Areas Co-management Agreements with Conservation Partners

Belmopan, March 16, 2023

The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management officially continued the formalization of public-private partnerships (or co-management) for several protected areas across the National Protected Areas System (NPAS) with several of its conservation partners.

Co-management agreements were signed with conservation partners for the following followings sites:

• Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD)

– Bacalar Chico National Park

• Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative (CSFI) – North-Eastern Biological Corridor

• Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) –Payne’s Creek National Park

• Ya’axche Conservation Trust (YCT) – Bladen Nature Reserve

These agreements are site-based and entail the necessary scope, coverage, and commitments to comprehensively address gaps related to financial accountability and transparency, reporting and data availability. Additionally, they allow for greater collaboration between government and conservation partners and endeavour to enhance governance of the NPAS for the benefit of the Belizean people.

Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate

Change, and Disaster Risk Management, highlighted that “the collaboration doesn’t end today with the signing of the agreement but has to be long-standing, and our partnership should be here to stay for many years.”

At the signing of the agreements, Joel Verde, Executive Director of the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development, expressed how honoured they are to have been given the responsibility of managing Bacalar

25 Sep 2020

Chico National Park. Mr. Verde affirmed that they are committed to ensuring that they “bring an open and participatory approach as custodians of this important protected area – part of Belize’s World Heritage Site, focused on maintaining the ecological values and services, as well as the benefits it provides for its stakeholder communities.”

Christina Garcia, Executive Director of Ya'axché Conservation Trust, emphasized that “through a renewed co-management agreement, Ya'axché is committed to continuing its collaborative efforts with the Government of Belize to maintain the ecological integrity of the Bladen Nature Reserve, known as the "Crown Jewel" of Belize's protected areas.”

The Belize Times

A total of 16 of 36 site agreements have now been signed and will be managed under the new Co-Management Framework. The National Biodiversity Office, within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, continues to implement these initiatives geared towards strengthening governance, management effectiveness, and financial sustainability of the NPAS. These initiatives include the launch of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool, the Biodiversity Impact and Investment Tracking Tool, and business and investment training, among others.

Invitation To Consulting Firms To Submit Expressions Of Interest

Operation Data

Country: Belize

Operation: Belize Integral Security Programme (BISP)

Operation No: 2147

Consulting Data

Name of the Consultancy: Final Infrastructure Design for the National Forensic Science Service Selection Method: Quality and Cost-Based Selection

Reference number: Nº CABEI-CS 002-2147/2023

The Government of Belize has received financing from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration for the Belize Integral Security Programme (BISP), and it is intended to use a portion of the funds for consulting service contracts.

The Consulting services (“the services”) include: a) Needs assessment report; and b) Design of a National Forensic Science Services Complex.

The Ministry of Economic Development invites eligible consulting firms to express their interest in providing the requested services. Interested consultants shall provide information indicating that they are qualified to provide the services and may partner with other firms in the form of a Joint Venture (JV) or subconsultants to improve their qualifications. The criteria for shortlist selection are found within the respective Terms of Reference.

Belize National Prayer

Almighty and Eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed Your Glory to all nations, please protect and preserve Belize, our beloved country.

God of might, wisdom and justice, please assist our Belizean government and people with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude.

Let Your light of Your divine wisdom direct their plans and endeavours so that with Your help we may attain our just objectives.

With Your guidance, may all our endeavours tend to peace, social justice, liberty, national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge.

We pray, O God of Mercy, for all of us that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Your most holy law, that we may be preserved in union and, in that peace which the world itself cannot give.

And, after enjoying the blessings of this life, please admit us, dear Lord, to that eternal reward that You have prepared for those who love You. Amen.

Interested Consulting Firms can obtain the Terms of Reference at no cost by requesting them by email: procurementofficerii.bisp@med.gov.bz, projectcoordinator.bisp@med.gov.bz or by accessing the electronic portal (https://blz-cppnb.caricom.org or https://med.gov.bz or https://devbusiness.un.org) before the deadline date indicated below.

Consultants will be selected using the method of Quality and Cost Based Selection described in the Regulations for the Application of the Procurement Policy available at www.bcie.org.

Interested consultants can obtain more information at the address indicated at the end of this invitation, during business hours of 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Expressions of interest package together with the information indicated in the Terms of Reference must be hand delivered at the address below, no later than Monday, April 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

Elvis Requena

Project Coordinator

Belize Integral Security Programme (BISP)

Programme Executing Unit

1904 Constitution Drive 2nd Floor, Unit #3 Belmopan City, Belize C.A. projectcoordinator.bisp@med.gov.bz