BNCF awards over 75k in terrestrial biodiversity research and protected areas management

Belize City, Belize. (Monday 29 Aug. 16) – The Belize Nature Conservation Foundation (BNCF) awarded two grants in the furtherance of conservation efforts in Belize’s protected areas. The ceremony to award the recipients was held at the Programme for Belize office at 1 Eyre Street, Belize City. Ya’axche Conservation Trust and the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO) were the successful applicants. Ya’axche received a total of thirty seven thousand, eight hundred and eighty eight dollars (BZ$37,888). APAMO, received thirty eight thousand (BZ$38,000).
This marks the BNCF’s tenth grants award ceremony. On this occasion, the BNCF’s Chair, Mr. Edilberto Romero, remarked that the grants given out today will help to “support the conservation of our forests and the management of protected areas”. Ya’axche, for its project entitled, “Strengthening Conservation through Community Participation in Biodiversity Research” seeks to collect baseline biodiversity data in key biodiversity areas throughout the Maya Golden Landscape. Through the collection of this data they hope to increase community awareness of the importance of biodiversity and biodiversity monitoring techniques towards the understanding and management of our natural environment.
APAMO, for its project aimed at “strengthening [the] management of the Mayflower Bocawina National Park” will use its funds towards the development of a pilot management plan for protected areas that are managed by small community based organizations. It will focus specifically on areas that are susceptible to climate change. While this project will focus on the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, it is the intention that the findings here will be shared within APAMO’s wider network of associated organizations for the benefit of all.
BNCF issues an annual call for proposals for up to thirty nine thousand dollars (BZ$ 39,000) to registered NGOs involved in terrestrial protected areas management and conservation. Since 2005, they have granted over BZ$ 1.7 million in funding to NGOs and community based organizations. The Belize Nature Conservation Foundation is currently managed by a Board of Directors in partnership with the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) that provides fiduciary services. For more information on the BNCF grant application process and eligibility criteria, you may contact the PACT’s Associate Director of Grants at [email protected].