Community Development

Armenia Women's Group

Community involvement is a vital part of fulfilling our mission. It is not enough to understand the needs of wildlife; you must also know about the concerns of Belizeans who share the land with wildlife. As resource-dependent people we all have an interest in our environment. Community-based development encourages people to work cooperatively and to optimize the benefits of the environment to society while preserving the integrity of natural and cultural resources. We provide opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the management of our environment, adopt sustainable practices that are compatible with existing values, and create alternative livelihoods.

Community Development for buffer communities is implemented under the different programs at the Belize Audubon Society to garner community support for conservation and protection of natural resources while at the same time providing alternative income-generating opportunities. The Environmental Education Program complements the community development activities.

The preliminary initiatives engaged communities in alternative livelihood opportunities to reduce the current pressures on the different protected areas. Communities were trained in tourism-oriented services, such as fly-fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. Training in tour guiding is necessary to obtain a tour guide license. The community members were also trained in business management, environmental education, environmental stewardship, advocacy, arts and crafts, human resources management, and even improved livestock management techniques.