PACT Provides $604,000 in funding support to the “Safeguarding the Livelihood and Well-Being of the Buffer Community of Sarteneja for the Protection of the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary” Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2023— (Sarteneja, CZL) The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) today launched a project investment valued at $604,000 for the improvement of Sarteneja Village’s potable water system. The investment, within the Trust’s climate finance work portfolio, aims to contribute to community resiliency by ensuring that the community improves its access to safe potable water, while also enabling Sarteneja’s readiness to maximize the socio-economic benefits derived from the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary through development of tourism, local enterprises, and other alternative livelihoods. A total of 3,000 residents from approximately 500 households stand to benefit from this initiative.
In addition to furthering PACT’s mission to sustainably enhance Belize’s socio-ecological systems through strategic financing and partnerships, this latest investment contributes to Belize’s achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ensuring the availability of safe, potable, and affordable drinking water is at the core of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, while the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial watersheds contributes to SDG 15. In illustrating the connections between achieving these goals and community benefit, and in providing finance for these initiatives, creating development opportunities for community members, and engaging in multi-sectoral partnerships such as this one, PACT is also strengthening the means of implementation, as outlined in SDG 17.
With the core values of Leadership, Collaboration, and Good Stewardship in mind, PACT continues to support the Government of Belize and its conservation stakeholders through efforts such as these. The project will be executed by the Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government.
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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. PACT contributes to the effective management of Belize’s National Protected Areas System (NPAS) through strategic partnerships and high impact investments. The PACT is managed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of Government agencies, non-government organizations and individual experts.