Environmental policy and administrative management

Brief Description of Project Goal: To reduce land degradation in Vaca Forest Reserve by piloting apiculture activities as a viable economic industry through the inclusion of Vaca farmers while promoting a stewardship program. More specifically the project will aim to a) reduce the rate of land degradation in the Vaca Forest Reserve; b) improve the local economy among fifteen farmers; c) promote community stewardship for the Vaca Forest Reserve; and d) strengthen product delivery capacity among members of the Cayo Honey Quality Producers Cooperative through marketing and promotion. This project addresses the GEF strategy designed to prevent land degradation through promoting activities in Sustainable Land Management. Piloting a different approach, building capacity and creation of incentives in local communities are directly in line with the GEF SGP strategic guiding principles and project priorities. This project specifically seeks to achieve the following results: a. By the end of the project, fifteen farmers will be involved in apiculture in the Vaca Forest Reserve and will have reduced their traditional farming practices; b. By the end of the project apiculture as a eco-friendly economic activity will have been promoted in more than 10 communities across the Maya Mountain Massif; c. Product delivery capacity of the CQHPCS will be improved by the end of the project; and d. A Friends of the Vaca Forest Reserve will be established by the end of the project comprised of more than 15 members. RISKS TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION : It is expected that the Forest Department will enter on an agreement with the farmers participating in this project with strict guidelines. Community concession in Belize is a new concept for the Forest Department; however; it is an idea whose time has come, given the pressures derived from farmers in our protected areas. The major risks that can hamper the success of the project are described in the following manner: first, there is a risk that the bee colonies can be lost to the effects of hurricanes, drought, forest fires and also to theft. In the dry season farmers in the area do not build fire lines and so there is a danger of an escaped fire which can affect the hives. Theft has also been reported by farmers in the area and constant monitoring of the hives must be maintained so as to prevent any losses. Another risk relates to the fact that the Vaca Forest Reserve has a myriad of activities and while logging has been a common practice, the level of activity can hamper the production of honey in the area. A zoning scheme will need to be devised that takes into consideration the sustainable landscape management approach.

Belize