Bio-diversity

Sarteneja Wildlife, Environment and Ecotourism Team (SWEET) is a community-driven conservation organization based in Sarteneja Village, Corozal District, and has arisen from local concern for the state of the natural resources of the marine environment, and the future sustainable development of the community. In particular SWEET is focused on the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and the Belize Barrier Reef, on which a large proportion of Sarteneja residents depend. These two priority areas support a number of endangered species Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1998 under a transboundary agreement with Mexico specifically to protect the large population of West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) using the area (IUCN Redlist status: Vulnerable , IUCN, 2004), and also protects several large bird nesting colonies, highlighted within the recent NPAPSP documents as nationally threatened (Meerman, 2005). The Belize Barrier Reef, apart from being recognized internationally as an area of outstanding biodiversity, and crucial for the conservation of the world s biodiversity (Kramer and Kramer, 2002; CCAD, 2001) is important for providing protection for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and the endangered loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Areas of the reef are important as spawning aggregation sites for the critically endangered goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), and other commercially important species, both threatened and non-threatened, and provide the lobster, conch and finfish resources on which the majority of households in Sarteneja depend. It is recognized at local, national and international level that the artisanal fishing industry is in decline, with too many fishermen seeking a declining fisheries resource. With low levels of education, the majority of fishermen within Sarteneja leaving school at primary level, poor agricultural soils, and a lack of training in other skills, it is difficult for the fishermen to move away from their traditional livelihood as lobster, conch and finfish fishermen. Community consultations with the fishermen and other community members of Sarteneja have demonstrated a clear desire to develop alternative livelihoods through tourism in the local area (SWEET COMPACT Planning Project Annexes, 2005). The objectives of this project are to: 1) Provide training in alternative livelihood skills through a series of courses for tour guides held in Sarteneja Village. 2) Raise awareness within the Sarteneja community about the importance and fragility of the marine environment and the BBRRS-WHS. 3) To enhance the development of a tour guiding industry. Each of these will contribute towards the overall goal of reducing pressure on the natural resources through providing alternative livelihoods for fishermen, facilitating tourism development within Sarteneja, and increasing awareness of the environment on which the community is dependent.

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