Protecting the Biodiversity of the Aguacaliente Wildlife Sancturary Through Sustainable Income Generation (BZE/05/05)

Project Details & Results

When the area around the Aguacaliente Swamp was designated a Wildlife Sanctuary, many of the sources of income for the communities such as hunting, fishing, extraction of non-timber products and farming in the Sanctuary became restricted. Due to the already scarce amount of income generating activities, community members continued unsustainable and illegal activities inside the sanctuary that threatens the biodiversity of the Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary (AWS). There is a need to enhance the ability of the communities that surround the AWS to generate income in a sustainable manner. Doing this will further the preservation of the biodiversity of the AWS. The health of the AWS is intertwined with the health of the communities that surround it. The goal of this project is to create livelihood opportunities for stakeholders of the Moho River Watershed through skills training and environmental education. This will be accomplished by establishing a demonstration project for the rearing of gibnuts. The objectives of this project will be:

1. To improve knowledge of participants in Laguna Village in gibnut rearing;
2. To establish rearing facilities;
3. To increase environmental awareness of issues facing AWS among residents of the ten
stakeholder communities of AMT;
4. To increase knowledge of Biodiversity in AWS and
5. To improve capacity of the Moho River Watershed Alliance.

Notable Community Participation
Several consultative meetings were held with community members from Laguna Village who then nominated 12 participants for the gibnut rearing activities. These participants are expected to construct the faicilities and with assistance from family members will raise and care for the animals.

Capacity - Building Component
Participants from Laguna will be trained to run their own small-scale gibnut rearing facilities. A thorough knowledge of breeding, feeding, and management of gibnuts will be provided. They will be able to use their new skills to teach others to start individual gibnut rearing projects.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Small-scale gibnut rearing facilities will be constructed on the properties of 10 participants from the village of Laguna, and 2 in San Marcos. Gibnuts produced from these facilities will be sold to increase income.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
This project involves Kek'chi Maya from Laguna and San Marcos Villages in the Toledo District of Southern Belize.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
An environmental education program aimed at the stakeholder communities and schools will be conducted.

Policy Impact
The gibnut rearing activity is viewed by the Forest Department as a pilot that will test the feasibility of captive raising of wildlife and will help to develop a policy for this.

Gibnut Rearing Facility	Gibnut in Rearing Facility	Site Preparation	Gibnut
Opening Ceremony for Gibnut Rearing Facility	Maintenance or Gibnut Rearing Facility	Materials	Materials