Past Recipients

First Ceremony-1987

On Friday evening, April 10, 1987 the first award ceremony was held at the Chateau Caribbean in Belize City. The president of the Belize Audubon Society, Dr. Victor Gonzales gave the history of the award and presented it to Mr. Waight, who then presented the award to Squadron Leader Richard Charles Atkinson for his invaluable assistance to BAS in demarcating the boundaries of Half Moon Caye Natural Monument and promoting the Reef Preservation Fund

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 .

In 1985 nearly all the landowners in an 18 square mile area near the Belize River agreed to voluntarily sign pledges that committed them to protect the local habitat of the black howler monkey. Their commitment made possible the establishment of The Community Baboon Sanctuary in 1985. The project reflects the conservation ethic that exists within the people of rural Belize and is truly a grassroots conservation programme. The James A Waight Award was therefore awarded to the communities involved: Bermudian Landing, Big Falls, Double Head Cabbage, Flowers Bank, Isabella Bank, St. Paul 's and Willows Bank.

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.

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.

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.

1992

Janet Gibson, former BAS president, was honored for her work as chairperson of the Reef Preservation/Half Moon Caye Committee and Coordinator of the Coastal Zone Management Project.

Gregory Smith received the award for his work in marine turtle conservation, organizing volunteer patrols of turtle nesting beaches on Ambergris Caye.

1994

The Award was given to several Government of Belize officials: Hon. Florencio Marin, His Excellency Dean Lindo, Rudolph Castillo, James Hyde, and Robert Leslie for their contribution to the conservation of Belize's natural resources. The two Ministers were responsible for establishing many reserves, and the three civil servants/diplomats “worked behind the scenes” during the early years of the Society, helping to make BAS what it is today.

1995

G. Winston Miller was a founding member of the BAS. As Fisheries Administrator he directed manatee and sea turtle protection projects. Mr. Miller assisted greatly with the development and management of the Half Moon Caye Natural Monument by providing transportation for the society's various projects on Half Moon Caye.

1996

Mrs. Lou Nicolait was given the award in recognition of 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.

1998

The Award was granted to Ernesto Saqui for his invaluable contribution to changing the attitudes of the villagers of Maya Center who, at the creation of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary saw conservation as a foreign idea. The award also recognized his outstanding and steadfast contributions to develop the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary into one of Belize's most popular and internationally renowned protected areas.

1999

On February 16 the James A. Waight Conservation Award was presented posthumously to Julian Cho. Julian's singular and heroic work in protecting the rainforests against the might of the Malaysian logging companies and the bureaucracy of the Belizean government serves as 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.

2000

A grassroots community effort – the Sibun Watershed Association won the Award in 2000. Eleven communities are located in the Sibun River Watershed region. In 1994 heavy flooding and sedimentation caused by careless land clearing practices led the community members to form an organization to protect the area and educate local people about the conservation work. Patrick Scott Snr, receiving the award on behalf of the association, said that the award would motivate the organisation to reach even greater heights.

2001

Henry Fairweather - “The Mahogany Man". Since 1982, Henry C. Fairweather planted over one hundred thousand mahogany trees (and other hardwoods) pioneering ecologically sensitive methods and using his own resources. Although mahogany is responsible for the founding of Belize, there is limited knowledge about its cultivation, and indiscriminate cutting and limited replanting places it in danger of extinction. Henry Fairweather's dream is to share his knowledge. In 1998 he joined forces with the Belize River Valley Development Program (BELRIV) to transfer his mahogany cultivation knowledge to poor communities in the Belize River Valley. It was in recognition of this work that the Society awarded Mr. Fairweather with the James A. Waight Award.

2002

Therese Rath was president of the Belize Audubon Society from 1992 to 1995. She was instrumental in the enlarging of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as the establishment of the government's Protected Areas Conservation Trust.

2003

Lionel Heredia (Chocolate) had always had a love for the sea and its inhabitants, and it was this love that spurred his first actions as a conservationist, a protector of this environment that he so loved. Those close to Chocolate remember him keeping vigilant watch over hatching turtles and scaring predatory birds away from the hatchlings by bombarding them with tiny coconuts.