The World Bank/WBI’s CBNRM Initiative

Case Received: February 5, 1998

Author: Leo Antonio Obando

Tel: +501 9-23118

Fax: +501 9-22767

Email: shang@btl.net

Society for the Promotion of Eco Cultural Tourism and the Environment

The Society for the Promotion of Eco Cultural Tourism and the Environment is a community based organization, non-governmental, non-profitable, registered the 2nd. day of October, 1996. The short and medium goals of the Society is to protect the endangered Green Iguanas and their natural habitat, along a five miles stretch of the Macal, Mopan and Belize Old Rivers .The long term objectives of the Society is to better the quality and standard of living of its members through community participation in the eco cultural tourism business in the area .If eco cultural tourism is to become a model for sustainable rural development in the area, the care for the flora and the fauna is vital .Then the need for environmental education and community training.

Since most of the river vegetation along the five miles stretch has almost disappeared, the green iguanas, turtles, birds, and fishes, have migrated too. This is a major concern to all residents of the area because income generation from eco cultural tourism has also decreased drastically. In 1993, we implemented a study in the area under the auspices of Dr. Deep Ford, University of Vermont, Maine, U.S.A., and we found out that there were several reasons that were responsible for it:

1. the introduction of mechanize farming along the river banks by the mennonites;
2. a drastic increase in population as a result of migration from Central America to Belize, and whose diet was traditionally iguana oriented. The direct result of this was over fishing, over hunting of birds, iguanas, river turtles, river farming .In conclusion, the almost extinction of the Green Iguanas, turtles, birds, and the rapid contamination of the river waters. The problem we face today is both social and economic .We have had to pay a high cost as a result of the modernization of our agricultural sector and the acceptance of civil war victims from Central America.

Having had the priviledge of growing in this very area, I recall the abundance of green iguanas, birds, fishes, turtles, insects, just some fifteen years ago .In less than two decades, this situation has changed. The problem got worse in the last five years with more mechanize farming taking place along the river banks, over hunting of the green iguanas, birds, fishes, and others .Some ten thousand residents of the San Ignacio Area , Santa Elena, Santa Familia and Bullet Tree are the concern victims of this irrational act, but which real .As a additional note, the tourist industry to the Cayo District, is the second most important industry in the area, and daily becoming the number one. In a nut shell, the entire country will suffer if this problem is not address with due respect, and in time. S.P.E.C.T.E. has began to address the problem by creating community awareness, while lobbying for governmental and non-governmental support.

The first help we got came from the University of Vermont, Maine, U.S.A., under the super-vision of Dr. Deep Ford who assisted us by conducting a comparative study in the Cayo District, on the topic: Sustainable Rural Development in the Cayo Dist. The second help has reach us from the GEF/SGP - UNDP, Belize, C.A., who granted us a grant of U.S. $40,000.00 (Dec. 9, 1997), for the protection and conservation of the green iguanas along the selected five miles stretch of river banks.

The formation of the Society for the Promotion of Eco Cultural Tourism and the Environment is the direct result of this major community concern. Today, S.P.E.C.T.E. is a legal entity made up of members from the various communities of the Cayo District. Presently our membership surpasses the hundred , and is growing day to day .I , Leo Antonio Obando is the new project coordinator and I possess a masters degree in International Studies from the University of Chile,

South America .Our new director is Mr. Eduardo Castanedes Sr.

Because income generation from tourism related activities in the area is so high, community interest and participation in finding an immediate solution to the problem (to much farming and over hunting along the river banks), is also on the rise .We have initiated a conservation project in the area , and we have environmental messages on the radio and T.V. , on a daily basis. Besides, we are conducting a series of environmental educational workshop in schools, for farmers, stakeholders, youth groups, and others .The expected result long term, is to convert this area into a protected zone, replant the depleted area with trees, re-introduce more than two hundred newly born iguanas, while caring for the fishes, birds, through the creation of the first river patrol.

Some five years ago, many residents from the river bank communities were victims of the infectious Cholera Decease. Malaria has been a constant attacker too. Since most of the villagers are wage earners today, they have realized that most things that once was considered free and existed in abundance , is in danger of disappearing, and are becoming very expensive. Hence, the interest to protect and conserve what remains from the old days. Our Society is also involved on a national educational-environmental tour , to help create the necessary awareness about the need to have a healthy environment, and assist other organization that might request our help. We have realized that the problem is national and that the approach should be a collective one, if results are to be achieved. Looking forward to hearing from you in the near future!

Feb.04/98