https://belize.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Belize 60 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/23035/World-Ranger-Day-in-Mesoamerica-Guardians-on-the-Frontline-of-Conservation.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=23035 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=23035&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/23035/World-Ranger-Day-in-Mesoamerica-Guardians-on-the-Frontline-of-Conservation.aspx Text by the WCS Mesoamerica and the Caribbean team (Guatemala, Belize and Honduras-Nicaragua) Park ranger, forest ranger, ranger…these are some of the names given to those who watch over protected natural areas. Both in terrestrial and aquatic, as well as marine ecosystems, rangers often face complex situations and extreme weather conditions; cold, heat, rains, hurricanes, and floods, to name just a few.  They play a crucial role in preventing the expansion of illegal cattle ranching, land encroachments, wildlife trafficking, fires, logging, poaching, among other threats. That is why today on World Ranger Day, we share testimonies from rangers in Mesoamerica. With the support and collaboration of communities, organizations and governments, as well as innovative tools like SMART, rangers face these challenges with dedication and courage. “I love being immersed in nature and above all protecting it. It is something that captivates you and that is why I can say that I love my job.” -Luis Paguada- Moskitia ranger, Honduras.     What does it mean to be a ranger? Getting up early, staying up late, maintaining good physical condition for long and challenging patrols by foot or boat, monitoring flora and fauna, and collaborating in scientific research are some of the activities that rangers perform. Often, the effort comes with a tremendous reward: seeing a jaguar or tapir in its natural habitat, hearing the call of macaws or witnessing the nesting of sea turtles. “Working with sea turtles has been and will be an unforgettable experience. Knowing that I am among the many who protect these creatures for the future, brings me more joy than anything in this world. Let's prove that women can also be celebrated in history as rangers." -Jorleen Moody- Turtle camp team leader at Cayos Perlas Wildlife Refuge. Left: Ranger team at the Pearl Cayes Wildlife Refuge during a day of patrolling. Photo by Karen Joseph. Right: Kurt Hyde, Ronnie Martínez, Yahaira Urbina, Michael Brakeman, Derry Harry, Maya Forest Corridor Resource Guard. Photo by WCS Belize “Rangers embody the essence of our organization, serving as our eyes, muscles, claws, voices, ears, and brains. As a manager, I fully trust my team to grasp the intricate dynamics within the Maya Forest Corridor. They are indispensable in safeguarding this critical corridor within Belize's protected area system. They serve as protectors, educators, and thinkers.” -Yahaira Urbina- Maya Forest Corridor (MFC) Manager, WCS Belize “Being a ranger means a lot to me because I play an important role in conserving and protecting trees and animals for future generations.” -Kurt Hyde- Resource Guard, WCS Belize "I am a ranger because I love the outdoors. I am willing to go the extra mile with passion and pride in protecting the flora and fauna that cannot speak for itself." -Derry Harris- Resource Guard, WCS Belize A season of unprecedented droughts, fires and floods This year, we experienced probably the most extreme weather in recent history, both due to the precipitation deficit (the largest since at least 2003) and the maximum temperature records (almost 1.5 degrees C° above the recent average).   In the words of Luis Alberto Romero Tzin, who is in charge of WCS Guatemala’s Environmental Protection program in the Corona-El Morgan area and the Laguna del Tigre National Park within the greater Maya Forest, this season's fires exceeded combat capacity. “This year, despite preparation and capacity building, we faced very challenging months. The drought affected water sources and dehydrated vegetation was made an easy target for fire. Despite previous efforts to maintain firebreaks, clear access roads, organize and execute the fixed and mobile ground detection plan, in addition to aerial detection with drones and small plane overflights, this was not enough. Not only due to the adverse weather conditions, but also because most of the fires were intentionally provoked.” Left: Plot in the process of restoration in the Maya Forest. Photo by César Paz / WCS Guatemala. Right: Fire in the Yesal-San Juan sector. Photo by CONAP. As of June 30, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction of Guatemala (CONRED), estimates that the 2024 fire season resulted in a total of 471 fires in Petén, of which 68 were classified as non-forest fires, affecting a total of 120,913 hectares.  The fires also affected the livelihoods of the communities, including restoration, timber and non-timber forestry areas. Even beekeeping, an important activity for many families, has been impacted, as it is closely linked to the integrity of ecosystems. The drought reduced flowering and therefore honey production. The fires have endangered the local economy and food security. At the other end of the spectrum, after the fire season, communities celebrated the long-awaited first rains of June. With heavy rainfall, many of the roads were flooded, complicating ranger patrols, particularly in places like the Laguna del Tigre National Park... but the work must go on. Rangers in the Laguna del Tigre National Park, on a patrol day. Photo by Rony GarcíaWildlife captured with a camera trap, as part of the artificial water trough monitoring program in the Mirador-Río Azul National Park and Naachtún-Dos Lagunas Biotopo, in collaboration with WCS Guatemala, Fundación para el Ecodesarrollo y la Conservación  (FUNDAECO), CONAP, Center for Conservation Studies (CECON) and World Wildlife Fund Mesoamerica (WWF). SMART, a technological ally in the field In addition to monitoring stations and drones, SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) is one of the most valuable tools used by rangers.  This digital application allows rangers to efficiently collect, store and analyze data. It also facilitates the monitoring of daily activities, such as the location of animals, detection of threats and the success of conservation strategies. By using SMART, rangers can document and report these events in almost real time, which significantly improves response capacity and decision-making based on concrete data. SMART also allows the creation of detailed maps that show patterns and trends over time, helping to identify critical areas that require priority attention. Through this application, strategic planning, optimization of frequently scarce resources, and collaboration are promoted, since the information collected can be easily shared with other conservation organizations and government authorities.  For Bianca Padilla, SMART training specialist for the binational WCS Honduras-Nicaragua program, “SMART has come to support the work of rangers, streamline the response to adverse events and demonstrate that despite the pressures of human activity and climate change on natural resources, the presence of many species of flora and fauna can still be observed. The rangers have expressed that they are happy with the use of SMART as a field data collection tool.” Currently, the use of SMART has been extended to groups of rangers in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas. Frontline Environmental Defenders Program In this scenario, WCS has started the development of the Frontline Environmental Defenders Program, whose objective will be to protect the biodiversity of Mesoamerica, supporting those who risk their lives to conserve ecosystems.  This program will strengthen the effectiveness of protected areas through a holistic and inclusive approach that promotes coordination and collaboration. Through training, improved security and the use of advanced technologies, the program will provide practical support to both protected area staff and community conservation leaders, ensuring the preservation of this valuable natural and cultural heritage for future generations. “Resource rangers are heroes who perform an invaluable service, not only for the environment, but for humanity. We must recognize their great work, and do everything possible to support them and ensure decent working conditions.” -Julio Maaz- Coordinator of the WCS Frontline Environmental Defenders Program in Mesoamerica and SMART training specialist. A sustainable future thanks to rangers On this World Ranger Day, from WCS Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, we thank all the defenders who are an inspiration to everyone who works to conserve nature.    We Stand for Wildlife Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:23035 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22907/National-Women-in-Fisheries-Association-established.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=22907 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=22907&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22907/National-Women-in-Fisheries-Association-established.aspx by Kristen Ku (Amandala Newspaper) BELIZE CITY, Thurs. June 20, 2024 - After eight years of dedicated efforts, Belize has officially established a National Women in Fisheries Association on Tuesday, June 18. This achievement comes as seven women have been elected to serve on the executive body, including a president. “The whole idea started in that women wanted this space for them to be able to share their concerns and their issues regarding a sector that they’re not fully recognized in as being an active participant,” Ralna Lamb-Lewis, the Assistant Country Director – Marine at the Wildlife Conservation Society told Amandala. Read full article: CLICK HERE  Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:22907 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22908/Time-For-Fisher-Women-To-Step-Up.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=22908 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=22908&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22908/Time-For-Fisher-Women-To-Step-Up.aspx by (7 News Belize)  Thurs. June 20, 2024 - A Women in Fisheries Forum in Hopkins village earlier this week brought together up to 60 different women from various fishing communities across the country. And they have now formed an association with the help of the Wildlife Conservation Society. The two day forum that took place on the 17th and 18th of June focused on their concerns as fisherwomen and value added producers. We spoke to the coordinator today: Ralna Lamb Lewis, Assistant country director, WCS "So this year we had the seventh forum and the focus this year was to form the national women in fisheries association we've been having it for six years so far well this being the seventh one and at the last forum we had the women who were focused on us forming an association right because over the past years we've been meeting for them to discuss whatever issues they've been facing how they want to move the sector forward what type of interventions are they proposing, but they've decided that in order for them to really have impactful change on the sector to be apart of the management decisions it's time for them to form an association." READ FULL STORY Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:22908 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22380/International-Tapir-Day-The-jungle-gardener.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=22380 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=22380&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22380/International-Tapir-Day-The-jungle-gardener.aspx There are four species of tapir in the world and Central America is home to the Tapirus bairdii species, considered a symbol of the jungle and fertility, present in myths and legends of various indigenous communities. This April 27th, we celebrate their presence in the Great Forests of Mesoamerica, as they play a crucial role in seed dispersal, thus contributing to the regeneration of tropical forests where they inhabit. Their distribution spans southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, northwestern Colombia (Chocó and Darién) and historically in El Salvador. (Source: IUCN) Tapir captured in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve by the biological research department of WCS Guatemala. Threats Despite its importance, the tapir faces various threats, including habitat loss due to deforestation and forest fragmentation, as well as poaching. Recent data of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reveal that three of the four tapir species are classified as "vulnerable" or "endangered." The Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is listed as "endangered", while the Amazonian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and the malaysian tapir (Tapirus indicus) are classified as "vulnerable". It is essential to take concrete measures to protect this species. This includes actions such as the conservation and restoration of their natural habitat, as well as the creation of biological corridors that facilitate their movement and promote connectivity between different populations. These initiatives not only benefit the species in question, but also contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological balance in the ecosystem in general. Here are 7 fascinating facts about the tapir: Impressive size and weight: Central American tapirs are the largest terrestrial mammals in Central America, weighing up to 300 kg and measuring around 2 meters in length. Prolonged gestation: Females have a long gestation period that lasts around 13 months. Prehensile noses: They have a characteristic long and flexible nose which allows them to manipulate leaves and fruits. Aquatic habitat: Unlike other tapirs, the Central American tapir is an excellent swimmer and often immerses in rivers and lagoons to find food and cool off. They are semi-aquatic creatures and can stay underwater for extended periods. Solitary behavior: They are generally solitary and nocturnal animals, although they can sometimes be seen in small family groups. They prefer the tranquility of dense forests and are usually shy and elusive in the presence of humans. Peculiar coloration: Their fur is dark brown or black, with some variations in tones and patterns among individuals. Some have white or gray spots on the face and throat, which can help camouflage in their environment. Key species: They are considered a key species in tropical ecosystems, as they play a crucial role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration by consuming fruits and depositing seeds in different places through their feces. On this International Tapir Day, let’s remember our shared responsibility to protect this unique species. Happy International Tapir Day! We Stand for Wildlife Sat, 27 Apr 2024 20:28:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:22380 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22184/Press-Release--NGOs-and-government-representatives-invited-to-training-on-Nature-based-Solutions-for-Adaptation.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=22184 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=22184&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22184/Press-Release--NGOs-and-government-representatives-invited-to-training-on-Nature-based-Solutions-for-Adaptation.aspx Design effective nature-based solutions for adaptation informed by climate risk assessment. Identify effective nature-based solutions and how they support adaptation to climate change. Monitor and evaluate the benefits of nature-based solutions for adaptation. Belize City (March 12, 2024)    Several representatives from government and non-government organizations will participate in a training titled ‘Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Adaptation: Working with Nature to Adapt to a Changing Climate’ to be held March 18-20 at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel Tapir Room in Belize City. The training has been developed as part of the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative and will be hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Belize. As key collaborators on NbS for adaptation activities in marine and terrestrial protected areas, IISD and WCS Belize have invited partners and staff to attend the training to build on their knowledge and practical skills regarding NbS for adaptation. This will help to ensure the successful implementation of the CAPA initiative. Through a series of presentations, interactive activities, and plenary discussions, participants will discover approaches they can take to ensure that the design and implementation of NbS for adaptation activities are nature-positive, gender-responsive and socially inclusive, and conflict-sensitive. Country Director for WCS Belize, Nicole Auil Gomez noted that “In the face of climate change, harnessing the power of nature-based solutions is not just an option; it’s our imperative. We shall together explore innovative strategies for climate adaptation for protected areas supporting underrepresented groups women and youth.” The training aims to provide a general overview of effective NbS for adaptation. Participants will learn about and discuss:  What are effective NbS and how they support adaptation to climate change;  How to design NbS for adaptation informed by a climate risk assessment;  What the role of protected areas is in climate change adaptation;  How to select and design NbS for adaptation that are gender-responsive and socially inclusive, and improve the adaptive capacity of underrepresented groups;  What conflict-sensitive NbS for adaptation are; and, How to monitor and evaluate all benefits of NbS for adaptation.  The event will bring together representatives from WCS Belize, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, South Water Caye, the Maya Forest Corridor, and the national government, all of whom play important roles in informing CAPA’s activities in Belize. It will end on Wednesday March 20th at 12:30 pm with the presentation of certificates of completion. The Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative is a three-year project aimed at using nature-based solutions to strengthen climate resilience and protect biodiversity in and around protected areas in the Kavango-Zambezi and Greater Virunga landscapes in sub-Saharan Africa, and in Belize and Fiji. The CAPA Initiative is being implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada. Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242. Visit us online at: Website: https://www. belize.wcs.org; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCSBelize/; X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCSBelize/followers; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcsbelize; TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wcs_belize LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wcs-belize CAPA website: https://www.iisd.org/projects/climate-adaptation-and-protected-areas-initiative Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:27:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:22184 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22071/PRESS-RELEASE--Over-50-Experts-Convene-in-Belize-for-Global-Shark-Conservation-Meeting.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=22071 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=22071&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22071/PRESS-RELEASE--Over-50-Experts-Convene-in-Belize-for-Global-Shark-Conservation-Meeting.aspx Review of new tools and initiatives to effectively improve shark conservation. Develop linked programs of marine conservation work and learn how to better integrate them with WCS’s conservation priorities to advance shark conservation. See and learn from the work to conserve the reefs and sharks at Glover’s Reef Research Station The need to act fast- with sharks now one of the most threatened groups of animals on the planet Placencia Village, Stann Creek District (February 26, 2024)    Over fifty marine conservation experts from around the globe, including many from across Mesoamerica, are convening in Belize from February 26 to March 1, 2024. They will look at how a range of tools, internal and external partners, and new or ongoing initiatives can allow them to better implement shark conservation measures and increase the speed of action to protect these ocean predators that are disappearing around the world due to overfishing. Despite having a 10-year shark strategy and having a kick-off meeting to start its implementation two years ago, the experts are concerned about recent research that indicates coastal mortality of sharks is increasing in many locations and is still deeply unsustainable given how slowly sharks grow and recover from human impacts on their populations. The 5-day meeting, being held at Umaya Resort in Placencia, will highlight several topics. Among them are: The current scope of work of WCS country programs and how they are implementing the WCS 2030 shark strategy. How we develop the best science to inform our shark, and wider marine conservation programs of work. WCS’S counter wildlife trafficking work and how that can assist shark conservation efforts now that the entire shark fin trade is listed on the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) WCS’s Blue Ways 30X30 approach to marine protected areas and how sharks can benefit. Review of tools to effectively/more rapidly progress shark conservation. Best approaches to policy development, and how WCS and our partners can help in bringing government departments together to prioritize shark conservation action. During a field trip to Glover’s Reef Research Station, scheduled for February 28, Belize government officials will listen to details on how WCS’s work at Glover’s in Belize impacts sharks and wider ocean health in Belize; as well as how the work at Glovers can help develop measures to assist in the implementation of WCS’s global shark conservation strategy. Based on the week’s discussions, the group, being led by Luke Warwick, WCS’s Director, Shark, and Ray Conservation, says they plan to revisit the WCS shark strategy, look at how new tools and research can be used to refine it, and from a week of collaboration and exchange, and viewing shark conservation on the water in Belize – forge new linkages to save these ancient predators from extinction. READ MORE:  ONLINE ARTICLES - SHARK CONFERENCE: Breaking Belize News - Wildlife Conservation Society commends Belize for protection of shark and ray population; calls for updating global strategy to protect sea predators The Amandala Press - WCS hosts shark conservation conference in Belize The San Pedro Sun - WCS invites media to interview experts attending the Global Shark Conservation Conference BNN Breaking News - Belize's Blueprint for Global Shark Conservation: WCS's Successful Strategies Illuminate Path Forward Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org newsroom.wcs.orgFollow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information:  347-840-1242.347-840-1242 For more local information, Contact: Deseree Arzu (501-223-3271; darzu@wcs.org) Visit us online at: Website: https://www. belize.wcs.org; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCSBelize/; X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCSBelize/followers; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcsbelize; TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wcs_belize LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wcs-belize   Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:22071 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22070/International-Day-of-Women-and-Girls-in-Science.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=22070 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=22070&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/22070/International-Day-of-Women-and-Girls-in-Science.aspx On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we highlight the work of Anna, Francis, Sofía, and Yamira from the Mesoamerica and Caribbean program of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Their sensitivity and passion exemplify a commitment to nature, communities, and wildlife. At WCS, we take pride in having a strong team of women in the field of science. Get to know them! Yamira Fuentes / WCS Belize “I am a Natural Resources Manager and researcher, I am currently pursuing my Master's Degree in Project Management. In the last 7 years I have been working as the Technical Assistant, Terrestrial for WCS Belize, where much of my focus had been on capacity building with our stakeholders, training and implementation of SMART and my special interest-research on the Critically Endangered Central American Turtle (Hicatee/Tortuga Blanca). I have recently transitioned to Technical Coordinator for Counter Wildlife Trafficking in the Belize program.  In this capacity I work with our regional programs to continue to foster WCS relationships with our government partners, non-governmental organizations and communities to tackle the issues, build capacity and develop strategies on Illegal Wildlife Trade for Belize. In addition, WCS research on the Central American River Turtle in the Belize Maya Forest Corridor. My goal is to continue working with our partners and stakeholders to ensure the conservation and protection of our  natural resources, inspire young women to take an active role in the field and be a role model for my daughter to appreciate our natural resources.” Anna Lello-Smith / WCS Mesoamérica y el Caribe “I support and advance WCS Mesoamerica & Western Caribbean’s bird-based research and conservation programs, which include single species conservation, like our work to protect the threatened Mesoamerican subspecies of the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera),  as well as protection and restoration of vulnerable tropical forest and coastal habitats to conserve entire communities of forest-dependent birds and declining shorebirds. We build in-region capacity for bird research and conservation, work with rural and Indigenous communities to restore key bird habitat, and collaborate with partners across the Americas to protect shared migratory birds that depend on our focal landscapes during their non-breeding season.” Francis Lean / WCS Honduras-Nicaragua “I am an Environmental Sciences Engineer with a master's degree in urban environmental management and I currently serve as the Binational Marine Coordinator at WCS. My work focuses on leading the marine conservation program in Honduras and Nicaragua, through the development and implementation of strategies adapted to the priorities of each country, and collaborating closely with indigenous communities, local organizations, and governments. Our focus is to strengthen marine protection and conservation, through effective participation of local communities and research. My goal is to contribute to the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems, ensuring a sustainable future for communities and biodiversity in the region.” Sofía Rosales / WCS Guatemala "I am a Guatemalan biologist with a master's degree in wildlife management and conservation, currently playing the role of Guatemala programme officer at WCS. I am part of the management team, acting as an essential liaison between the general management of the country programme and the different technical departments of WCS. My work involves coordinating processes for the development and implementation of activities in various projects, ranging from wildlife monitoring, landscape restoration to control and protection, as well as combating wildlife trafficking, among other aspects. In addition, my responsibility includes ensuring that reports accurately reflect the quality of field work, contributing significantly to the protection and preservation of the rich biodiversity present in Guatemala."   Sun, 11 Feb 2024 01:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:22070 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21213/News-from-CITES-CoP19-WCS-Investigations-of-Online-Trade-in-Jaguar-Parts-Show-Threat-is-Widespread.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21213 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21213&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21213/News-from-CITES-CoP19-WCS-Investigations-of-Online-Trade-in-Jaguar-Parts-Show-Threat-is-Widespread.aspx Study across 31 openly accessible online platforms in seven languages detected 230 posts with possible jaguar parts for sale 71 posts were accompanied by images that were positively identified as jaguar 15 different types of jaguar parts were identified, including teeth, skins and claws 98.6 percent of all posts accompanied by verified jaguar parts were in Spanish, Chinese, and Portuguese 64 posts were assessed to be linked to a location, and of at least nine countries, the most prolific countries were Brazil, Mexico, and Bolivia Teeth were the most detected body part with 156 posts offering at least 367 teeth, 95 of which were verified as jaguar teeth 71 teeth were linked to a location with the top four including Mexico, China, Bolivia, and Brazil Copies of the report in English, Spanish, and Portuguese Hi Res Images             Read the study here PANAMA CITY , PANAMA |  NOVEMBER 10, 2022 - Researchers with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced the results of an international investigation finding that online trade of jaguar parts are openly detectable on multiple online platforms, representing an emerging and serious threat to jaguar populations across the range of this Latin American wildlife icon. The results have been published as a detailed pre-print on bioRxiv, as well as being summarized in a brief publication available in Chinese, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The announcement comes as nations gather in Panama City, Panama from November 14-25 for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna the 19th Conference of the Parties for (CITES CoP19).   CITES CoP19 will be significant for jaguars for several reasons. Among the draft decisions anticipated to be adopted by the parties during the session is one that encourages parties to consider the jaguar a priority species in enforcement operations, measures, and controls deployed to address wildlife crime.  This study and the methods that it has developed can help implementation of that decision.  Another draft decision encourages the parties to adopt comprehensive legislation aimed at eliminating the poaching of jaguars and illegal trade in their parts and derivatives, including online sales of specimens. Implementing that decision can be facilitated by consulting the comprehensive review of national jaguar protection laws that WCS has published in the International Journal of Wildlife Law and Policy. Two separate side events on jaguar conservation will take place during CoP19.  The first one, generated by the Coordinating Committee of the Jaguar 2030 Roadmap for the Americas (that includes UNDP, UNEP, Panthera, WWF, and WCS, CITES, and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)), will focus on jaguars as Iconic Indicators of Biodiversity.  The second side event, organized by WCS, will present a synthesis of the threat that trade in jaguar parts represents, and the use of tools such as online investigations to combat those threats. The overall range of the jaguar (Panthera onca) has shrunk by almost 50 percent over the last century. However, a combination of protected area commitments by the governments of Latin America, along with the 1975 prohibition of trade in spotted cats by CITES, has helped lead to the recovery of some strategically significant stronghold populations across the otherwise declining range of this species.   Over the last decade, however, concerns have risen that renewed levels (or previously poorly detected levels) of illegal domestic and international trade in jaguar parts could derail the progress made in these strongholds. The study involved 23 WCS researchers working across seven different languages (Spanish, Portuguese, English, Dutch, French, Chinese, and Vietnamese) looking at 31 online platforms - including online marketplaces, video-sharing and social media sites and weblogs - using standardized search terms and methodologies. The results revealed that between 2009 and 2019 trade in jaguar parts was openly detectable and particularly concentrated on jaguar fangs. A total of 230 posts were detected with possible jaguar parts for sale across over a dozen categories of body parts. A conservative screening of images found that, at minimum, 71 posts contained images of different jaguar parts, on 12 different platforms in four languages (50.7 percent posts in Spanish, 25.4 percent Portuguese, 22.5 percent Chinese and 1.4 percent French), including a total of 125 jaguar parts. Teeth were by far the most detected body part with 156 posts offering at least 367 teeth, 95 of which were accompanied by images visually verified by experts as jaguar teeth, and Mexico (19), China (18), Bolivia (12), and Brazil (9) were the leading countries offering visually verified jaguar teeth for sale.  Jaguar skins were the second most traded parts and included posts assessed to be linked to South America. This research presents a snapshot of online jaguar trade and methods that may have utility for many species now traded online. The study took place within a longer-term project to assist law enforcement in host countries to better identify potential illegal trade online, with research findings informing hubs in Latin America for building such capacity. The lead author of the study, Dr. John Polisar, said: “Our team is pleased to share this study in the hope that it will strengthen efforts to disrupt the currently widespread illegal trade in jaguar parts. The standardized methodology that we developed has already been productively applied to document visible online trade and combat wildlife trafficking across multiple diverse taxa in the region.” In addition, the report provides another tool that management authorities in every jaguar range country can apply to combat illegal wildlife trade, and that these methods and results  complement international jaguar conservation cooperation efforts such as the 2030 Jaguar Road Map initiative and CITES in unified multi-national efforts to effectively advance jaguar conservation. WCS holds ground for jaguars in a set of globally significant strategically located large jaguar conservation landscapes that contribute to jaguar conservation range wide. Dr. Rob Wallace, Senior Conservation Scientist at WCS and one of the co-authors of the study remarked: “WCS remains committed to landscape-scale conservation, which is fundamental for naturally scarce and wide-ranging apex predators such as the jaguar. While on-the-ground conservation efforts with a plethora and diverse array of legitimate local actors in these global strongholds remains our core approach, WCS is proud to provide additional technical assistance to the governments of the region in the enormous and dynamic challenge of addressing the illegal trade in extremely vulnerable species in the region, including, and especially, the jaguar.” The online jaguar illegal trade study was primarily supported by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Conservation Society, and broader WCS efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in Latin America are also supported by the European Union, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund of the Darwin Initiative from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) at the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about WCS’s efforts at CITES CoP19: www.wcs.org/cites Study authors include: John Polisar 1,2, Charlotte Davies 3, Thais Morcatty 4,5, Mariana Da Silva 6, Song Zhang 7, Kurt Duchez 8, Julio Madrid 8, Ana Elisa Lambert 9, 10, Ana Gallegos 11, Marcela Delgado 12, Ha Nguyen 13, Robert Wallace 6, Melissa Arias 14, 15, Vincent Nijman 4, Jon Ramnarace 16, Roberta Pennell 16, Yamira Novelo 16, Damian Rumiz 17, Kathia Rivero 17, Yovana Murillo 11, Monica Nuñez Salas 18,19, Heidi E. Kretser 20,21, Adrian Reuter 22 1 Wildlife Conservation Society, Jaguar Conservation Program, Bronx, New York, USA 2 Department of Environment and Development, Zamorano Biodiversity Center, Zamorano University, Tegucigalpa, Honduras 3 Wildlife Conservation Society, Counter Wildlife Trafficking Program (Global) 4 Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom 5 RedeFauna - Rede de Pesquisa em Diversidade, Conservação e Uso da Fauna da Amazônia, Brazil  6 Wildlife Conservation Society, Bolivia Program, La Paz, Bolivia 7 Xianda College of Economics and Humanities, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai 8 Wildlife Conservation Society, Guatemala Program, Flores, Guatemala 9 Wildlife Conservation Society, Latin America Illegal Wildlife Trade Program, Lima, Peru 10 School of Environment, Education, and Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK 11 Wildlife Conservation Society, Peru Program, Lima, Peru 12 Wildlife Conservation Society, Colombia Program, Cali, Colombia 13 Wildlife Conservation Society, Vietnam Program, Vietnam 14 WWF Amazon Coordination Unit, Quito, Ecuador 15 Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science, Oxford-Martin Programme on Illegal Wildlife Trade, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom 16 Wildlife Conservation Society, Belize Program, Belize City, Belize 17 Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz, Bolivia 18 Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, Perú 19 Department of Geography, Environment, and Society, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 20 Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, Bronx,New York, USA 21Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Ithaca, New York, USA 22 Wildlife Conservation Society, Latin America Illegal Wildlife Trade Program, Mexico City, Mexico Thu, 10 Nov 2022 17:18:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21213 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21217/Breakthrough-Study-Shows-No-take-Marine-Reserves-Benefit-Overfished-Reefs.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21217 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21217&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21217/Breakthrough-Study-Shows-No-take-Marine-Reserves-Benefit-Overfished-Reefs.aspx Findings support global “30 by 30” goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030 Study published in the journal Marine Policy shows a no-take marine protected area (MPA) in Kenya was able to compensate for overfishing by increasing and maintaining the growth rate of fish populations by 42% over 24 years  Study compared two common fisheries management approaches - protected area closures and fishing gear restrictions Gear restrictions provided short-term benefits to fisheries, while no-take MPAs delivered and maintained better long-term fisheries production and yields This study is further evidence of the value of no-take MPAs to achieve benefits for fish, fishers, communities, and ecosystems WCS advocates for all-ocean management to achieve sustainable fisheries, and supports the global call to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of the global ocean by 2030: wcs.org/cbd Additional photos                          Link to study © Erika Piñeros, for WCS MOMBASA , KENYA |  MAY 04, 2021 - A powerful, long-term study from WCS adds scientific backing for global calls for conserving 30 percent of the world’s ocean. The studied no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) increased the growth of fish populations by 42 percent when fishing was unsustainable in surrounding areas, achieving the  benefits of stable and high production of fish populations for fishers, while protecting threatened ecosystems. The study recorded fish catches for 24-years across a dozen fish landing sites within two counties in Kenya, which allowed scientists to evaluate the long-term impacts of two different fisheries management methods. While one county utilized a no-take MPA covering 30 percent of the fishery, the other focused on gear restrictions and prohibited the use of small-mesh nets.  The differences in outcomes for the fishers and the ecosystems were stark. Per-person daily catches rose 25 times faster near the no-take MPA than in fished areas with gear restrictions, showing that no-take MPAs were far more effective at sustaining stocks of fish than restricting destructive gear. The study’s lead author Dr. Tim McClanahan, Senior Coral Reef Scientist for WCS said “The no-take area in Mombasa occupied 30 percent of the studied fishing grounds. Fortuitously, this  is the target for protection being proposed for the oceans, which is rarely tested and based on the results of simulation models. The empirical support for the models and the conservation proposal is reassuring along with the unexpected results of  increased production of fish populations that compensated for the lost fishing area. This adds to the evidence that no-take protected areas of sufficient coverage may compensate for the lost fishing grounds, particularly when fisheries are not sustainably fished.” This new study from WCS represents the longest-ever continuous detailed fish catch record for coral reefs, and reveals patterns that took nearly 20 years to unfold due to the small annual increments of change. The time and resources it takes to complete these empirical studies has long been an impediment to testing the effectiveness of no-take MPAs on fisheries, and is also why simulation models were commonly used. Until this publication, most existing empirical studies were short-term and focused on the catch per fisher rather than the catch per area, which is a critical metric of sustainable yield estimates. Consequently, there is a compelling need to expand long-term studies to better calibrate and test fisheries production models. This study shows that MPAs where no-take rules are followed can compensate for lost fishing grounds and stocks and therefore help people highly dependent on fish for income and nutritional security that is lost when catches are unsustainable. While gear restrictions did have positive benefits for short periods of time, they did not maximize fisheries production over the long-term. Some combination of closure and gear restrictions are therefore likely needed to achieve the full benefits to both fishers and ecosystems. The study was led by WCS Senior Conservation Scientist Tim McClanahan and will appear in Volume 128 of the journal Marine Policy. The work was supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. ### Tue, 04 May 2021 17:40:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21217 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21186/WCS-Congratulates-Government-of-Belize-On-Newly-Expanded-Sapodilla-Cayes-Marine-Reserve.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21186 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21186&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21186/WCS-Congratulates-Government-of-Belize-On-Newly-Expanded-Sapodilla-Cayes-Marine-Reserve.aspx A Nassau grouper. CREDIT: A. Tewfik/WCS. BELIZE CITY , BELIZE |  JULY 31, 2020 - The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) congratulates the Government of Belize for legislating the expansion of its southernmost marine protected area. The newly expanded Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve now totals an area covering 321,623.5 acres (more than 500 square miles, or 1,301.6 square kilometers). In addition to the existing zones, the expansion includes a strictly protected area (conservation zone IV) in Belize’s deep sea, totaling 228, 958 acres (more than 350 square miles, or 926.6 square kilometers). This decision means that Belize has now expanded its area of marine protection into the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Given its close proximity to neighboring countries and the threat of transboundary fishing, this declaration allows for the protection of an extensive coral reef complex known as the Corona Reef, located at the southwestern terminus of the Cayman Trench. Preliminary studies conducted suggest that the site includes a vast area of healthy and resilient coral reefs and serves as an important multi-species spawning aggregation site for commercially important reef species including several members of the grouper, snapper and jack families.   In signing the declaration yesterday, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, and Sustainable Development, Doctor Omar Figueroa said, “I am honored to sign the statutory instrument that enshrines protected status upon this ecologically important marine system. Our country continues to be a global leader in our efforts to protect our natural systems, both terrestrial and marine.” In welcoming this major announcement, Fisheries Administrator, Beverly Wade said “Belize has one of the most extensive network of marine protected areas which is central to safeguarding the biodiversity and ecosystems of the Belize Barrier Reef complex and by extension the Mesoamerican Reef system. This expansion to the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve further adds to Belize’s commitment for the conservation of its reef system, a national and global heritage, to ensure its long term viability and contribution to livelihoods and national economy.” WCS’s Country Director, Nicole Auil Gomez said: “We have been working with Fisheries and a group of stakeholders in the Replenishment Zones Expansion Steering Committee, and today we are excited to see the Government of Belize legislate the expansion of the Sapodilla Cayes site. This is one of the eight marine reserves that Cabinet approved for expansion, and its uniqueness is its coral system and its geography as the only one within our EEZ. WCS greatly anticipates the signing of the remaining sites, providing for future biodiversity and fishery stocks spillover benefits.” The expansion of Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve stems from a proposal approved by the Government of Belize in April 2019 for the national expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the country’s territorial waters. The national commitment to the full expansion of MPAs across Belize reflects the government’s recognition of the importance of the long-term sustainability of Belize’s marine resources and fishing and tourism industries, particularly as the country is faced with the impacts of climate change. WCS also urges the government to work towards the completion of the national expansion of replenishment zones in Belize’s offshore area.  Potential replenishment zones were identified through an extensive scientific process led by technical experts of the Fisheries Department, local, and international scientific partners, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and The Nature Conservancy, and were validated and supported by stakeholders via extensive consultations. A full implementation of replenishment zones would enable Belize to satisfy its international commitments under the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Guidelines for Small-Scale Fisheries, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. WCS’s efforts expanding MPAs in Belize were generously supported by the Oak Foundation, Oceans 5, an international funders collaborative that includes Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Summit Foundation, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, and the WCS MPA Fund, made possible through critical support from the Waitt Foundation and other donors. Tue, 21 Jul 2020 20:42:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21186 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21204/A-Jaguar-Nicknamed-Short-Tail-Becomes-Living-Symbol-of-Transboundary-Conservation.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21204 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21204&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21204/A-Jaguar-Nicknamed-Short-Tail-Becomes-Living-Symbol-of-Transboundary-Conservation.aspx Scientists used remote cameras to photograph unusual jaguar in both Belize and Guatemala First known documentation of a jaguar crossing between these two countries Otherwise healthy jaguar is missing part of its tail from unknown injury Finding highlights the importance of securing critical forests on at-risk private properties at the Belize-Guatemala border Download copies of the study, additional images and figures CREDIT: Marcella Kelly PETÉN , GUATEMALA  |  JULY 07, 2020 - A team of WCS scientists have documented an unusual jaguar missing most of its tail crossing the border between Belize and Guatemala – the first confirmed transboundary crossing of a jaguar between the two countries. The team published their observation in a short communication in the journal CATnews – the newsletter of the Cat Specialist Group, a component of the Species Survival Commission SSC of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The adult male jaguar was first photographed at Hill Bank in the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area in Belize in 2009. At that time, the cat had a complete and normal tail. When it was photographed again on 5 May 2011, and identified by its spot pattern, most of the tail was missing for unknown reasons. Then in Guatemala in 2013, the jaguar was recorded in camera trap surveys deployed in the community forest concessions of La Union and Rio Chanchich by WCS’s Rony García-Anleu and his field team. It appears that he then returned to Belize where he was last photographed in 2014. But it wasn’t until 2018, at a workshop organized by the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) on monitoring of biodiversity and climate change in the tri-national Mexico-Guatemala-Belize Maya Forest, that researchers working in Belize and Guatemala realized that the same jaguar – now nicknamed “Short-Tail” – had been photo-captured in both countries. Said the paper’s lead author, Rony García-Anleu of WCS’s Guatemala Program: “We were surprised and delighted when we saw that ‘Short-Tail’ was photographed by other researchers and was crossing the border between Guatemala and Belize. This highlights the importance and potential for collaborative work between Belize and Guatemala and across the Maya Forest region.” WCS and partners are working to secure key parcels in Belize's portion of the Maya Forest – the Maya Forest Corridor and the Northwest properties of Yalbac and Laguna Seca.  These lands are critical to the larger tri-national forest’s connectivity for jaguars and other wildlife. Transboundary jaguars have been reported in other areas of the jaguar distribution range, including between Argentina and Brazil, and along Paraguay’s borders with both Bolivia and Brazil. In 2012–2013 researchers reported that two jaguars fitted with satellite global positioning system collars repeatedly crossed the Usumacinta River, a natural border shared by Guatemala and Mexico, at the far end of the same forest where short-tail was recorded. Although transboundary jaguar movements are hard to observe since they take place in some of Latin America’s most remote forests, at least 26 of the most significant jaguar populations range wide are transboundary. Recognizing the importance of these areas, jaguars were listed in Appendices I and II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in February 2020, emphasizing the urgency of conservation in transboundary areas. Eleven jaguar range countries are signatories to CMS. In addition, to date 14 countries have endorsed the vision of the range-wide 2030 Jaguar Conservation Road Map, which also emphasizes transboundary conservation. The Maya Forest is one of Mesoamerica's 5 Great Forests, spanning from Mexico to Colombia, collectively covering an area three times the size of Switzerland. The 5 Great Forests are all transboundary and represent Mesoamerica’s most critical bastions for jaguars and other wildlife, and provide services such as carbon sequestration, clean water, and food security to five million people. WCS is part of an alliance of countries, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities committed to protecting these remaining areas. Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:28:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21204 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21208/PIGS-IN-TROUBLE-Scientists-Document-Collapse-of-Central-Americas-White-Lipped-Peccary.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21208 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21208&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21208/PIGS-IN-TROUBLE-Scientists-Document-Collapse-of-Central-Americas-White-Lipped-Peccary.aspx Populations of white-lipped peccaries, a “new world” pig-like species usually found throughout Central American tropical forests, are in freefall due to changes in forest cover and human disturbance Species plays a major role in seed dispersal, engineers water holes, and is a food source for large predators and human communities Peccaries have lost up to 90 percent of their range Urgent action is needed to protect Mesoamerica’s  5 Great Forests, spanning from Mexico to Colombia CREDIT Rafael Reyna NEW YORK , NEW YORK |  FEBRUARY 05, 2020 - White-lipped peccaries have declined by as much as 87 percent to 90 percent from their historical range in Central America, signaling a population collapse of a key species in the region, according to a study published recently in the journal Biological Conservation. The research was conducted by a team of 50 scientists from 30 organizations including WCS, Washington State University, and El Colegio de Frontera Sur. A pig-like animal that is an important food source for large animal predators and humans alike, the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) also plays a critical ecological role by dispersing seeds and creating water holes that benefit other animals. The study found that current IUCN estimates underestimated the population decline. The study results are a 63 percent drop from the current IUCN range estimates for the region. “White-lipped peccary populations are in more of a critical condition than previously thought,” said lead author Dan Thornton of Washington State University. “While these results are sobering, they also offer a roadmap on how to conserve this iconic, ecologically important species.” The researchers say that human influence and loss of forest cover are the primary causes of the decline, and that peccaries now remain in increasingly threatened pockets of forest mostly found along transboundary areas. Outside of transboundary landscapes, remaining populations were generally scattered and isolated.  Due to their social behavior and anti-predatory defense of grouping together when threatened, white-lipped peccaries are highly sensitive to hunting. Their large area needs and reliance on widely dispersed fruit and water sources also makes this species highly vulnerable to forest loss and fragmentation. The study found that the largest contiguous blocks of habitat for white-lipped peccaries occur in several major transboundary reserves. This includes the Maya Forest of Guatemala, Mexico and Belize, the Moskitia Forest complex of Honduras and Nicaragua, the Indio Maiz and Tortuguero National Park complex of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and the Darien/Los Katios National Park complex between Panama and Colombia. Although population estimates for white-lipped peccaries are difficult to calculate precisely, experts estimated that these same transboundary areas likely harbor the highest populations of remaining peccaries. For example, the entire Maya Forest, in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, hosts the largest white-lipped peccary population stronghold in Mesoamerica, with an estimated population of around 5000 individuals. The remote forests in the bi-national Moskitia, spanning Nicaragua and Honduras, may harbor around 3000 white-lipped peccaries. Of particular concern to the plight of white-lipped peccaries in Mesoamerica is the status of the Maya Forest of Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize, the Moskitia Forest of Honduras and Nicaragua, and the Darien Forest in Panama and Colombia, all of which are under particularly grave threat from human activities. For example, in the past 15 years, wildlands (those areas with limited human influence) have been reduced by 30 percent in the Rio Platano/Bosawas complex and by 25 percent in the Maya Forest. Ninety percent of recent deforestation is due to cattle ranching, and these two forests are at imminent risk of losing their contiguity due to expansion of both sugar cane and cattle ranching. “Based on this study, we believe that the white-lipped peccary should be uplisted to a higher category of threat in Mesoamerica from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered” in the IUCN Red List. We cannot afford to lose such an interesting species that has a unique social behavior of moving in large cohesive groups in a way that we still do not totally understand” said co-author Dr. Rafael Reyna of ECOSUR in Mexico and WCS Associate Researcher. Mesoamerica’s 5 Great Forests, spanning from Mexico to Colombia, and covering an area three times the size of Switzerland, are the most critical bastions for peccaries and other wildlife, and also provide services such as carbon sequestration, clean water, and food security to five million people. WCS is part of an alliance of countries, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities committed to protect these remaining areas. “Without Mesoamerica’s five great forests, the white-lipped peccary will almost certainly go extinct in the region, with cascading impacts on forests, other wildlife, and people” said study co-author Jeremy Radachowsky, Director of WCS’s Mesoamerica and Caribbean Program. “We must all work together to protect these incredibly important forests.” ### Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21208 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21183/New-Fisheries-Law-in-Belize-Protects-Both-Marine-Species-and-Livelihoods.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21183 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21183&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21183/New-Fisheries-Law-in-Belize-Protects-Both-Marine-Species-and-Livelihoods.aspx Gray Angelfish. CREDIT: V. Alamina/WCS BELIZE CITY , BELIZE |  JANUARY 21, 2020 - The Senate of Belize passed a new Fisheries Resources Bill that will help make the country’s small-scale fisheries more sustainable for both marine life and people. Approved yesterday by majority of the Senate, the new and comprehensive Bill replaces previous legislation in place for almost seven decades and aims to modernize and transform Belize’s small-scale fishing industry. The new legislation will ensure the sustainable use and management of the fishery resources and the conservation for the coral reefs, mangroves and coastal waters that support them, as well as provide greater decision-making authority, food security, and resiliency of local communities. The Fisheries Resources Bill addresses a shift in fisheries management from a focus on fish stocks and harvests of traditional commercial species to ecosystem-based management, allowing for the protection of a broader set of fauna and flora in the sea and inland water bodies, as well as the associated ecosystems upon which Belize’s fisheries depend. The new bill supports the building of resilient livelihoods for communities in Belize.  Mr. Elmer Rodriguez, fisher from Sarteneja Village and chairperson of the National Fishermen Cooperative Society Limited said that: “With the new Bill, fishers will be more responsible and fish more sustainably. The fishermen will also be better represented and recognized by the management authorities.” The legislation will establish a  new Fisheries Advisory Council will allow  fishing communities to more actively participate in decision making. These decisions will include the establishment offines and penalties to counter illegal fishing, measures to enable surveillance and enforcement, and the co-management of marine reserves. The new Bill will also make provisions to improve licensing of fishers, data collection, and full implementation of Managed Access, a rights-based management measure aimed at securing fishing grounds and encouraging fishers to become stewards of the areas where they fish. A Steering Committee led by the Fisheries Department and made up of legal experts, fisheries managers and scientists, fishing industry representatives, fisheries associations and cooperatives, and partners including the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) conducted broad-based consultations to develop the draft bill in 2012. Since 2017, a Task Force has worked with the Ministry of Fisheries to finalize this extensive legislation.   Speaking on the new and improved Bill, Fisheries Administrator Beverly Wade said: “This new Act is seated within the emerging paradigm shift in Fisheries Management in which the focus has extended beyond the immediate fish stocks being harvested, to the broader set of aquatic organisms for both marine and freshwater systems, as well as associated ecosystems; and the social dimensions and considerations associated with their responsible use. This Act will facilitate the collective impact of government, non-government organizations and fishing associations and cooperatives working together as a mechanism for both effective implementation and strong social capital in communities.” WCS’s Country Director, Nicole Auil Gomez noted: “We are delighted to see that our steadfast support to this initiative is finally paying off, to realize the dawn of a modern, holistic fisheries legislation that embraces ecosystem principles, stakeholder inclusion, and local stewardship to maximize sustainable yields, while safeguarding wildlife.” WCS President & CEO Dr. Cristián Samper said: “We wholeheartedly applaud Belize for passing this new fisheries legislation. WCS has been working alongside the Belizean government for more than 30 years, and we remain committed to supporting this next chapter for fisheries and the stewardship of aquatic resources in the country.” WCS has been involved in helping to draft this new Bill since the process began in 2009; WCS staff have also provided assistance with legal vetting, stakeholder consultations, and collaborative work with the Fisheries Department, other government organizations, and civil society representatives. WCS will continue to work alongside partners in the sector to help implement theBill by ensuring that fishers actively participate in the decision-making process, and by providing the data needed for  effective fisheries management that enhances biodiversity by increasing density of species and securing the livelihoods of current and future fishers. WCS will also help to strenghten compliance measures through the use of modern technology. Lastly, WCS will work with members of the fishing sector to help them become familiarized with the new Act in order toensure healthy and resilient coral reefs and abundant fish stocks. WCS’s work towards this legislative reform was generously supported by the Oak Foundation. Imani Fairweather Morrison, programme officer for the Oak Foundation’s Environment Programme,exclaimed: “What a wonderful start to an important decade for Oceans! We congratulate the Government of Belize and all the partners involved. Investments in Belize’s marine protection are paying off for the country’s marine resources, people, and the national economy. The next chapter of policy implementation holds exciting new opportunities in terms of fisheries management and for transmitting the learning worldwide. We would encourage funders to support the efforts that follow, recognizing the benefit to our world’s oceans.” The new Bill will now be sent to the Governor General to be signed into law. Tue, 21 Jan 2020 20:18:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21183 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21203/BELIZE-PASSES-FISHERIES-BILL.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21203 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21203&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21203/BELIZE-PASSES-FISHERIES-BILL.aspx ©V. ALAMINA/WCS JANUARY 21, 2020 - The Senate of Belize passed a new Fisheries Resources Bill that will help make the country’s small-scale fisheries more sustainable for both marine life and people. It replaces previous legislation in place for almost seven decades and aims to modernize and transform Belize’s small-scale fishing industry. The new legislation will ensure the sustainable use and management of the fishery resources and the conservation for the coral reefs, mangroves and coastal waters that support them, as well as provide greater decision-making authority, food security, and resiliency to local communities. “We are delighted to see that our steadfast support to this initiative is finally paying off," said WCS Belize Country Director Nicole Auil Gomez, “to realize the dawn of a modern, holistic fisheries legislation that embraces ecosystem principles, stakeholder inclusion, and local stewardship to maximize sustainable yields, while safeguarding wildlife.” Tue, 21 Jan 2020 16:19:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21203 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21184/Study-Finds-Overharvest-of-Juvenile-Queen-Conch-in-Belize-May-be-Reducing-Size-of-Adults-and-Population.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21184 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21184&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21184/Study-Finds-Overharvest-of-Juvenile-Queen-Conch-in-Belize-May-be-Reducing-Size-of-Adults-and-Population.aspx A queen conch in Glover's Reef, Belize. CREDIT: Alexander Tewfik/WCS. NEW YORK , NY |  OCTOBER 08, 2019 - A recent study by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), the University of Miami, and Universidad de Puerto Rico has detected a decrease in the average size of adult queen conch (Lobatus gigas) in the waters of Belize, possibly the result of fishers using shell length rather than thickness as a reliable indicator of age. The study represents the first research to measure a reduction in adult body size for queen conch, a phenomenon previously studied in fish species subjected to overfishing. Scientists in the study suspect that current methods used to regulate the harvest of these marine snails are allowing too many juvenile animals to be taken. The authors of the study titled “Declining size of adults and juvenile harvest threatens sustainability of a tropical gastropod, Lobatus gigas, fishery” in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine Freshwater Ecosystems are: Alexander Tewfik; Elizabeth A. Babcock; Richard Appeldoorn; and Janet Gibson.  The study examined 15 years of data on queen conch collected within the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Belize, which includes a principle fishing ground for the species in Belize. Found across the Caribbean, the queen conch is the focus of an economically important dive fishery that provides both food security and livelihoods for local populations.  In Glover’s Reef, it is estimated that approximately 340,000 conch are removed from the wild every year, a number that represents about 10 percent of Belize’s total annual catch. The researchers secured a permit from the Belize Fisheries Department to collect live queen conchs from fishers in order to accurately gauge the relationship between shell measurements, harvested meat mass and the relative age and maturity of individual animals. What the team found was that many individual animals attain the national minimum shell length (7 inches or 178 millimeters) while still juveniles, a dynamic that unintentionally results in fishers harvesting juveniles and mature conchs alike and may be contributing to the decline of the species. The authors also believe that the detected decline in the average shell length of adult queen conchs limits adult reproductive output; the findings indicate that the current shell length regulation is likely ineffective at protecting the queen conch from overharvesting over the long-term. “The current regulations do not factor in crucial aspects of the conch’s life history, specifically the two-phase growth pattern of the animal’s shell,” said Dr. Alexander Tewfik, Senior Conservation Scientist for WCS’s Belize Country Program and the lead author of the study. “Refinement of the regulations based on size—with an emphasis on shell lip thickness of more than 10 millimeters—will likely result in local recovery of this economically important invertebrate in local waters.” Queen conchs are sought after for their meat and their distinctive spiral-shaped shells, which are popular as decorations. They are slow-growing animals that can live to 40 years in age in unfished areas and are highly susceptible to overfishing, due in part to the ease of exploitation by swimmers and divers. The species is also one of the most heavily exploited in Caribbean waters and, in spite of regulations and an Appendix II listing on CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species), the queen conch is in decline. WCS authors say that managing access to queen conch by means of well patrolled existing and new replenishment zones (i.e. no-take)shallower than 30 meters for this species can help the fishery be more sustainable. Efforts to protect the species would also be well served with the pending passage of a long-awaited modern fisheries resources bill that makes provision for the development of species-specific management plans. WCS’s work was generously supported by the Oak Foundation, The Summit Foundation, the UK Government's Darwin Initiative, and the United States Agency for International Development. Tue, 08 Oct 2019 20:21:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21184 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21212/Critical-New-Initiative-to-Protect-Mesoamericas-Five-Great-Forests-Launches-During-UN-Climate-Summit.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21212 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21212&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21212/Critical-New-Initiative-to-Protect-Mesoamericas-Five-Great-Forests-Launches-During-UN-Climate-Summit.aspx NGOs, National Governments, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Join Forces to Protect Central America’s Largest Forests to Benefit All Life on Earth Mesoamerica's 5 Great Forests Initiative Photos and Video: Click HERE Mesoamerica’s five forests are home to more than 7.5 percent of the planet’s biodiversity, including the iconic jaguar (photo by Jayro Bardales) NEW YORK , NY |  SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 - Local and international NGOs—including Global Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Conservation Society—joined forces with four Central American Countries and the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD), indigenous peoples and local communities today to launch the 5 Great Forests Initiative, a critical collaboration to protect Mesoamerica’s five largest forests. Mesoamerica’s five great forests—the Maya Forest in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; the Moskitia in Nicaragua and Honduras; the Indio Maíz-Tortuguero in Nicaragua and Costa Rica; the Talamanca Region in Costa Rica and Panama; and the Darien in Panama and Colombia—together cover more than 120,000 km2. They are home to more than 7.5 percent of the planet’s biodiversity, such as the jaguar and endangered Baird’s tapir, hold nearly 50 percent of the region’s forest carbon, and provide important ecosystem services to 5 million people, including clean water, clean air, food security, and climate stability. “Mesoamerica’s people, culture, biodiversity, resilience to climate change, economic health – its very essence, all depend on these five great forests,” said Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, a champion for the initiative. “And these five great forests also provide services for all of humanity - if protected, nature can provide more than a third of the solution to climate change.” Since 2000, three of Central America’s five great forests have been reduced by more than 23 percent. This decline is being driven by an insatiable global demand for beef, as 90 percent of deforestation in the five forests is the result of illegal cattle ranching—sometimes used as a front for organized crime and drug trafficking. The 5 Great Forests Initiative, which was launched at an event during the UN Climate Summit by CCAD, the ministers of environment from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama, and Minister, Private Secretariat for National Policies of Nicaragua, and supported by WCS and GWC, will ensure that over the next 10 years: No wildlife species in the great forests go extinct 10 million hectares of land are protected 500,000 hectares of forest are restored Illegal cattle ranching within the boundaries of the five forests ceases entirely Mesoamerica’s five great forests shelter incredible biodiversity, including many species that are rare and endangered such as the iconic jaguar, the critically endangered and culturally significant Central American river turtle, the critically endangered Central American spider monkey, scarlet macaw, and the globally endangered Baird’s tapir. They are also home to irreplaceable flyways and wintering grounds for migratory birds. These forests are also harbor World Heritage sites and the vestiges of ancient civilizations. Indigenous and local communities manage nearly half of the remaining Five Great Forests. “Central America alone has approximately 80 different indigenous peoples, and many of these have territories that overlap with the Five Forests,” said Christopher Jordan, GWC’s Central America and Tropical Andes Coordinator, “This means that the advance of illegal, expansive cattle ranching into these forests not only threatens biodiversity and depletes regional carbon stocks, but also threatens the food security of indigenous peoples, and endangers their cultures and languages. Nowhere are the profound negative impacts of animal agriculture more pronounced.” Through this initiative, collaborating partners are committing to addressing the drivers of deforestation—especially illegal cattle ranching; improving forest governance by strengthening management of protected areas, community forests, and indigenous territories; and improving livelihoods with forest-friendly and climate-resilient economic alternatives. “Indigenous leaders, community land managers, and park rangers are putting their lives on the line every day to protect Mesoamerica’s forests and the services they provide for all of humanity,” said Dr. Jeremy Radachowsky, WCS Regional Director for Mesoamerica and Western Caribbean. “We owe it to them to provide the financial, political, and technical support necessary to protect, restore, and secure these magnificent places.” This partnership supports the Trillion Trees vision that by 2050 one trillion trees have been restored, saved from loss, and better protected around the world. Trillion Trees is a collaboration between Birdlife International, WCS and WWF-UK, founded on a joint vision for a world where tree cover is expanding not shrinking.  For more information, please visit www.trilliontrees.org. Sun, 22 Sep 2019 17:12:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21212 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21185/Global-Conservation-Organizations-Applaud-Government-of-Belize-for-New-Commitment-to-Protect-Central-Americas-Largest-Highly-Imperiled-Forest.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21185 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21185&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21185/Global-Conservation-Organizations-Applaud-Government-of-Belize-for-New-Commitment-to-Protect-Central-Americas-Largest-Highly-Imperiled-Forest.aspx Belizean government to protect wildlife species and people in declaration to conserve the critical Maya Forest Corridor Agami Heron_WCS NEW YORK , N.Y. |  JUNE 20, 2019 - Leading conservation organizations, including Global Wildlife Conservation, Panthera, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and World Wildlife Fund, alongside The Belize Zoo, Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Field School, and the University of Belize and its Environmental Research Institute, have joined together to applaud the government of Belize for declaring new plans to protect the Maya Forest Corridor – a critical link in Central America’s largest forest and a vital wildlife pathway. Official legal protection of Belize’s Maya Forest Corridor is expected in the near future as the government and conservation partners work with key stakeholders, including communities and the private sector, to secure the corridor’s future. Dr. Omar Figueroa, Belize Minister of State within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, stated, "We recognize that the window of opportunity for us to secure connectivity in the Maya Forest Corridor is closing fast. A team of local and international conservation biologists and professionals recognize the importance of this, and shoulder-to-shoulder are providing valuable support to secure the integrity of this area."  Figueroa continued, "One thing that has identified us as a country, as a people, is a desire to maintain and to protect the natural beauty of this country. The government, and my ministry in particular, stands committed to enshrine in legislation whatever we need to do to maintain the integrity of the Maya Forest Corridor well into the foreseeable future.” The Maya Forest Corridor, which is in central Belize, serves as a gateway connecting and ensuring the survival of many wildlife species. As highlighted in the recent United Nations global biodiversity report, wild habitat and its protection, including that of the Maya Forest Corridor, is crucial for the well-being of people, providing sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem services, including clean air and water security, healthy soil for agriculture, and drought and flood control for local communities. Yet, without protection, the Maya Forest Corridor is critically imperiled, having already been reduced by more than 65 percent over the past decade due largely to deforestation for large-scale agricultural developments, including sugarcane. Since 2011, the Maya Forest Corridor has faced deforestation rates almost four times the national average, and major clearings in the last few months indicate that without action like that announced this week, Central America’s largest forest block will be severed from its nearest forest block to the south, the Maya Mountain Massif. Dr. Jeremy Radachowsky, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Mesoamerica and Caribbean program, said, “The Maya Forest is Central America’s largest forest. It is critical for wildlife, people, and the global climate. It cannot be cut in half. We enthusiastically applaud the Belize Government’s leadership, and exhort others to support this important effort.” The Maya Forest Corridor is home to the iconic jaguar; the critically endangered and culturally significant Central American river turtle, known locally as hicatee; the critically endangered Central American spider monkey; and the endangered Baird’s tapir, among many other animals that require connected forest to move across their habitat in search of food and breeding opportunities. Cut down to a mere 5-6 mile stretch, the corridor is one of the last remaining squeeze points for jaguars to enter the Selva Maya to the north and to move south to the rest of Central and South America. It is also the only area connecting Belize’s two Jaguar Conservation Units: the Maya Mountain Massif in Southwest Belize and the rest of the Selva Maya to the north, which extends into Mexico and Guatemala. Losing the genetic connectivity of the Maya Forest Corridor would be a step toward extinction for the jaguar and many other terrestrial wildlife species with cultural significance in Belize. The wetlands of the Maya Forest Corridor also have an important role to play as a climate change refuge and flood retention zone. Unlike some Central American countries that have opened their doors to drastic deforestation, by securing this corridor, Belize is maintaining climate resilience for its people and animal species and securing a position as a climate leader in the region. On the tailwinds of the government’s declaration, this coalition of non-governmental partners is committed to the protection of the Maya Forest Corridor and is continuing to secure resources needed to protect the critical 10,000 hectares of corridor in perpetuity. Elma Kay, science director and co-founder of the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, stated, "There's never been a threat so imminent to an area that is so elemental to the long-term persistence and health of generations of wildlife and people in Belize and the Selva Maya. Protecting the Maya Forest Corridor is urgent but still within reach if we work together, and the government has taken the important first step to do so this week." Additional quotes Chris Jordan, Global Wildlife Conservation’s Central America and Tropical Andes coordinator, said “Because the Maya Forest Corridor holds important natural heritage not just for Belize but for the world, it is only fitting that an international group of partners has come together to support the government of Belize in protecting this unique place. This model of bringing together a consortium of conservation NGOs and government staff working together is the future of effective conservation, and a model Global Wildlife Conservation is proud to support.” Andreas Lehnhoff, Director for WWF Mesoamerica highlighted the relevance of this commitment: “We welcome this decision taken by the government of Belize as it contributes to securing the connectivity and integrity of the Maya Forest that is key for conserving wide ranging species like the jaguar as well as for human livelihoods and the provision of ecosystem services. Belize’s leadership is particularly important since, according to our most recent Living Planet Report, species population declines are especially pronounced in the tropics, with the Neotropical realm, covering South and Central America, and the Caribbean, suffering the most dramatic decline with an 89% loss compared to 1970.” Dr. Howard Quigley, Jaguar Program Director and Conservation Science Executive Director for Panthera, stated, “The government of Belize is to be celebrated and commended for making this critical step forward for the future of its wildlife and people, many of whom rely heavily on ecotourism for their livelihoods. Through this commitment, Belize has recognized that the clock is ticking for the Maya Forest Corridor and admirably chosen to invest in the survival and well-being of its wild animals, like the jaguar, and the nation’s communities and economy.”  Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, operated by The Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, is a critical link in the Maya Forest Corridor. In the words of Dr. Gil Boese, founder of Runaway Creek, “A world with corridors connecting protected areas giving animals options to roam and flourish is critical to survival of species. All these small dots on the map - if you save one, that’s great. But if you save enough of these unique fragments in such a way that they can be linked together then you’ve created a system. If others do this in other countries and continents we may patch together a network of survival for the remaining species of our planet.” Boilerplates Global Wildlife Conservation GWC conserves the diversity of life on Earth by safeguarding wildlands, protecting wildlife and supporting guardians. We maximize our impact through scientific research, biodiversity exploration, habitat conservation, protected area management, wildlife crime prevention, endangered species recovery, and conservation leadership cultivation. GWC has protected more than 350,000 acres of key habitat in the world’s biodiversity hotspots, protected habitat for more than 150 threatened species and for more than 17,000 other species to prevent them from becoming threatened in the future. Learn more at http://globalwildlife.org Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (NGO) Privately Protected Area and Field School Monkey Bay was established on Earth Day 1990 when the Minister of Tourism and the Environment recognized this 1000-acre pine savannah, tropical forest and riverine landscape as one of the first Privately Protected Areas (PPA) within the Maya Forest Corridor (MFC). To grow this public/private conservation action, Monkey Bay advocated to expand the wildlife corridor effect of the privately protected sanctuary, and in 1994 the Minister of Natural Resources declared the Monkey Bay National Park as a 2,250-acre public lands corridor expansion of Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition to managing the Monkey Bay PPA, the NGO social enterprise serves as an environmental education and training centre that hosts Belizean and international student groups to the MFC. The field school programs are intensive, short-term experiential programs. Lectures and field studies are the mainstay of Monkey Bay’s field school programs in natural history, watershed and marine science, cultural immersion, sustainable living and protected area conservation investment management. Visit www.monkeybaybelize.com Panthera Panthera, founded in 2006, is devoted exclusively to preserving wild cats and their critical role in the world’s ecosystems. Panthera’s team of leading biologists, law enforcement experts and wild cat advocates develop innovative strategies based on the best available science to protect cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards and tigers and their vast landscapes. In 36 countries around the world, Panthera works with a wide variety of stakeholders to reduce or eliminate the most pressing threats to wild cats—securing their future, and ours. Visit panthera.org University of Belize Environmental Research Institute The University of Belize, created in 2000, is Belize’s national university committed to excellence in higher education, research and service for national development. In January 2010, the University launched its Environmental Research Institute to narrow the wide gap in local capacity for research and monitoring through partnerships, training, communication and outreach. Belize has a wealth of natural resources that support the country's most important industries, including tourism and agriculture. Recognizing this, the work of the Institute is focused on producing results that are directly relevant and applicable to the effective management, sustainable use and conservation of these resources, while continuously working to empower the new generation of Belizean professionals. Visit uberibz.org Follow: @UB ERI. For more information: +501 822 2701 WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242. WWF (World Wildlife Fund) WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries and territories. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit www.wwfca.org for the latest news and media resources and follow us on Facebook: @WWF.Mesoamerica  The Belize Zoo (TBZ) The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is a non-governmental, non-profit organization focused on wildlife conservation through wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education. The Zoo was started in 1983 to provide a home for a collection of wild animals which had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests. The realization that the Zoo’s local visitors were unfamiliar with the different species of wildlife in Belize fomented the commitment to develop it into a dynamic wildlife education center. Today, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center exhibits over 175 animals mostly orphaned, rescued, rehabilitated or born at the zoo, representing over 45 native species; it receives over 86,000 visitors annually, 13,000 who are Belizean students, parents and teachers. Progressive education programs and popular zoo events include: National Tapir Day; birthday celebrations for Junior Buddy the Jaguar and Panama the Harpy Eagle; summer camps; teacher and tour guide workshops; and Student Career Training. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center believes that by bringing Belizeans closer to the animals which are their natural heritage, they will feel proud of these special resources, and want to protect them for future generations. Visit: www.belizezoo.org Foundation for Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Foundation for Wildlife Conservation under the direction of Dr. Gil Boese purchased Runaway Creek in 1999 to protect it, creating hope for flora and fauna and endless research and education opportunities. Runaway Creek Nature Reserve is a critical link in the Maya Forest Corridor. Dr. Boese worked feverishly for 60 years in conservation efforts all over the world. He was also director of the Milwaukee County Zoo. With the loss of Dr. Boese in 2018, the not for profit foundation that has been employing local people for almost 20 years, and stewardship of the property was assumed by Cindy Law of Bainbridge Island, Washington. Cindy and her late husband Larry had been negotiating for the purchase of Runaway Creek for several years. Having met Gil and his wife Lillian in 2004, and traveling with them numerous times to Africa and Belize, Cindy and and Larry learned well the importance of conservation. Having finally secured the property, Cindy’s intention is to continue the good work begun by Dr. Gil Boese and to support the integration of Runaway Creek into the Maya Forest Corridor. Hope is that Runaway Creek can serve not only as a model for conservation but also as one of many reserves in a network throughout Central America and beyond. Visit: www.runawaycreekbelize.org Thu, 20 Jun 2019 20:28:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21185 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21210/WCS-Reacts-to-US-Fish-and-Wildlife-Services-Recovery-Plan-for-the-Jaguar.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21210 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21210&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21210/WCS-Reacts-to-US-Fish-and-Wildlife-Services-Recovery-Plan-for-the-Jaguar.aspx CREDIT WCS Paraguay Program NEW YORK , N.Y. |  APRIL 26, 2019 - Experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reacted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recently released recovery plan for the jaguar. The recovery has two overlapping emphases: the Pan American Recovery Unit (PARU), which ranges from southwest Arizona to Argentina; and the Northwest Recovery Unit (NRU), which extends from northwestern Mexico into the United States. WCS works range-wide to protect the jaguar and applauds the way the Recovery plan includes a clear focus on the Panamerica Recovery Unit.  WCS Jaguar Program Coordinator John Polisar said: “We work with a variety of local and national partners to hold ground for jaguars in well over 400,000 square kilometers of the Pan American Recovery Unit. This includes the Selva Maya of Guatemala and Belize in the north, the upper Amazon, and the Chaco of northern Paraguay in the south. We work with local and national actors in these large conservation landscapes to improve human-jaguar co-existence, maintain forest cover, and protect jaguar populations and their prey from poaching. This magnificent top carnivore of the America’s merits our respect, dedication and tolerance.” Working in the “Northwest Recovery Unit,” which extends from northwestern Mexico into the United States WCS provided technical expertise to the USFWS and the Jaguar Recovery Team – the officially sanctioned group of experts that advised on the plan.  WCS led the development of a comprehensive database of historical jaguar observations (www.jaguardata.info), modelled potential habitat and carrying capacity for jaguars across this NRU, analyzed connectivity of populations from Mexico to habitats in the United States, and developed survey methodology to monitor jaguar recovery. Critical in any recovery plan is the definition of the recovery units. Although this might seem as an arcane point, it is actually critical to what one eventually plans to do. In defining the Northwestern Recovery Unit, which includes areas in the United States, the USFWS adopted a very conservative view, says WCS, limiting the possible northern edge of jaguar range to the Interstate 10 Freeway (not a natural boundary), and including for consideration only observations of jaguars in the U.S. since 1962.  The data base WCS developed indicates that historic range indeed extended farther north into the USA.  The current definition of the NRU removed from consideration observations from central and northern Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, that hard evidence supports as being historically part of jaguar range in the USA.  It also removes from consideration additional anecdotal observations from 19th century California, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Louisiana. Said Eric Sanderson, WCS Senior Conservation Ecologist: “Conservation is a long-game.  It needs to be understood in a historical context and with a view toward the future. While the recently released United States’ Fish and Wildlife Service’s recovery plan for the jaguar is an enormous step in the right direction, and we have been immensely pleased to work with the service in both recovery units, we have a long way to go to see the jaguar fully conserved and recovered across its range.  It will be ideal to do so in a manner that is true to the species’ historic range, its ecological flexibility, and our country’s full original complement of native species.  Those considerations may lead us to reconsider some of the decisions made in this document.” ### Fri, 26 Apr 2019 17:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21210 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21181/Government-of-Belize-Expands-Marine-Protected-Areas-in-Biodiverse-Offshore-Waters.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21181 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21181&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21181/Government-of-Belize-Expands-Marine-Protected-Areas-in-Biodiverse-Offshore-Waters.aspx A spiny lobster in the waters of Belize. CREDIT: A. Tewfik/WCS BELIZE CITY , BELIZE |  APRIL 03, 2019 – The government of Belize has approved “The Expansion of Fisheries Replenishment (No-Take) Zones,” which will increase the total area of Belize’s protected waters from 4.5 percent to 11.6 percent, according to WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). In this expansion, Belize also establishes its first protected area within its Exclusive Economic Zone, known as the Corona Reef due to its extensive coral reef complex. The expansion is in the deep-sea area of Belize, with depths ranging from 200 to 3000 meters, which includes some of the most underrepresented habitats in the current marine protected areas (MPAs) system of Belize. Studies show that the deep-sea area of Belize serves as an important habitat for deep-slope snapper species and bottom-dwelling (demersal) species.   Expansion of replenishment zones are essential for enhancing the viability and long-term sustainability of Belize’s marine resources for coastal communities and tourism industries, particularly as the country is faced with impacts of climate change.  It is a crucial step for Belize in meeting the aspirations of its development plans including Belize Horizon 2030 and the Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy. It will also help Belize to meet its international commitments under the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Guidelines for Small-Scale Fisheries, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Further, this expansion will help to maintain the outstanding universal value of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System UNESCO World Heritage Site. Extensive consultations with stakeholders resulted in the generation of validated and supported areas for designation as fisheries replenishment zones, which were identified through a scientific process led by the technical experts of the Fisheries Department, local and international scientific partners. The Belizean commercial fishers, particularly those who access deep-sea resources, were vital for this process and we praise their commitment the initiative, along with the local sports fishers. The fisheries replenishment zones will protect important habitats and biological functions, such as reproduction, in order to prevent overexploitation of Belize’s fishery resources. WCS Belize played a key role in identifying the newly created no-take areas, specifically through survey and monitoring work and in the preparation of technical documents with geographic descriptions and boundaries of the replenishment zones. WCS researchers also worked closely with both the Fisheries Department and with coastal communities and stakeholders in support of the recently announced decision.   In welcoming this major announcement, WCS’s Assistant Country Director, Ralna Lewis noted: “Securing these critical habitats demonstrates our government’s commitment to ensure traditional livelihoods are maintained, and is a step in the right direction towards enforcing Belize’s waters so as to combat and deter illegal fishing.” “This is fantastic news for both the fish and the fishers in Belize,” said Jason Patlis, Executive Director for WCS Global Marine Conservation. “Today’s achievement more than doubles the no-take areas within the country’s territorial waters, and adds critical no-take areas to the deeper offshore waters of Belize.  These protected areas will ensure sustainable and economically valuable fisheries for the long-term. Belize serves as a model for the world in sustainable fisheries management.” WCS has worked in Belize for more than 30 years providing technical and scientific support to the government on a wide range of conservation initiatives and challenges, much of it coordinated through the WCS-managed Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station. WCS’s work in Belize was generously supported by the Oak Foundation, The Summit Foundation, Oceans 5, Mesoamerican Reef Fund, the UK Government's Darwin Initiative, and a grant under the WCS MPA Fund. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 20:09:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21181 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21199/Footage-Shows-Rare-Glimpse-of-Jaguar-Swimming-through-Lagoon-in-Belize.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21199 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21199&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21199/Footage-Shows-Rare-Glimpse-of-Jaguar-Swimming-through-Lagoon-in-Belize.aspx Watch the Video BELIZE CITY , BELIZE |  FEBRUARY 07, 2019 - WCS shared a video today showing incredible footage of a jaguar swimming across Placencia Lagoon in southern Belize.  The video, shot by Belizean boat captain Darryl Lozano, shows the jaguar effortlessly swimming across a channel until it reaches some red mangroves on a shoreline. WCS recognizes the Placencia Lagoon as an important fish nursery, with rare Halophila seagrass and a mangrove forest surrounding a critical Antillean manatee hotspot. WCS is supporting local efforts to get this lagoon under formal protected and managed status to preserve this unique system from unsustainable development, and to promote ecologically-friendly fishing and tourism activities.    Cats are not always known for their swimming ability but the highly adaptable and agile jaguar (Panthera onca) is at home in streams, rivers, and lagoons. WCS has been involved in research, monitoring and conservation of jaguars across their range since the 1980s, from the southern United States to Central Argentina,. Long-term monitoring and repeated measures of trends have indicated that, while jaguars have been lost from 61 percent of their historic (pre-1900) range, populations are stable and even increasing in well-managed protected areas.  In addition, sustainable natural resource management and associated livelihoods were found to have a positive effect. Thu, 07 Feb 2019 16:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21199 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21214/The-Hairy-Canary-in-the-Coal-Mine-A-New-Report-Finds-that-White-Lipped-Peccaries-have-been-Eliminated-from-87-Percent-of-their-Historical-Range.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21214 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21214&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21214/The-Hairy-Canary-in-the-Coal-Mine-A-New-Report-Finds-that-White-Lipped-Peccaries-have-been-Eliminated-from-87-Percent-of-their-Historical-Range.aspx   Experts declare that urgent action is required to avoid its extinction from Mesoamerica Results increase concerns that the region’s remaining wildlife is at a tipping point Download report here Download Spanish version of news release here   CREDIT: Apolinar Basora NEW YORK , N.Y. |  DECEMBER 18, 2018 - A new study by WCS, El Colegio de Frontera Sur, Washington State University and other key regional partners has found that the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), one of the last large herding mammals of the Americas, has been eliminated from 87 percent of its historical range in Mesoamerica. Thought to be the ‘canary in the coalmine’ for Mesoamericas forests due to their ecological sensitivity, their loss could indicate the beginning of the end for Central America’s wilderness. Already lost from El Salvador, the white-lipped peccary is now confirmed to be the most endangered ungulate mammal in the region, and at risk of extinction in other countries. Stable and large populations can now only be found in two of Mesoamerica's five largest and most intact wildernesses: the tri-national Maya Forest (Guatemala, México and Belize), and El Darién in Panama. However, 20 of 29 assessed populations are either significantly smaller or highly threatened and are rapidly becoming isolated. The report demands urgent attention to avoid further national extinctions.  Experts from all seven countries in Mesoamerica where white-lipped peccaries can still be found came together to analyze and highlight the plight of the species in the region. Reports from Mesoamerican wildlife biologists of widespread declines led to increasing concern that the global threat assessment of ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN red list of Threatened Species was inadequate for the species in Mesoamerica and was limiting conservation action that could save it. The experts involved in this study contributed information on the species’ current (2016) range, status of each population, main threats, and conservation actions needed for each of the 7 countries. This study comes at a crucial time for white-lipped peccaries. They are particularly sensitive to forest fragmentation and hunting, and frequently are the first large mammal species to disappear when humans colonize an area. The expansion of agriculture, cattle ranching, and roads, especially inside protected areas, has accelerated at unprecedented rates in recent decades compounded by a human population increase of 60 percent between 1990 and 2016. This can be contrasted with a net loss of 28,000km2 of forest between 1990 and 2008.  Perhaps even more alarming has been the loss of 21percent of tree cover in the 5 last large forest blocks in Mesoamerica, which host the majority of remaining white-lipped peccary habitat. “This amazing animal turns the soil, feed large cats and controls seedling growth, actually enhancing the diversity of the whole forest” said Dr. Rafael Reyna-Hurtado of El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Mexico.  “No other animal in the world moves through forests in such large groups. If we save it from extinction we not only protect the forest, we give our children the chance to witness a wild herd marching in a single file through the forest foraging for food, even escaping from a jaguar, just as they have done for thousands of years” The results of this study are already informing revisions in wildlife protection laws and hunting regulations in Guatemala and Belize and will help to increase attention from international conservation donors. Most importantly, the people of Mesoamerica can use these results to direct their own support for increased conservation of this architect of the forest.   Said Dr. Jeremy Radachowsky, Director of WCS’s Mesoamerica and Caribbean program: “Mesoamerica is home to five great forests and still harbors a miraculous spectrum of magnificent wildlife. However, these forests and their wildlife are at grave risk. No species represents the plight of the forests like the white-lipped peccary, which is now teetering at the edge of existence due to habitat loss and hunting. We need to take immediate action to save Mesoamerica’s last wild places and their incredible wildlife.” The study was led by WCS, El Colegio de Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Washington State University and the Peccary Specialist Group and benefitted from the expert input of collaborators representing all 7 countries in which white-lipped peccaries remain. Organizations represented include the Fundación de Ciencias para el Estudio y Conservación de la Biodiversidad (Honduras), Fundación Yaguará Panamá, Proyecto para la Promoción del Manejo Participativo en la Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Costa Rica, Wildlife Sciences at University of Goettingen, Germany, School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, UK, Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, and Fundación Panthera, Honduras. WCS is grateful for the support of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Interior – Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement for the production this report.  Tue, 18 Dec 2018 17:26:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21214 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21205/WCS-Offers-Tribute-to-Dr-Alan-Rabinowitz.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21205 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21205&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21205/WCS-Offers-Tribute-to-Dr-Alan-Rabinowitz.aspx Dr. Alan Rabinowitz (holding map) in the field. CREDIT: George Schaller. The following tribute was issued upon the passing of Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, a world authority on big cats. Dr. Rabinowitz was the co-founder of the big cat conservation organization Panthera. NEW YORK , USA |  AUGUST 06, 2018 - The Wildlife Conservation Society mourns the loss of Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, one of the world’s foremost experts on big cats. Dr. Rabinowitz worked tirelessly to save wildlife through decades of field research, science, and international diplomacy.  His long career in conservation started in the early 1980s with a survey of jaguars in Belize. His efforts to follow and protect jaguars in Belize’s dense rainforests would produce a new understanding of the ecological needs of these big cats in the wild and helped to establish the world’s first jaguar sanctuary.  Dr. Rabinowitz’s work in setting up the world’s first protected area for jaguars was the basis of, Jaguar: One Man’s Struggle to Establish the First Jaguar Preserve. More recently, Dr. Rabinowitz helped to establish the Jaguar Corridor Initiative, a multi-national effort to protect jaguar populations throughout the Western Hemisphere. In addition to his work with jaguars, Dr. Rabinowitz studied a wide range of other species around the world, including tigers, clouded leopards, leopard cats, and Sumatran rhinos, while helping to establish protected areas in Taiwan and Thailand.  Dr. Rabinowitz’s efforts in the northern reaches of Myanmar brought attention to the largely unknown biodiversity of that country. His work in Myanmar produced discoveries, including a deer species previously unknown to science: the leaf deer (Muntiacus putaoensis). Dr. Rabinowitz helped to inform the creation of a number of protected areas in Myanmar, including the world’s largest tiger reserve in the Hukaung Valley.   We extend our condolences to his wife, Salisa and their children, Alexander and Alana.  Mon, 06 Aug 2018 16:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21205 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21179/World-Heritage-Committee-Removes-Belize-Barrier-Reef-from-List-of-Sites-in-Danger.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21179 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21179&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21179/World-Heritage-Committee-Removes-Belize-Barrier-Reef-from-List-of-Sites-in-Danger.aspx Milestone shows that current conservation approaches are working in places like Glover’s Reef Belize's reefs are home to hawksbill sea turtles, marine mammals, sharks and rays, and numerous fish species. Credit: R.Coleman MANAMA , BAHRAIN |  JUNE 26, 2018 WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) welcomed the decision by the UNESCO-World Heritage Committee to remove the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System from the “List of World Heritage in Danger.” The reef system was first designated as a World Heritage site in 1996, and has been on the “Danger” list since 2009. The proposal to remove the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger was adopted at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee in recognition of the Belize government’s enactment of a moratorium on offshore oil and gas extraction in January, the revision of the mangrove protection regulation, and implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan. Multi-agency collaboration, including WCS, realized this outcome. To further strengthen sustainable management of aquatic resources, WCS has been working with the Belize government to place new fisheries legislation and expand marine replenishment zones. Nicole Auil Gomez, WCS Belize Country Director, said:  “WCS is please to support the decision to remove the globally important Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Belizean government deserves tremendous credit for partnering with the NGO sector and taking concrete steps toward safeguarding this truly special seascape—and that work will continue. We remain optimistic that smart, effective conservation measures, with a focus on long-term commitments that lead to results, can help save endangered World Heritage Sites before they disappear.” The government’s decision to implement the oil and gas moratorium and safeguard the remaining mangrove forests protects a 190-mile long section of the Western Hemisphere’s longest reef system, which harbors threatened hawksbill sea turtles, marine mammals, sharks and rays, and numerous fish species. The reef is key to Belize’s economy as a centerpiece of the country’s thriving marine tourism industry as well as a nursery ground for commercially important fisheries. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has previously decided that oil and gas exploration and extraction are incompatible with protection of World Heritage status, and these actions by the Government of Belize reflect a global commitment to protect not only these sites, but the broader ecosystem of which they are a part. Despite the removal of this site from the List of World Heritage in Danger, the future of Belize’s reefs is not fully assured. All coral reef systems around the world, World Heritage or otherwise, remain under threat from overfishing, pollution, unregulated tourism and climate change – threats that destroy corals, deplete fish stocks, and weaken ecological links across the seascape. The type of work being done by the Belize Government and partners on the ground is the best way to combat these threats. For more than 20 years, WCS has partnered with the Government of Belize to pioneer innovative approaches to conserving Glover’s Reef and South Water Caye Marine Reserves, both part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Effective field science, policy reform, and capacity building are leading us closer to our goals of improved protected areas and natural resources management. We want Belizeans and visitors to experience the massive colonies of brain, starlet, elkhorn, finger and other corals hosting hundreds of species of fish, the marine turtles, manatees, lobsters, conch, and top predators such as sharks and groupers in the system. These species will thrive within a productive and resilient seascape that is supported by local people who are well informed and actively engaged in sustainable management of Belize’s marine protected areas. About WCS at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee (42COM) WCS is currently working on the ground to support the protection and conservation of over 30 natural and mixed World Heritage sites around the world. In some sites, we partner with governments in the direct management of protected areas. In others, we provide technical expertise for scientific monitoring, engage in capacity building for protected area managers, and provide other forms of support tailored to the specific needs of individual sites and countries. We are working in about half of the natural and mixed sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The WCS policy briefing for the 2018 World Heritage Committee meeting (taking place June 24-July 4 in Bahrain) can be found at https://bit.ly/2IbWpZP. WCS will be represented at the meeting by staff of its International Policy program (see https://www.wcs.org/our-work/solutions/international-policy). Tue, 26 Jun 2018 19:47:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21179 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21139/WCSs-Queens-Zoo-Helps-Howler-Monkeys-Thrive-in-Belize.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21139 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21139&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21139/WCSs-Queens-Zoo-Helps-Howler-Monkeys-Thrive-in-Belize.aspx Howler monkeys were translocated in Belize’s Cockscomb Reserve in the early 1990s after vanishing years earlier WCS’s Queens Zoo Director Scott Silver helped translocate howler monkeys 25 years ago and led recent surveys WCS reports that 66 individuals were recently counted with evidence of many more Female howler monkey in tree (CREDIT MARGARET SNYDER) NEW YORK (May 17, 2017) – Recent WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) Queens Zoo surveys of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), translocated to Belize’s Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 25 years ago reveal that the effort has been a great success, with monkeys now thriving throughout the reserve after going locally extinct 40 years ago. The surveys conducted by WCS’s Queens Zoo in collaboration with the Belize Audubon Society last month counted 66 individual howler monkeys from at least 15 different social units with evidence of many other groups inhabiting areas up to 20 kilometers away from the original release sites. All told, the survey team believes that as many as several hundred howlers are likely to live in the sanctuary. From 1992-1994, WCS, the Belize Audubon Society, and Community Conservation Consultants Inc. translocated 62 monkeys in 14 social groups from the Community Baboon Sanctuary in northern Belize, to Cockscomb, a 154 square mile (400 square kilometer) protected area 62 miles (100 kilometers) to the south.  Howler monkeys had disappeared from Cockscomb in the late 1970’s as a result of a combination of factors, including Hurricane Hattie in 1961 that leveled as much as 90 percent of the canopy in the Cockscomb Basin, a yellow fever epidemic, and uncontrolled hunting before the area was protected. The species is currently listed as Endangered by IUCN due to habitat loss and hunting. During the recent month-long survey effort, the research team found howler monkeys living in nearly all the suitable areas they surveyed throughout the Cockscomb. Said Scott Silver, Director of WCS’s Queens Zoo, who assisted in the original translocation and co-led the recent surveys with tropical biologist Linde Ostro: “Once again, the deep throated-roar of howler monkeys is a regular sound that echoes through the forests of the Cockscomb Basin, and howling battles can be heard bouncing back and forth over the forest canopy as male howler monkeys announce their presence to neighboring troops.” The presence of howler monkeys in the Cockscomb Basin benefits other wildlife and plant communities found there. As important seed dispersers, howler monkeys are known to help species whose fruits and seeds they consume to survive and thrive. Said Silver: “For the last 25 years, the tree community in Cockscomb has likely slowly begun to return to the composition of tree species that was there for thousands of years when howler monkeys were present in the Cockscomb Basin.  This in turn probably benefits many other species that evolved strategies for survival in a forest that grows up with howler monkeys as part of the ecosystem.” The return of howlers provides opportunities for tourists to observe the charismatic primates. While Cockscomb is famous as the world’s first jaguar reserve, and has an abundance of jaguar, they are rarely seen by the casual visitor. Howler monkeys, on the other hand, are slow moving, active during the day, and regularly seen, and even more often heard, by visitors.  Said Silver: “The sound of howler monkey roars echoing off the hills and trees is a moving and impactful part of any rainforest visit, and seeing cars pulled over alongside the Cockscomb road as tourists get out to watch monkeys in the trees above is a testament to how much they enhance a visitor's experience to the park.”  Wed, 17 May 2017 17:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21139 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21198/Punta-Fuego-Celebrates-a-Successful-First-Season-as-Belizes-Hottest-Radio-Drama.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21198 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21198&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21198/Punta-Fuego-Celebrates-a-Successful-First-Season-as-Belizes-Hottest-Radio-Drama.aspx Belize City, Belize, December 16 — The first season of Punta Fuego may have come to a close, but thanks to its roaring success it will officially be back on air next June! By the end of its first season the hit radio show has given us many causes for celebration, including elevating the importance of ordinary Belizean fishers and of sustainable fishing practices. As one Hopkins fisher exclaimed, “finally there is a show about us.” Another fisher, this one from Belize City, remarked: “Many people don’t know what we go through and so the show helps people to understand our struggles.” Throughout last summer, the signature tune of the conch shell on Love FM every Wednesday signaled the 7:15 pm start of Belize’s hottest radio drama — Punta Fuego. Dedicated listeners across Belize were enthralled by the young fisherman Richie and his diverse cast of counterparts as they faced ordinary — and sometimes extraordinary — events in their community. These challenges and dramatic conflicts spoke to critical issues pertaining to responsible fishing on an individual and community level. Punta Fuego enabled the Belizean public to get a deeper understanding of a sector that in 2011 accounted for 25.95 million BZD in export earnings, representing 2.2 percent of Belize’s GDP, and in 2012 supported close to 3,000 fishers.  As one fisher explained, “We gain a sense of importance and relevance to society. Before the show, nobody pay the fishermen mind, instead discussion is based on politicians, tourism etc.” An evaluation conducted amongst fishers in Belize City, Dangriga, Sarteneja, and Hopkins revealed that approximately 34% of the surveyed population listened to Punta Fuego.  What’s more, those who listened to the show were more likely to: (1) possess correct knowledge regarding Belize’s fisheries regulations; (2) recognise the benefits of marine protected areas; and (3) share their knowledge with other fishers.  Punta Fuego ignited the passion of Belizeans across the country to protect the seas and fisheries they depend on. As one fisher expressed, “I will be honest, I used to fish in the [replenishment] zones from time to time, but now I think about what I hear in the show and I don’t think I will be doing that again.” Punta Fuego is part of a broader Entertainment-Education strategy to increase knowledge, shift attitudes and promote positive behaviors with regards to responsible fishing, marine-protected areas and replenishment zones (RZs) for sustainable fisheries in Belize. This strategy is being supported by Belize Fisheries Department, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), PCI Media Impact and the Oak Foundation, alongside a coalition of NGOs. Find Punta Fuego on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puntafuegobelize/ Listen to the first season: https://soundcloud.com/mediaimpact/sets/punta-fuego-belize Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242. PCI Media Impact is a pioneer and world leader in Entertainment-Education and communications for social change. We empower communities worldwide to inspire positive social and environmental change through storytelling and creative communications. For 30 years, we have used a unique capacity- building approach to advance the wellbeing of vulnerable populations by improving knowledge, shifting attitudes and changing behaviors on critical social issues. To learn more about PCI Media Impact, visit: www.mediaimpact.org. Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21198 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21182/Belizes-Glovers-Reef-Providing-Refuge-For-New-Generation-of-Sea-Turtles.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21182 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21182&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21182/Belizes-Glovers-Reef-Providing-Refuge-For-New-Generation-of-Sea-Turtles.aspx   WCS led survey finds more than 1,000 threatened hawksbill sea turtles Innovative and robust monitoring protocol used for in-water turtle assessments Sea turtle abundance a validation for protection of coral reefs NEW YORK (November 29, 2016) —A new generation of threatened hawksbill sea turtles is thriving in the protected waters of Glover’s Reef Atoll, Belize, evidence that efforts to protect these and other marine species in one of the world’s great barrier reef systems are working, according to WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and the Belize Fisheries Department.  In a recently published study in the journal Endangered Species Research, scientists have reported that the coral reefs surrounding the atoll are home to more than 1,000 juvenile hawksbill sea turtles– good news for a species. The authors of the study titled “In-water assessments of sea turtles at Glover’s Reef Atoll, Belize” are: Samantha Strindberg, Virginia R. Burns Perez and Janet Gibson of WCS; Robin A. Coleman of WCS and Sawfish Consulting Ltd.; Cathi L. Campbell of WCS and the University of Florida, and Isaias Majil of the Belize Fisheries Department. “The findings of our research show that juvenile hawksbill turtles are thriving at Glover’s Reef– extremely good news for this endangered species,” said Virginia Burns Perez, WCS Technical Coordinator in Belize. “Strongholds for the species such as this one should become a model for other foraging and nesting areas that are important for the hawksbill turtle.” Glover’s Reef Atoll is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second largest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere. The Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, in particular, is important to both the fishing economy of Belize and the region’s marine biodiversity. In order to safeguard this natural wonder, WCS worked with the Belize Fisheries Department and other local stakeholders to initiate a conservation plan for the site. The hawksbill sea turtle was selected as one of several target species for conserving the larger seascape. “A healthy population of hawksbill turtles at Glover’s Reef has positive implications for recovery of the species in Belize and the wider Caribbean region,” said Nicole Auil Gomez, WCS Belize Country Director. “Once these young hawksbills mature they leave the Atoll and can travel incredible distances.” Meanwhile, Fisheries Administrator Beverly Wade stated that “This study validates the importance of the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve for the survival of such an iconic species. The thriving Hawksbill turtles are a wonderful success story for the government and people of Belize and its partners in their efforts toward the sustained management and conservation of the Glover’s Reef Atoll.” The newly published study is the result of field research between 2007 and 2013, during which time 12 snorkel surveys on sea turtles were conducted in the coral reefs around Glover’s Reef Atoll. Safe and tested methods were used to catch, examine, tag, and release sea turtles. From 2009 onward, for the first time ever for in-water assessments of turtles, a technique known as distance sampling (visually spotting sea turtles along a transect line and estimating distance between the turtle and the line) was used. Complementary monitoring methods provided a comprehensive assessment of turtle population status and dynamics, while accounting for the proportion of turtles that were not caught or seen. “Our turtle monitoring protocol is based on robust survey and analysis methods,” said WCS Scientist & Wildlife Statistician Samantha Strindberg. “This allows us to more confidently assess the effectiveness of conservation management for this important population of hawksbill turtles now and in the future.” Results of the study found that the abundance of juvenile hawksbill turtles was estimated to be more than 1,000 individual animals, with much smaller numbers of green and loggerhead sea turtles. The research team also determined that the probability of survival for the hawksbills was reassuringly high, another reason for optimism about the persistence of sea turtles at Glover’s Reef Atoll. “The discovery that Glover’s Reef Atoll is an important habitat for young sea turtles is an important find, one that will enable regulatory agencies to fine-tune already effective management policies to safeguard a highly threatened species and its biodiverse habitat,” said Jason Patlis, WCS’s Director for Marine Conservation. “This is great news on two levels: the discovery of a robust population of juvenile hawksbill sea turtles means a brighter future for this highly endangered species, and the protections afforded this population within the Glover’s Reef Atoll once again demonstrates the importance and effectiveness of well-managed marine protected areas,” added Patlis. Glover’s Reef Atoll is also the focus of a 167,000-gallon tank located in the New Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef exhibit at WCS’s New York Aquarium. The exhibit replicates its diverse coral reef namesake in Belize and is home to marine creatures including eels, rays, hogfish, and many other species. Through powerful graphics, visitors are introduced to WCS’s Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station along with WCS studies on coral diversity, bleaching, and other conservation topics. This research was possible thanks to the support of Oak Foundation.  To find out about WCS’s conservation work in the seascape of New York and New Jersey, go to Blue York. Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:12:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21182 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21138/Belize-Implements-National-Sustainable-Fisheries-Reforms.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21138 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21138&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21138/Belize-Implements-National-Sustainable-Fisheries-Reforms.aspx Secure Fishing Rights Approach Serves as Global Model for Small-Scale Fisheries (Belmopan, Belize – June 15, 2016) This week Belize becomes the first country in the world to adopt a national, multispecies secure fishing rights program for all of its small-scale fisheries. After a long struggle to address illegal and open-access fishing, a partnership of fishing communities and non-governmental organizations, under the leadership of Belize’s Fisheries Department, created a new system that empowers fishermen and women to conserve and protect their fishery while still using its resources to provide for their families. “We have a small-scale fishery here in Belize, and at the end of the day we are very keen in putting in place a regime which speaks to long-term sustainability that empowers and improves the livelihoods of the people who depend on fisheries,” said Fisheries Administrator Beverly Wade. Along the Belize Barrier Reef there is magnificent biodiversity - mangroves, corals, seagrass, cayes and their populations of conch, lobster, and reef fish.  However, as is common in many developing fishing nations, open access and illegal fishing are major threats to the preservation of these rich ecosystems, the livelihoods of local families that depend on these natural resources and food security for Belizeans. In response to these challenges, the Belize Fisheries Department, with support from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) spearheaded a coalition of government, fishing communities and non-governmental organizations to address these problems and create incentives for fishermen and women to become stewards of their fisheries. At the center of the solution being adopted by Belize is a combination of secure fishing rights and empowerment called “Managed Access” in Belize. With this form of secure fishing rights, fishermen and women control their own future through licenses giving them access to fish in two of eight specific geographic areas of the fishery, and responsibilities to help manage the areas and observe regulations.  “While Belize is a small country, the impact of this decision is global,” said Amanda Leland, EDF’s senior vice president for Oceans. “The adoption of fishing rights nationwide will serve as proof to other countries with small-scale fisheries that reforms can create a benefit for not only the environment, but for the people who depend on fish for food and income.” This concept was first tested at Glover’s Reef Atoll and Port Honduras, where a partnership among the Belize Fisheries Department, WCS and the Toledo Institute of Development and Environment (TIDE), led to the implementation of the program at the two pilot sites. These areas were established in July 2011, with dedicated access for fishermen who have traditionally used those fishing areas. “The very supportive responses from the diverse fishers who worked with the NGOs at the pilot sites demonstrated that our pioneering efforts could be nationally implemented for the benefit of the fishers themselves, and the fishing resources that we all want to secure for future generations of Belizeans,” added Nicole Auil Gomez, Country Director, WCS Belize. “Under this system of secure fishing rights, fishermen’s incentives flipped from catching as much as possible today to conserving the fishery for the long-term,” said Larry Epstein, Belize Country Director, Oceans, EDF. “At the two pilot sites, fishermen now enjoy better catches, scientific surveys show the first signs of recovery of reef fish, and fishermen are complying with regulations like never before. Fishing violations are down 60% and more than 90% of fishermen are submitting their catch data, leading to more accountability and better science.” The success of the two pilot projects led to demands from thousands of fishermen in Belize to adopt the program across the country. The implementation of secure fishing rights reaffirms the government’s commitment to adopt sustainable and responsible management of Belize’s fisheries.  "Congratulations to the Government, NGO partners and people of Belize for this impressive milestone. The rollout of nationwide fisheries managed access to the entire territorial waters continues Belize's leadership role in the Caribbean and around the globe in marine and fisheries conservation" Caleb McClennen, WCS Vice President of Global Conservation. Work on this initiative has been supported by The Summit Foundation and the Oak Foundation.   Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:42:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21138 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21180/WCS-Scientist-Honored-by-Queen-Elizabeth-II.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21180 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21180&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21180/WCS-Scientist-Honored-by-Queen-Elizabeth-II.aspx WCS’s Janet Gibson appointed as MBE for conservation work in Belize NEW YORK (January 8, 2016) – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has appointed WCS’s Janet Gibson as a member to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contribution to environmental protection. Each year Queen Elizabeth II honors citizens of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for various achievements and service. Gibson, who retired from WCS at the end of 2015, has been a strong force for marine conservation in Belize for over three decades. She worked with WCS first in early 1980s to support the creation of Hol Chan marine reserve, helped to build Belize’s office of Coastal Zone Management, and supported the unprecedented expansion of Belize’s Marine Reserve system.  She was part of the first class in 1990 of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her early efforts to conserve the Meso-American Reef.  While at WCS in her recent years, the program in Belize under Gibson’s leadership has focused on marine protected area management and sustainable fisheries. The program is currently endeavoring to secure 10 percent of Belize’s territorial sea as a no-take zone. WCS works in all the world’s oceans and seeks to safeguard 90 percent of global coral species, reverse the decline of sharks and rays, and steward the recovery of marine mammals. WCS seeks to rebuild local fisheries by ending overfishing of fragile coastal ecosystems and supporting measures that triple the available fish biomass, and to expand marine protected areas to cover 10 percent of the world's oceans.  Fri, 08 Jan 2016 20:01:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21180 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21202/Spiny-Lobster-Abundance-Study-at-Glovers-Reef-Belize-Finds-Fishery-in-Good-Shape.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21202 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21202&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21202/Spiny-Lobster-Abundance-Study-at-Glovers-Reef-Belize-Finds-Fishery-in-Good-Shape.aspx WCS and other scientist groups recommend fishers increase the size limit for caught lobsters to further strengthen protection Study provides proof that no-take zones help protect marine resources NEW YORK (February 2, 2015)—A recent study conducted in the waters of Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve in Belize by the Wildlife Conservation Society and its partners has revealed good news for spiny lobsters: the abundance of these commercially valuable crustaceans should support local fisheries into the future, an indication that no-take areas and other regulations are protecting the nation’s marine resources.     While the authors maintain that the current level of fishing is at a reasonable target level, they also note that many of the lobsters caught are on the small side.  They recommend that increasing the size limit would make the fishery more sustainable.   The study titled “Bayesian depletion model estimates of spiny lobster abundance at two marine protected areas in Belize with or without in-season recruitment” appears in the ICES Journal of Marine Science. The authors include: Elizabeth Babcock of the University of Miami; Robin Coleman,  Janet Gibson, and Julio Maaz of the Wildlife Conservation Society; James Foley of the Toledo Institute of Development and Environment; and Mauro Gongora of the Belize Fisheries Department.     “Overall, the fishery seems to be in good shape and the no-take areas seem to be protecting the species from overfishing,” said  Janet Gibson, Director of WCS’s Belize Program. “One regulatory change that would strengthen protection for the spiny lobster population would be to increase the size limit of lobsters taken, a small adjustment that could ensure a future for the species and the fishery.”  This recommendation is also in keeping with that of the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization (OSPESCA).   In order to produce an accurate abundance estimate of the lobster population in the waters of Belize, the research team applied a method known as a Bayesian depletion model to the catch-per-unit-effort spiny lobster logbook data to estimate the abundance of lobsters on the atoll.  As part of a pilot program for rights-based, or managed access, fisheries management at the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Belize fishers are required to keep logbooks of their catch and effort.   The results revealed the total population available to the fishery to be about 66,000 to 79,000 lobsters, with some of these lobsters being recruited to the fishery during the course of the 8-month lobster fishing season.  A source of some of this recruitment is likely the no-take or conservation zone, which represents about one-fifth the reserve area.  The results also showed that about 70 percent of these lobsters are caught annually.   This study has important implications for the managed access program, as the recommended sustainable level of catch for the area will inform the basis of a lobster catch quota for the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve.     “Essential to modern fisheries management are estimates of how many fish there are in the sea.  In the Caribbean, abundance studies of commercially valuable species such as lobster provide a critical scientific foundation for management decisions,” said Dr. Caleb McClennen, Executive Director of WCS’s Marine Program. “With a few science-informed modifications, the spiny lobster fisheries of Glover’s Reef, and the rest of Belize, will continue to support local communities in a sustainable fashion while protecting critical marine biodiversity.” This study was made possible through the generous support of the Oak Foundation and The Summit Foundation. Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:17:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21202 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21206/WCS-Announces-Winners-of-NY-is-Wild-Photo-Safari.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21206 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21206&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21206/WCS-Announces-Winners-of-NY-is-Wild-Photo-Safari.aspx Season-long social media contest commemorated 120th anniversary of WCS founding Prizes include a trip to Belize to see WCS conservation work first-hand New York – Dec. 4, 2015 – This summer, WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) celebrated the 120th anniversary of its founding with a city-wide social media photo safari, and has announced the winners of a suite of prizes that includes a trip to Belize to witness WCS field conservationists in action. Registered participants embarked on the city-wide adventure by tagging qualifying photos of the 120 ways NY is wild with the hashtag #NYisWild. The contest ran from April to September of this year. 4,382 people registered to participate, and those who tagged and posted at least 10 of the 120 eligible photo tasks were automatically entered to win a trip to Belize where WCS works to protect one of the most biologically diverse reefs in the world. Other prizes included a WCS membership to all five parks (Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo); a whale watching tour for with WCS scientists; a season pass for National Geographic Live; an opportunity to become a sea lion keeper for a day at WCS’s New York Aquarium; and a weekend getaway in the Adirondacks where WCS works. A complete list of prize winners is listed below: Trip for two to WCS’s Glover’s Reef Research Station in Belize Igor Bushuyev, Brooklyn, NY Christina Kam, New York, NY Weekend for two in New York Adirondacks Christine Re, Farmingdale, NY Sea lion trainer for a day experience Cristin McKee, Bronx, NY Rosalia Giannatassio, Queens, NY National Geographic Live season pass Eric Schoen, Brooklyn, NY Whale watching excursion for four Cynthia Ann Stewart, Bronx, NY Clara Susvilla, Yonkers, NY Membership to WCS Zoos and Aquarium Harmony Chamberlain, Wallingford, CT Amanda Tortorici, Brooklyn, NY Michal Samuni-Blank, New York, NY Allan Mancera, New York, NY Nicole Sciuto, Ossining, NY Amamda Bielskas, New York, NY Christopher Caramanica, Oakhurst, NJ Donna Barry, Flushing NY Felicia Ballard, Bernardsville, NJ Rachel Walker, New York, NY Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:45:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21206 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21200/Belize-Prime-Ministers-Wife-Visits-Glovers-Reef-Atoll.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21200 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21200&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21200/Belize-Prime-Ministers-Wife-Visits-Glovers-Reef-Atoll.aspx NEW YORK (September 19, 2014) – Kim Simplis Barrow, wife of Belize’s Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Special Envoy for Women and Children, recently visited the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Research Station on Middle Caye, Glover’s Reef Atoll on what could only be described as a picture perfect day. During the visit she was given a glimpse into the world of marine conservation with presentations on the almost two decades of support that WCS has provided to the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve. In addition, she learned about support to the Belize Fisheries Department in rights-based fisheries management and the national expansion of fully protected areas, and the use of technological innovations (e.g. drones) by government reserve rangers to improve protection of valuable marine resources. Other highlights included an overview of the history and status of marine protected areas in the wider Belize Barrier Reef complex as well as a guided tour of the station, including solar and wind energy production facilities, and a short walk along the caye’s nature trail while a resident osprey soared overhead. Along with WCS staff, representatives from the Oak Belize Foundation, the Bertarelli Foundation, the Healthy Reefs Initiative, and the Environmental Defense Fund participated in the visit. This trip has inspired the Bertarelli Foundation to make a contribution to WCS for tagging equipment. Mrs. Barrow, who was very appreciative of her visit to the station, said: “Thank you all so much for such an incredible experience. I wish more Belizeans were able to do the visit I did and learn more about the amazing work you all do! Many congrats!!!” The Bertarelli Foundation MISSION: The Bertarelli Foundation develops partnerships with scientists, NGOs and governments to offer practical solutions to the issues affecting the world’s oceans. To achieve our mission, The Bertarelli Foundation has helped to established Marine Protected Areas around the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory and around the Turneffe Atoll in Belize. The Foundation is working with others to help establish additional MPAs in other parts of the world. The Foundation supports scientific research to establish how these reserves provide protection to the animals and plants that live within them and learn more about the wider health of the ocean Visit: www.bertarelli-foundation.org ; Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21200 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21201/Belizes-Lobster-Conch-and-Fish-Populations-Rebuild-in-No-Take-Zones.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21201 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21201&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21201/Belizes-Lobster-Conch-and-Fish-Populations-Rebuild-in-No-Take-Zones.aspx New report by Wildlife Conservation Society on the benefits of no-take zones for marine ecosystems and fisheries   New York (July 11, 2014)—A new report from the Wildlife Conservation Society shows that no-take zones in Belize can not only help economically valuable species such as lobster, conch, and fish recover from overfishing, but may also help re-colonize nearby reef areas. The report—titled “Review of the Benefits of No-Take Zones”—represents a systematic review of research literature from no-take areas around the world. The report was written by Dr. Craig Dahlgren, a recognized expert in marine protected areas and fisheries management. The report comes as signatory countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity countries are being required to protect at least 10 percent of their marine territory. “Belize has been a leader in the region for establishing marine protected areas and has a world-renowned system of marine reserves, many of which form the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site,” said Janet Gibson, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Belize Program. “It’s clear that no-take zones can help replenish the country’s fisheries and biodiversity, along with the added benefits to tourism and even resilience to climate change.” WCS commissioned the report to describe the performance of no-take zones in Belize and in other countries to ultimately conserve highly diverse coral reef systems. In many coastal marine ecosystems around the world, overfishing and habitat degradation are prompting marine resource managers to find ecosystem-based solutions. The report also examines factors affecting the performance of no-take zones, such as the design, size, location, and factors of compliance with fishing regulations. According to past studies, the recovery of lobster, conch, and other exploited species within marine protected areas with no-take zones, or fully protected reserves, could take as little as 1-6 years. Full recovery of exploited species, however, could take decades. “The report provides a valuable guide for Belize’s marine managers and fishers,” said Dr. Caleb McClennen, Executive Director of WCS’s Marine Program. “We also hope this effort will generate and sustain stakeholder support for these important regulatory tools.” This report was made possible through the generous support of the Oak Foundation and The Summit Foundation. Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:14:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21201 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21215/Sharing-Environmental-Concerns-with-Ancient-Mayans.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21215 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21215&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21215/Sharing-Environmental-Concerns-with-Ancient-Mayans.aspx DECEMBER 20, 2012 - According to the ancient Mayan calendar, on 21 December, 2012, the 13th baktun – a calendrical measure equivalent to 144,000 days – will conclude as the next one commences. Many have interpreted this epochal transition from one era of human civilisation to another as a harbinger of apocalypse. Others believe that the turning of the Mayan calendar will mark a qualitative shift in the human relationship with the cosmos. More than a millennium ago, the ancient Mayans suffered their own apocalypse in the tropical forests of present-day Guatemala, Mexico and Belize. The civilisation withered, its survivors forced to abandon their grand cities for small, isolated enclaves. Some scientists believe that the Mayan collapse was due to population increase, exhaustion of soils and forests, and drought. In reality, Mayan civilisation disintegrated because its leaders, while capable of empire building, failed to recognise and respond to societal challenges that included a damaged environment, shrinking natural resource base and changing climate. Continue reading this blog post by Dr. Julie Kunen, Director of WCS's Latin America and Caribbean Program, at The Guardian>> Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:36:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21215 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21207/A-Conversation-with-Rachel-Graham.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21207 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21207&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21207/A-Conversation-with-Rachel-Graham.aspx MARCH 26, 2012 - Conservation biologist Rachel Graham champions an unlikely hero: sharks. As director of WCS’s Gulf and Caribbean Sharks and Rays Program, she works to create a constituency for the protection of these magnificent—and often misunderstood— ocean giants. In 2011, Dr. Graham won the 2011 Gold Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature for her work to implement a national action plan for sharks in Belize, and to get more local people actively involved in protecting their ocean wildlife and coastal biodiversity. Her work has also helped contribute to the protection of local livelihoods and Belize’s economically important tourism industry. New York Times reporter Claudia Dreifus recently interviewed Dr. Graham about her work on behalf of sharks and rays.   Read “Helping a Species That Leaves Few Feeling Warm and Fuzzy” >> Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:50:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21207 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21209/Protecting-a-Lagoons-Food-Chain-Top-to-Bottom.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21209 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21209&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21209/Protecting-a-Lagoons-Food-Chain-Top-to-Bottom.aspx DECEMBER 22, 2011 - Sensitive coral reef ecosystems require a delicate balance of marine life to thrive. From the barracudas at the top of the food chain to the algae at the bottom, the system works together to keep itself healthy. In an atoll reef lagoon in Glover’s Reef, Belize, WCS researchers have found that fishing closures produce encouraging increases in populations of predatory fish, like barracuda, groupers, and snappers. The numbers of herbivores like parrotfish and surgeonfish, however, grow only minimally with the closures. Because herbivorous fish feed on the algae that smother corals and inhibit reef recovery, they are essential to keeping the reef’s food chain in check. The findings will help WCS researchers in their search for new solutions to the problem of restoring Caribbean reefs damaged by fishing and climate change. The study’s authors include WCS conservationists Tim McClanahan, N.A. Muthiga, and R.A. Coleman, and their article appears in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. The team found that the modest recovery of herbivorous fish on Glover’s Reef has resulted in the overgrowth of algae, which has replaced the coral that covers the seafloor. While the coral once occupied 75 percent, it now represent less than 20 percent of the seafloor cover. The authors note that a recent national-level ban by the Belizean government on the fishing of parrotfish—a widespread herbivorous species—may be the key to reef recovery, provided that the fishing ban is enforced and met with compliance. According to the authors, a number of factors could be contributing to the unpredicted responses of fishing closures. These include underestimates in the possible responses to bans on fishing, the limited size of the closed area, or the continued usage of the area by fishers in spite of the ban. The conservationists also mention that environmental factors such as oceanographic oscillations and warming waters complicate attempts to manage these ecosystems. “It is encouraging to see the recovery of large predatory fish such as groupers and snappers under significant pressure elsewhere in Belize, but the lagging herbivorous fish is a warning that there is no single solution to coral reef conservation,” said Dr. Caleb McClennen, Director of WCS’s Marine Program. “While no-take zones are critical, more comprehensive ecosystem-based management is essential throughout the range of targeted species for long term recovery of the entire Meso-American Barrier Reef." From Fiji to Kenya to Glover’s Reef, Dr. Tim McClanahan’s research examines the ecology, fisheries, climate change effects, and management of coral reefs at key sites throughout the world. This work has been supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. WCS wishes to acknowledge the Oak Foundation and The Summit Foundation for their generous support of this study and our marine conservation work throughout Belize. Learn more in the press release >> Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21209 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21216/WCSs-New-York-Aquarium-Unveils-Its-New-Conservation-Hall-and-Glovers-Reef.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=17149&ModuleID=40060&ArticleID=21216 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21216&PortalID=177&TabID=17149 https://belize.wcs.org/en-us/News/ID/21216/WCSs-New-York-Aquarium-Unveils-Its-New-Conservation-Hall-and-Glovers-Reef.aspx Conservation Hall spotlights marine life native to three regions of the world: The Indo-Pacific, freshwater lakes of Africa, and Brazil’s rainforest Glover’s Reef showcases fish and coral native to this magnificent reef in Belize WCS conservation efforts to protect endangered marine species will be featured Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef is major part of A Sea Change at the New York Aquarium, a 10-year transformation initiative announced in 2009    Campaign will transform the aquarium and help ignite the re-birth of Coney Island Brooklyn, N.Y. – April 14, 2011 –The Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium unveiled today its renovated Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef –  a spectacular 4,000-square-foot building now home to more than one hundred 100 species of aquatic animals, from colorful corals and exotic eels, to highly endangered African freshwater fish.   The new Conservation Hall holds species that have never before been on display at the aquarium. It is divided into three habitats: The Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle, Africa’s Great Lakes, and Brazil’s Flooded Forest. Adjacent to these exhibits is Glover’s Reef, an impressive 167,000-gallon exhibit. The spacious viewing areas offers visitors an up-close look at some of the most beautiful fish native to these regions of the world, including piranhas, stingrays, angelfish, black pacus, and many more.     The renovation of Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef is a major part of A Sea Change at the New York Aquarium, a 10-year $150 million-plus public-private capital initiative that will transform the aquarium and help ignite the re-birth of Coney Island.   The exhibits in Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef are designed to inspire and educate visitors about the importance of underwater habitats. Graphics and a new interactive coral kiosk provide information about environmental threats facing reef systems, such as global warming and pollution. Graphics throughout the hall show visitors how WCS marine conservationists at the New York Aquarium and around the world are working to save wildlife and wild places.   “Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef offer visitors a glimpse into some of the world’s most beautiful and fragile underwater ecosystems,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, Vice President and Director of the New York Aquarium. “The state-of-the art design allows for an up-close view of many fascinating aquatic animals. These new exhibits will inspire our visitors to become stewards and advocates for marine and freshwater ecosystems. All of these changes are important to the redevelopment and resurgence of Coney Island. I’d like to thank Barbara Zucker, WCS Trustee and Chair of the Sea Change Advisory Committee, Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Assembly member Alec Brook-Krasney, and Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs Kate Levin for their support in making this possible.” “I like to say that Brooklyn is proud home to everyone from everywhere, and now that includes everything from everywhere—including Cuban hogfish and French angels to creatures from Africa’s Great Lakes, a reef in Belize and Brazil’s rain forest,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “I was proud to join Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn and Council Member Recchia in providing support for Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef, which will provide a close-up view of some of the world’s most exotic aquatic animals without ever having to leave Brooklyn.” “I’m thrilled to help unveil the renovated Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef,” said Councilman Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. “This beautiful building is host to more than one hundred species of aquatic animals, and it’s an amazing addition to the New York Aquarium. But more importantly, this is an important component of A Sea Change, a massive renovation that is going to make this aquarium a world-class destination that attracts visitors from far and wide to a revitalized Coney Island.” “With enhanced exhibitions showing an array of new species, New York Aquarium’s renovated Conservation Hall is a captivating attraction that will also provide significant opportunities for cutting-edge education and research,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin. “Thanks to this public-private partnership, the New York Aquarium will welcome even more visitors from across the city and around the world to Coney Island to experience one of the city’s most treasured seaside destinations.” “As one of Coney Island’s top year-round destinations, the New York Aquarium is an essential part of the historic amusement district,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “The investment made to build the new Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef will draw more visitors to Coney Island and add to an exciting lineup of events and experiences coming this summer.” One of the important conservation components to Conservation Hall is the Malagasy Fish Lab, which shows visitors how WCS is breeding endangered fish at the aquarium. Graphics explain how WCS field staff is playing an active role in fish conservation for the island of Madagascar. Within the lab is a fully functioning laboratory system where visitors can see keepers at work.   There is also a Sustainable Pets Kiosk that encourages people to make good choices on pets based on sustainability and global greenness. It shows how pet choice, in particular for aquarium animals, can have a positive effect on environments and communities around the world.   “Incredible exhibits such as this are a testament to the talent and dedication of the Wildlife Conservation Society staff. I am proud to support the launch of this beautiful new exhibit and the exciting transformation taking place here at the New York Aquarium,” said Barbara Hrbek Zucker, WCS Trustee and Chair of the Sea Change Advisory Committee. A Sea Change is a $150 million-plus public-private capital initiative that will transform the aquarium and help ignite the rebirth of Coney Island. About the exhibits: Glover’s Reef This is the first exhibit that visitors encounter upon entering the lobby. The 167,000-gallon tank replicates Glover’s Reef, a coral reef system located in Belize. It is home to marine creatures including eels, Atlantic rays, French angels, and Cuban hogfish.   Through powerful graphics, visitors will be introduced to WCS’s Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station. Here, WCS studies many aspects of a reef system, including coral diversity, bleaching, and the abundance of fish using and keeping the reef alive.   The Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle After viewing Glover’s Reef, visitors enter the new Conservation Hall and encounter the Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle, dedicated to a 2.3 million-square-mile coral reef that is home to vibrant corals, lively fish, and other reef animals. The primary and secondary tanks within this exhibit emphasize the complexity of this ecosystem by highlighting examples of interdependencies in the reef. Some of the hundreds of animals that live here include corals, clownfish, and anemones.   Part of this exhibit includes the Coral Lab exhibit that shows how WCS scientists actually grow coral at the aquarium. This tank will feature many live coral species with coral polyps in various stages of growth.     Africa’s Great Lakes The next gallery within Conservation Hall features two freshwater lakes of Africa: Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria. The main exhibit depicts Africa’s Lake Malawi, home to more species of fish than any other lake on Earth. There are more than 1,000 different species, most found nowhere else in the world, in all colors of the rainbow. It is often a challenge for these animals to survive in such a crowded space. This exhibit explains the unique survival skills of these native fish, which include dwarf cichlids such as yellow labido and red-finned utaka, all on display here.   A secondary exhibit tells the story of Lake Victoria and how its ecosystem was virtually destroyed when an invasive species was introduced. Animals on display here include silver fulu, Christmas fulu, and mbiru.   There are two critically endangered fish species that will be on display in a fully functioning Malagasy Lab: bedotia and pachypanchax, both native to Madagascar. WCS is breeding these fish in this open-view lab at the aquarium with the hope of one day reintroducing them to their natural habitat.   Brazil’s Flooded Forest This third and final gallery features the Amazonian flooded forest in Brazil. The primary exhibit is dramatic and emphasizes the spectacular transformation that takes place in this forest as an area the size of Florida goes completely underwater every six months. Visitors will see the unique ecosystem created when the rains come and the amazing fish and rays that migrate into the flooded forest in search of food and mates.   A secondary exhibit highlights a school of gleaming piranhas, an interesting and often misunderstood animal of the flooded forest.       The last part of this exhibit shows how local people in South America can support their families while protecting their natural resources. Tetras, tiny glittery fish found in the flooded forest tributaries, help to highlight a creative solution that shows how people can make a living helping wildlife. Visitors will learn how WCS is working to implement this idea in areas throughout South America.   Visitors are invited to celebrate the opening of Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef at a special public event, April 16 – 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aquarium-goers will have the opportunity to experience global culture and entertainment while learning about underwater life through exciting performances and hands-on activities.   Invaluable Support Conservation Hall and Glover’s Reef was made possible through the commitment and vision of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Councilmember Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate Levin, and Economic Development Corporation President Seth Pinksey. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:38:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21216