Bio-diversity

Although the CBS-WCG has had notable achievements in biodiversity, conservation, and sustained community livelihood, it is facing some new challenges which pose a threat to the Community Baboon Sanctuary and the CBS-WCG conservation efforts. Increased competition from new tourism resorts has resulted in a 50% decline in visits to the Sanctuary for the first half of 2006. This has negatively impacted the economic livelihood of the communities. Further negative effects of this downturn include the CBS-WCG inability to pay land tax, provide partial scholarships for children, and conduct environment education outreach activities for the school and sanctuary. There is a rising apprehension among the community stakeholders about their future livelihood leading to speculation that landowners may consider abandoning their commitment to the sanctuary and selling out their lands. The project aims to address this threat by increasing economic activities within the CBS communities by engaging in fish farming.The primary objectives of the project are: a. Enhance participants capacity in fish farming b. Demonstrate the economic viability of fish farming c. Strengthen the community s knowledge of the importance of the CBS At the conclusion of the project the following results would have been achieved: 1. Excavation and activation of five (5) fish ponds in four villages; 2. Training and certification of 35 potential site owners in Tilapia Farming 3. Aggregate Tilapia fish production of 17, 250 pounds in year one 4. Aggregate income from Tilapia fish sales of BZ$52,000.00 5. Training and Certification for 6 staff in areas of Small Business Management, Record-keeping & Inventory, Marketing, and Conflict Resolution 6. Education and Outreach Seminars for seven (7) villages in land conservation and preservation, and sustainable livelihood. 7. Compliance with Statutory Regulations in Aquaculture Industry

Belize