Those who follow this newscast would have seen some of the work that the group called COMPACT does in coastal communities as it tries to minimize the impact on the barrier reef. Well today, that work continued as COMPACT and the Global Environment Fund awarded $367,000 in grants to community based projects. Philip Balderamos explained why these are important projects.
Phillip Balderamos,
“Projects address issues of poverty alleviation because many of these projects, not only focus on environmental initiatives but they also focus on social and economic development because to really ensure that there is ownership and participation by Belizeans in the conservation and management of our natural resources, we cannot look only after guarding and protecting those resources, we have to be able to provide meaningful opportunities for the local communities in and around those protected areas to benefit from the use and sustainable management of those resources.
We have come a long way from the early days of just preaching the gospel and encouraging groups to become more aware and better educated. Now we are moving into more activities that will have a meaningful impact on the residents and the local communities that we work with.”
Beneficiaries of today’s grants are: Punta Negra Sea Breeze Women’s Group, the Toledo Association for Sustainable Tourism and Development, Belfuna Cultural Organization, the Belize National Tourist Guide Association and a group called Dauntless Designers.
