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 threatened by poaching and habitat loss. Red Bank Village serves as their habitat and feeding grounds particularly during their peak feeding period from December to March. As such, the Macaws are the focus of the lodging, birding and hiking guided tours offered by SMBBG. Tourists come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the Macaws.

The village is also considered a buffer community to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS) managed by BAS, which makes SMBBG one of their major stakeholders. The OPP training formed part of the Group’s Conservation Action Plan (CAP) which was finalized in October 2016 with the assistance of BAS and UB ERI. It was delivered through a PowerPoint presentation and facilitation by UB ERI’s Training Officer, Ms. Giselle Borland, Administrative/Marketing Officer, Ms. Pia Gregoire and Administrative/Financial Manager, Mr. Ian Sangster.

The topics covered included:

• Defining Policies & Procedures

• Why Do We Need Policies and Procedures?

• How Policies and Procedures Flow From An Organization's Basic Values

• Comparison of Policies & Procedures

• Types of Policies & Procedures

• Steps To Create Policies

• Steps To Create Procedures

• Simple Writing Techniques

• Formats for OPP Manual

• Checklists For Policies & Procedures

The participants included 11 members of SMBBG and 2 employees from BAS as shown in the chart below:

All participants were presented with a certificate at the end of the training.

The end result will be an Operational Policies and Procedures manual specific to SMBBG which will serve as guide for the Group’s operations going forward.

UB ERI would like take this opportunity to thank our partner, BAS, and the members of SMBBG for making this training possible.

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