Bio-diversity

Sarteneja, a traditional fishing community on the coast of Belize, is considered one of the primary stakeholders of the Belize Barrier Reef, and of the majority of the seven sites within the World Heritage nomination . The economic foundation of the community is based on the traditional harvesting of marine resources. Over 80% of households are dependent on fisheries resources principally through traditional free diving for lobster, conch and finfish, but more recently, also through fly fishing and reef tourism (SACD, 2008). This reliance on the marine resources creates a strong relationship between the state of the resource and the needs of the community. With the rapidly expanding national (and international) population of fishermen active on the reef, it is recognized that these resources are declining, and are not being managed for sustainability nor for optimal utilization (Gillet, 2003). The cumulative impacts of global threats such as rises in sea water temperature and associated coral bleaching episodes, combined with local threats such as watershed contamination and unsustainable fishing have had a significant impact on the reefs, resulting in reduced productivity. Consultations with fishermen and other community members of Sarteneja have demonstrated a clear awareness of the declining state of the resource, but often also a reluctance to be engaged through active participation in and support of marine resource management. Project Goal: To strengthen the capacity of the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development in engaging its stakeholders, and provide a foundation for contributing to landscape / seascape level system-level collaboration. This project focuses on strengthening SACD s ability to engage the community and improve communication with its stakeholders, through two main focal areas: 1. Working within the community of Sarteneja, continuing to build a collaborative, supporting partnership with different community sectors, with increased awareness of the need for sustainable resource use 2. Effective co-management of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, within the larger landscape, reducing impacts on the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site SACD has identified a critical need to increase its ability to reach out and engage local stakeholders, with increased focus on communication, to position it better for making community- and system-level interventions that help to reduce the threats to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site.

Belize