPENDIX II

Results of Tour Operator Census, Demand for Guide Services, Placencia Peninsula Tour Operators Interviewed: Name of Operator Location Ownership Nationality Aashum Adventures Placencia Belizean Belize Sailing Charters Placencia Belizean Caribbean Tours Placencia Belizean Destinations Belize Placencia Foreign Joy Tours Placencia Belizean Manta Resort Placencia Belizean Next Wave Sail Placencia Foreign Nite Winds Placencia Belizean Ocean Motion Placencia Belizean Rum Point Inn/Rum Point Divers Placencia Foreign Rum Runners Placencia Belizean Sambur Tours Placencia Belizean Seahorse Dive Shop Placencia Belizean Singing Sands Placencia Foreign Soulshine Resort Placencia Foreign South Belize Reef & Jungle Tou Placencia Belizean Toadal Adventure Belize Placencia Belizean Trip and Travel Placencia Foreign Saks Placencia Foreign Turtle Inn Placencia Foreign Splash Dive Shop Placencia Belizean Pelican Tours Placencia Belizean Tropical Belize Placencia Belizean Global Adventures Placencia Foreign Hamanasi Dive and Adventure Re Hopkins Foreign Serenede Guest House Cayes Belizean King0 sher’s Tarpon Caye Lodge Cayes Belizean Whipray Caye Lodge Cayes Belizean Blue Marlin Lodge Cayes Belizean Isla Marisol Cayes Belizean Glovers Atoll Cayes Belizean Saddle Cayes South Cayes Foreign Placencia Hotel/Zeboz North Peninsula Foreign Kanantik Reef and Jungle Resor North Peninsula Foreign Pleasure Cove Lodge Sittee River Foreign Jaguar Reef Sittee River Foreign Second Nature Divers Sittee River Foreign Maya Breeze Inn Maya Beach Foreign Calico Jack’s Village Maya Beach Belizean Nautical Inn Seine Bight Foreign Inn at Robert’s Grove Seine Bight Foreign

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 89 Summary of Results:

• Total number of tour operators on • Percentage that organize kayaking tours peninsula =41 = 51.4% (17)

• Total number that only farm out = 6 (14.6%) • Percentage that organize snorkeling tours=71.4% (25) • Total number that organize tours = 35 (85.4%) • Percentage that organize other types of tours= 47.1% (16) • Nationality of owners = 53.7% (22) Belizean born; 43.6%(19) foreign born • Other types of tours mentioned include: camping, canoeing, river tubing, horseback riding, • Percentage that organize scuba dive tours manatee watching, sailing, spincasting = 51.4% (18) and trolling, whalewatching from boat, windboarding and kiteboarding. • Percentage that organize dive certi0 cation = 45.7% (16) • Nationality of guides = 99% Belizean (only two operators use one or more non Belizean • Percentage that organize 1 y 0 shing tours guides. These guides are dive instructors). = 68.6% (24) • Additional Personnel or Complementary • Percentage the organize nature tours Training Needs=71.8% of informants = 57.1% (20) interviewed reported that there are areas where is a shortage of personnel for guide • Percentage that organize bird watching services or a need for complementary tours=54.3% (19) training.

Overall Demand for Tour Guide Services on the Placencia Province

Additional hires per Additional hires per Specialization Total on staff week high season week low season

Dive guides/instructors 36 55 19 Dive assistants 16 42 12 Sport and 1 y 0 shers 23 64 24 Others 48 88 28 TOTALS 123 249 83

90 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Demand for Dive Tour Leaders/Instructors by Location

Additional hires Location Permanent Staff Additional Hires low Season high season Placencia 16 32 10 Hopkins 6 0 0 Cayes 4 3 0 North Peninsula 4 1 1 Sittee River 2 9 2 Seine Bight 4 10 6 TOTAL 36 55 19

Demand for Dive Assistants by Location

Location Permanent Staff Additional hires high season Additional Hires low Season Placencia 10 21 6 Hopkins 3 0 0 Cayes 0 0 0 North Peninsula 2 3 0 Sittee River 0 0 0 Seine Bight 1 18 6 TOTAL 16 42 12

Demand for Sport/Fly Fishing Guides by Location

Location Permanent Staff Additional hires high season Additional Hires low Season

Placencia 16 40 19 Hopkins 1 1 0 Cayes 4 3 0 North Peninsula 0 5 3 Sittee River 1 2 0 Seine Bight 1 13 2 To t a l 2 3 6 4 2 4

Demand for Other Guides by Location

Location Permanent Staff Additional hires high season Additional Hires low Season

Placencia 33 74 24 Hopkins 3 0 0 Cayes 3 0 0 North Peninsula 2 0 0 Sittee River 5 0 0 Seine Bight 2 14 4 To t a l 4 8 8 8 2 8

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 91 Additional Personnel or Complementary Training Needs Mentioned by Operators

Area Number Percentage Birding 11 27% Client relations 7 17% Divemasters 4 10% Archaeology guide 3 7% Dive Instructors 3 7% Fly 0 shing 3 7% Marine interpretation 3 7% Nature guides (more specialized) 3 7% Inland tours 3 7% Kayaking 2 5% Snorkeling 2 5% Caving 2 5% Camping 1 2% Monkey River guides 1 2% Wilderness emergency management 1 2% Manatee watching 1 2% water safety, basic seamanship 1 2% Whale shark guides 1 2% Belize knowledge 1 2% Literacy rates 1 2% Specialized certi0 cation prog 12%

N 41

92 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS APPENDIX III alternative livelihood/sources of income related projects identi ed in the MAR coastal communities

Sponsoring/ Number of Location Year Implementing Project Description Bene0 ciaries/ Organization Other Details MEXICO Training of 0 shers as whale shark Northern Quintana Roo (Isla Holbox) recent WWF N/a ecotour guides

Sian Ka’an communities 2004 PRODERS/ CONANP Ecotourist Enterprises 90

Guide Certi0 cation training. All tour guides working in In 2005 there were Sian Ka’an all communities Annual CONANP Sian Ka’an must take this approximately 140 guides course annually to keep their who took the course. certi0 cation updated.

Elaboration of Mayan crafts, formation of a microenterprise 108 individuals participated Sian Ka’an communities 1998 -99 CONANP of rustic furniture; elaboration of in the projects crafts with bejuco. Fly 0 shing training and Sian Ka’an communities 1998-99 CONANP 28 bene0 ciaries each year. organization Sociedad Cooperativa Mots Maya de Felipe Carrillo Puerto (24 individuals); Sociedad Cooperativa de Servicios Turísticos de Support for community Punta Allen (6); UNF-UNEP/ ecotourism development in Sian Ka’an communities 2002 Organización Muyil, Local Cooperatives Carrillo Puerto, Punta Allen, Conjunto de Aluxes, SPR Muyil, and Punta Herrero. de RI (9); Organización Lancheros de la Bahía S.C. de R.L., Punta Herrero, Mpio. de Felipe Carrillo Puerto (19)

Training in embroidery, furniture Canadian Government and Sian Ka’an communities 1999-2000 making, making medicine using N/a TNC/ASK medicinal plants. Exchanges with 0 shers from Sian Ka’an (Punta Allen and Punta Herrero) 2003 - 2005 PNUMA / ICRAN-SAM Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, N/a Honduras. Sian Ka’an (Punta Allen, Punta Herrero, Xcalak) N/a ASK Training in birding N/a Training for women in Muyil in Sian Ka’an (Muyil) N/a CONANP PRODERS N/a sewing and embroidery Training and ecotourism development in Punta Herrero, Sian Ka’an (Punta Allen, Punta Herrero) Various UNDP-COMPACT N/a Punta Allen and other communities around Sian Ka’an.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 93 English language training for Sian Ka’an (Punta Allen) N/a ASK youth and adults in Punta Allen N/a and Muyil Marketing of eco-tours, joint tourism promotion and Four tourism cooperatives Sian Ka’an (Punta Allen, Muyil) Current RARE development, English language in Punta Allen and Muyil training. Exchanges with 0 shers from Sian Ka’an Punta Allen (and Punta Herrero?) N/a MBRS Panama, Honduras and other N/a areas in Mexico. This may be same training Mahahual, Xcalak (Banco Chinchorro, Xcalak Training of ecotourism guides in N/a ICRAN/WWF provided by Green Reef/ Natural Park) Mahahual and Xcalak MBRS. BELIZE Eco-guide training for fishers Ambergris Caye 2004 MBRS/Green Reef from northern Belize and See Chapter 3 for details Mexico UNDP/Monkey River 40 0 shers groups in Gladden Spit (Monkey River) Current Sustainable lobster 0 shing. Fishers Assn. community. Ecotourism development UNDP/Monkey River (certi0 cation of tour guides, Gladden Spit (Monkey River) N/a 26 certi0 ed guides, others. Tourism Assn. support to set up tourism association). TNC and UNDP- Gladden Spit (Hopkins, Placencia, Monkey Ecotour guide training for 0 shers 2003 COMPACT/ See Chapter 3 for details. River, Sittee River, Independence) in 1 y 0 shing and diving Friends of Nature

See: Carried out feasibility studies http://sta.uwi.edu/ Coastal Zone Management for alternative livelihoods. Focus sedu/documents/ Sarteneja and Hopkins 2004-05 Authority and University is community-based sustainable R8325%20Newsletter% of West Indies tourism. 20Final%20Oct2004. pdfe N/a

Reportedly providing assistance UNDP-COMPACT/ Sarteneja Current to train tour guides and open N/a BTIA small tourism businesses.

Capacity building for the N/a Sarteneja N/a Programme for Belize Sarteneja Fishing Community

Implementing or planning diverse ecotourism/research Sarteneja Ongoing SWEET projects; training in alternative N/a livelihoods and small business management. Establish seaweed farms on the UNDP-COMPACT/ islands in the Tobacco Caye Dangriga Ongoing? N/a Local organization Range in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve

Pilot farm, marketing study, Central Belize Ongoing ICRAN/WWF N/a training in seaweed cultivation

Punta Gorda 2004 UNEP/TIDE Community Ranger Training 14 individuals trained

94 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 40 people trained to date Life skill training: Electrical from communities users Punta Gorda Ongoing CREP/TIDE training; cooking, home of Port Honduras Marine economics, and others Reserve and Paynes Creek National Park 14 0 shers from Punta Punta Gorda 1999-2000 ORVIS Fly Fishing Recreational/1 y 0 shing Gorda area Ecoguide training for fishers Punta Gorda 2004 MBRS/TIDE from southern Belize, See Chapter 3 for details Guatemala and Honduras

Ecoguide, small business Punta Gorda 2004-5 GEF-SGP/TIDE training for individuals from See Chapter 3 for details Punta Gorda area GUATEMALA Strengthening of local Community Development Council and promotion of 10 guides trained and PROGAL and Punta de Manabique (Estero Lagarto) Ongoing ecotourism through guide 8 women in food and FUNDARY and food and beverage service beverage services. training and building an ecolodge.

14 individuals trained Strengthening of Community as guides and in food Development Council; visitor PROGAL and and beverage services. Punta de Manabique (Santa Isabel) Ongoing center construction; development FUNDARY Exchanges with of charcoal tour and training of communities in guides. COPAN.

One individual from Santa Isabel (training General maintenance of also offered to other Punta de Manabique (Santa Isabel) 2005 CISP outboard motors communities but information not available). PROGAL, Swiss Embassy, Support for Centro Mar, value AGROSID, GEF-SGP/ Punta de Manabique (San Francisco de la Mar) Ongoing added production of non- 9 women and 4 men FUNDARY and Centro traditional 0 sh products. MAR, PROGAL and Punta de Manabique (Cabo Tres Puntos) 2005 Aquaculture pilot project N/a FUNDARY Formation and strengthening of Amatique Bay fisher organization (Red de 30 shrimp trawlers and 900 Livingston Ongoing CISP and FUNDAECO Pescadores) and Shrimp 0 shers in the Amatique Trawler’s Cooperative. Bay area. Establishment of Fisher Market and Service Center

Fair Trade Handicraft Production; School for Mayan communities Livingston and Rio Dulce Ongoing Ak’Tenamit Sustainable Tourism; throughout Izabal area. Community-based tourism training and others.

Ecotourism guide training, trail Rio Dulce, Livingston Ongoing FUNDAECO N/a interpretation, others.

LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS 95 HONDURAS 5 partners for a 0 sh InterAmerican purchasing business Cayos Cochinos (Nueva Armenia, Rio Esteban, Micro-enterprise training and 2004/5 Foundation/ Cayos in Nueva Armenia; 11 Sambo Creek) seed grants. Cochinos Foundation women in an ice producing business; others

One night overnight stay for Operation Wallacea/ Cayos cultural tourism experience Community of Nueva Cayos Cochinos (Nueva Armenia) Ongoing Cochinos Foundation and for scienti0 c tourism program Armenia Peace Corps participants. Organize local tourism committees. Initiative to build ecolodge and Cayos Cochinos (East End) Ongoing Peace Corps Volunteers Community of East End restaurant Cayos Cochinos (Nueva Armenia and Rio Women in Nueva Armenia 2005 Solidaridad Pottery making and other crafts Esteban) and Rio Esteban This has been a highly con1 ictive project and local Cayos Cochinos (Nueva Armenia and Rio UNDP GEF-SGP/ Support for community-based bene0 ciaries claim they 2004-5 Esteban) OFRANEH tourism development. never received promised funds or support from OFRANEH

Ecolodge project (the project Spanish Association for has extensive infrastructure but 30 women from the Cayos Cochinos (Rio Esteban) 2003? International Cooperation/ is currently paralyzed due to community. local women’s group con1 icts with OFRANEH)

Courses in tour guiding, food Cayos Cochinos (Rio Esteban, East End, Instituto Nacional de 30 individuals from the N/a and beverage services, hotel Chachaguate, Nueva Armenia) Formación Professional four communities. managment, tourism services.

Eight individuals (only Cayos Cochinos Cayos Cochinos (unspeci0 ed) N/a Divemaster training one actually achieved Foundation divemaster status). Rotating credit program for Cayos Cochinos (Chachaguate and others) Ongoing Adelante Foundation N/a women who purchase 0 sh.

96 LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS Este libro fue impreso en los talleres grá\ cos de Serviprensa S. A. en el mes de noviembre de 2008. La edición consta de 250 ejemplares en papel bond 80 gramos.