The James A. Waight Award is an annual conservation
award given to deserving individuals or organizations in recognition
of positive work in the protection and enhancement of Belize 's
environment.Selection Criteria for James A. Waight Award
The award nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Belizean or resident of Belize;
- Preferably, a member of the Belize Audubon Society but otherwise be involved in work directly related to the protection of the environment;
- Involved in rainforest protection, coastal zone protection, pollution control, waste management, eco tourism promotion and the socioeconomic environment, indigenous rights, and socio-cultural protection. The efforts of the nominees must be national in scope, have a human dimension, and be innovative or non-traditional.
2008- Philip Balderamos joined the Belize Audubon Society in 1981 and became involved in what is now his lifelong hobby, birding. For the past 25 years, he has participated in annual Christmas Bird Counts and currently helps to organize and compile the results of the Belize City and Belmopan Christmas Bird Counts. He actively promotes bird conservation and awareness primarily among Belizean youths. He served on the Board of Directors of BAS for several years and helped guide the transition of the society from a purely voluntary organization to being an effective and professionally managed conservation organization dedicated to maintaining a balance between people and the environment.
2007- Sir George Noel Brown was a stalwart in the socio-cultural and environmental transformation of Belize. Brown served more than forty years as a judicial officer, rising from the ranks of Magistrate to only the second Belizean to sit as Chief Justice of Belize. His work led to the amendments of statutes of statutory instruments for the improvement of land tenure to ensure reasonable adjudication of discretionary powers of Ministers.The former Chief Justice was credited for his tireless commitment to influence young Belizeans through the art of sailing and a love for the sea. The George N. Brown Foundation hosts a training program "Youths at Risk", which encourages participation in athletics and craftsmanship through activities like boat building, sailing, and football.
2006- Pulcheria Teul is best known for her work with the Southern Alliance for Grassroots Empowerment, SAGE. Teul was involved in education and support of communities facing environmental issues such as the extraction of timber. Teul's fierce determination to improve the lives of the people of Toledo by promoting sustainable human development is at the heart of the James A. Waight Award. 
2005- Eloy Cuevas was chosen for his work in the development of alternative livelihoods for fishermen and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices. Cuevas, a resident of Monkey River, has also worked in the southern communities of Hopkins and Placencia, earning a reputation among his peers as an expert fly fishing guide, a skill he has wholeheartedly encouraged, especially among the women of his hometown.
2004- Luis Garcia has been persistent in his efforts to keep the waterways and communities surrounding them in the Cayo District environmentally healthy. His work, which includes the "Save the Rivers Campaign," "Village Tours", and "Health Days", has enhanced Belize's environment. 
2003- Lionel Heredia (Chocolate) was honored for his life long dedication to Belize's environment. He received the Award for his educational activities and advocacy for the official protection of Swallow Caye as a Wildlife Sanctuary and its numerous manatees. Those close to Chocolate remember him keeping vigilant watch over hatching turtles and scaring predatory birds away by bombarding them with tiny coconuts.
2001- Henry C. Fairweather “The Mahogany
Man" started planting mahogany trees in 1982 and has planted over
one-hundred thousand trees, surpassing his dream of planting a thousand trees for each year of his life. In 1998, he joined forces with a community-based project, the Belize River Valley Development Program (BELRIV), to continue planting Belize's mahogany and to plant his knowledge into poor communities in the Belize
River Valley. He argues passionately that with an enabling environment, extensive cultivation of mahogany will lay the base for the economic transformation of Belize in the 21st Century. 
2000- Sibun Watershed Association 
1999- Julian
Cho, awarded posthumously, fought to represent the Maya people from the Toledo District, in their struggle to claim land rights and for their struggle against unsustainable logging practices in the Toledo District. Mr. Cho is a shining
example of how one person can make a difference. He was Chairman
of the Toledo Maya Cultural Council, and organized the Toledo Maya
to document and map their land and culture in the Maya Atlas.The
award was accepted by his widow, Maggie Cho, who has pledged to
continue Julian's work.
1998- Ernesto Saqui was park director of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary from 1987-1997 and has also served as village council chairman in Maya Center. Saqui is credited with changing local attitudes toward conservation and for building Cockscomb into one of the nation's most popular protected areas and one recognized around the world for its contribution to environmental protection. 
1996- Mrs. Lou Nicolait was recognized for her outstanding contribution
to the cause of conservation in Belize. She was elected to the BAS
Board in 1984 and was an active member through 1987. She founded
the Belize Center for Environmental Studies and worked closely with
BAS.
1992- Janet Gibson 
1990- Alice M. (Meg) Craig served on the BAS Board as Vice President from 1970 to 1987 and was a member of the Cockscomb and Education Committees. She participated in all the Society's field trips, acting as recorder, and took part in Christmas Bird Counts. Her particular interest was youth education.
1990- Dr. Victor Gonzalez was a member of the BAS Board from 1971, and was elected President in 1986. He held that position until he resigned in 1990. Dr. Gonzalez served on various committees and represented the Society at international meetings.
1989- Mrs. Dora Weyer was recognized for her service to the Society. She was a founding member of the BAS and served on its Board of Directors until 1987. She was an active member of the Board and was instrumental in bringing about the establishment of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
1988- Mr. Ford Young was one of the founding members of the BAS, and had a major role in advancing the conservation of the natural heritage of Belize. He served for many years as the Vice President of the Society, and was in charge of the monthly field trips that the Society supported. He coordinated the Christmas Bird Counts and assisted with aerial surveys in keeping track of the Jabiru nesting habitats and sites in the country of Belize.
1987- Richard Charles
Atkinson