It is widely recognised that the BBRRS-WHS faces increasing levels of threats from mangrove clearance, dredging and development, urban growth, land run-off from agriculture, aquaculture effluents, uncontrolled tourism growth, over fishing, illegal fishing, shipping pollution and waste, physical impacts (boats, anchors, snorkellers/divers), climate change and disease. However there is little understanding of these concerns at a local level, concerns that do and will further impact communities and livelihoods. The unfortunate fact is that most Belizeans have never even seen their world-famous Barrier Reef and have no experiential connection with marine life and marine ecosystems except as consumers of marine products. Until we can personalize this relationship between human life and marine life, we will have a difficult time garnering local support for marine conservation efforts (McField and Bood, 2007).

The goal of this project is to increase knowledge and awareness of the marine environment through the wider dissemination of knowledge and education in Marine Science, conservation protocol and information among coastal residents and our primary target audience, students. The project has two main objectives:

1. Establish a training program to build the capacity of teachers in the Stann Creek District in Marine Science Education, Conservation and Field Leadership
2. Establish and implement a Marine Science Education Program into the school curriculum and host field excursions to the South Water Caye Marine Reserve for each primary school in the Stann Creek District.

These objectives will be achieved by a series of activities that focus on building the capacity of local educators, developing the knowledge and skills of students and other community members, and pave the way for the support of MPA management and the future development of environmental and conservation programs:

1. The development of a Marine Science Education Program to be implemented in Standard IV, V and VI classes in the Stann Creek District
2. To conduct a Teacher Training Workshop in Marine Environmental Science for Standard IV, V and VI science teachers in the Stann Creek District
3. The development and publication of a teachers? manual and student workbook
4. Provision of an educational fieldtrip to SWCMR for Standard IV, V and VI students in the Stann Creek District

The project will use the Teachers? Guide for Primary Schools (Coastal and Marine Resources) Manual, MBRS Technical Document No. 11 which has been approved by the Curriculum Development Unit of the Ministry of Education (QUADS) as the basis for the Education Program. It will directly support part of The Belize National Protected Areas System Plan by promoting the sustainable use of Belize?s protected areas by educating and encouraging resource users and the general public to properly conserve the biological diversity contained in these areas in order to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all (Belize National Protected Areas System Plan, 2005). Our project further supports and relates to the Third Strategic Objective -?building alliances to benefit Belizeans? - of the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institutes (CZMAI) National Integrated Coastal Zone Management Strategy for Belize under one of its key objectives: Education, awareness and communication - Environmental education and public awareness are amongst the most critical activities to promote conservation and sustainable management of coastal resources (CZMAI, 2002).