Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)

1-Mile San Antonio Road · P.O. Box 150 ·  Punta Gorda Town · Belize CA

Office: +(501) 722 2274/2431 Fax: +(501) 722 2655

E-mail: info@tidebelize.org   Visit us on the web at http://www.tidebelize.org

Press Release

Release Date:  Immediately

Contact:  George C. A. Emmanuel

722- 2274/2431

Marine Protected Areas tour for TIDE’s Rangers

Punta Gorda Town.  Thursday April 20, 2007

TIDE field staff from Payne’s Creek National Park, Port Honduras Marine Reserve and the

Checking out the sharks and rays before going ashore at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Private Lands Initiative took time off of their busy schedules to become tourists for a few days last week.  The group of ten enjoyed a Marine Protected Areas (MPA) tour throughout Belize, traveling in TIDE’s boat from Punta Gorda in the south to Caye Caulker in the north, to experience how some of the other protected areas in Belize handle their management of an MPA.

On what ended up being “the trip of my life”, according to ranger Ms. Janel Borland, the group improved their networking with MPA managers and took a break from the hustle and bustle of their daily routines.

The TIDE boat left Punta Gorda Town in the Toledo District and traveled all the way to Caye Caulker for their first stop – some 135 km as the crow flies. “My longest trek by sea in unknown waters,” said Marlon Williams, Head Ranger for Port Honduras Marine Reserve, and a life-long boat captain.  Once there, they toured the office and visitor centre of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve where they received a presentation from the local rangers.  Later in the evening they continued some 30 km north to Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve where they had dinner and enjoyed a presentation from the local manager.       

TIDE rangers get briefing at Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve

On day two of their tour, the rangers traveled south some 100 km to reach the famed Blue Hole National Monument, a spectacular and renowned destination for scuba diving.  From there they continued on the Half Moon Caye where they toured a bird sanctuary and listened to a presentation conducted by the manager from the Belize Audubon Society.

On the final day the tired, dirty and sunburned crew continued south to visit Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, approximately 50 km south east of Dangriga Town, and then on to South Water Caye Marine Reserve and Laughing Bird Caye National Park.

TIDE is grateful for the wonderful hospitality and logistical support shown to our rangers by the staff of the different protected areas visited, and we thank the Fisheries Department and The Nature Conservancy for their assistance.  We look forward to hosting other MPA managers in our hometown whenever they want to visit us.

Along with the Belize Fisheries Department, TIDE co-manages the Port Honduras Marine

Rangers learn about Half Moon Caye

Reserve, a 160 square mile MPA off the coast of the Toledo District.  PHMR is famous for its high biodiversity, red, black and white mangroves on the coast that provide the critical link between terrestrial and marine environments, serves as habitat for various endangered species including the West Indian Manatee and the American saltwater crocodile.  The pristine clear blue waters of PHMR; home to the popular Snake Cayes, where visitors can bathe on white sandy beaches, and it also houses migratory birds and even boa constrictors!

To help TIDE achieve its objectives outlined in the current projects carried out in the marine protected area of Port Honduras Marine Reserve, please visit our home page, sign up to become a member, and read more about our work. Only with your support and kind donations can our work be made possible.

Over looking the nesting ground for the Red Footed Booby and the Magnificent Frigate birds from the look out tower at Half Moon Caye

TIDE’s mission is to foster community participation in ecosystems management and
sustainable use of resources within the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor of
southern Belize for the benefit of present and future generations.

We graciously appreciate when you support our work with a donation!  You can give online, over the phone, or by mailing a check to the following address:

Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)
1 Mile San Antonio Road  (or)  P.O. Box 150
Punta Gorda, Toledo District