https://belize.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Belize 60 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21313/Crecimiento-de-la-Poblacion-de-la-Tortuga-Blanca-Hicatee-en-Cox-Lagoon-en-el-Corredor-de-la-Selva-Maya.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21313 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21313&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21313/Crecimiento-de-la-Poblacion-de-la-Tortuga-Blanca-Hicatee-en-Cox-Lagoon-en-el-Corredor-de-la-Selva-Maya.aspx The Hicatee population Cox Lagoon in the Maya Forest Corridor in Belize continues to exist!! This, even though unsustainable hunting and habitat loss have resulted in the elimination of hicatees in majority of its range, which include certain Atlantic drainages of Guatemala, southern Mexico and throughout Belize. Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:38:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21313 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21364/Crecimiento-de-la-Poblacion-de-la-Tortuga-Blanca-Hicatee-en-Cox-Lagoon-en-el-Corredor-de-la-Selva-Maya.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21364 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21364&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21364/Crecimiento-de-la-Poblacion-de-la-Tortuga-Blanca-Hicatee-en-Cox-Lagoon-en-el-Corredor-de-la-Selva-Maya.aspx by D. Arzu - Wildlife Conservation Society "Había una pequeña tortuga. Vivía en una caja. Nadaba en un charco. Trepaba sobre las rocas. Picoteó a un mosquito. Picoteó a una pulga. Picoteó a un pececillo. Y me picoteó a mí. Atrapó al mosquito. Atrapó a la pulga. Atrapó al pececillo. Pero a mi no me atrapó". -Vachel Lindsay - Muchos de nosotros, los más mayores, conocimos a la Tortuga Blanca o Hicatee a través de este poema. Algunos de nosotros probablemente incluso tuvimos una pequeña tortuga en una caja que era nuestra mascota. Tal vez encontramos una de esas pequeñas 'panzas negras' o "bokotora” mientras intentaba cruzar la carretera o escondida entre los arbustos, y la llevamos a casa, donde se convirtió en una mascota, o, en muchos casos, nuestros padres exigirían que la devolviéramos al lugar donde la encontramos. O como yo, tuviste la suerte de haber vivido en uno de los pueblos del Valle del Río Belice donde no escaseaba esta tradicional delicadeza, es decir, la Tortuga Blanca o Tortuga del Río Centroamericana (Dermatemys mawii), conocida localmente como Hicatee. Incluso ahora, recuerdo esos días en los que mi madre y muchas otras personas, pedían a mi tío u otros que iban a bucear, que les trajeran tortuga de agua dulce para cocinar con saludable aceite de coco sobre el fogón. ¡Esto fue hace más de cuarenta años, durante todo el tiempo que la Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) ha estado realizando investigaciones en Belice! Pero hoy, desafortunadamente, las cosas han cambiado. ¡Pero hay esperanza! Tortuga de Río Centroamericana o Tortuga Blanca (Dermatemys mawii) conocida localmente como Hicatee. Las tortugas blancas viven en aguas dulces como ríos, arroyos y lagunas, y construyen sus nidos en las orillas. Son grandes animales acuáticos que se alimentan de plantas, vegetación, frutas y flores. Muestran una dimorfia sexual única en la que los machos adultos tienen una coloración de amarillo a naranja en la cabeza. Otros tipos de tortugas de agua dulce suben a tierra o se posan en troncos, lo que se clasifica como "asolearse". Esto no es común en el caso de las tortugas blancas ya que su preferencia es permanecer en el agua, saliendo solo ocasionalmente a la superficie para tomar aire y poner huevos. La verdad es que realmente no sabemos mucho acerca de la tortuga blanca pero investigaciones recientes han demostrado que son una especie altamente social que se desplaza en grupos. Continuamos descubriendo nueva información con investigaciones continuas y trabajos colaborativos. ¡La población de la Tortuga Blanca en Cox Lagoon en el Corredor de la Selva Maya (Maya Forest Corridor) de Belice sigue existiendo! Esto a pesar de que la caza insostenible y la pérdida de hábitat han llevado a la eliminación de las tortugas en la mayoría de su área de distribución, que incluye ciertas cuencas atlánticas de Guatemala, el sur de México y todo Belice. En Belice, el consumo local de tortuga blanca es parte de ciertas culturas y tradiciones, pero su sobreexplotación ha causado graves disminuciones de la población. La Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) ha clasificado a la tortuga blanca como en peligro crítico y desde 1993, Belice ha implementado leyes para garantizar su conservación y supervivencia a largo plazo. Entre estas leyes se encuentra una temporada de veda durante todo el mes de mayo, la prohibición de la venta de la tortuga blanca, límites de tamaño y cantidad permitida. Coordinadora de WCS CWT, Yamira Fuentes. Etiquetando individualmente a una tortuga blanca escaneando la etiqueta para confirmar la identificación de la etiqueta en Cox Lagoon. El trabajo enfocado de WCS para garantizar la supervivencia de la tortuga blanca en Belice comenzó en 2016 y ha incluido la colaboración con la Fundación de Investigación y Educación Ambiental de Belice (BFREE) y la Universidad Estatal de Missouri. Durante los primeros años, ayudamos a realizar estudios sobre la población de tortugas en el centro de Belice. En 2022, comenzamos a centrarnos en la población en Cox Lagoon, un lugar históricamente cazado en el Corredor de la Selva Maya (Maya Forest Corridor). Nuestro trabajo actual se centra en salvaguardar y ampliar nuestro conocimiento sobre la tortuga blanca. WCS se centra en comprender la dinámica de población y la gestión de espacios seguros para la tortuga blanca dentro del MFC. Realizamos dos años de estudios de población en Cox Lagoon y los resultados iniciales han confirmado la presencia de tortuga blanca en la laguna, lo cual es una buena noticia, especialmente porque una evaluación rápida de 2010 indicó que no había presencia de la especie. Aunque todavía hay mucho por aprender sobre la tortuga blanca en Belice y la región, WCS, a través de su misión de salvar la vida silvestre y los lugares salvajes, continúa inspirando a nuestra audiencia a través de la educación y la divulgación. A nivel nacional, octubre se considera el Mes de Concienciación sobre la tortuga blanca. El lema de este año es: 'Protege a la tortuga blanca, Por Ti, Por Mí, Por Todos Nosotros'. Las actividades incluyen trivia en redes sociales para adultos y un concurso de arte reciclado para niños. Junto con nuestros socios, BFREE y la Estación de Campo Savannah, también hemos estado en los medios de comunicación para destacar la importancia de proteger estas especies, a través de la divulgación pública, esfuerzos de conservación colaborativa e investigación. Nuestro objetivo es educar a tantas personas como sea posible sobre la tortuga blanca y su estado crítico para inspirarlos a participar en actividades de conservación y convertirse en defensores de la protección de nuestros recursos naturales. No importa quién seas, puedes ayudar a garantizar la supervivencia de la especie. Tu pequeña acción puede contribuir, ya sea que te asegures de desechar adecuadamente la basura, mantengas tu bosque ribereño si eres propietario de una propiedad junto a un río, denuncies la caza ilegal o reduzcas conscientemente tu consumo. Te instamos a convertirte en guardián para proteger a nuestra Hicatee y su cultura y tradición beliceña. Para obtener más información sobre el trabajo de investigación de WCS sobre la tortuga, llama al 501-223-3271 o envía un correo electrónico a: ynovelo@wcs.org. Foto: Equipo de WCS en Belice llevando a cabo estudios de Hicatee en la Laguna Cox en el Corredor de la Selva Maya El trabajo de WCS para proteger a la tortuga blanca y al Corredor de la Selva Maya es posible gracias a la ayuda financiera del Fondo Whitley para la Naturaleza y la Unión Europea. El contenido es responsabilidad exclusiva de WCS Belice y no necesariamente refleja las opiniones de la Unión Europea o WFN. Acerca de la Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): WCS significa conservación de la vida silvestre y lugares salvajes. Como la principal organización de conservación de la vida silvestre en el mundo, WCS tiene un largo historial de logros innovadores y de gran impacto a gran escala. Realizamos programas que abarcan todo el océano y más de 3 millones de millas cuadradas biológicamente críticas en casi 60 países. Nos basamos en una base única: nuestro alcance es global; descubrimos a través de la mejor ciencia disponible; protegemos a través del trabajo en el terreno con comunidades locales e indígenas; inspiramos a través de nuestros zoológicos y acuarios de clase mundial y programas educativos; y aprovechamos nuestros recursos a través de asociaciones e influencia política poderosa. Nuestros 4.000 miembros del equipo diverso y apasionadamente comprometidos en la ciudad de Nueva York y en todo el mundo trabajan colectivamente para lograr nuestra misión de conservación. Más información en www.wcs.org. WCS está organizada en un conjunto de programas regionales, que incluye la región Mesoamericana y del Caribe, compuesta por los programas de Belice, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Cuba, además de la participación regional en una variedad de asuntos de conservación. Notas al pie: 1 Nombre local de una tortuga de agua dulce. 2 En inglés, esto significa "Devolverlo al lugar donde lo encontraste". ¡Síguenos! WCS Belize:  Facebook I Instagram I Twitter I YouTube I Linkedin Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:38:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21364 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21394/Major-Conservation-Alliance-Launches-More-Trees-Fewer-Cows-Initiative-to-safeguard-the-biological-and-cultural-diversity-of-Mesoamerica.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21394 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21394&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21394/Major-Conservation-Alliance-Launches-More-Trees-Fewer-Cows-Initiative-to-safeguard-the-biological-and-cultural-diversity-of-Mesoamerica.aspx New York, September 20, 2023 — In a joint effort to safeguard the biological and cultural diversity of the Mesoamerican region, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Re:wild, and the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB) announced the "More Trees, Fewer Cows" initiative during Climate Week New York. This unprecedented alliance aims to raise awareness and take strong action against illegal cattle ranching activities in Indigenous territories and protected areas. Illegal cattle ranching in protected areas and Indigenous territories in Mesoamerica, a region that covers southern Mexico and extends across most of Central America, is often linked to organized crime and drug trafficking, has driven the loss of more than 20% of three of the largest forests in the region in the last 20 years. It is estimated that between 1 and 2 million head of cattle are illegally trafficked as contraband each year from Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala to Mexico. Cattle ranching is the main threat to the physical, food and water security of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Illegal cattle ranching in Moskitia. Photo @WCS Mesoamérica and Western Caribbean The "More Trees, Fewer Cows" strategy includes removing cattle from forest-damaging areas where they aren’t permitted, restoring degraded areas, and substituting illegal cattle with sustainable, equitable and profitable alternatives. Active participation from governments, businesses, and most importantly, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, is crucial for the success of this transformative strategy.  The initiative seeks to increase visibility and funding for territorial protection, secure policies and practices to ensure that beef production is deforestation-free, and support forest-compatible food and economic systems.  "OUR ANCESTRAL LEADERS AND ELDERS HAVE BEQUEATHED US A TERRITORY FILLED WITH GREATNESS AND WEALTH, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE PRESERVING IT” SAID ELVIS ANTONIO GREHAM, MOSKITIA ASLA TAKANKA (MASTA) LEADER DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE INITIATIVE.   Beef production has emerged as the leading cause of deforestation in Latin America, carrying devastating consequences for the security, biodiversity, and well-being of Indigenous and local communities. In the struggle for land use, Indigenous leaders often face acts of violence and forced eviction. Globally, livestock are responsible for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions, with 65% of these emissions coming from cattle.  Map. Forest loss between 2013 and 2022 in the 5 Great Forests of Mesoamerica. “AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, WE ARE AGAINST ILLEGAL CATTLE RANCHING. WE ADVOCATE FOR MORE TREES, FEWER COWS”, CONCLUDED ELVIS ANTONIO GREHAM. Preserving Mesoamerica’s 5 Great Forests, which span from Mexico to Colombia, is increasingly being seen as a bulwark against climate change and biodiversity loss. Forests, particularly high-integrity ones, absorb and store carbon, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, regulate local climate, protect watersheds, and support biodiversity and local communities. More Trees, Fewer Cows "More Trees, Fewer Cows" is a call to action for all sectors of society: governments, businesses, communities, and citizens. Together, we can preserve the forests and protect the livelihoods of those who depend on them, ensuring a sustainable future for Mesoamerica and beyond. For more information about the campaign and its activities during New York Climate Week, visit: https://programs.wcs.org/5greatforests/en-us/More-Trees-Fewer-Cows-US  Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) WCS combines the power of its zoos and an aquarium in New York City and a Global Conservation Program in more than 50 countries to achieve its mission to save wildlife and wild places. WCS runs the world’s largest conservation field program, protecting more than 50 percent of Earth’s known biodiversity; in partnership with governments, Indigenous People, Local Communities, and the private sector. It’s four zoos and aquarium (the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium ) welcomes more than 3.5 million visitors each year, inspiring generations to care for nature. Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, the organization is led (as of June 1, 2023) by President and CEO Monica P. Medina. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org. Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: +1 (347) 840-1242.  Re:wild Re:wild protects and restores the wild. We have a singular and powerful focus: the wild as the most effective solution to the interconnected climate, biodiversity and human wellbeing crises. Founded by a group of renowned conservation scientists together with Leonardo DiCaprio, Re:wild is a force multiplier that brings together Indigenous peoples, local communities, influential leaders, nongovernmental organizations, governments, companies and the public to protect and rewild at the scale and speed we need. Learn more at rewild.org. Alianza Mesoamericana de Pueblos y Bosques (AMPB) The AMPB is a space for coordination and exchange of territorial authorities that administer or influence the main forest masses of Mesoamerica. Indigenous governments and community forestry organizations that in the Alliance seek to strengthen their own dialogue, focused on community management of their natural resources, jointly seeking to influence governments and international cooperation so that biodiversity conservation strategies and for the climate balance, appropriately integrate the rights and benefits of Indigenous Peoples and Forest Communities. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:40:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21394 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21395/Agricultural-burns-wildfires-and-air-quality-in-Mesoamerica-International-Day-of-Clean-Air-for-blue-skies.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21395 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21395&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21395/Agricultural-burns-wildfires-and-air-quality-in-Mesoamerica-International-Day-of-Clean-Air-for-blue-skies.aspx by Víctor Hugo Ramos · WCS Mesoamerica and the Caribbean In mid-April 2020, a thick blanket of smoke covered a significant portion of Honduras, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico, affecting the air quality breathed by nearly 20 million people. This phenomenon persisted for 30 consecutive days, with varying degrees of impact across different regions. The origin of this event lay in the combustion of biomass resulting from agricultural burns and wildfires, fueled by conditions of low humidity and high temperatures during the peak of the dry season. Fire has been used as an agricultural tool worldwide for thousands of years, but in modern times, the scale of such incidents poses extremely harmful problems for forests, wildlife, and the public health of human populations. In the context of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, whose theme this year is "Together for Clean Air," it is crucial to acknowledge how climatological phenomena like El Niño can exacerbate the issue of wildfires in Mesoamerica and their impact on the 5 Great Forests. Photo: MODIS TERRA True Color, April 23, 2020. Source: Worldview, NASA, Moderate Resolution Imaging SpectroradiometerPhoto: When agricultural burning is not carried out with good fire management and safety practices, it can turn into an uncontrolled wildifre.Photo: A blue sky, one afternoon on Flores Island, Petén, Guatemala. The smoke from wildfires and burning plant material is primarily composed of very fine (microscopic) particles and gases that can deeply penetrate the respiratory system of those who breathe them. Exposure to these particles and gases can lead to transient issues such as eye and respiratory tract irritation. In cases of long-term exposure, wildfire smoke can be the cause or aggravating factor of serious heart and lung diseases, ultimately resulting in preventable premature deaths. More recently, possible additional connections have been established between wildfire and burn smoke and the reduction of cognitive capacity, potential disorders in children born to pregnant women exposed to smoke, and the diminished effectiveness of the immune system. The problem of wildfires and the misuse of fire as an agricultural tool is endemic in our region and affects different countries to varying degrees. Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and Nicaragua have experienced catastrophic fire events in the last 25 years, often associated with prolonged droughts combined with abnormally high temperatures. The emphasis on this issue has largely focused on conservation, forests, and wildlife, but the dimension related to human health deserves more attention. It is a problem that reduces the quality of life over extended periods and potentially leads to premature deaths. Photo: Jaguars and tapirs captured in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Forest fires affect wildlife habitat as well as the air quality in forests. In a year marked by the presence of the El Niño phenomenon, with global temperatures reaching historic levels, we make a call to action to prepare ourselves and implement better measures for fire management, preventing wildfires from affecting wildlife, air quality, and public health. A comprehensive approach that combines prevention, management, and awareness of the impacts of wildfire smoke on human health is essential to ensure a blue sky and clean air in Mesoamerica. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 20:12:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21395 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21369/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21369 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21369&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21369/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-943feb885714:21369 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21365/Breakthrough-Study-Shows-No-take-Marine-Reserves-Benefit-Overfished-Reefs.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21365 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21365&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21365/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-943feb885714:21365 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21384/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21384 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21384&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21384/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-943feb885714:21384 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21377/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21377 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21377&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21377/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-943feb885714:21377 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21373/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21373 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21373&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21373/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-943feb885714:21373 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21387/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21387 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21387&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21387/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-943feb885714:21387 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21378/BELIZE-PASSES-FISHERIES-BILL.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21378 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21378&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21378/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-943feb885714:21378 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21386/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21386 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21386&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21386/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-943feb885714:21386 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21370/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21370 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21370&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21370/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-943feb885714:21370 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21385/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21385 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21385&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21385/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-943feb885714:21385 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21371/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21371 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21371&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21371/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-943feb885714:21371 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21389/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21389 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21389&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21389/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-943feb885714:21389 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21382/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21382 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21382&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21382/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-943feb885714:21382 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21368/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21368 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21368&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21368/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-943feb885714:21368 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21376/WCS-Offers-Tribute-to-Dr-Alan-Rabinowitz.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21376 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21376&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21376/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-943feb885714:21376 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21391/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21391 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21391&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21391/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-943feb885714:21391 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21392/WCSs-Queens-Zoo-Helps-Howler-Monkeys-Thrive-in-Belize.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21392 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21392&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21392/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-943feb885714:21392 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21383/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21383 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21383&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21383/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-943feb885714:21383 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21388/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=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21388 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21388&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21388/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-943feb885714:21388 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21393/Belize-Implements-National-Sustainable-Fisheries-Reforms.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21393 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21393&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21393/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-943feb885714:21393 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21390/WCS-Scientist-Honored-by-Queen-Elizabeth-II.aspx#Comments 0 https://belize.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=24058&ModuleID=52482&ArticleID=21390 https://belize.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21390&PortalID=177&TabID=24058 https://belize.wcs.org/es-es/Sala-de-Noticias/ID/21390/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-943feb885714:21390