PROTECTED AREA CO-MANAGEMENT REVIEW IN FOCUS BZ HALF MOON CAYE NATURAL MONUMENT [HMCNM] GREAT BLUE HOLE NATURAL MONUMENT [GBHNM] The Great Blue Hole 2 of the 7 protected US$880,000 is the world’s areas in the Belize 2016 Revenue LARGEST Barrier Reef Reserve System “Belize has the MOST Home to the endangered REMARKABLE reef in the WEST INDIAN MANATEE West Indies” - Charles Darwin & NASSAU GROUPER Half Moon Caye Natural Monument and the Great Blue Hole Natural Monument are two of the seven marine protected areas in the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site under the UNESCO. All photos from belizeaudubon.org Co-management Approach Revenue Mechanisms Success Descriptors The Government of Belize signed in Majority of the operational fund of In 2018, The Belize Barrier Reef 1999 a co-management agreement BAS comes from entrance/user fees. Reserve System World with Belize Audubon Society [BAS] for In 2019, the entrance fee ranges Heritage Site was removed the conservation of the 7 protected areas including from US$10-60. In 2016, the collection of fees, from the list of “In Danger” afer almost a through strong collaboration with tourism HMCNM and GBHNM. BAS is a local charitable NGO. decade of efort. It is considered as a true stakeholders, generated US$750,000 [85% of the The co-management agreement aims to: victory for nature protecton in Belize. total income of US$880,000]. ñ Maintain presence around known hotspots for BAS collaborates with diferent Belize has seen an increasing trend on tourist illegal activity, and arrest and prosecute those government agencies to ensure proper visits since 2010. In 2016, HMCNM and the involved in illegal activities within the park. GBHNM received 21,500 visitors. surveillance and monitoring. It resulted to ñ Maintain presence and control of tourism 14 persons charged for various ofenses. Other incomes include grant support and fees activities. from accommodation and equipment rental. 60% Regular biodiversity and research The Board of Directors is comprised of 15 voluntary of the 2016 income was used for the protected monitoring [turtle, conch, Nassau grouper] members - President, 2 Vice-Presidents, 2 area management while 21% was for the are being conducted to ensure a healthy Secretaries, and 8 Directors. The members are administration of the NGO. ecosystems. elected from the BAS’ general membership. http://blue-finance.org • [email protected] .