Mensaje del Presidente
Mensaje del Presidente - Junio 2008 A
Dr. Angel Cal, Acting Provost of the University of Belize,
Dr. Elma Kay, Management Program, University of Belize and Chair of the MSBC Belize Chapter,
Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Management Program, University of Belize
Mr. Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, Friends for Conservation and Development
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to be part of the 2nd National Resources Management Symposium to discuss the priority issues on protected area, biodiversity and natural resources management in Belize. It is great to see so many enthusiastic young people, students, national and foreign researchers and conservationists, representative form the academic body and the Government, worried about Belize most beautiful treasures. I am very grateful to you, and to all of our guest speakers, for coming all the way here.
As you know, it has been a long time since Latin America's first protected area of some sort, Half Moon Caye Crown Reserve, has been declared as a bird sanctuary in Belize, a feat for which we all must feel very proud. Belize, there is no doubt, is such a unique multicultural realm within the larger Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, a true gem that its people have shaped and protected, and that is being admired beyond its frontier, with one foot planted in Central America's rainforest and the other dipped in the Caribbean.
I profoundly and genuinely believe in regional integration and in networking, not only because I know that ecosystems and species know no man-made boundaries, but also because in today's global realm, there is no other way to put conservation at work. Also, as we stand between the venerable walls of the University of Belize, of which I so totally embrace its motto, Education empowers a nation, I would like to briefly refer to education and natural resources management. The availability of human resources to implement national conservation priorities is a key component of any large-scale or national conservation work to be undertaken. Although increased rigor in conservation priority setting is clearly desirable, it makes little sense to create elaborate conservation investment plans without considering who will implement them. Efforts to improve biodiversity conservation will only truly be effective where local capacity and involvement is strong. And I know that the University of Belize, with about 300 faculty and 4.000 students will be instrumental in shaping the future of Belize.
I know most of you are already members of the MSBC but for those of you who aren't, I urge you to fill out a membership application so that you can enjoy all the benefits that our members enjoy here and during the rest of the year, such as discounts for the annual congress to be hold in El Salvador, and a subscription to our journal, Mesoamericana, which is open to everyone for publishing thoughts, research account and the wide array of interesting topics that you wish to share with your Mesoamerican colleagues.
From the Chair of the Mesoamerican Society for Biology and Conservation, I would like to acknowledge and thank our partners, the University of Belize, and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, to make possible such a promising event.
I would like also to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Elma Kay. Not only has she raised the Belize Chapter of the MSBC from virtual ashes, with the help of her fellow colleagues and students, but she has also converted the Chapter into one of the most active in the region, which is quiet an achievement in such a short time. Furthermore, our Belizean Chapter is already actively preparing our XIII Mesoamerican Congress for Biology and Conservation, which will happen here for the very first time in almost 15 years. I have received much positive feedback from last year's Natural Resources Management Symposium, and though I had planned to attend it, I was really saddened to miss such a wonderful opportunity to meet my Belizean colleagues. Fortunately enough, I will not miss a second chance, and I am feeling truly happy to be here amongst you.
I am very much looking forward to attend all the high-quality talks, and urge everyone to seize this unique opportunity during the next two days, to get a grasp at the many challenges that Belize may face in the wake of global warming and countless biodiversity loss. This symposium is most likely to be successful if we all participate - not just in presenting papers - but by being active participants in the discussion and by taking advantage of the networking opportunities. Conservation biologists can help build a strong biodiversity ethic by supporting science that better integrates the public into the process of understanding human impacts on biodiversity. Let's all be part of a deep reflection on what has been achieved so far, and let's all together unveil part of the solution. Let's jump form the "is" of science to the "should" of policy. I wish you all a very fruitful event.
Olivier Chassot
Chair 2006-2008
Mesoamerican Society for Biology and Conservation
University of Belize
Belmopan
June 11th, 2008