<h4>Regional context</h4>
While the Mesoamerican isthmus represents a mere 0.7% of the earth’s land mass, it contains a staggering 9.4% of the world’s terrestrial species (Barry 2006, CI 2009).  Mesoamerica is second only to the tropical Andes in terms of biodiversity and endemism and, with its large extent of intact tropical forests, rolling mountains, open savannas, and lagoons, linking to the second largest barrier reef system in the world, its protection is of the utmost importance.  However, threats to biodiversity are increasing both in frequency and magnitude due to increasing human footprint and unsustainable resource use.  Protected Areas (PAs) are widely used in the region to conserve biodiversity and ensure that flows of ecosystem goods and services that benefit society, secure livelihoods, and contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals continue in perpetuity.

<h4>National context and threats to biodiversity in Belize</h4>
Belize provides a critical function within the Mesoamerican region both on land and marine.  Belize lies at the heart of La Selva Maya, a macrobiological forest corridor connecting Mexico and Guatemala with Honduras, which is in turn the second largest contiguous block of tropical forest in the Americas, after the Amazon.  The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site further constitutes 79% of the Mesoamerican barrier reef complex, thus making a significant contribution to the conservation of the region’s reef ecosystems.  These attributes place Belize as one of the most important biodiversity refuges remaining in Mesoamerica, and indeed in the World; critical for maintenance of biodiversity nationally, as well as at regional and global scales. 

However, Belize’s natural ecosystems are threatened. Excessive coastal development, mangrove cutting, overfishing aquaculture and agricultural runoff are directly impacting the integrity of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System – now categorised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘in danger’ (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/764/). In the terrestrial environment, poorly planned development, oil exploration and extraction, hydroelectric development, agricultural expansion and unsustainable practises, overharvesting and wildfires are putting increasing pressure on Belize’s natural resources, with deforestation and forest degradation, particularly along the Belize-Guatemala border, have severe implication of the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the country. 

Belize’s PAs form an important strategy for maintaining regionally and globally important biodiversity and the ecological processes that underpin delivery of ecosystem services in the face of a growing suite of threats.  In this regard, Belize has long been considered a leader in conservation within the Mesoamerican region, with over a million hectares (36% of terrestrial and 13% of marine area) under protection for conservation and/or sustainable resource use (timber, sustainable fisheries).  Overseeing this extensive network of protected areas is the National Protected Areas System (NPAS). This system, currently being rationalized by the NPAS secretariat, is intended to conserve the natural and  cultural  heritage  of  the  country.  Within this system Belize has an impressive range of globally recognized sites including the Belize Barrier Reef UNESCO World Heritage Site, 2 Ramsar sites, 15 Key Biodiversity Areas and 6 Important Bird Areas. Belize’s PAs also maintain viable populations of threatened species, including at least 12 amphibians, 46 birds, all coral anthozoan and hydrozoan species, 19 fish, 15 sharks, 28 mammals, 8 plants and 10 reptiles. 

The network of PAs collectively contribute to the continued delivery of supporting ecosystem services (e.g. clean air, carbon sequestration and storage, and climate regulation) that are of global benefit. They also provide ecosystem services, vital for the human population of Belize, including provisioning services (e.g. food, water and medicine); regulating services (e.g. flood, pest, pollutant and disease control, and crop pollination) and cultural services (e.g. educational, recreational, spiritual, cultural benefits).  Of particular importance in today’s rapidly changing climate is the physical protection that Belize’s protected areas and intact ecosystems provide against natural disasters such as hurricanes (reefs and mangroves), landslides (forested slopes) and drought (forest moisture retention and watershed protection).  Intact ecosystems have also been identified as critical to Belize’s capacity for climate change adaptation.

The total value of these ecosystems cannot be fully captured by economics alone. However, studies of some ecosystems within Belize have tried to quantify their value for livelihoods and the economy. The combined contribution of mangroves and reefs for shoreline protection (avoided damages), fisheries and tourism, for example, has been estimated at up to US$559 million per year in Belize (WRI, 2008). A more recent analysis of coastal fisheries, carbon, timber, non-timber forest products, tourism and minerals in the Maya Mountains Massif and Maya Mountain Marine Corridor estimated their combined value at approximately US$680 million over a 30 year timeframe (NPAC, 2011).

These studies highlight the important contribution of Belize’s natural ecosystems at local and national level. Maintaining their integrity is paramount.

<h4>Gaps and Challenges for Protected Areas in Belize</h4>
There is no question that Belize has made significant advances to protecting critical biodiversity and ecosystem services through an extensive network of PAs. However, a series of recent NPAS assessments (NPASP 2005, Walker and Walker 2009) and the preliminary findings of the Rationalization of the NPAS (Wildtracks, 2012 in progress,) have identified key gaps and challenges that need to be addressed to achieve Belize’s biodiversity conservation goals:
<ol>
  <li>Lack of coordination between the agencies involved in PA management across the country has led to inefficiencies in enforcement of protected area laws, while poor information sharing has reduced effectiveness in preventing illegal logging, hunting and fishing. </li>
  <li>Lack of standardised operating practises in management, particularly in enforcement, and biodiversity monitoring prohibits consistency in addressing incompliance to PA laws and constrains the practice of science-based natural resource management. </li>
  <li>High proportion of ‘paper parks’ which do not effectively patrol, conduct monitoring, or implement environmental education and interpretation activities in Belize. </li>
  <li>Low levels of capacity exist at a number of levels within the Belize NPAS. Furthermore, management effectiveness assessments have highlighted the lack of a capacity building strategy.  In the absence of capacity development the threats facing the NPAS will continue to intensify with impacts for the rich biodiversity they contain. </li>
  <li>High PA staff turnover due to limited career development opportunities results in a tendency for transient employees rather than long-term, career staff.</li>
</ol>
The lack of sustainable financing presents further challenges for the long-term security of NPAS.

<h4>Strengthening Capacity for Protected Areas Management</h4>
In order to qualify capacity gaps within the NPAS (point 4 above), the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas called on its Parties to “complete national protected-area capacity needs assessments and establish capacity building programmes” (IUCN, 2011).  A highly interactive, collaborative and consultative national capacity needs assessment was carried out for Belize’s NPAS in 2011 involving Government departments, NGOs, CBOs, private sector and academic institutions.  The assessment was led by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at the University of Belize (UB), in partnership with Belizean NGO Ya’axché Conservation Trust (Ya’axché) and the Center for Protected Areas Management at Colorado State University (CPAM-CSU).

This National Protected Areas Capacity Needs Assessment (2011), identified three priorities for action:
<ol>
  <li>research and monitoring for protected area management, </li>
  <li>ranger training, and </li>
  <li>institutional capacity and strengthening.</li>
</ol>
For each priority area a curriculum, lesson plans, teaching materials and assignments were developed. 

Ya’axché Conservation Trust and the proposed development of a National Ranger Training Academy
Ya'axché is an award winning Belizean NGO which aims to maintain healthy forests, rivers and reefs for the benefit of all. Through protected area management, advocacy, and working hand in hand with communities Ya'axché strives to develop capacity for the wise use of land and natural resources in and around the Maya Golden Landscape in Toledo. Over the 14 years since its inception Ya’axché has developed its PA management experience and an expanding portfolio of coverage which includes the Bladen Nature Reserve, one of the largest and most strictly protected PAs in Belize.  Ya’axché has consistently demonstrated its adaptability, stability and innovation in achieving its strategic objectives for conservation and sustainable development.  As a leading NGO in Belize Ya’axché has played a particularly significant role in influencing national policy and strengthening the NPAS through increasing management effectiveness.  This has been achieved through a commitment to capacity building, in particular through training of the ranger team.  Ya’axché has also strived to maximise collaboration with PA stakeholders, conducting a needs assessment for Toledo-based PA managers, identifying gaps and subsequently organizing trainings and workshops.

Responding to the need for ranger training in Belize, Ya’axché has embarked on a pioneering initiative to develop a National Ranger Training Academy (NRTA). The concept has been the subject of extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders and potential collaborators and has received an unprecedented levels of support with consensus among stakeholders that it will be key to raising the bar for PA management in the NPAS through standardisation of practices leading to greater efficiency and effectiveness.  In addition to progress in identifying priority capacity needs nationally and generating broad stakeholder support, recent changes in the Government present a unique opportunity for advancing ranger training in Belize to support the country’s biodiversity conservation goals and commitments.

At the March 2012 national general election the incumbent government retained power and, in response to a growing number environmental and natural resource issues, took the unprecedented and bold step of splitting the Ministry of Natural Resources.  Recreated as the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development, the government has shown clear intent for prioritising environment and sustainable development in Belize and has appointed an award winning leader in conservation and sustainable development as Minister.  Ya’axché has a strong working relationship with the Ministry and has been a significant influence in lobbying for the strengthening of PA legislation through its advocacy.  With such strong support from Government and a supportive enabling environment for innovative and collaborative initiatives such as the Training Academy, now is a pivotal time for furthering development of the NRTA.

<h4>Long-term Sustainability</h4>
The failure of PA management training programs that have been piloted in Latin America to date has been attributed to poor sustainability.   Sustainability in this context is related to institutional capacity, long-term commitment, presence of trained specialists, long term financial viability and institutional support of key stakeholders  Of these, the lack of an effective long term sustainable financing mechanism has been the most common cause of failure for initiatives in the region (Jim Barborak, CPAMT - CSU).

Ya’axché has the institutional capacity to develop the project with committed support from key stakeholders, authorities and long term partners including:
<ul>
  <li> Ministry of Forestry Fisheries and Sustainable Development </li>
  <li> University of Belize – Environmental Research Institute</li>
  <li> Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO)</li>
  <li> Belize Coastguard</li>
  <li> Fauna and Flora International </li>
</ul>
To overcome the challenge of securing financial sustainability for the Training Academy, Ya’axché has undertaken an extensive assessment of potential revenue sources available to the organization and the NRTA.  Educational eco-tourism was identified as a viable source of income for the NRTA with three main target markets:
<ol>
  <li> Paying volunteers/interns, </li>
  <li> partnerships with academic institutions, and </li>
  <li> day trip ecotourists. </li>
</ol>
A rigorous market survey  was undertaken to determine their viability and potential in meeting the projected running costs of the NRTA.   The results of this survey were positive and all three markets were considered viable with the paying volunteer/intern market as the most appropriate and promising.

To maintain a functional separation between the sustainable financing program and the NRTA, the Ya’axché Institute for Conservation Education (YICE) will be established on the same site and will utilize the facilities and educators outside of the ranger training season which falls in the wet season (between July – September) which is generally the quietest time for PA managers due to low tourist season, reduced illegal hunting and low fire risk.  100% of the revenue generated from the YICE will be used to fund the operational costs of the NRTA and YICE and will contribute towards PA management in southern Belize where the Academy is to be hosted.  A fully elaborated business plan for the NRTA and YICE has been completed confirming the viability of these ventures and their financial sustainability.

There is a clear and urgent need for the establishment of a fully functional and financially sustainable National Ranger Training Academy in Belize to raise the bar of PA management across the country and to support Belize’s conservation goals and commitments. Ya’axché is in a unique position to lead the development of the NRTA, with support from all partners, and to ensure its long term sustainability and success.  Ya’axché is therefore seeking funding to finance the construction, development, marketing and start up of the NRTA and YICE over a 4 year period. After this period the Training Academy will be financial sustainability and able to continue building the individual and institutional capacity to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services for Belize over the long term. << Read less

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This project will contribute towards the improved management of Belize’s NPAS and those ecologically important areas outside the NPAS (e.g. community lands, private protected areas and private lands) such as those owned and managed for tourism purposes. The project thus has the potential to make a significant ecological contribution.

The importance of Belize’s NPAS and adjacent areas of natural habitat
Belize has some of the most intact, forested areas left in Central America with three major identified forested nodes:
1. The Maya Mountains Massif forms a regionally important forest node in south-central Belize;
2. Aguas Turbias National Park and the adjacent Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area (one of eight private protected areas recognized as part of the National Protected Areas System) form part of the Selva Maya, with trans-national linkages to Guatemala and Mexico;
3. Shipstern / Fireburn of north-east Belize form the third node.
These forested areas and their high biodiversity values, as well as continuing low levels of human impact (compared to other parts of the region), place Belize as one of the most important biodiversity refuges remaining in Mesoamerica, critical for maintenance of biodiversity not only on the national scale, but also on the regional scale.

Unlike many of its neighbours, Belize still has significant connectivity between two of its three major forested nodes – between the Maya Mountains Massif and the Selva Maya (Rio Bravo). Belize participated in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor Programme (MBCP) developed through ALIDES, the regional development strategy under the Central American Commission for the Environment and Development.  The MBCP was designed to harmonise Central America's territorial priorities in terms of conservation, whilst “balancing biodiversity protection with forest management and productive landscape restoration” (Herrera). Belize’s intact forest system has been highlighted for its importance in an ecoregional planning exercise by The Nature Conservancy and for its contribution to the Selva Maya Corridor, the second largest contiguous area of tropical rainforest in the Americas, after the Amazon (CEPF 2004).

Comprehensiveness of the NPAS
In 2005, the NPAS was considered relatively – but not completely – comprehensive in terms of ecosystem coverage.  Further rationalisation of the NPAS is ongoing (see attached interim report) to evaluate ecosystem representation and interconnectivity of PAs within the NPAS with a view to consolidating the system and ensuring its comprehensiveness. Whilst the rationalisation exercise is ongoing preliminary findings highlight that despite the adoption of the management plan framework put forward by the NPASP in accordance with the IUCN category recommendations “there are still considerably disjointed and non-standardized approaches to management across the national system.” 

Assessments of the status and management effectiveness of PAs (Walker 2009) also identified:
• “Limitations in terms of biodiversity protection and management, with protection of the forests, but not of the fauna” suggesting critical gaps in management effectiveness across Belize’s NPAS.
o The NRTA will make a valuable contribution to addressing identified deficiencies by improving the efficiency of patrols.  More observant, better trained and more knowledgeable PA rangers will contribute to a reduction in illegal hunting activities and illegal deforestation therefore helping to maintain faunal biodiversity and populations.
• That managers of terrestrial PAs have a tendency to over-rate the effectiveness  of  their  surveillance  and  enforcement,  and  do  not  adequately  scale  these  activities in proportion with the impacts on biodiversity. The review stressed that significantly more support is required  from  the  Forest  Department,  Belize  Defense  Force,  Police  Department  and legal  structures  in  this  regard. 
o The NRTA will address these capacity gaps through training in PA legislation, wildlife protection act and forest act in addition to the delivery of the Special Constable training program, in partnership with the Police Department, with a particular focus on evidence collection and case building.
• Protected Areas managers generally rate the effectiveness of the enforcement activities at the upper end of MODERATE. However, biodiversity indicators demonstrate that enforcement levels are inadequate for maintenance of key indicator species. There is an urgent need for staff and  authority recognition of current enforcement limitations, and significant strengthening of enforcement capacity and implementation. 

The NRTA responds directly to many of the recommendations that emerged from this assessment and in particular the need to ‘prioritize capacity building for protected area managers and staff (Government and non-Government) to strengthen enforcement, and prioritize implementation, particularly of terrestrial protected areas’.

Drawing on learning from regional initiatives to maximise ecological contribution of the NRTA:
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) project was not highlighted in the National Protected Areas Policy (NPAP). However, this initiative has led to increased communication and collaboration among the marine protected areas, and standardised data collection, resulting in the marine protected areas being within a more effective network than their terrestrial counterparts, and better integrated into the regional protected areas network through the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) concept. 

The NRTA will draw lessons from the MBRS initiative for strengthening communication, collaboration and standardisation of data collection.  In partnership with the National Protected Areas Training Program recently launched by the UB-ERI and the forthcoming National Biodiversity Monitoring Planning committee the NRTA can ensure that PA rangers across the country are equipped with the skills to conduct biodiversity monitoring. << Read less

The sustainable financing of the NRTA has been thoroughly considered and well researched during the feasibility assessment phase of this project.  It is recognized that the NRTA alone cannot achieve financial sustainability. To avoid the fate of similar initiatives in Latin America, a sustainable financing arm of the NRTA is necessary.

An analysis of the potential markets that Ya’axché could access given the facilities and expertise that it has at its disposal was undertaken by a consultant.  The consultant based the subsequent market survey on three identified markets 1) Paying volunteers, 2) Student groups, 3) Day trippers.  Upon completion of the survey each of the three markets was confirmed to have enough potential to provide the necessary financial sustainability for the NRTA.  The marketing strategy for each group has been detailed in the business plan.

The financing arm of the NRTA is the Ya’axché Institute for Conservation Education (YICE) and the marketing and business plan project that financial sustainability will be achieved by the end of Yr 3.   The start up financing requested will cover construction costs, marketing, staff costs and training of trainers. << Read less

Ya’axché Conservation Trust
Ya’axché was founded as a community oriented organization and remains committed to maintaining healthy forests, rivers and reefs for the benefit of all. Through protected area management, advocacy, and working hand in hand with communities Ya'axché strives to develop capacity for the wise use of land and natural resources in and around the Maya Golden Landscape in Toledo. Community leaders sit on Ya’axché’s Board of Directors and are supportive of the development of the NRTA and YICE. These community leaders act as representatives from the indigenous Maya communities buffering the PAs and their participation in the further development of the NRTA and YICE will be important.   

National Ranger Training Academy
The NRTA will help professionalize the job of the PA ranger and this is expected to bring better remuneration and increase employability through the development of transferrable skills. At present the majority of PA rangers employed in within the NPAS are from communities buffering those respective PAs.  Furthermore, the majority of PAs lie in the rural areas of Belize and thus the local communities are often indigenous, particularly buffering the Maya Mountains. 

A further key expectation of the NRTA is that it will provide a pathway for the more proficient rangers to advance their education and capacity in a structured, accredited and logical progression toward more technical and management positions in the NPAS.

The improved PA management effectiveness of the NPAS will lead to sustainable use of natural resources and therefore maintains the provision of life sustaining ecosystem services for present and future generations.

Ya’axché Institute for Conservation Education
The YICE will seek every opportunity to employ local staff from the predominantly indigenous Mayan villages buffering the PAs that Ya’axché is responsible for managing.  There will be employment opportunities for teaching staff and the opportunity to build capacity through the training of the trainers component.  There will also be opportunities for guides, maintenance, catering and construction.  Through the YICE there will also be opportunities for ecotourism ventures, homestays and cultural demonstrations. << Read less

The development of the National Ranger Training Academy (NRTA) is relevant to the following national development strategies:

1) The National Landuse Policy (NLUP) and integrated planning framework was officially adopted by the Government of Belize in 2011. The NLUP demands a proactive approach to sustainable land management based on equity, efficiency, practicability, development and sustainability. The NLUP includes strategies related to natural resources, conservation, and climate change, recognising that Belize is a natural resource based economy. Specific NLUP strategies that this submission is of relevance to include:
• Maintaining the integrity of key watersheds owing to their role in the delivery of ecosystem goods and services (Natural Resources and Conservation Strategy 2).
• Maintaining the integrity of protected areas within the NPAS, marine reserves under the Fisheries Act and forest reserves that fall under the Forests Act (Natural Resources and Conservation Strategy 5).
• The laws to protect land resources outside the NPAS and the Forests Act will be enforced (Natural Resources and Conservation Strategy 15).
• Enhance and expand forest management systems to enable effective schemes for controlling deforestation and forest fires, and undertaking reforestation, afforestation in appropriate areas (Climate Change Strategy 15).
The Policy also stresses principles including the integration of ecosystem service values in land use planning decision-making, which will be an integral part of the training delivered through the NRTA.

Meerman J, McGill J, Cayetano M, (2011). National Land Use Policy for Land Resource Development, Government of Belize, Belmopan, Belize


2) The National Protected Areas System Plan (NPASP) (2005) was produced with the goal of creating a National Protected Areas System in which all important sites are included in one coherent framework and that meets all obligations under international agreements to which Belize is signatory.  The NPASP identified the need to strengthen management and monitoring recognizing the high variability of management effectiveness between individual sites within the system.  The NPASP specifically identified  the following capacity weaknesses:
• Lack of biodiversity evaluation and monitoring capability
• Lack of enforcement capability
The proposed NRTA will directly address these weaknesses through building the capacity of PA rangers to collect standardised monitoring data  and increase the standards and effectiveness of PA enforcement across the NPAS.

Meerman J., Wilson J.R., 2005, The Belize National Protected Areas System Plan (http://biological-diversity.info/Downloads/NPAPSP/NPAPSP_2005.pdf)


3) Horizon 2030 is Belize’s national development framework which establishes long‐term development goals and objectives, intended to strategically guide Belize’s development over the next 20 years. The approach is cross-sectoral and highlights the need to adopt and implement the National Protected areas policy and system plan, in addition to international and regional obligations such as the Millennium Development goals.  Horizon 2030 aims to strengthen protected areas management through the implementation of the National Protected Areas Systems Plan and by strengthening the legal and administrative framework for protected areas. It also addresses the need to enforce environmental protection laws in a fair and just manner.

Barnett and Company Ltd, 2011, Horizon 2030 – Planning our future together (http://www.belize.gov.bz/public/Attachment/2598371571.pdf)


4) The Belize Millennium Development Goals Scorecard. This document  outlines (i) the progress that has been achieved to date; and (ii) the prospects for achievement of agreed targets (for 2015) in the light of existing and anticipated policies and programmes.  Belize committed to achieving the eight goals and the goal that pertains to this project is goal 7, Ensure Environmental Sustainability.  Given increasing pressures on biodiversity and natural habitats, Belize faces significant challenges in achieving its MDG7 targets with respect to biological diversity conservation.  It makes the following recommendations:
• Belize has policy and legislative instruments in place to combat the decline in biodiversity and this would further require better coordination, management and enforcement among national implementing bodies.
• Improve development and application of robust monitoring frameworks and maintain impartial enforcement of all regulations
• Belize would also need to address the issues of species extraction, especially regarding those species that are directly affected by cross-border movements over which the Belize Government has limited control and legislative impact.
• Increase community participation in environmental management initiatives as one of the main strategies to reverse loss of resources.
These recommendations are directly addressed by the proposal for the NRTA, in the following ways:  
• One of the primary goals of the NRTA is to improve coordination, management and enforcement from the grass roots level in the NPAS. 
• The NRTA will work together with UB-ERI and the National Protected Areas Commission to build the capacity of PA rangers to collect valuable monitoring data and taking advantage of the amount of time they spend in the field. 
• Preventing the Illegal extraction of species is one of the main tasks of the PA ranger and the NRTA will increase patrol effectiveness and PA law enforcement to mitigate this threat. 
• PA rangers are often members of the stakeholder communities to PAs, recognizing this the NRTA has a specific unit dealing with community participation in PA management and conflict resolution.

Belize MDG Scorecard and outlook report – 2010 (http://www.undp.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Belize-MDG-Report-2010.pdf) << Read less