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A s s o c i a t i o n o f p r o t e c t e d a r e a s m a n a g e m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n

FEATURE!Advocacy In Action!APAMO Advocates to ban all off shore oil exploration

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Earth Day Celebration

2010!APAMO Members Celebrate Earth Day

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Projects in Progress!Ya axche Conservation Trust Protecting the World Heritage

site of Belize

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New Addit ion to the

APAMO TeamPage 6_________________________

APAMO Annual General

Meeting & BiodiversityPage 7

At its AGM on May 11, 2010, APAMO made a public call on the government of Belize for a BAN on Oil Exploration and Drilling Offshore and in Protected Areas. Immediately thereafter Oceana and COLA also made a similar call. In an effort to address this issue of national interest, these organizations along with others joined forces to form a coalition. The Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage was launched on June 8, 2010 and over forty organizations have joined this coalition including the major umbrella organizations such as the Belize Tourism Industry Association and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize who together have over 1600 members. The Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage aims to protect our people and their rights to safeguard our natural heritage for the benefit of all Belizeans – present and future. It serves as a channel for the voice of the people and at all times has the best interest of Belize and its people at heart. The concerns of APAMO and the other members of the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage stem from the fact that eighteen companies have been granted concessions to search for petroleum on land and sea covering the entire territorial area of Belize except for the Maya Mountains. Hence none of our protected areas many of which contain fragile ecosystems and provide watershed protection have been spared. Even the Belize Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site has been parceled off into blocks for possible drilling. The coalition considers the risks of oil exploration and drilling offshore and in our

protected areas, no matter how well regulated, too high for our natural resources and that these risks far outweigh any potential benefits for Belize. Belize is a natural resource based economy and has marketed itself as an eco-tourism destination. The coastal area of Belize is an outstanding natural system consisting of the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere and the second largest reef in the world with 3 of 4 atolls in the Caribbean, several hundred sand cays, mangrove

APAMO Calls for a BAN on Oil Exploration and Drilling Offshore and in Protected Areas!

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forests, coastal lagoons, and estuaries. APAMO and the coalition consider the risk of offshore oil exploration to be too high and the negative impacts that this activity will cause to our barrier reef too great. The livelihoods of those in the tourism and fishing industries and the general public at large will be greatly affected, eliminating our marine food security and devastating the viability of our coastal communities. Tourism is Belize's biggest earner of foreign exchange, contributing 30% of the country's GDP. Over 60% of Belize's tourism is based around marine activities, and without the pristine environment that industry would fall. About two-thirds of the mainland coast is protected by coral reefs and mangroves, as well as the windward coast of most cayes, providing an estimated US$231 million to US$347 per year in avoided damages to coastal properties from erosion and wave-induced damage. In 2008, reef- and mangrove-associated tourists spent an estimated US$150 million to US$196 million on accommodations, reef recreation, and other expenses. The annual economic benefits from reef- and mangrove-dependent fisheries is between US$14 million and US$16 million (WRI, 2008, The Economic Contribution of Belize’s Coral Reefs and Mangroves)

The risks are too great and the rewards, far too small for oil exploration and drilling offshore and in protected areas as Belize does not have the technical capacity, human resources, technology and financial resources to handle such as disaster as the one in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana which has the potential to completely destroy our barrier reef. It would only take one major oil spill to damage our Barrier Reef System, our protected areas and natural resources which are the backbone of the Belizean economy and which provide critical environmental

services such as clean water and clean air. The potential for catastrophic damage to our reef, other marine resources, and all of our protected areas can threaten the livelihoods and quality of life of our people and is simply not worth this risk. In other less environmentally sensitive parts of Belize, a program of well-regulated exploration and drilling, with vigorous oversight, full enforcement of regulations, including a comprehensive oil spill contingency plan, may allow for the drilling of oil. The Belize Coalition to save our Natural Heritage believes that the voice of the people can help to decide if oil will be extracted in the territorial waters and protected areas of Belize. The members of the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage jointly agree to: *A BAN on oil exploration and drilling in our Belizean waters (OFFSHORE) and in ALL our PROTECTED AREAS*Stronger legislation and regulations covering all activities related to oil exploration and drilling outside of our Belizean waters (OFFSHORE) and outside of ALL our Protected Areas in order to provide protection for human health and safety, the environment, , greater transparency and a truly inclusive and meaningful public participation in those areas where oil exploration and drilling may be considered.*Greater, more equitable economic benefits and long term economic security for Belize negotiated from the oil industry and special financial mechanisms adopted for resource dependent rural communities to be directly impacted from oil development where oil exploration and drilling maybe considered*A comprehensive, Oil Spill Contingency Plan for Belize (and ALL territorial waters) that comes as a result of public consultations and is well publicized, funded and adopted into law. We encourage everyone to join our efforts in safeguarding the integrity of our protected areasand world heritage site, the Belize Barrier Reef. You can become a member or a supporter of the Coalition by filling our membership form available on the APAMO website. You can also fill out the online o p i n i o n s u r v e y a t : www.surveymonkey.com/s/MC2W9ND and sign and get others to sign the petition to stop drilling offshore and in protected areas. Surveys can also be downloaded from the APAMO website: www.apamo.net

APAMO’s Calls for Ban on Drilling Off Shore and In Protected Areas....

Meeting to ban oil exploration

The Coalition to Save Belize’s Natural Heritage

The Coalition to Save Belize’s Natural Heritage conducts

meeting

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A s s o c i a t i o n o f p r o t e c t e d a r e a s m a n a g e m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n

The Association of Protected Areas M a n a g e m e n t O r g a n i z a t i o n s (APAMO) supported four of its members in celebrating Earth Day by hosting two events.

On April 22nd, APAMO staff and The Forest and Marine Reserve of Caye Caulker (FAMRACC) promoted Earth Day by having 45 students from the local school volunteer to clear the littoral forest in the reserve, clear trails, and assist with watering of small mangroves. The youth also assisted in painting signs to guide visitors while visiting the reserve.

The Caye Caulker Forest Reserve was declared in May of 1998 and is co-managed by FAMRACC. The littoral forest has three kinds of mangrove, red, white and black, as well as a number of other trees. The Mangroves grow in shallow water and accumulate decaying leaves and fish nurseries under their roots. The coconut

palms and nuts in the reserve choke out the other indigenous plant life including the mangroves which is essential for sustaining the reef. Thus it is important for the coconut palms to be cleared on a regular basis.

The students and villagers of Caye Caulker came out on Earth Day to assist in clearing of coconuts and coconut palm leaves. Community members and Fisheries provided boats to get the students to and from the reserve. The entire community came out to support the Earth Day Celebration.

The PACT Foundation provided funding for the project. It was a great success. A large part of the reserve was cleared and ever yone had a g reat t ime. For Information on how you can support this organization please contact Ellen McRae siwanban@yahoo.com

APAMO & The Forest and Marine Reserve Association of Caye Caulker Celebrate Earth

Day 2010

Forest and Marine Reserve Association of Caye Caulker

Forest and Marine Reserve Association of Caye Caulker

Ellen McRae organizing students at Forest Reserve of Caye Caulker

Students and volunteers clearing littoral forest on the reserve

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On April 24, 2010 APAMO, Peace Corps, Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association (STACA), Friends of Gra Gra Lagoon National Park (FGGL), and Friends of Mayflower Bucawina National Park (FMFB) hosted a second event, Earth Day Extravaganza, which promoted Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day.  The event  featured youth picking up trash in Dangriga Town, and tree planting in Silk Grass Village.

The students and volunteer’s were then bused to the Steadfast Village Community Center where Dr. Ed Boles presented a lecture to all three communities and youth on the Stann Creek Watershed. The presentation highlighted the importance of protecting Belize’s natural resources and the watershed.

The event was also supported by the Citrus Growers Association and the Citrus Products of Belize though the donation of citrus fruits and juices. The participants received free admission to the Billy Barquedier National Park which is Co-managed by STACA allowing the youths to enjoy a cools swim at the water fall after a day of hard work.

 

The purpose of the Earth Day Events were to increase awareness of protected areas and Belize’s natural resources such as watershed among the youth, to inspire youth and community leaders to volunteer and try to improve their communities, and to bring communities together to achieve a simple goal of keeping their environment clean, planting trees, learning about their country, and final ly to increase a sense of community and promote pride in ones community. A great time was had by all.

APAMO Earth Day Celebration Continued !

APAMO Members Celebrate Earth Day 2010!

Friends of Gra Gra Lagoon National Park hosted trash clean up in Dangriga

Billy Barquedier National Park

Steadfast Village Community Center

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Protecting the World Heritage of Belizeby

Lee McloughlinThe Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is listed as World Heritage in Danger, primarily because of poorly planned, unsustainable development. The proposed establishment of a hydro-electric dam on the Central River is likely to increase sedimentation and reduce the overall quality of water entering the Belize Barrier Reef System. , Ya’axché Conservation Trust seeks to address this issue through a project titled: “Protecting the World Heritage of Belize” funded by the Rapid Response Facility e In July 2009 the Belize Hydroelectric Development and Management Company Limited (BHD) illegally entered both the Columbia River Forest Reserve (CRFR) and Bladen Nature Reserve (BNR) in order to conduct feasibility studies for a hydroelectric facility on Central River; an area of core conservation within the Maya Mountain Massif (MMM) and the National Protected Area System of Belize. After bulldozing access roads and clearing helipad and camping areas the BHD team was removed from the Reserves. However, in October of 2009, BHD was granted a research permit from the Belize Forest Department and restarted work, again violating the law by breaching the terms and conditions of their permit. The research permit is intended to allow ecological research, not development feasibility studies. The objectives of “Protecting the World Heritage of Belize” project are to halt any illegal development activity in Central River area of Bladen Nature Reserve,

investigate and disclose potential environmental and social impacts of proposed dam, recommend appropriate management activities that show the way forward, and finally build public support for greater consideration of environmental and social issues in development. The activities that will assist in accomplishing these objectives include the ongoing monitoring of these areas to deter illegal development activities through effective joint patrols in collaboration with the Government of Belize. Secondly, the project will include conducting hydrological and ecological assessment of the upper Rio Grande watershed which will provide additional information on the status of these areas, Third, the project will provide consultation with rural communities that buffer the dam site assessing potential social and economic impacts of dam, and finally the project will allow for the launching of an outreach campaign to increase awareness of impacts of dam development Several months in to the project is showing success with multi-agency patrols being conducted monthly in the Central River Area, and a rapid ecological assessment (freshwater quality, icthiofauna, reptile and amphibian survey) was conducted and a full report completed and disseminated. A socio-economic assessment of San Miguel community (a community already impacted by a hydroelectric dam) was conducted in April and May, a BNR management plan was updated which included proposed management actions.

Projects in Progress!

Ya’axche’ Conservation Trust

Protecting the World Heritage

of Belize

Ya’axche’s ranger taking measurements from the proposed hydroelectric dam site during the

rapid ecological assessment

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Ancient Maya archaeological site subject to recent looting by members of hydroelectric

‘research’ team.

New Project Manager for APAMOʼs Capacity Building Project!

We would like to welcome APAMOʼs newest addition to the team, Mrs. Gianna Gomez. Mrs. Gomez, attended the University of Belize where she was first introduced to Marine Biology at the Calabash Caye Field Station on the Turneffe Islands Atoll. She went on to complete two internship at CZMAI, and obtained a Masters of Science Degree in Marine Resources Management from Oregon State University. She was previously employed by Fisheries as a Biologist for Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve & National Park. Mrs. Gomez has conducted extensive research on marine life through her employment and during her internship. She was a research & education coordinator for UBʼs Institute of Marine Resources. She reports enjoying her work as a Marine Biologist and is looking forward to her work with APAMO and its members.

Freshwater scientist Melissa Medina using electrofisher assisted by San Pedro Columbia

community members

A committee formed by San Pedro Columbia village, with the technical support of Ya'axche', has been instrumental in raising awareness of the proposed dam and consulting the buffer communities about the proposed way forward. Another desired outcome that has occurred since the inception of the project is a cease and desist order which was put in place by Forest Department in response to the potential violation of permit by BHD, no further illegal development has been discovered since this time. Recently, a short film (20 mins) ‘River to Reef’ has been created in association with Ajax Films of San Pedro Columbia, Toledo. This film is designed to build awareness of Toledo residents of the connectivity of their rivers and the Belize Barrier Reef, particularly the importance of maintaining their health. A media campaign has also been launched that includes television appearances, radio shows and a series of press releases and related articles in national newspapers.

The Ya’axche’ staff with the support of the RRF launched this media campaign in order to gain support for the opposition of unplanned development in a nature reserve. A website was specially created to keep supporters of the opposition aware and informed (www.letourriverflow@weebly.com) For more information on this issue and about APAMO member Ya’xche Conservation Trust please view their website at www.yct.bz

Ya’ axche’ Conservation Trust Continued

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A s s o c i a t i o n o f p r o t e c t e d a r e a s m a n a g e m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n

On May 11th APAMO celebrated its 3rd Annual General Meeting at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel under the theme “Confronting the Challenges Affecting our Protected Areas, Biodiversity and Well Being”. Key note speaker, Mr. Omar Figueroa, biodiversity expert, highlighted the fact that our well being is closely linked to maintaining biodiversity and the critical role that protected areas play in maintaining our biodiversity. The AGM included a several presentations including an Annual Review of APAMO’s 2009 achievements; These achievements were in areas such as institutional strengthening and management, member development and strengthening, advocacy, policy, and managing strategic data and information. Some of the featured activities included the Proposed Amendments to the National Parks Systems Act, Development of a National Policy on Responsible Tourism, Report on the State of our Protected Areas , training/workshops to increase capacity for members, and an awareness campaign that included the launch of a DVD untitled “Protected Areas of Belize” The AGM featured APAMO’s initiatives for 2010 and a newly elected Executive Council were presented: relected were Mrs. Anna D. Hoare as vice chair, Mrs. Celia Mahung as secretary and newly elected were Ms. Nellie Catzim, and Mrs. Hyacinth Ysaguirre as council members. They join Mr. Edilberto Romero, chairman Mrs. Lisel Alamilla Treasurer and Mrs, Jessie Young council member to form the 2010-2011 Executive Council. The highlight of the meeting was a call on the government of Belize to get serious about the protection and management of protected areas and to demonstrate their seriousness by decisions and actions, making protected areas a priority within the Ministry of Natural Resources ensuring that their

integrity are maintained, respecting their status and assisting in their protection. Specifically APAMO calls on the government to ACTVATE the National Protected Areas Commission and to include APAMO on the Commission; IMPLEMENT the National Protected Areas System Plan in order to address the barriers and coordination problems affecting protected areas; PLACE a BAN on offshore oil exploration and all activities that pose a high risk to the integrity of the protected areas , and the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System; ENSURE transparency and proper consultation with conservation NGO’s and all relevant stakeholders prior to making decisions that directly or indirectly affect protected areas; REVIEW AND ADOPT the Co-Management Frame work and co-management agreement template, and the proposed amendments to the National Park Systems Act that aims to strengthen the legal basis for the co-management agreements and to legally recognize private protected areas; FIND Mechanisms to increase state funding for protected areas management for both government and co-managers so that management costs can be met. Existing funding mechanism such as PACT should be reformulated so that more funds are spent on activities on protected areas management, including core management cost, with less bureaucracy and greater efficiency. APAMO reassured its stakeholders that it will remain vigilant and active in order to ensure that protected areas are properly managed and protected for the present and future

APAMO Celebrates 3rd Annual General Meeting &

Biodiversity!

APAMO’s New Board Members 2010-2011

Back row: Ms. Alamilla, Ms. Catzim, Mr. Romeo, Mrs Mahung

Front: Mrs Ysaguirre & Mrs. Hoare

APAMO Members

APAMO AGM

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A s s o c i a t i o n o f p r o t e c t e d a r e a s m a n a g e m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n

Our Mission!“APAMO is an association of non-

governmental protected areas management organizations that advocates for and

contributes to the sustainability and proper management of Belize’s protected areas

thus ensuring benefits for all stakeholders.”

Our Vision!“APAMO, Belize’s foremost association of

committed protected areas management organizations, contributes to and advocates for the maintenance in perpetuity of a well

managed and functional protected areas system that plays an integral role in

national development, and contributes directly to the well being of communities

and the nation.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

You can help by getting involved or sending

donations to the address below or viewing our

website www.apamo.net APAMO

3RD FLOOR

828 CONEY DRIVE.Belize City,

Belize, Central America

(501) 223-7266

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON APAMO PROJECTS PLEASE VIEW OUR WEBSITE AT

www.apamo.net