TIDE honoured with U.N. award
It seems that over the last decade Belize has been overwhelmed by a sea of acronyms: that is those non-governmental organisations with long winded names whose first initials form a much shorter, and often less relevant title. Tonight, we look at one such N.G.O., that despite the nomenclature, has managed to make its presence felt at home and abroad. News 5’s Janelle Chanona reports from Punta Gorda.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Since it was established as a non-governmental organisation in 1997, the Toledo Institute for Development and the Environment (TIDE) has been recognised internationally several times for its efforts. In August, TIDE was one of only seven recipients of the Equator Prize at the Rio plus Ten Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Today the money that comes with the prize was handed over in Punta Gorda.
According to Shaun Finnetty, Program Officer for the United Nations Development Program, the recognition profiles the protecting of places, while also promoting people.
Shaun Finnetty, Program Officer, U.N.D.P.
“TIDE was selected from four hundred and twenty nominations from seventy-seven countries and came out as one of the top twenty seven finalists. It was in fact one of the top seven winners, so it is fairly significant.”
Included in the award package is a cheque for thirty thousand U.S. dollars.
Shaun Finnetty
“There are absolutely no conditionalities on the funds. It is a thirty thousand dollar U.S. award and they are free to use it how they wish. Although we assume the monies will be spent on TIDE’s programs, continuing to do the good work that it has always done over the last six or seven years of its existence.”
Wil Maheia, Executive Director of TIDE, says the money will used to renovate their headquarters to accommodate resource material.
Wil Maheia, Executive Director, TIDE
“Right now, we often have students who come in and want to find out more about Belize’s natural resources and our library is not well equipped. We are going to use this money to get the library equipped and make it available so that the students from Toledo, or anywhere else, could come and use our library.”
Today, TIDE co-manages several conservation areas including the Paynes Creek National Park and the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. In 1999, the illegal slaughtering of protected manatees was a common occurrence, but thanks to TIDE, such incidents are now rare.
Wil Maheia
“Today we have a twenty-four hour presence, management presence in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. And that’s one of the things that’s highlighted because marine reserves around the world, you look at the Port Honduras Marine Reserve it’s an example to the global community because the manager, Mr. Dennis Garbutt, of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve basically was born and raised inside the zone. So showing where community people could take care of their natural resources, that’s one of the things that we are most proud of.”
Dan Campbell, The Nature Conservancy
“For everybody in Toledo, you ought to be very proud. It’s not just TIDE, it’s all of you. TIDE is you and you were celebrated, you were recognized for both the development and the environment.”
In a town where a lack of economic opportunities has forced a heavy dependence on tourism, the sustainable use of the natural resources will prove crucial for the future. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
