Seventy five percent of the four million dollars that the Protected
Areas Conservation Trust collects each year from taxes paid by cruise and over
night visitors is used on the ground to protect and develop Belize’s natural
resources. Today that money was distributed in six small grants and two disaster
relief grants. Today PACT handed out cheques totalling over three hundred and
forty eight thousand dollars to six awardees. The recipients will use the money
to further improve the protected sites they manage. One of the two largest grants
was awarded to Friends of Nature in southern Belize. It has plans to protect
their sites from illegal fishing.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Today PACT handed out cheques totalling over three hundred and forty eight thousand
dollars to six awardees. The recipients will use the money to further improve
the protected sites they manage. One of the two largest grants was awarded to
Friends of Nature in southern Belize. It has plans to protect their sites from
illegal fishing.
Nigel Martinez, Finance Officer - Friends of Nature
“Well we have been working with PACT over the years and they have
seen the extent in our monitoring that we do in the two marine reserves and
also they have seen our level of enforcement, 
our level of patrols that we have
been doing.”
PACT’s Executive Director Valdemar Andrade says the grants were awarded
based on specific qualifications.
Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director – PACT
“These specific applications stood out because they were specific
projects that would aid in assisting in managing one of the 94 sites, 94 protected
areas in Belize and so basically management planning, boundary demarcation,
working with the communities in terms of communication and promotion, working
with the communities in terms of stewardship and so those are of the main aspects
that stood out.”
A highlight of this year’s award ceremony was the special recognition
of Godsman Ellis for his invaluable life-time contribution in protecting Belize’s
natural resources.
Godsman Ellis, Awardee of Special Recognition
“It is a commitment, a real commitment. I know for sure that Belize
is ours and we need to contribute as much as we can to the proper development
of the country and as such I feel I have done enough. I wish I had more years
to be able to do some more.”
PACT received a total of thirteen applications. Jacqueline Godwin reporting
for 7NEWS.
The grants total $390,000.
Email
Print