Noj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park Co-Management Through Capacity Building and Community Outreach (BZE/03/05)

Project Details & Results

The Noj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park is a 13,006-acre pristine rainforest located in the Cayo District of Belize, bounded by the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, the Macal River, and the local communities of San Antonio and El Progresso 7 Miles. It was officially declared by the Government of Belize in December 2001 and named after the world-renowned traditional Mayan healer, Don Elijio Panti. The primarily broadleaf forest is of great environmental, historical, and tourism importance. It contains intricate Mayan caves, ancient Mayan temples, and magnificent waterfalls in addition to housing a large array of ecologically and economically important plant species, such as: mahogany, ceiba, esote, fishtails, xate, bay leaves, and pine. Although no wildlife assessment has been done, local people have reported sightings of many CITES recognized endangered species in this area, including jaguars, tapirs, margays and howler monkeys. The ecological richness and cultural importance of this park makes it an asset not only to Belize, but also to the world.
The primary goal of this project is to improve the management of Elijio Panti National Park in order to protect and preserve species within the park. This will be accomplished through provision and training of human resources and through outreach to buffer communities to strengthen environmental awareness and to increase community participation in park management issues. The project objectives are:
1. To strengthen the institutional management capacity of the Itzamna Society.
2. To enhance the community’s awareness of and involvement in the management of Elijio Panti National Park.
3. To develop infrastructure within Elijio Panti National Park as identified by the communities in the completed census funded through GEF/SGP planning grant.
4. To develop a Rapid Management Assessment that will be used for the management plan of Elijio Panti National Park.

Notable Community Participation
The three stakeholder communities bordering the national park were involved in consultation during the design and development of the proposal
The communities will continue to participate in the project through organized community meetings and their invlovement in education and training workshops. Local residents will also help to carry out the construction of infrastructure and IS will consult the community while conducting the rapid management assessment of the park.

Capacity - Building Component
18 park committee and Itzamna Society members will receive training in business management and planning, marketing, accounting, public relations, and communication skills.
20 community members will receive training in community conservation and conflict resolution.
5 members of the community will attend a tour guide training course.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The members of the group and the stakeholder communities are Yucatec Maya.

Construction of Visitor's Center

Visitor's Center