Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts: “We saw the need to work together.”

The agreement will last for five years, during which both organizations will regularly review their progress and work together on projects to improve Belize’s conservation efforts. PACT and the Belize Fund are dedicated to supporting Belize’s National Protected Areas System, which protects the country’s natural and cultural treasures and vital ecosystem services.

 

Abil Castaneda, Executive Director, PACT

“This was a few months in the making, to be honest, even before my arrival at PACT there was already some discussions happening about how both funds can really begin to work with one another for the sake of conservation and of building Belize and communities.  But I must say, as was related in the introduction, we are very happy, we are very pleased and excited to be with a signed document, even though we started well before we signed the document.  But at the end of the day, it is about putting Belize first.  It is about ensuring that we put all of our resources together to make sure we achieve the commitments and the goals we have for sustainable development.  As the minister put it, there is a huge financing gap in conservation in Belize, around the world, but Belize is no exception.”

 

 

Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director, B.F.S.F.

“We saw the need to work together, coordinate and rationalize what the real need was to be able to provide funding that compliments each other rather than duplicate.  So that’s one of the biggest drivers, of course, as two funds with similar missions we are all working for the same space in Belize and we felt that it was important for us to partner where we can look at joint efforts for mobilizing additional funding from outside.  So, you know, two is better than one and working separately.  So we’re looking forward to this partnership and we see that it was just natural to get together and work because rather than compete, then we work, you know, can partner.”