Rural communities perceive the laws established to protect and conserve forest resources, essential to their survival, as a barrier to their development. The viability of the protected areas is threatened by the unsustainable survival strategies carried out by communities surrounding them. Government of Belize, 2002 Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) shows the Stann Creek District having 34.8% of its population being poor and this situation arises as a result of the communities? limited capacity to pursue sustainable livelihoods and limited actions to develop capacities and alternatives.

The goal of the proposed project is, ?to create sustainable alternative livelihood opportunities for members of the Cooperative? through its overall objective of ?improving income generating capacity through ecologically/environmentally friendly honey production.? Honey production is a family activity which provides income, generates employment and a reason to preserve natural areas to utilize the flora.

The project proposes to achieve the following main objectives:
1. Expand sustainable and clean honey production,
2. Encourage other members of communities that surrounds the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary to join the cooperative,
3. Strengthen and build the capacity of local farmers in honey production and other by-products,
4. Improve the processing and packaging of honey for value adding and improved marketing,
5. Enhance and market honey products on the domestic market as eco-friendly,
6. Foster the conservation of the indigenous flora and reduction of forest fires through a more sustainable use of the natural resources for biodiversity protection.

The goal and objectives of this project are not far fetched from GEF/SGP Country Programme Strategy?s vision of empowering community based organizations to improve the sustainable livelihood of their members thereby contributing to poverty alleviation. Moreover, it will promote a viable alternative, specifically honey production, to communities which will directly result in reducing extractive stress on biodiversity and ecosystems that are of local, national and global significance.

Apicultural activities in the Stann Creek District will help to maintain one of the most important protected areas in the country, which is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary that forms part of the primary watershed of Belize. This will contribute to the Mesoamerican region as this critical Biological Corridor is maintained.

The planning grant will facilitate the preparation of the proposal for alternative livelihoods through honey production by assisting institutional strengthening and strategic planning of the Maya Mopan Honey Producers Cooperative Society Ltd. The main purpose of the grant will be to involve the members of the cooperative in project planning and to start the process of building the capacity of the executive members to develop sustainable best practices in management. It will be used to provide logistical support to the Cooperative for obtaining inputs from members and other interested stakeholders in participating communities and members. Consultation meetings will be held in all communities that buffer the protected areas of the Stann Creek District. Planning grant funds will also assist with funding an initial planning and consultation workshop for the members.