After several years of consultation and meetings with various government and non-government organizations, the private sector, and international organizations, PACT was formally established in January 1996 with the passing of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, No. 15 of 1995, creating the institution as a Statutory Board. As provided for in the Act, the functions of PACT “…….shall be to encourage and promote, for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations of the people of Belize, the provision, protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural resources of Belize”. The concept of PACT was an innovative and collaborative effort to preserve, conserve, enhance, and manage Belize’s natural and cultural resources for sustainable use.
PACT was established in 1996 out of the need for a coordinating force that could help in the nationwide effort to maximize the conservation, preservation, enhancement and management of Belize’s natural and cultural resources. The initial priorities of PACT were to address terrestrial, marine, natural and cultural resources, including protected areas, eco-tourism development, improvements at archaeological sites, and community participation. These priorities reflected the policies of the Ministries of Natural Resources and the Environment, Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperative, and Tourism. PACT started with an initial support amounting to BZ $72,000 from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through NARMAP and has grown to a BZ $5 million fund today. In its evolution, PACT has worked toward institutionalizing operational systems for which several manuals (Personnel Policy, Grants Programme, Accounting Manual) have been developed and implemented. Some historical milestones of PACT are shown in the table below.
Some Historical Milestones of PACT
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1991
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Idea for setting up a trust fund for protected areas was conceived
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1996, January
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Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, No. 15 of 1995, was passed
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1996, June
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PACT came into operation
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2000, May
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Evaluation of the First Five Year Strategic Plan
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2001, August
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Evaluation of the First Five Year Strategic Plan
PACT participated in the first Debt for Nature Swap negotiations to allow for 25% of the “swap” to create the PACT foundation to provide small grants to local NGOs
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2002, March
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Grants Programme Manual revised
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2002, July
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Accounting Manual developed
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2002, September
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External Evaluation of Projects commenced
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2002, November
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Amended legislation to streamline the administration procedures of the Trust to improve accountability and transparency
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2003, July
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Personnel Policy Manual revised
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2003, August
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PACT Strategic Planning Process started (2004 –2009)
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2003, October
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PACT Chairs Task Force to develop the National Protected Areas Policy and System Plan for Belize
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2004, April
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MAR Fund established, PACT is Belize’s founding member
PACT Foundation Established
Grants Portfolio expanded to include large grants and capacity building grants. First Large grant awarded to the Forest Department
Memorandum of Understanding signed with INCAE and Earth Universities respectively to jointly support scholarships for Belizeans
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2005, March
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First PACT Challenge successfully conducted, over S2 million raised for Chiquibul Forest
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2006, December
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Memorandum of Understanding signed with the University of Belize to support the establishment of the NRM Bachelors Degree program
Board Manual Developed
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2007, June
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Second PACT Challenge successful, over $1.5 million raised for marine conservation
Development of the PACT Environmental Education Strategy
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2008
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Communication strategy and guidelines developed
Partnership agreement with the Oak Foundation signed to equally invest in Marine conservation
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2009, December
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First Comprehensive Institutional Review of PACT commissioned
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2010, July
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Third Strategic Plan completed and endorsed by the Cabinet
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