Blog | uberi

Jan 31, 2019
1 min

Joe's Internship Experience

When I started working with the UB ERI and Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) I was immediately given a truly rewarding project. I was left in charge of the development of a project that would carry on for years to come and have a significant effect on the monitoring on the Turneffe Atoll. I am truly grateful for the confidence the UB ERI and TASA had placed in me to perform this duty. It is my hope that this project will continue to be improved and carried on f

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Environmental Leadership through Participatory Management for Natural Resources Workshop

Admin/Marketing Officer

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

Environmental Leadership through Participatory Management for Natural Resources Workshop

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) and the Syracuse University (SU) Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs offered training sessions aimed at increasing skills in environmental leadership through participatory management. There is increased recognition that effective governance of protected areas requires participation by stakeholders in decision-making, including those at the local level. This workshop was essential in enhancing part

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Apr 3, 2018
1 min

Christian's Sea Cucumber Internship

Before I started my internship with UB ERI, I was working at an inn and beach resort as a waiter. Working in the tourism industry taught me that my true passion was in the outdoors. Therefore, when I saw the vacancy for this internship, I knew I had to apply for it. The day I received the call for the interview I quit my old job because I knew that I could get an opportunity to prove myself. Today, I am glad I quit because this internship is full of learning experiences that

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FRM Interns: From the Field to the Classroom

Admin/Marketing Officer

Jan 19, 2018
1 min

FRM Interns: From the Field to the Classroom

When our Forest Research and Monitoring (FRM) interns are not in the field measuring Permanent Sample Plots (PSP), they are facilitating workshops. In the photo above, intern Delwin Guevara explains the make-up of a leaf at a short workshop to introduce members of the university’s chapter of the International Forestry Student Association (IFSA) and Environmental Club to plant taxonomy and identification. The twelve (12) students in attendance were shown the basic vegetative c

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Transforming Teaching for Sustainable Solutions

Admin/Marketing Officer

Jan 9, 2018
1 min

Transforming Teaching for Sustainable Solutions

UB ERI's Administrative Director and Science Director (Terrestrial), Dr. Elma Kay, delivered an inspirational TED Talk entitled "Transforming Teaching for Sustainable Solutions" at the TEDxBelmopan event held last September. In her talk, Dr. Kay called on Belizeans to rethink their approach to education, in an effort to close the gap in science and innovation. Dr. Kay's speech can be viewed below: Source: TEDxBelmopan #UBERI #TEDTalk #TEDx #Belmopan #SustainableSolutions #Tra

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Aug 10, 2017
2 min

Young Marine Explorers

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) has successfully implemented the “Young Marine Explorers” education and outreach program aimed at promoting and fostering an appreciation for the marine ecosystems of Belize among upper division primary school students. This program, which ran from March 2016 to May 2017, gave Belizean students ranging from ages 9 to 15 a unique opportunity to experience the marine and coastal environment at the Turneffe Atoll

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Strengthening the Rio Blanco Mayan Association’s Governance

Admin/Marketing Officer

Jul 26, 2017
1 min

Strengthening the Rio Blanco Mayan Association’s Governance

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) delivered a successful governance strengthening training to the Board of Directors of Rio Blanco Mayan Association (RBMA) at the Rio Blanco National Park (RBNP) in Santa Cruz, Toledo District from July 14-15, 2017. Declared an ‘Indigenous People’s Park’ in 1992, the Rio Blanco National Park is managed by residents of the surrounding Maya villages of Santa Elena and Santa Cruz via the RBMA. The members of RBMA

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Jun 15, 2017
1 min

Oksana's Internship Experience

My name is Oksana Grente, a French student from the University of the French West Indies (Guadeloupe, Caribbean Island). I came to the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) to complete my Master Thesis in order to obtain my Master Degree in Tropical Forest Ecology. Over the past six (6) months I worked with the Wildlife Team, especially with Dr. Bart Harmsen and Dr. Rebecca Foster, on the subject of jaguar ecology. I used their incredible database of

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Scarlet Macaw Bed & Breakfast Group Receives OPP Training

Admin/Marketing Officer

Apr 28, 2017
2 min

Scarlet Macaw Bed & Breakfast Group Receives OPP Training

Through the support of the Belize Audubon Society (BAS), the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) delivered an Operational Policies and Procedures (OPP) training to the Scarlet Macaw Bed and Breakfast Group (SMBBG) in Red Bank Village, Stann Creek District, from March 25-26 and April 1-2, 2017, in an effort to build the Group’s overall capacity. SMBBG plays an important role in the conservation of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) – an endangered species th

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Building Capacity of Natural Resources Managers

Admin/Marketing Officer

Apr 12, 2017
2 min

Building Capacity of Natural Resources Managers

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) in partnership with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University have successfully implemented the final workshops under the “Environmental Governance and Conflict Management in Belize” Project. The goal of the project was to build capacity within the natural resource management sector by equipping participants with creative and successful problem solving, facilitation, engageme

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Sea Cucumber Lead Researcher Publishes in Beche-de-mer

Stimulating Young Environmental Stewards

Admin/Marketing Officer

Mar 14, 2017
1 min

Stimulating Young Environmental Stewards

The University of the Belize Environmental Research (UB ERI) collaborated with the UB Early Childhood Stimulation Centre early today to deliver a presentation to students during their Earth Day activities which forms part of Child Stimulation Month. The activities began with an interactive presentation by UB ERI’s Administrative/Marketing Officer, Pia Gregoire, on the importance of trees. Students learned that we need to plant trees to provide a habitat for wildlife, food and

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Feb 27, 2017
2 min

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) has taken steps this year to become more environmentally sustainable through the implementation of a recycling program at both the Calabash Caye Field Station (CCFS) and the Belmopan Office. The initiative at CCFS stemmed from a trash survey conducted by the Field Station Manager, Nicole Craig, where she looked at the impact of the supplies brought to the island and how the trash was being disposed. Ms. Craig

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Collaborating for Belize's National Herbarium

Admin/Marketing Officer

Nov 14, 2016
2 min

Collaborating for Belize's National Herbarium

A herbarium can be thought of as a library but instead of books it is stocked with carefully preserved plants containing detailed information on taxonomic classification, ecology and habitat among other things. Belize’s National Herbarium (BRH) is housed at the Forest Department office in Belmopan and boasts over 12,000 specimens in its general collection. This amounts to approximately 200 families, 1,000 genera and 2,700 species; the most comprehensive representation of Beli

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Nov 7, 2016
1 min

Exploring Sea Cucumber Aquaculture

Dr. Arlenie Rogers, Sea cucumber lead researcher and marine research fellow at the UB ERI recently attended a sea cucumber aquaculture training at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico. This training which stemmed from the stakeholders meeting organised by Dr. Rogers in July, was funded by the private sector through an upcoming initiative to explore sea cucumber aquaculture in Belize. Attending the training were shrimp fa

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Oct 5, 2016
2 min

UB ERI Restoring Orbicella

On a few spectacular nights a year, under the dark ocean’s surface, the potential for new life fills the ocean. Species of coral release their gametes of sperm and eggs into the water from each of their tiny polyps to allow for sexual reproduction. The reality of the situation however, is that coral colonies, some several hundreds of years old, are in great danger. They are threatened globally by the onslaught of pollution, sedimentation, climate-change, disease, reckless fis

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Sep 5, 2016
1 min

UB ERI Hosts Staff Retreat

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) held a two-day staff retreat at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve from September 2 – 3, 2016. Staff from the Belmopan office and the Calabash Caye Field Station came together on day one at the Hidden Valley Inn to participate in a series of team building activities facilitated by UB Counsellor, Ms. Anna Sambula. The fun-filled activities allowed staff to become familiar with each other’s role and to learn

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Admin/Marketing Officer

Aug 16, 2016
2 min

Darwin SUSFOR: Fun with leaves!

The people in this photo look like they’re having fun, don’t they? Yes, that is a scanner and yes, those are leaves. So, why are they scanning leaves? To better understand the response of tropical forests to climate change, the Darwin Initiative funded Sustainable Forestry in Belize (Darwin SUSFOR) project has established and is monitoring multiple intensive ecosystem monitoring plots by the recommendations of the Amazon Forest Inventory Network (RAINFOR)/Global Ecosystem Mon

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UB ERI, UWI and Stakeholders Examine Sea Cucumber as a Viable Option for Belize Aquaculture

Admin/Marketing Officer

Jul 7, 2016
2 min

UB ERI, UWI and Stakeholders Examine Sea Cucumber as a Viable Option for Belize Aquaculture

On Thursday June 30, 2016, 25 stakeholders of the Belize aquaculture industry met at the UB ERI to obtain first-hand information on Sea Cucumber production and to examine the support and additional investments required to harness greater returns from this burgeoning specialty export market. The forum involved representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce, the Belize Fisheries Department, the Aquaculture Unit, Sea cucumber

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