2 weeks ago
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Efforts to safeguard one of Belize’s most iconic and elusive species reached a milestone today in Belmopan, where officials and conservation partners gathered to mark the conclusion of a major wildlife protection initiative. Love News Belmopan Correspondent Ljay Wade finds out more about the four-year effort focused on preserving key habitats for big cats and other wildlife.
Ljay Wade, Belmopan Correspondent: A closing ceremony for the Enhancing Jaguar Corridors and Strongholds through Improved Management and Threat Reduction Project was held today in city of Belmopan. The project, which started back in 2021, sought to ensure the protection of jaguars through the improved management of conservation units. The scope of the project covered three main areas throughout the country where jaguars and wildlife typically roam. The Sibun River Watershed Landscape, the Northeast forest landscape, and the Maya golden landscape. According to the Minister of Sustainable Development, the Honorable Orlando Habet, the project was a success as they managed to enhance monitoring through the three corridors and strengthen the protection of the jaguar habitats.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development: “We were looking at how we can see what interactions there are with the jaguar and wildlife, the interactions between jaguars and humans and looking at how we could track the jaguar from one corridor to the next. And we already know we have the northern, the northeastern, the central, the southern corridors and see how these animals move within those corridors. Also looking at the equipment that would have to be used to be able to do the actual tracking. In the end what the report showed us was that, yes, when we have conservation, when we establish these corridors we can have some protection of the wildlife but also we can track their movement, where they go. The dynamics are so that I think that we have learned a lot. The report was very comprehensive in all the objectives, the deliverables. And I think that now what we have to do is, as I mentioned earlier, is to see the gaps that still remain and how we can now get funding for a second phase which is going to be very important.”
Ljay Wade, Belmopan Correspondent: Numerous stakeholders played a role in the four-year-long project. Ya’axché Conservation Trust led the development of farm plans for small holders in Toledo, conducted hunting surveys in four communities, and expanded camera traps across four communities to monitor wildlife. Despite the project coming to an end, the Ministry of Sustainable Development signed a co-management agreement with the participants to keep up the work in their areas.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development: “It is very important that we continue the management. With CSFI we have been working these last four years with them with the Jaguar project but we also have different projects which we work with them also. They are one of the private conservation groups that seek funding elsewhere and we also assist through small funding through PACT, not nearly enough for the type of work that they do and so it isn’t something that we want to see stop right here. They still have some of the equipment, still have some of the cameras, they still have some of the collars so it isn’t prudent for the project to really stop to that end. And if they can continue doing some work on their own meanwhile, and then so that we sign that co-management agreement so that we can continue monitoring what is happening, at least in their area.”
Ljay Wade, Belmopan Correspondent: The total cost of the project was 11 million US dollars.
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