The CBS was establish in 1985 as a private protected area to protect one of the few, healthy populations of the Black Howler Monkey, locally called Baboon, in Central America. The Sanctuary is comprised of lands within seven villages that encompass approximately 20 square miles along the Belize Old River making it one of the larger private reserves in the country.
The primary objective of this project is to strengthen the management of the CBS through various capacity building measures in order to empower its staff and management committee to effectively manage the Sanctuary in order to sustain and enhance the ecological and conservation successes achieved since its establishment. The project will contribute to increasing the number of women in conservation, increase the participation of member villages, recruit additional members, and train 6 new tour guides. The specific objectives of the project include the following: (i.) increase the capacity and training of Sanctuary staff, WCG and Sanctuary members in areas of leaderships, tour guide training and other business, and organizational management skills, (ii) develop a comprehensive management plan for the CBS, (iii) conduct a biological inventory of the flora and fauna of the CBS, (iv) update and renew current landowners agreement and recruit new landowners to the CBS, (v) Create and make operable a web site to aid in marketing the CBS, and (vi) purchase audio-visual equipment and accessories to effectively carry out environmental education.