Bio-diversity

The "Promoting Long-term Sustainable Fisheries Management through Education and Training of Lighthouse Reef Atoll Stakeholders Program aims to empower local stakeholders of HMCNM and BHNM to participate in the sustainable management of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. This Program will complement the "Conservation of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll (ConLiR)" Project, which aims to conserve the globally significant biodiversity on Lighthouse Reef Atoll, in order to sustain multiple uses including tourism, fishing, research, education, and public appreciation. ConLiR s marine education program is developed to reach several target groups. Fishermen will gain knowledge and understanding about the importance of no-take zones as a fisheries management tool and a means of providing ecological security to the reef system. The program will produce a variety of educational materials targeting different user groups and activities including seminars, and youth interactions (working field trips). This program will expand and complement BAS s longstanding Environmental Education Program. The project objectives include the following: 1) To train private landowners and local tourism industry stakeholders in marine conservation 2) To inform children and families of target communities about marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries management. 3) To promote strong partnerships between community members, civil society organizations and government stakeholders These will be achieved through capacity building, educating and empowering activities that are designed for the stakeholder groups. This project will ensure that the relevant stakeholders that are dependent on the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System have the capacity to enhance the biodiversity value of the System and also be able to actively participate in co-management of marine protected areas. Effective biodiversity conservation in the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site will be demonstrated through these community-level programs thereby achieving the Belize Compact Programme Strategy s 2001- 2003 goal.

Belize