Communities perceive the laws established to protect and conserve forest resources, which is essential to their survival, as an obstacle to their development. The viability of the protected areas is threatened by the unsustainable survival strategies carried out by communities around them. The 2002 Poverty Assessment conducted by National Human Development Advisory Council showed Cayo having 27.4% of its population being poor and this situation arises as a result of the communities? limited capacity to pursue sustainable livelihoods and limited actions to develop capacities and alternatives.

The goal of the proposed project is, ?to create sustainable alternative livelihood opportunities for members of the Cooperative? through its overall objective of ?improving income generating capacity through ecologically/environmentally friendly honey production.? Honey production is a family activity which provides income, generates employment and a reason to preserve natural areas to utilize the flora.

The project proposes to achieve the following main objectives:

1. To enhance the cooperative?s capacity in honey and honey by-products production;
2. To increase sustainable honey and honey by-products production;
3. To improve product visibility; and
4. To enhance the knowledge of community stakeholders of the importance of protected areas.