The Belize Audubon Society, one of the government's co-managers of major conservation zones in Belize, has been working with the Protected Areas Conservation Trust to provide sustainable livelihoods for residents of the buffer communities nearest to those protected areas.
They have been working with residents of the community near St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park, and recently, they helped two entrepreneurs with funds to build their garden, where they sell plants grown near the National Park.
Freelance journalist Jose Sanchez got an opportunity to speak with the business owners and the representative of the Audubon Society. Here's what they had to say about the efforts to enhance the socio-economic benefits to local businesses that also reduce pressures on the natural resources in the protected areas:
In related news, the Audubon Society has opened nominations for the James A Waight Conservation award. Nomination forms are available online, and the deadline is January 6th.
