PACT gives conservation grants

Today in Belmopan the Protected Areas Conservation Trust presented grants totaling over one hundred thousand six hundred dollars to four more organizations to assist them in their fight to conserve the environment. The Belize Tourism Industry Association, B.T.I.A., received thirty-four thousand dollars, for landscaping, maintenance, and the construction of an observatory tower and promotional materials for the Maya site of Cerros in the Corozal District. The Belize Tourism Board, B.T.B., which has the responsibility for promoting Belize as an eco-cultural destination was given thirty-five thousand dollars for informational signs on littering, protected areas and archeological sites. Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, was granted twenty-five thousand dollars to establish an outreach program for the students of Sarteneja to learn more about their marine environment and wildlife, and the development of eco-tours with guides from Sarteneja, San Pedro, and the Corozal District. The Visionary Youth Cooperative Society got over five thousand dollars for two camps on environmental education and cultural preservation in rural communities. The four priority areas needed to qualify for a PACT award are protected areas management and conservation, community participation, eco-cultural tourism and the improvement of archaeological sites. The presentations were made by the chairman of the PACT Board of Directors Patty Arceo.