| Abstract |
This project will increase the capacity of Belize’s National Protected Areas System to sustain globally important biodiversity and delivery of ecosystem services by professionalising and standardising protected area ranger practices. This specialized training academy will raise the bar for protected area law enforcement, biodiversity monitoring and adaptive protected areas management. This will contribute towards the conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem services important in underpinning livelihoods of the rural poor. In partnership with the University of Belize the training academy will provide formal accreditation for rangers with recognized qualifications providing a pathway to higher education for exemplary students, and a means for rangers to progress professionally into senior protected area management roles. The longer term goal is for the training academy to become a regional centre contributing to the improvement of protected areas management across the Central America and Caribbean region. |
