On Thursday 13th - Saturday 15th of August 2009 the first Belize Wildlife Conservation Networking Conference took place at Galen University in Central Farm. The main goal of the conference was to increase communication and collaboration between the Forest Department of Belize and the non-governmental wildlife conservation community.
The conference led to the creation of the "Belize Wildlife Conservation Network" (BWCN). Attendees included an impressive list of stakeholders in Belize's wildlife conservation community (see list of participants). The main goals for the BWCN are to increase communication, share information and enhance collaboration between the different entities working in wildlife conservation as well as interested individuals.
The Belize Wildlife Conservation Network's website will be open to the public and eventually also serve as a source of information for cases of human wildlife conflict and emergencies.
In discussion with the Forest Department the creation of a "Panel of Advisors" was encouraged. The BWCN Panel of Advisors was created to assist the Forest Department as consultants in questions relating to wildlife conservation.
Another suggested strategy to increase communication and colaboration were different "Workgroups". New workgroups suggested were "Avian", "Reptile" and "Conservation Education".
