Audubon A.G.M. takes place tonight

It is the oldest and largest environmental conservation organisation in Belize. And tonight, the Belize Audubon Society will take time out to report to its membership on the organisation’s activities over the last twelve months and present its plan of action for the way forward. Advocacy Manager Tanya Williams-Thompson says Audubon’s thirty-sixth Annual General Meeting will highlight a number of success stories and one not so pleasant experience.

Tanya Williams-Thompson, Advocacy Mgr., B.A.S.
?2004 has been a year of many achievements. One of the greatest is the signing of a new ten-year agreement with the Forest Department, which continues Belize Audubon Society?s management of the nine protected areas that it currently manages.?

Patrick Jones
?Now that agreement with the Forestry Department continues. Over the past couple of months you have had problems with people encroaching on land that you manage, what?s the situation there??

Tanya Williams-Thompson
?Well we had a situation in Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary where Belize Crocodile and Reptile Breeders Limited, of whom Luke Espat is the chairman, actually cleared about one point four miles of land within the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. As it currently stands, we are working with the Forest Department to see that this case is prosecuted under the National Parks System Act.?

Patrick Jones
?What is holding up the prosecution of this person? Is it just because of the name Luke Espat??

Tanya Williams-Thompson
?No, it is a matter of ensuring that you have all of your information accurately and that every fact is checked. And we are continuing to work with the Forest Department to ensure that prosecution does occur.?

Patrick Jones
?So basically Audubon is satisfied that some thing illegal has been done??

Tanya Williams-Thompson
?We are satisfied that an illegal action did occur, that he did break the law under the National Parks System Act.?

Williams-Thompson says that during the last year, Audubon focussed its attention on improving the management of the protected areas under its care. The Audubon A.G.M. will be held at the Radisson Hotel and starts at seven.