APAMO Newsletter 18
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December 2009! Volume:II Issue: 4! 1 APAMO MAKING A Spotlight! GLOBAL IMPACT FA M R AC C Re s t o r a t i o n APAMO Hosts Social Event at 2009 Project Page 3 & 4 World Conference for Responsible _________________________ Tourism. During the month of October, Belize took center stage in Policy Power! promoting responsible tourism and sustainable practices -APAMO leads National around the world by hosting the 3rd World Conference of Responsible Tourism Policy Responsible Tourism at the University of Belize from -Peace Corps comes to October 19th-23rd. The conference organized by the International Center for Responsible Tourism or ICRT APAMO was formally opened by the Minister of Tourism, Civil We have moved! Page 5 Aviation, and Culture, The Honorable Manuel Heredia. _________________________ Minister Heredia pledged this government’s commitment The APAMO office has moved to promoting a Master Plan for Belize that includes a from #1 Eyre Street to our new National Tourism Policy that is responsible, sustainable, location at 828 Coney Drive, Advocacy in Action! and conservation directed. Belize City. Our new office is A PA M O M e m b e r, YC T situated on the third floor. The Responsible Tourism Conference increased global APAMO has grown over the advocates to stop conservation awareness by discussing many issues affecting tourism past two years and the need for violations in preserve. development in Belize, Caribbean Countries, and the additional space was evident. Page 7 Central American regions. These issues included _________________________ tourism’s environmental impact on; marine and costal The move was not without minor areas, local economic development, cruise tourism, challenges but we appreciate tourism on climate change, and the impact of homes and your patience's during our Projects in Progress! condominium development on local communities. move. We invite all of you to APAMO Assists with Belize’s There were also discussions on tourism planning and drop by and see our fantastic preparing for pandemic and other natural disasters. National Development new location. Framework. The Association of Protected Areas Management Page 9 Members has long voiced the importance of the relationship between the tourism industry and the critical need to appropriately manage Belize’s protected areas. Association of protected areas management organization December 2009! Volume:II Issue: 4! 2 APAMO’s united voice was again slide presentation on CPI and its heard by many who attended the alliance with APAMO. He described Responsible Tourism Conference. CPI’s alliance with APAMO as a APAMO members were at the fore commitment to work with the front promoting its mission and Government of Belize by seeking an Belize’s National Policy on integrated approach for planning and Responsible Tourism. APAMO in management of the tourism industry collaborations with Counterpart with a central focus on biodiversity International, and the conservation, as a key element. Mr. Critical Del Cid was followed by our Ecosystems own distinguished member, Partnership Mrs. Anna Dominguez Fund, hosted a Hoare, Excutive Director of Social Event B.A.S. and Vice Chair of that featured APAMO. Mrs. Hoare spoke APAMO on APAMO’s National members and Responsible Tourism Policy its partners. initiative. This initiative is to create one inclusive policy that guides tourism The Social development with the Event began integration of biodiversity with an conservation and sustainable introduction development. Ms. Hoare from Mr. Mrs. Celia Mahung spoke for members Yashin Dujon, collectively and emphasized APAMO Goes on the Air! Technical the importance of Officer representing the Ministry of understanding the relationship APAMO is making its television debut with an Tourism. Mr. Dujon’s opening between conservation and tourism. exciting new DVD titled “Protected Areas of remarks were followed by a warm Mrs. Hoare stated, Belize”. APAMO launched the first of what is welcome and a persuasive hoped to be a series of educational presentation by our own Mrs. Celia “APAMO members feel strongly that documentaries that describes Belize’s Mahung, Executive Director of if planned and managed properly, protected areas and their importance to “our T.I.D.E. and Secretary for APAMO. Tourism can significantly contribute way of life.” The documentary was launched Mrs. Mahung illustrated APAMO’s to sustainable socioeconomic at the APAMO hosted social event during the Mission and Core Objectives as development and environmental 3rd World Responsible Tourism Conference “advocating for and contributing to conservation in Belize. However, in October. Audiences gazed on the 7 the sustainability and proper unsustainable tourism developments minute documentary that highlighted Belize’s management of Belize’s protected can result in severe consequences with protected areas in all of its splendor and areas for the benefit of all irreversible damage on the natural glory. The documentary also discussed the stakeholders.” and cultural environment including dangers of poorly managing these areas Mrs. Mahung described the biodiversity – the very same resources importance of APAMO’s work and and how detrimental it can be to those areas the industry depends on.” if left unmonitored. The purpose of the video how the organization will continue to take a lead role in driving policies was to create an increased awareness for all Concluding the event, APAMO such as the National Responsible citizens of Belize and create the sense of launched an exciting new video that Tourism Policy and others that will urgency for them to get involved now in their describes Belize’s protected areas. impact Belize’s protected areas. local communities. The message is a call for The audience enjoyed viewing this all to “Protect protected areas…as they seven minute video simply entitled: Ms. Natalie Palacio, Programme protect our way of life.” “Protected Areas of Belize” which Assistant for APAMO introduced the The documentary “Protected Areas of included breath taking scenes of guest presenter representing Belize” will continue to be aired on National Belize’s landscape and marine areas. Counterpart International, Mr. Mario Television. The message is a call for all to Del Cid, Director de Proyecto Alianza “Protect protected areas … as they para el Turismo Comunitario, protect our way of life”. Counterpart International – Guatemala. Mr. Del Cid provided a Association of protected areas management organization December 2009! Volume:II Issue: 4! 3 Forest and Marine Reserve Association of Caye Caulker Additionally, Hurricane Keith At-Risk Habitat (Category 4-30 Sep-2 Oct, 2000) provided roughly 12 hours of Cat. 4 winds with Restoration Project! Corozal Bay-originated storm surge, killed by Ellen McRae many fringing and interior mangroves in CCFR. Mangroves are also under heavy The Forest and Marine Reserves development pressure. For these reasons Association of Caye Caulker (FAMRACC), our management plan (McRae, 2004) an APAMO member, is a Community recommends the restoration for these Based Organization designed as a habitats. consortium of representatives from interested community groups and Mauris convallis est CC Youth Environment Club NonGovernmental Organizations (NGO) • Quis mattis lacus ligula augue. offloading LFT seedlings for chapters on Caye Caulker. We are the • Sed facilisis. Morbi lorem mi. planting. (Photo by Ellen McRae) designated co-managers of the two • Tristique vitae, sodales eget. Reserves, Caye Caulker Forest Reserve • Vestibulum eget purus eros. (CCFR) and Caye Caulker Marine Reserve (CCMR). This project funded by the PACT Foundation focuses on the restoration of natural habitats within the CCFR. Project Background A site visit conducted in 1995 by multiple Government departments (Photo by Ellen McRae) (Fisheries, Forest, Planning) in addition to “Damage from Hurricane Keith Sep-2 Oct, the Siwa-ban Foundation showed 2000 killed many fringing and interior interlocking growth of basin mangrove and mangroves” littoral forest with heavy representation by Community Participation in Coconut (Cocos nucifera)-planted in the planting. (Photo by Ellen McRae) 1930s-40s. These coconut trees were so tall Therefore this project (2007-8) targeted and densely situated that they prevented the restoration of these natural habitats native littoral forest growth. Littoral forest/ within the CCFR. Activities included a thicket (LFT) is one of the rarest habitats in survey of CCFR to ascertain pilot the country, currently under intense Experimental Forest sites for both habitats; development pressure. preparation for LFT plantings, collection of seedlings and propagules, and plantings. Association of protected areas management organization December 2009! Volume:II Issue: 4! 4 FAMRACC-Restoration Project! Monitoring trips were made to determine In early 2009 we received a small plant condition. Preliminary results showed Support Grant from PACT Trust to assist for LFT plants, dehydration from the dry with minimizing the effects of the dry season. season as well as ant, crab and lizard Biweekly waterings early on sustained at least predation, as well as damage from falling some of the plantings through the heavy dry coconut leaves had resulted in high mortality. season, although we were unable to Secondary and tertiary plantings proved more commence this activity as was preferred. We successful, especially at LF1, where primary were able to conduct a mangrove planting (6 successional vegetation growth, mainly Sep 09) of approximately