The financial burden of organizations who co-manage natural protected areas is mostly so hefty that they often fall short of their their financing targets even to meet operational costs. Take FCD for example. They manage the Chiquibul Rain Forest but because it is not so much of a tourist attraction, they are often faced with difficulties in meeting their operational costs. The Protected Areas Conservation Trust, PACT, serves as a funding agency for these co-managing organizations.
Each year, for the past 20 years, PACT has been disbursing monies to NGO's on a proposal basis- but even that is not enough. So with the financial crisis very real PACT is changing the way it does business, from being an organization that only provides grants to one that investments in the environment. They held a press conference today at the Radisson Hotel, where they spoke about the way forward it relates to these fundamental changes of PACTS operational responsibilities.
Dr. Collin Young, Chairman - PACT
"As many people may know, there was an amendment to the PACT act from 2003 that was completed in October of 2015. That PACT amendment act went into force on October 22nd of 2015. That piece of legislation essentially expanded the role and function of the PACT from and institution that essentially just provided grants, to one that is now responsible, not only in financing conservations, but also to ensure that a number of key management functions occur. PACT is 20 years old and has always just managed funding and granted those on a competitive basis to our partners. The PACT amendment act however has now changed fundamentally, both the role and functions PACT and as a result the institution must now change the meet the mandates of the new legislation."
Dr. Elma Kay, Interim Chairperson - Grants Committee
"Even at this stage as we transition into what is the new role of PACT and the new funding envelope, in terms of the requests that are already in the pipeline, we have been working hand in hand to make sure that from the get-go, the proposals are strong, clearly articulated and have clear indicators that we can use for monitoring and evaluation of those to ensure that they have an impact. I think that is one of the main messages that we want to bring across today as a board that really when we're looking at the new transformed PACT is really making sure that the money you invest is really getting impact for the protected areas."
Now while the PACT Amendment Bill was passed last year October, the organization is only just feeling its way around to begin to operationalize the amendment bill. As a result the organization has embarked on several key strategies including the developing of a five year strategic plan for National Protected Areas System; PACT's Five Year Strategic Plan; Institutional assessment and skills gap assessment; and conducting a Willingness to Pay Survey to provide an evidence based approach for departure fee increases for tourists.
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