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Examining the Belize Audubon Society's Management of Prote… ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This was the first wholly-international Master’s Project through the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE). Each of the six team members conducted research in Belize in 1999. Much of this project’s success is due to the numerous organizations and individuals who have supported this project from its inception. We would like to thank the various funding sources who made overseas research for six students possible: the Prentice Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, SNRE Alumni Incentive Program and the Masters Project Stipend Program, the Rackham School of Graduate Studies, and the Office of the Provost at the University of Michigan. We also wish to thank Professor Terry Brown of SNRE, who supported this project in its early stages and provided logistical support for the preliminary trip to Belize. This project would not have been possible without our client, the Belize Audubon Society, who provided information, resources, staff time, and a supportive environment in which to work. We owe a great debt to the countless local consultants who provided information and insight to this project through more than 250 interviews in Belize. Without their willingness to talk with us, this project would never have materialized. We also wish to thank our faculty advisor, Dr. Steve Brechin, who has given us support, guidance, and encouragement. i TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract iii Frequently Used Terms iv Chapter 1: Executive Summary 1 Chapter 2: Introduction 6 Chapter 3: Methodology 19 Chapter 4: National Conservation Policy 20 Chapter 5: International Environmental Law 43 Chapter 6: Organizational Analysis 64 Chapter 7: Environmental Education 99 Chapter 8: Ecotourism 117 Chapter 9: Communities 133 Chapter 10: Conclusions 173 Appendices (1a – 6c) 179 Literature Cited 210 ii ABSTRACT Belize is a small Central American country with a largely intact natural resource base. It hosts a tremendous array of biologically diversity, and due to its historically low population density and political stability, has not suffered the ecological damage that other Central American countries have. With much assistance in the past two decades from the international community, conservation initiatives in Belize have been steadily growing. Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a major role in conservation, as the government often lacks sufficient resources and population growth and economic development are on the rise. The Belize Audubon Society (BAS) is the oldest and largest conservation NGO in Belize, and unique in that it manages eight public protected areas for the government. This project examined BAS’ management of protected areas, looking at six critical areas: national policy, international policy and law, organizational analysis, environmental education, ecotourism, and communities. The goals of this project are to develop recommendations and guidelines that BAS can use to develop its own integrated and comprehensive protected-areas policy. While the focus of the project was on protected-areas management, the recommendations have broader implications for the organization as a whole. iii FREQUENTLY USED TERMS AGM Annual General Meeting ANDA Association of National Development Agencies BACONGO Belize Alliance of Conservation NGOs BAS Belize Audubon Society BHNP Blue Hole National Park BOD Board of Directors BTB Belize Tourism Board BTGA Belize Tourism Guide Association BTIA Belize Tourism Industry Association CBC Community-based Conservation CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBWS Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary CTWS Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary CZMU Coastal Zone Management Unit DOE Department of Environment EE Environmental Education EI Environmental Interpretation EPA Environmental Protection Act EU European Union (European Community) GEF Global Environment Facility GNP Guanacaste National Park GOB The Government of Belize HMCNM Half Moon Caye Natural Monument IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature MOU Memorandum of Understanding NEAC National Environmental Appraisal Committee NEAP National Environmental Action Plan NPASP National Protected Areas Systems Plan NPSA National Parks System Act NPPC National Parks Policy Committee NGO Non-Governmental Organization PA protected area PAM protected areas management PACT Protected Areas Conservation Trust PFB Programme for Belize PUP Peoples’ United Party SPEAR Society for the Promotion of Education and Research TEC Tropical Education Center TMNR Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve TNC The Nature Conservancy WCI Wildlife Conservation International WPA Wildlife Protection Act WWF World Wildlife Fund UCB University College of Belize UDP United Democratic Party UNDP United Nations Development Program UNESCO United Nations Environmental, Scientific, and Cultural Organization USAID United States Agency for International Development iv Chapter 1: Executive Summary I. INTRODUCTION The Belize Audubon Society (BAS) aims to protect the diverse array of habitats and species found within Belize by fostering human understanding of the value of biodiversity and natural resources. In working towards this broad goal, BAS performs many activities, including educating about and advocating for environmental issues, yet functions primarily as a manager of protected areas (PAs). At the request of the organization, this project examined BAS’ role as a protected-areas manager and provided recommendations to aid BAS in achieving its mission in the context of protected areas management (PAM). While the recommendations and conclusions drawn herein apply specifically to BAS and its role as a protected-areas manager, many—if not all—of the suggestions apply across the spectrum of activities undertaken by BAS. II. NATIONAL POLICY In recent years Belize has experienced an explosion of activity at the national level related to environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and PAs. The country recently passed its first environmental pollution laws, is developing a national biodiversity strategy, and is moving forward with regard to improving PAM. The Government of Belize (GOB) has stated its commitment to the concept of sustainable development. Along with the country’s conservation organizations, GOB is in the process of building the institutional and technical capacity necessary to sustainably manage the country’s resources. The non-governmental organization (NGO) community is becoming increasingly involved with the development of national policy, and BAS is no exception to this. BAS has been an influential voice for the environment ever since it was first established, and now the organization is playing a larger role in the development of national policies. There is a role for BAS, along with other organizations, in this domain. National issues that BAS could help address include biodiversity conservation, PAs and wildlife, co- management, population growth, pollution regulation, and economic development. The chapter examines national policy and the national political context in Belize related to PAM, environmental education, and tourism, respectively. BAS’ PAM agreement with GOB is examined in detail, as well as BAS’ evolving relationship with various government agencies and political parties. The BAS Advocacy Program is also analyzed, and the section concludes with suggestions on how BAS can move forward with its advocacy program to influence PAs and other relevant policy at the national level. Recommendations are also given on how BAS can better integrate both national laws and policies, as well as its advocacy program, with its PAM program. 1 III. INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW Increased transformation of the natural environment has wrought environmental problems of broadening complexity and scope. Recognizing the transnational significance of these threats, the international community has responded with a body of international law that addresses environmental concerns through international agreements empowered by the cooperation and self-regulation among independent nation-states. Belize is a party to approximately 35 international conventions relevant to the protection of natural resources, and soon may be party to several more. Research indicates that many of these international conventions provide opportunities for various states and organizations to capitalize on measures designed to enhance the parties’ ability to manage and sustain their natural resources. Provisions designed for this purpose usually entail financial assistance, technical assistance, and access to research, management plans, and experts. Of the many conventions to which Belize is a party however, three relate most directly to PAM. The chapter discusses the historical relationship between humans and the environment, the growing global consequences of that relationship, and the international legal instruments conceived as a result. After an academic discussion of the administration and limitations of international environmental law, the chapter explores the intent and provisions of the World Heritage Convention, the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. It then discusses how BAS, charged with managing eight nationally protected areas in Belize, can capitalize on the provisions within these conventions to foster more effective protection of the areas under its purview. Finally, the chapter makes recommendations that take advantage of the financial, technical, and cooperative assistance provided by each convention that is designed to assist countries
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