Bio-diversity

Although the Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR) is not currently a part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site (BBRRS-WHS), the reserve has been recommended for inclusion in the BRRRS-WHS. The PHMR which was declared in 2000, is recognized as an area with high biodiversity and contains a robust belt of mangroves on the coast that provide the critical link between terrestrial and marine environments. The area serves as habitat for various endangered species including the West Indian Manatee, the American saltwater crocodile and the Morelet`s crocodile. The Port Honduras Marine Reserve is home to one of the most important fish nurseries in the Caribbean and is part of the greater Belize Barrier Reef System. The Community Stewards Programme is built on the rationale that the same threats that impact the Port Honduras Marine Reserve also affect the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site. Threats include over fishing and illegal fishing; land-based activities of agriculture, pollution, logging and increased development and population; and natural disturbances (hurricanes, coral bleaching). The Port Honduras Marine Reserve filters upland waters through mangroves and sea grasses before the water reaches the barrier reef. Also important is that the users of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site, also use Port Honduras Marine Reserve on a regular basis. The Community Stewards Programme builds the capacity of local users and their appreciation of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and promotes conservation that results in the sustainability of marine resources for future generations. The involvement of stakeholders is a critical factor in ensuring the sustainability and biodiversity of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage site. Community groups and small scale resource users are of particular interest in the COMPACT approach. Threats to the reef are exacerbated both by a lack of knowledge about the importance of preservation and conservation and a failure to recognize a personal or community link to the health and sustainability of the reef. The overall poverty of the Toledo District impacts the attitude and inclination to protect this irreplaceable resource. Stakeholders may be inclined to take a passive role in conservation or may even overexploit and generally abuse the resources of the reef. As a consequence such identified threats as depletion of marine resources result from poaching, over-fishing, fishing within closed seasons and no-take zones, illegal fishing and harvesting of undersized products. Inland agriculture and hunting cause stress on the terrestrial protected areas that ultimately impact the watersheds and the Barrier Reef. The Community Stewards Programme builds directly on COMPACT s global mission to demonstrate that community-level initiatives can significantly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation. The COMPACT premise is that one of the most important challenges in nature conservation is the involvement of local communities; a key factor in TIDE s rationale for an approach that involves, educates, and builds leadership for long-term conservation efforts. The overall objective of the Community Stewards Programme is to promote effective stewardship that leads to more effective management of Port Honduras Marine Reserve. The Community Stewards Programme will build local capacity, developing a foundation of knowledge, skills and positive attitude that will promote a fuller and more effective participation in conservation leading to co-management. Information, sessions, and building understanding of the key role that each person can motivate users to become more involved in a deeper appreciation for the marine resources and as a result practice sustainable use. To become local leaders in conservation efforts meaningful incentives for participation are crucial stakeholders must be shown immediate benefits in order to promote participation and buy-in to longer term objectives.

Belize