Belize Audubon Society's Advocacy Program


UNCCD/CRIC 5 - Beunos Aires, Argentina - March 2007

Our Work

Since the Belize Audubon Society began in 1969, environmental advocacy has been one of its key programmatic areas. The first issue addressed through its Environmental Advocacy Program was the protection of the Jabiru stork. Today, the Environmental Advocacy Program is consistently reasserting the mission of “creating a balance between people and environment” as Belize, similar to other natural resources-rich countries, is challenged with balancing economic growth and social benefits with conservation of its natural resources.

Our position is that conservation of Belize’s natural resources must be balanced with development which is sustainable, equitable and seeks to further the national development of Belize. There are four principles which guide the Belize Audubon Society’s advocacy initiatives:

Our Environmental Advocacy Program aims to effect policy change through policy-influencing, research, education, communication and mobilization. Our primary strategic focus is on protected areas and sustainable natural resources management.

Our Areas of Focus

Recognizing that they are broader environmental issues outside the protected areas scope, we also focus on other issues of special concern which directly relates to sustainable natural resources management.   These issues include:

Advocating for Sustainable Natural Resources Management Through Environmental Monitoring and Advisory Bodies

We work closely with key Government agencies including the Department of the Environment (DoE), Geology and Petroleum and Forest Departments to ensure that development is regulated and that the Government agencies with responsibilities for regulating development is carrying out their mandate. BAS also acts as a watchdog to ensure that the authorities are notified about environmental problems.

Our work includes representation on several advisory bodies, key amongst them is the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC). The NEAC is an advisory body for the Department of the Environment and is responsible for reviewing all development projects which require Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA's). Development projects which require an EIA is due to their potential to cause significant environmental impacts. We are also on the executive council of Association for Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO), which advocates for maintaining the integrity of protected areas.