Belize Conservation Fund Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment System World Heritage Site. In addition, TIDE assists (TIDE) was founded in 1997 to meet the growing planning responsible tourism and other environmentally environmental and development needs of the Toledo sustainable economic alternatives by providing training newsletter January 2010 District, the southernmost district of Belize. TIDE and support to local residents. was conceived as a grassroots initiative in response The Belize Conservation Fund provides important financial Toledo Institute for Development and Environment support for conservation work in Belize. By supporting the to the negative environmental effects from activities (TIDE) also leads ecotourism expeditions throughout such as manatee poaching, illegal fishing, illegal Belize Conservation Fund, you will directly help the important Belize, in addition to other wildlife conservation and conservation work of the following two Belizean organizations logging, destructive farming methods, and other types monitoring activities. of unsustainable development. Initially started by with which Mass Audubon has partnered for many years: volunteers, TIDE has now grown to include 20 paid staff. Contact Information: Programme for Belize (PfB) Toledo Institute for Founded by Mass Audubon in 1988, Development and TIDE’s mission is to research, monitor, and help manage Celia Mahung, Executive Director Toledo Institute for PfB’s mission is to preserve and Environment (TIDE) was Toledo’s natural resources. The Maya Mountain Marine protect 262,000 acres of tropical founded in 1997 to meet the Area Corridor stretches from the lush pristine forests Development and Environment, forest in northern Belize, known growing environmental needs of of the Maya Mountains to the white sand beaches and Punta Gorda Town, Belize as the Rio Bravo Conservation and the Toledo District in southern spectacular array of colors of the Belize Barrier Reef www.tidebelize.org Management Area (RBCMA). This Belize. Mass Audubon partners with vitally important area represents TIDE to protect the Port Honduras approximately four percent of Marine Reserve and the Paynes Belize’s total land area and is the Creek National Park. The reserve most diverse protected area in is recognized for high biodiversity Belize. PfB operates two facilities with a robust belt of mangroves for visitors and researchers: La and sandy coasts providing a Milpa and Hill Bank critical link between terrestrial field stations. PfB is and marine environments. The to help: striving for financial reserve encompasses estuarine Please send contributions to self-sufficiency for communities and protects fringing this protected area reefs and associated habitat. Belize Conservation Fund through earned Approximately 4,500 people The Programme for Belize (PfB) is a Belizean, nonprofit RBCMA, PfB conducts research, conservation education, c/o Massachusetts Audubon Society revenue from live in adjacent communities sustainable forestry, with additional fishing pressure organization, established in 1988, to conserve the professional training and promotes environmental 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 carbon sequestration, stemming from poachers. TIDE natural heritage of Belize and to promote wise use awareness among visitors. In addition, the forests of and ecotourism. provides education, training, and of its natural resources. The Rio Bravo Conservation the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area Or call Bancroft Poor /Karen O’Neill sustainable economic alternatives and Management Area (RBCMA) is its flagship project are important sites for a carbon sequestration project. at 800-289-9504 for the local communities. where Programme for Belize demonstrates the practical Here, four million tons of carbon will be sequestered application of its principles. for generations to come. In the past year, the Belize Conservation Fund has funded several projects at TIDE and PfB. For instance, a recent grant Since its inception, PfB has secured 260,000 acres Contact Information: allowed TIDE to upgrade and repair the solar energy system at the Abalone Caye Ranger Station. This ranger station, visitor of forest in northwestern Belize that was otherwise Edilberto Romero, Executive Director center, and surveillance tower is home to TIDE rangers on duty in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, as well as scientists, interns, and volunteers conducting monitoring and research. An additional award to TIDE enabled the organization to pay for destined for clearance. The RBCMA represents Programme for Belize, Belize City, Belize approximately 4 percent of Belize’s total land area and one year of high school for a promising local student (high school is not free in Belize). www.pfbelize.org is home to a rich sample of biodiversity including: 400 Small grants to PfB also assisted six students from communities adjacent to the RBCMA to attend high school. $3,000 was species of birds, 200 species of trees, 70 species of Photos thanks to B. Rodriguez, S. Weinreb, D. Larson, donated to each of the field stations to purchase needed equipment such as stoves for the guards at the three entry gates, hand held radios for the rangers, life jackets for tourists, picnic tables, solar pathway lighting, and fire extinguishers. mammals and 12 endangered animal species. On the R. Laubach, K. O’Neill, M. Vokey. 8 1 Belize Conservation Fund Newsletter January 2010 Belize Conservation Fund Newsletter January 2010 JANUARY 2009 Donations Go A Long Way in Belize $25,000 was received by Belize Conservation Make A Donation Fund from the Wallace Research Foundation for repairs and improvements to the kitchen and To make a donation to the Programme for Belize dining facilities at PfB’s La Milpa Field Station. For those who have visited La Milpa in the past, (PfB) or to The Toledo Institute for Develop- the delicious fare was always a highlight. We are mental and Environment (TIDE), please com- proud to say that this great food will now be plete this form and return to: prepared in a wonderful new kitchen Massachusetts Audubon Society Keeping the researchers and ecotourists coming NEWS FROM HILLBANK STATION to PfB’s La Milpa facility is essential for the ongoing Belize Conservation Fund support and protection of the forest. The kitchen Located on the banks of the New They also enforce the enhancements will improve the quality of the River Lagoon, the Hill Bank Field boundaries to keep local 208 South Great Road visitors’ experience. Almost 30% of the revenue of PfB comes from ecotourism, a percentage that Station serves as a research base farmers from cutting into the forest Lincoln, MA 01773 PfB hopes to increase as it strives for financial self- for sustainable forest management for more agricultural land. With their sufficiency over time. and specialized tourism, which dangerous and demanding job, these Name incorporates research activities into rangers are to be applauded for their the visitors’ forest experience many successes. Address With a workforce of up to 30, Hill However, insufficient funding and the Bank is home to a diverse crew of lack of transportation has created rangers, forestry personnel, and a host some difficulties in recent years. City of others committed to tropical forest It takes two rangers five months protection. Visitors include active (February to June) to continuously researchers and college students patrol the Rio Bravo savannah land State ZIP taking Tropical Forestry classes. If you that is home for the Yellow Headed Yellow-headed parrot protection have the opportunity to stay at Hill parrots. Despite many years of Phone Bank you will become part of our success, the lack of funding in 2009 The Belize Conservation Fund recently made a $40,000 grant to field station community, learning about constrained the ability of the PfB staff TIDE for yellow-headed parrot protection in southern Belize and tropical forest conservation activities. to protect the nesting area constantly. specifically in Payne’s Creek National Park, managed by TIDE for E-mail JULY 2009 The nests were all robbed of the the Government of Belize. The parrot is a key indicator species Hill Bank is the central base for the chicks by poachers in this season. for this ecosystem and therefore its wellbeing attests to the ___Yes, I would like to make a donation Based on the success of the grant listed above, rangers who patrol and protect the the Belize Conservation Fund received a second overall health of the pine savannah habitat. This is a key objective boundaries and wildlife in the Rio It is imperative that funds are grant of $85,000 from the Wallace Research in TIDE’s long term goal to conserve vital ecosystems and species Donation Information Foundation. These funds allow the La Milpa staff Bravo Conservation and Management raised before January 2010 in order in southern Belize, from the ridges of the Maya Mountains to the to make many renovations to staff housing units, area. These rangers have the very to protect the nests next season. Enclosed check ____________ reefs of Port Honduras. the visitor dormitory and cabanas, the gift shop, difficult task of patrolling the entire Checks should be made payable to and the maintenance facility. Work is currently 262,000 acres of the reserve, tracking In Northern Belize, it takes two rangers five months (February underway and is anticipated to be completed Mass Audubon –Belize Conservation Fund prior to the 2010 tourist season. When these down bird and wildlife poachers, and to June) to continuously patrol the Rio Bravo savannah land that repairs are completed, there will be only a few stopping illegal logging operations. is home for the Yellow Headed parrots. Despite many years of or please charge my credit card for the major projects remaining at the La Milpa station: success, the lack of funding in 2009 constrained the ability of amount of______ • Upgrading the photovoltaic system to the PfB staff to protect the nesting area constantly. The minimize the need for use of the diesel nests were all robbed of the chicks by poachers in generator ($20,000) this season.