PACT Makes Grants to Protected Areas Managers

Five organizations that manage the network of protected areas across the country are beneficiaries of a combined one million dollars plus in grants. The awards were disbursed on Monday by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Annually, several protected areas managers are the beneficiaries of grant funding from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust. Today, one point one million dollars was handed over to various conservation organizations throughout the length and breadth of the country. In this year’s cycle, a total of five grants were awarded from two new investment categories of funding—‘single’ and ‘multiple’. The single category, which carries a maximum funding of one hundred thousand dollars, was rewarded to the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development, the Southern Environmental Association and Programme for Belize.

Percival Cho

Dr. Percival Cho, Board Chairman, PACT

“This allotment, as is true for each previous year, is indicative of the Government of Belize’s and PACT’s pledge to strengthen the management of our protected areas system through support of the work of nongovernmental and community based organizations involved in protected areas management. The geographic sphere of influence of these organization: Sarteneja in the north, Programme for Belize in the central region and SEA in the south in many ways help to broaden the scope of PACT, the communities and areas across the country. The goals of each range from building protective measures to fortify against threats incurred through natural disasters or depletion of resources, to building sustainability and resourcefulness through enterprise and improved management efficiency.”

Meanwhile, two grants were awarded under the ‘multiple’ category. As the name suggests, some four hundred thousand dollars were granted to multiple recipients under one project.  Under this category, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations and Ya’axche Conservation Trust, alongside the Belize Audubon Society and the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment.

Dr. Percival Cho

“This new investment angle complements the equally new opportunity for PACT to fund up to twenty percent of an organizations budgeted staffing and office cost relating to carrying out a project. This is a direct result of PACT Board’s determination to assist C.B.O.s and N.G.O.s in areas where it matters most, thereby allowing them to invest a greater portion of their energies in fundraising initiatives to advance their work on the ground.”

Omar Figueroa

Omar Figueroa, Minister of State, Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Environment Sustainable Development & Immigration

“Always when I am here and about to award our partners, I am reminded of how invaluable the finances I received for my own personal and professional development. It is often difficult to quantify the impact these awards have on the individuals and organizations. But I am certain, we can all agree, PACT has played and continues to play an important role in the sustainable development of our country and has positively impacted our network of protected areas.”

Duane Moody for News Five.