Community Development
Without the support and involvement of communities, TIDE wouldn’t be able to actively pursue its mission. That mission being: To engage stakeholders in the sustainable management of natural resources within the Maya Mountain Corridor of southern Belize for the benefit of all. Just as we are supported, so too is it utmost importance that we in turn support the communities around the protected areas we manage. This ranges from including them in decisions that affect them to helping community members develop sustainable supplemental livelihoods, and increasing skills capacity in local youth…
Ecotourism is a big part of our Community Development Program. TIDE Tours markets ecotourism in Toledo, trains community members as tour guides and generates funding for TIDE’s education program. Most of the sixty, or so, individuals TIDE Tours has trained are now engaged in tourism and sustainable fishing.
We provide high school scholarships to enable talented youngsters to fulfill their potential and increase their economic prospects. In exchange, the students participate in environmental activities, including helping to run an annual summer camp for younger children and participating in clean-up campaigns.
Through our Community Researchers Program, young locals with a passion for the environment are trained in SCUBA diving and scientific techniques, then assist us to monitor biodiversity.
Community members are also involved on the ground. A Community Stewards Program provides training and support to enhance environmental stewardship. Participants then conduct environmental education in their communities.
As well as providing opportunities to individuals, we assist entire communities, for example: providing garbage bins at schools, refurbishing the Rio Grande Fishing Cooperative and Punta Gorda Fish Market and most recently, constructing two barber shops that will be run by ‘out of school’ youths.
We empower community groups to organize and manage their natural resources. We have facilitated the formation of two fishermen associations that include sustainable management among their goals. We are supporting community groups to restore forests along the Rio Grande and we are mentoring the Rio Blanco Mayan Association to manage the Rio Blanco National Park.
Local communities are involved in governing the protected areas we are responsible for. Community representatives sit on the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and Payne’s Creek National Park Advisory Councils, the Managed Access Committee and TIDE’s Board of Directors.
Community participation in conservation and sustainable development is the essence of TIDE. If you want to get involved, please contact us.