Bio-diversity

The proposed project is in support of a Belize Indigenous Training Institute (BITI) medicinal plant farm and educational center. This activity was initiated in 1998 upon agreement with the Chuthamil Cooperative, for allocation of 50 acres of their land in Golden Stream Village, Toledo to BITI for use in the establishment of a medicinal plant farm. The 50 acres is to be used for research, testing of non-traditional agricultural products and for experimentation in the reintroduction of traditional Maya farming techniques. The project will provide an inventory not only of a wide variety of medicinal and herbal plants in Belize but will also identify their location and abundance. This will be prepared in text, GIS maps and CD ROM formats. The project is a practical activity, which will show and thereby promote sustainable production and use of non-timber forest products specifically medicinal plants. The project will also aim to highlight the need and the means of increasing local involvement in natural resource management. Their traditional environmental knowledge will be embraced by this project and form part of the database needed to develop a comprehensive co-management plan and regime. Conversely, this proposed medicinal plant project would clearly show to others the importance of sustainable use of non-timber forest products as well as the need to conserve the forests biodiversity.

Belize