South Water Caye Marine Reserve Community Engagement Strategy

This report provides recommendations for community engagement and empowerment strategies targeted at Dangriga and Hopkins that encourage stakeholder participation in the management and conservation of the natural resources of the Marine Reserve, contributing towards Outcome 2 of the MAR Fund KfW project for Conservation of Marine Resources in Central American (South Water Caye Marine Reserve). “The participation of civil society in best management practices and the sustainable use of marinecoastal resources has been advanced.”

The report also looks at the enabling environment required for successful engagement of communities, with identification of synergies and areas for strengthening of communication, collaboration and coordination across stakeholders at the local level. This is essential to achieve strong, long term, sustainable outcomes with proactive participation of communities in the management of the protected area, and promotion of ownership.