Indigenous Allies. Supporting indigenous peoples’ territories and areas to conserve biodiversity and improve livelihoods in Belize. Stories of the GEF Small Grants Programme, UNDP
Publication year
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UNCCD Library
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Web resource
In Belize’s San Jose village, indigenous peoples know that conserving unique biodiversity can benefit from their knowledge, innovations, and practices that have been nurtured over centuries by living in direct contact with nature. As we celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 09 August, we know that Indigenous peoples around the world are key allies for conservation and sustainable development efforts. Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to the environment.
Research shows that where indigenous peoples have control of their lands, forests and biodiversity flourish. On this special day, we take a moment to highlight and acknowledge the work being done in Belize to advance the partnership with indigenous peoples.
Community Conservation, Community Cooperation
For 30 years, the Green Creek Farmers’ Cooperative (GCFC), an organisation led by indigenous peoples, has been managing their Indigenous Peoples and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) without external support.
The GCFC was established in 1982 with the objective of communal land management of its 1,012 hectares of prime forest. Within these lands, sustainable agricultural production and protection of flora and fauna define the community’s cultural identity. The Green Creek Cooperative land borders on the Maya Golden Landscape in southern Belize, and is an area of exceptionally high conservation value, making up an important part of the region's southern biological corridor.
Cacao and Conservation
Through the project support, the introduction of an integrated forest zoning scheme has helped to maximise and maintain the local forest as a community asset and source of cultural pride. The zoning scheme has improved local livelihoods through sustainable agriculture and infrastructure improvement while strengthening enforcement and protection of the GCFC’s 1,012 hectares of land.
In addition, the area has been managed for cacao agroforestry, for a harmonious management approach that respects cultural affinities for the use and conservation of standing forests to ensure perpetual conservation. Annual cacao production is estimated at US$50,000, Groundfood production is estimated at US$30,000, harvesting of non-timber forest US$12,000 per year, rice production estimated at US$12,000 per annum, sustainable small scale timber production at US$14,000 per year.
Read the whole story from the link above
Research shows that where indigenous peoples have control of their lands, forests and biodiversity flourish. On this special day, we take a moment to highlight and acknowledge the work being done in Belize to advance the partnership with indigenous peoples.
Community Conservation, Community Cooperation
For 30 years, the Green Creek Farmers’ Cooperative (GCFC), an organisation led by indigenous peoples, has been managing their Indigenous Peoples and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) without external support.
The GCFC was established in 1982 with the objective of communal land management of its 1,012 hectares of prime forest. Within these lands, sustainable agricultural production and protection of flora and fauna define the community’s cultural identity. The Green Creek Cooperative land borders on the Maya Golden Landscape in southern Belize, and is an area of exceptionally high conservation value, making up an important part of the region's southern biological corridor.
Cacao and Conservation
Through the project support, the introduction of an integrated forest zoning scheme has helped to maximise and maintain the local forest as a community asset and source of cultural pride. The zoning scheme has improved local livelihoods through sustainable agriculture and infrastructure improvement while strengthening enforcement and protection of the GCFC’s 1,012 hectares of land.
In addition, the area has been managed for cacao agroforestry, for a harmonious management approach that respects cultural affinities for the use and conservation of standing forests to ensure perpetual conservation. Annual cacao production is estimated at US$50,000, Groundfood production is estimated at US$30,000, harvesting of non-timber forest US$12,000 per year, rice production estimated at US$12,000 per annum, sustainable small scale timber production at US$14,000 per year.
Read the whole story from the link above
Keywords
human story
biodiversity conservation
land restoration
Belize
indigenous community management
indigenous people
partnerships
capacity building
farming practices