This proposal titled ?Expanding Awareness: Education for the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve and Belize Barrier Reef System? seeks to strengthen outreach to key stakeholders by the Toledo Association for Sustainable Tourism and Empowerment (TASTE). This project intends to expand on an education programme previously established with the help of a COMPACT grant. This proposal fits under section 5.1.1.5 of the COMPACT Country Strategy and looks to increase the reef and marine resource related educational opportunities available for people living in the Toledo District, Belize. The beneficiaries of this project will be youth and adults who will be targeted with classroom and hands-on educational opportunities. The projects emphasis on information sharing, networking and policy issues surrounding the reserve and its management will allow for the development of a more involved and aware group of community users.

Toledo Association for Sustainable Tourism and Empowerment (TASTE) is a registered non-governmental organization created in April 2000. TASTE was formed by members of BTIA ? Toledo for the specific purpose of co-managing the Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve (SCMR). The mission of TASTE is to assist in the sustainable and appropriate development of the Toledo District and its citizens through empowerment. Our focal groups are educators, indigenous people, low- income farmers, fishermen, marginalized women and youth. TASTE consists of a board of directors/founder members, a management team for the SCMR, and an Advisory Committee.

The Barrier Reef complex of Belize is said to be one of the country?s greatest natural assets. Apart from providing physical protection to the coastline against storms and hurricanes, the reef and its associated ecosystems support two of Belize?s major industries: tourism and fisheries. In 2000, tourism accounted for more than US $114 million whilst fisheries production was valued at some US $19.4 million. Despite its enormous value to the overall economy of the country, this ecosystem is being threatened from damage caused by over fishing, tourism, and pollution. The need to conserve and protect this valuable resource is urgent and prompted the Government of Belize to declare a series of twelve Marine Protected Areas, the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve being the furthest south. SCMR was designated in 1996 but remained a paper park until 2001 when the on-site Fisheries staff was hired. The Government of Belize recognizes the many threats to the barrier reef system and its own lack of resources to combat these threats. This, along with a desire to involve stakeholders in the management process, prompted the Fisheries Department to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with TASTE in February 2001 to collaboratively co-manage the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. This co-management agreement changed slightly in September 2003 and TASTE now has more delegated responsibilities.

The Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve is an important part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System and the effective management of this reserve is dependent on the active participation by a wide range of community members. Education plays a major role in mobilizing these community stakeholders. Through this education campaign, which expands upon the advances made by TASTE with the assistance of UNDP GEF/SGP, it is hoped that more youth and adults will gain a better understanding of the issues facing the reef ecosystem and be more empowered to support the management of the reserve.

The project has three main goals including the continuation of an environmental education program and field trips for students in Standards 5-6 and Forms 1-4, the expansion of TASTE?s science club program and the development of an effective adult education campaign. The project will be implemented over a 12-month period with the hiring of staff and purchase of equipment to occur as soon as funds become available. Throughout the project timeline, TASTE will strive to ensure continued and increased community involvement working through the SCMR Advisory Committee and the SCMR Management Team, schools and other community and non-governmental organizations. Participation will also be built through visits to communities. The project will have an ongoing evaluation/monitoring component with the Project Coordinator responsible for recommending any necessary adjustments to activities.

Sustaining a project beyond the first phase is always a challenging endeavour. To address this TASTE has explored the social, ecological, financial, institutional and economic aspects for ensuring that the project grows beyond the initial timeframe. TASTE has recently developed a five and ten year strategic plan which includes environmental education as a main goal. To make this possible TASTE will look for funding partners to allow organizational capacity to continue to grow.

The proposal presented here requests a total of BZ$93,248.00 from COMPACT/GEF/SGP. These funds will be utilized to: hire, train and support staff; purchase of audiovisual and science club/field programme equipment; as well as development and implementation of the educational programmes. The total Project Cost of BZ$167,025.00 includes in-kind community contributions of time and labour from the SCMR Management team, organizational contributions from TASTE in the form of project coordination and administrative/operational support valued at BZ$17,500.00. Other contributions include volunteer technical-logistical support in the amount of BZ$20,277.00 which is projected through a Nature Conservancy grant and BZ$30,000 which is committed in the form of one full time and one part time assigned Peace Corps Volunteers. Four volunteers from the University of Connecticut will also assist with the project over a one month time period for a contribution of BZ$6,000.