Partnerships

To realize its objectives for conservation and sustainable development in the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor (MMMC), a million acre corridor that stretches from the lush Maya Mountains to the Belize Barrier Reef, TIDE works together with other organizations whenever possible. Since its inception in 1997, TIDE has collaborated with many local, national and international organizations to ensure everyone's work is more effective in preserving southern Belize's resources.

From the beginning, TIDE has worked closely with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), one of the premier environmental organizations in the world.  TNC has supported TIDE’s efforts in the Toledo District of Belize to help fulfill their own mission of “saving the last great places”. TNC has provided assistance to TIDE in the form of scientific expertise, finances, management skills, and promotion and awareness. TNC and TIDE negotiated the first Debt-for-Nature swap in Belize, along with the US Government and the Government of Belize. As a result, TIDE now manages more than 25,000 acres of land for the people of Belize.

TIDE is also a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGO) working to promote sustainable agriculture for conservation and social benefits throughout Latin America. The SAN is coordinated by the Rainforest Alliance, another leading international NGO that partners with TIDE. The Rainforest Alliance also helps raise funds for TIDE’s Private Lands Initiativethrough its “Adopt-a-Rainforest” campaign; since 1997 the Rainforest Alliance has raised money to help protect thousands of acres of critical habitat in the MMMC.

By managing two National Protected Areas, TIDE has close partnerships with the Government of Belize Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment & Industry. The Forestry Department and Fisheries Department work together with TIDE to co-manage Payne’s Creek National Park and the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, respectively.

TIDE also has a close relationship with other organizations operating in the region, including Belize Audubon Society (BAS), Programme for Belize (PfB), Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), MesoAmerican Barrier Reef Systems (MBRS) project , UNDP Equator Initiative, Oak Foundation, The Summit Foundation, PROARCA, AVINA, and many more.

TIDE works closely with local NGOs in Belize; TIDE’s rangers conduct joint patrols with Ya’axche Conservation Trust (YCT), Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM), Friends of Nature (FON), and Toledo Association for Sustainable Tourism and Education (TASTE). TIDE coordinates its research initiatives with all of these groups and Earth Watch, to avoid duplicating efforts.

TIDE is an active part of the Bladen Nature Reserve Consortium, a partnership between Belize Audubon Society, Forestry Department, YCT and Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE). Until this joint effort, there was no real management of the unique and internationally recognized Bladen Nature Reserve (BNR) and little to no active monitoring of its resources. The consortium has developed a management plan for Bladen and has now begun to involve local community participation. In addition each group sends a ranger to conduct joint patrols of BNR once a month.

TIDE has worked out an agreement with the manager of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve to set up joint patrols with Port Honduras Marine Reserve and Payne’s Creek National Park rangers. Because all three protect areas share essential resources, and an unprotected buffer, the rangers feel that their efforts will become more efficient if they all work together to stamp out illegal activities. These efforts began in 2004 and regular patrols have followed ever since.

TIDE also partners with eROI, a full service e-marketing company, for it's web design and development.