Ya’axche Conservation Trust Executive wins Marsh Awards

lisel alamilla

The Ya’axche Conservation Trust, an organization launched in 1998 to protect the Bladen Nature Reserve in Stann Creek and Toledo Districts, has been recognized internationally through a prestigious award bestowed upon its executive director.  The Marsh Awards which is endorsed by the Zoological Society of London honors unsung heroes who aim to improve the world we live in.  The recipient of this year’s award is Lisel Alamilla who is engaged in environmental work to protect Belize’s natural and ecological heritage.  News Five spoke with Alamilla who told us what the recognition means for conservation efforts across the Jewel.

Lisel Alamilla, Exec. Dir. Ya’axche Conservation

“The Marsh Awards is an award given out in the UK in collaboration with Flora and Fauna International and [uhm] it’s an award.  This category that I got awarded for is for conservation leadership.”

Isani Cayetano

“Can you speak to us as well on your participation, on the part of Ya’Axche Conservation, in this award?”

Lisel Alamilla

“Well I just got nominated by Flora and Fauna International.  They were the ones who nominated me along with two other persons and I was selected to be the recipient for this year.”

Isani Cayetano

“And of course what does this mean for conservation efforts across the country?”

Lisel Alamilla

“Well [uhm] I think it’s good to be recognized I mean it’s not the impetus of the work that we do but it’s good for our work to be recognized and bring attention to the work that we’re doing because really, all this work that we do has real global implications. We manage the Bladden Nature Reserve which is one of the highest categories of protection of protected areas in Belize and right now as you know we are in litigation with government and Belize Hydro Development Company reference the research permit that was granted for the Belize Hydro Development to do studies in that area.  We believe that that was in contravention of the National Park Systems Act and so on December first in fact the judge will make a decision on that case so we are awaiting that decision and hopefully it will be in our favor because we think it is precedent setting really if this matter goes through.”

The Ya’axche Conservation Trust was also recently awarded a grant of fifty thousand dollars by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust to fund its multi-agency patrols in the Bladen Nature Reserve and further its work in environmental protection.