Bio-diversity

Watersheds play an important role in the formation of biological corridors, survival of endangered species, and help determine the health of the barrier reef. Everything that flows out of the watersheds in Belize affects the reef in some way or another. The North Stann Creek River (NSCR) watershed is one that is being threatened by both agricultural effluent and sedimentation due to agricultural land developments. It is not only being threatened, but because of the activities occurring within its watershed region, the watershed itself threatens the barrier reef. This threat results from the run-off of agrochemicals and heavy flow of sediment caused by erosion on the headwaters and in the mid reaches, where most agricultural developments take place. The NSCR directly impacts the reef system due to its proximity to the South Water Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR) and the concentration of citrus developments in the Stann Creek Valley. SWA, along with its 11-member communities, believe that efforts from a similar NGO with the same goals and objectives will have greater impact in the protection of the watershed, hence protecting the barrier reef and other vital marine resources. The primary goal of the project is to empower communities in the Stann Creek District to organize and form a sister NGO. Other activities that allow SWA to accomplish this objective include the following: (1) Training of community leaders in land use monitoring techniques. (2) Increasing community and stakeholders awareness of watershed processes that feed the coastal zone and barrier reef ecosystems. Key emphasis will be placed on the challenges related to pollution, erosion and waste management, and their contribution to the destruction of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS). This will be shown through participation in information collection and dissemination, field demonstrations and community-based training workshops. (3) Identifying and promoting the formation of a sister organization in the Stann Creek District.

Belize