PACT Challenge 2007

PACT Challenge 2007 organizers

In September 2007 Middle Caye hosted the PACT Challenge reconnaissance team, helping them organise this second edition. The organisers had an intensive day of snorkelling, kayaking and diving and felt sure that this stage of the Challenge would indeed be challenging!

What is PACT?

The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is an environmental trust fund serving an enabling and empowering role in the conservation, preservation, enhancement, and management of Belize's natural resources and protected areas.

To learn more about PACT and its conservation role in Belize, please visit their site at www.pactbelize.org

What is the Pact Challenge?

This will be the second year PACT will organised the PACT Challenge. It's main goal is to promote the importance of conservation and sustainable management of Belize’s marine resources.

The specific objectives of the PACT Challenge 2007 are: (from www.pactbelize.org)

To promote awareness of Belize’s natural resources;
To promote and stimulate interest for the sustainability of these resources;
To generate financial support for the management of these resources;
To understand and highlight the natural, social economic and cultural conditions associated with the management of these resources.

The Challenge hopes to address the following broad areas: the current status of the marine environment; management issues in the marine environment; importance of MPAs as a sustainable fisheries management tool; and Funding for MPA management in Belize.

Why Glovers Reef?

Glovers Reef is one of the Marine Reserve which is part of the Belize Reef System included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site. Many important research and conservation projects take place on the atoll, including monitoring the Nassau Grouper Aggregation Sites, monitoring commercial species such as conchs and monitoring the state of corals. This gives opportunities for the PACT challengers to get first hand experience in activities to protect this fragile environment.

PACT Challenge organizers after a busy day of snorkelling, diving and kayaking.

Middle Caye will be the hosting ground for the Challengers.

We hope to see many of you and Good Luck!!!!