Chapter 7 In Appreciation of Our Partners We hope that all our members and friends are constantly aware of our deep appreciation for the support we have received through the present time. It is appropriate at the time of our 30th Anniversary to say “thank you” to all who have helped make the Society what it is today. The efforts of local members and organizations have made major contributions to BAS’ success. We have been able to triple the impact of these efforts using the technical and fi nancial assistance of our international partners. While it is our intention to give recognition to all those who have contributed, we apologize to anyone we have inadvertently omitted. For 15 years the Belize Audubon Society was the only environ- mental organization in Belize. By the end of the 1980’s, BAS had the pleasure of endorsing the formation of the Belize Center for En- vironmental Studies, the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, and Programme for Belize, which form the basis of Belize’s cohesive environmental community. Belize Center for Environmental Studies In the fall of 1984 the Belize Environmental Country Profi le was released. It had been prepared by Robert Nicolait and Associates under a contract from the United States Agency for International Develop- ment. This contract formed the basis for the formation of the Belize Center for Environmental Studies (BCES) under the direction of Lou Nicolait. For the next twelve years the BCES worked closely with the BAS and other organizations in Belize on a variety of environmental studies. Most notable of these studies was their focus in the Toledo District on a large area of contiguous protected areas from the ridge of the Maya Mountains to the sea. When the BCES closed its doors in 1997, responsibility for this important work was taken over by a new non-governmental organization, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), headed by Wil Maheia. 183 184 Belize Audubon Society Belize Zoo The Belize Zoo, developed by Sharon Matola, has always been committed to conservation. Early BAS support of the Belize Zoo is well-expressed in this letter. Every board member from the Belize Audubon Society has visited the Belize Zoo. We are all proud of our local zoo, and because of the quality care and maintenance that the animals receive, we offi cially wrote a letter of support for the zoo and are encouraging its develop- ment. Many of our country’s school children have visited the Belize Zoo through organized school tours, and many of these children are responsible for bringing their parents to the zoo on weekends. Because of the Belize Zoo, conservation education in this country has accelerated in the past three years. (Letter to the Director of the Denver Zoological Gardens, October 11, 1985) The Belize Zoo has developed into the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center which makes many contributions to conservation in Belize, especially in the training of tour guides. They have col- laborated with the BAS on several projects, including the highly successful Toledo and Corozal Environmental Carnivals, which also involved Programme for Belize. Programme for Belize Programme for Belize was born out of a desire by a number of friends of Belize from the United States to make an impact upon the development of Belize. At a meeting of the Inter-Agency Contact Group on Belize on June 26, 1987, F. William Burley of the World Resource Institute made the following presentation: Today there is an unusual opportunity in Belize to make real progress in planning and managing the country’s abundant natural resources. Unlike other countries of Central America, it is possible in Belize to conserve and manage most of the country’s forests and biological resources while moving ahead with orderly economic development. Outside interests in Belize, and therefore possibilities for fund- ing development projects, are greater than ever — and are eager to take advantage of these opportunities. There are persons available, both Belizeans and expatriates, to work on a number of activities leading to systematic conservation and development of Belize’s natural resources. Partners 185 Belize’s small size and population make it possible to plan and manage natural resources in a relatively more systematic or holistic manner — something that is diffi cult or impossible in other countries, especially those in Central America. Programme for Belize was offi cially announced by the Massa- chusetts Audubon Society the next December. The MAS of the US has recently started a Programme for Be- lize. The Programme is intended to be an “umbrella” effort to help raise much greater fi nancial and technical assistance for a variety of conservation and development work in Belize. The Programme will launch a major fundraising campaign over the next fi ve years to be able to identify and designate new parks and multi-use reserves; provide professional level training in forestry, fi sheries, wildlife biology and conservation; conduct forest and wildlife inventories and research projects to assist planning and natural resources management in Belize; and to carry out public education and media development. The Director of Planning for the Programme, William Burley, is in the process of setting up an operation centre in Belize. He invites advice and collaboration from interested organizations here. (Press Release from Massachusetts Audubon Society, December, 1987) Programme for Belize manages the 255,000-acre Rio Bravo Con- servation and Management Area and other environmental conserva- tion projects. “Wings of the Americas” is a Nature Conservancy-sup- ported bird conservation programme for the protection of resident and migratory birds in cooperation with the Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Ohio. Programme for Belize has cooperated with BAS on a number of environmental projects, especially during environmental crises such as the killing of scarlet macaws in Red Bank Village. Belize Alliance of Conservation Non-government Organizations (BACONGO) The need for an offi cial alliance of conservation NGOs was fi rst felt in 1993 when the Natural Resources Management Project (NARMAP) asked for one representative from the environmental NGOs to serve on their Technical Advisory Committee. The Belize Alliance of Conservation Non-government Organizations (BA- CONGO) was formed to select that representative. The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) also has one representative from the environmental NGOs on both the Board of Directors and on the 186 Belize Audubon Society Advisory Committee. Soon after its formation BACONGO became a united lobbying group when a proposal for logging in the Columbia Forest Reserve was presented to Hon. Florencio Marin, Minister of Natural Resources by a Mexican fi rm. BACONGO expressed their concerns about this proposal and has continued to serve as a vehicle for the environmental community to present a united front in the face of environmental threats. Membership in 1999 included the BAS, Programme for Belize, the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, Sibun Watershed Association, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Association of Friends of Freshwater Creek, Friends of Gra-Gra Lagoon, and Green Reef. Association of National Development Agencies The Association of National Development Agencies (ANDA) was established as an umbrella organization to support grassroots organizations that are working for socioeconomic change and self reliance; to improve interaction between Belizean developmental agencies, national and international NGOs; and to encourage devel- opment that promotes and preserves a Belizean identity. BAS joined ANDA in late 1997. International Organizations Caribbean Conservation Association In May of 1973 BAS became an Associate member of the Carib- bean Conservation Association (CCA), an umbrella organization of West Indian and Middle American conservation societies. CCA was formed in 1969 with headquarters in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their purpose is: To coordinate the needs of trust and conservation agencies, develop guidelines for resource management, fi nd solutions to environmental problems, provide information on relevant material in the natural and social sciences development and research, assistance to developing countries in order to accelerate and develop sound conservation practices.(CCA Charter) BAS was an Associate Member of CCA from 1973 until 1977, when they asked the country of Belize to become a member, but Belize could not accept their invitation. Partners 187 Birdlife International In 1980, Belize was invited to become a member of the Interna- tional Council for the Bird Preservation. The membership was to be through BAS because Ford Young was to be the representative. We were accepted as a member, but we were unable with the membership fees. This Council was later changed to Birdlife International, and in early 1998, BAS became a partner designate. Birdlife International is a global alliance of conservation organizations with a focus on birds. Together the Birdlife partners form the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life. The BAS has been working with Birdlife International for many years on shared priorities, policies and programmes for conservation ac- tion; exchanging skills, achievements and information; and growing in ability, authority and infl uence. REDES BAS hosted the fi rst general assembly of the regional network of environmental and non-governmental organizations working together