1999 Conservation Projects

Jump forward to see our 1999 rainforest conservation projects in Belize, Borneoand Kenya.

Belize 1999

Rancho Dolores

with the United Nations Development Programme

Community Centre construction

Building of a community centre in the village of Rancho Dolores, Central Belize. Opened by Belizean Deputy Prime Minister. This project was carried out on behalf of the Rancho Dolores Environmental and Development Group and was part-funded by the UNDP. The project site was situated west of Belize City at a place called Spanish Creek.

The community-based conservation project that the group worked with is a broad concept that strives to incorporate local people in the development process. By retaining control of the tourism industry, local people will potentially benefit from tourism by having the means and the motivation to support conservation efforts. The objective of the Rancho Dolores Environmental and Development Group is to preserve the natural resource base and rich biodiversity of the entire section of Spanish Creek within the boundary of Ranch Dolores. The information centre is managed by the group and is now the central hub of a wide range of conservation activity.

Las Cuevas

with the British Natural History Museum

Research area demarcation

Plotting and marking of a 50x50 hectare plot of jungle to be used by researchers at Las Cuevas, Maya Mountains. Las Cuevas is situated in the Cayo district in the South East of the country. It is a fairly mountainous region and consists of a combination of primary and secondary rainforest. It is home to the full range of Belizean wildlife, including jaguar, howler monkey, tapir and a whole host of stunning birdlife. Las Cuevas is the base for all research for the Natural History Museum in Belize.

Aguacaliente

with Aguacaliente Management and DFID

Visitor Centre construction

Construction of visitor centre in the new Aguacaliente Reserve in order to create necessary infrastructure to attract researchers and eco-tourists. Opened by British High Commissioner. Aguacaliente is an area of parkland in the far south of the country and covers five and a half thousand acres. It was passed as wildlife sanctuary in August 1999 year by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The centre is permanently manned by a warden. It is an ideal location for education awareness programmes and acts a patrol base for rangers who will monitor illegal logging and hunting. It will also be a first base for eco-tourist activities.

Payne's Creek

with Toledo Institute for the Development of the Environment

Community centre construction

Building an extremely impressive information/community centre at Payne’s Creek. The centre will be a base for eco-tourist activities such as sport, recreational fishing, wildlife and nature observation. By using it as an educational centre it will increase the awareness of how environmental protection and conservation can be an economic alternative to the present hunting and illegal practises within the park, and also show how small scale agriculture can run alongside eco-tourist development.

Hunting Caye

with Toledo Institute for the Development of the Environment

Jetty construction

Building of a jetty at Hunting Caye to prevent coral damage and promote eco-tourism. This project is linked to University College Belize, the Coastal Zone Management Team and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Hunting Caye is an island about twenty miles off the coast of Belize. It has extensive coral reef life at its shoreline and is home to some beautiful bird life. It is also a turtle nesting ground..

The jetty is now used by several organisations who will bring researchers and interns to the island. It is also used to moor assault boats used by the Belize Defence Force observation post situated on the island. The project looked to limit the amount of damage being inflicted on the delicate coral by visiting yachts. Belize has some of the largest areas of untouched coral in the world and so work has to be done to ensure that remains the case.

Borneo 1999

Sepilok

with Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Sepilok

Watchtower construction

Ex-trekker expedition to build an ornithologists’ watchtower on the edge of the centre to facilitate access to the far edge of the reserve. The centre is also the home for a vast array of birdlife.

Also the construction of three walkways and observation platforms at the centre to facilitate access to the centre by keepers and visitors alike.

Kenya 1999

Lernek

with Lemek town, Masai Mara

Primary school renovation and well construction

Renovation of Lemek and Enoosoito primary schools and construction of an elephant drinking well to prevent damage to village water sources. Following a request from the Chief and elders of Lemek County Council, the 19-strong group of trekkers worked on a number of different projects for the Maasai. Elephant had damaged part of the local water system so the trekkers constructed a large well for the animals to use and so not disturb water sources used by people and cattle. A second project involved the construction of a stone water tank to be used by the local village and the final task was to repair two classrooms in a local school which had fallen into disrepair. Once work was complete at the school it became much easier to house the many boarders who stay during the week.