______________________________________________________________________

Press Release

______________________________________________________________________
December 6, 2010   

On Monday December 6, 2010, the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) with funding from the Global Environmental Facility Trust Fund, which supports the Development Marketplace 2009 Global Competition, launched a project in Toledo entitled “ Building Q'eqchi' Maya Capacity, Flexibility, and Adaption to Climate Change through Community-based Sustainable Forest Management" in Belize. 

The launching was held at the Father Ring Parish Hall and included the participation of stakeholders from the buffer communities of the Sarstoon Temash National Park, local NGO’s and representatives from the Government.  The guest speaker for the event was Minister Peter Eden Martinez.  Other speakers includedSATIIM’s executive Director, Gregory Ch’oc; Mr. Marcelo Windsor from the Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources; the Alcalde of Crique Sarco; Luis Cho, the  Chairperson of the Community-Based Sustainable Forest Enterprise (CBSFE) in Conejo;Chairman of CBSFE in Santa Teresa xxxxxx; John Makin; and a presentation of the project was given by SATIIM’s Programs Manager,Lynette Gomez.

The objective of the project is to “diminish the effects of poverty and environmental degradation afflicting rural indigenous Maya communities by promoting community-based sustainable forest management enterprise.”  SATIIM believes that stimulating communities for community-based sustainable enterprises that are linked to conservation, environment and forest management provide a long term solution for communities and also mitigates climate change.  As a part of the project, SATIIM will:

1. Assist the community organization; 
2. Facilitate technical and administrative trainings; 
3. Assist in Forestry planning and the development of Forest management plans and annual plans of operations for sustainable forestry; 
4. Facilitate sustainable harvesting utilizing reduced impact logging techniques, a key element of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) which maintains economically viable log yields, improves the condition of regenerating forests and alleviates negative environmental effects; and
5. Pursuing equitable and competitive commercialization of products.