The co-management project is an initiative of the Maya Leaders' Alliance to bring the government and the local people in decision making in the management of land and resources where the management and development decisions will be based on data and information contributed through research by both parties.

This is a joint project with the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The co-management focuses mainly on what was stated in the 10 points of agreement signed between the Government of Belize and the Maya people of southern Belize.

This Agreement sets the stage for the larger political accord called for by the Maya Leaders and it identifies the steps for "finding a solution" to some of the most pressing issues that affect the land, resource and human rights of the Maya Peoples of southern Belize. It has also become apparent that the signing of the ten points of agreement will have an important but a positive impact on the co-management has been selected by the Maya Leaders as one of the key mechanisms that can provide the governance and technical support needed to implement the Ten Points of Agreement.

The Ten Points of Agreement calls for implementing processes that will encourage both the protection as well as the sustainable development of Maya land and resources through partnerships between the GOB and the Maya of Southern Belize.

In the Agreement point 7 states:
That the first consideration of partnership between the GOB and the Maya Leaders will be the establishment of a program to address the urgent land needs of the Maya Communities of the South, including the surveying and the distribution of lands or establishing and protecting communal lands, depending on the various needs of the Maya communities. The GOB and the Maya Leaders shall develop... a frame work and target dates as well as administrative and other measures for the implementation of the program.

Furthermore, point 8 states in part that:
The second consideration of the (GOB and Maya) Partnership shall be to develop within four months after the completion of the objectives in Point 7, a framework and target dates to resolve other (land and resource) matters of mutual concern, including:

a.) Sustainable management of natural resources within the Maya traditional land use areas, and equitable distribution of their benefits amongst the Maya communities;

b.) Protection of Maya cultural practices and, management of Maya cultural heritage;

c.) Reform and status of community governance institutions.

Co-management provides one of the only mechanisms acceptable to both the GOB and the Maya, that can be trusted to guide both the negotiations on and the implementation of, the land and resource issues within the agreement.

It is important to point out as well, that in addition to the experience that Canadian Inuit bring to the Co-management process, their experience in land use and occupancy studies as they relate to the type of land and resource issues raised in the Ten Points of Agreement will be of great value to the Maya of Toledo District.

Mission Statement:

OUR MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY MAYA LAND USE AND OCCUPANCY IN SOUTHERN BELIZE SO AS TO DEVELOP AN EQUITABLE LAND

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