Important Achievements at Bocas del Polochic

»  Recognition as a RAMSAR area (wetland of international importance).

»  A successful environmental education program.

»  Construction of infrastructure in the scientific station Selempim.

»  Construction of the communal guest house and restaurant for the Chapín Abajo community.

»  Support for the organization of the fishing sector. 

»  Declaration of five Private Natural Reserves for the consolidation of the biological corridor between the Refuge and Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve (RBSM, for its initials in Spanish).

»  Own offices of the Foundation at El Estor, Izabal.

»  Long-term financial plan for the administration and management of the Refuge.

Challenges of Bocas del Polochic

»  Implement actions to encourage a sustainable and participative management of the fishing sector at Izabal lake and the Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Refuge.

»  Creation of a Consultant Council and a Council of the Community motivated to participate in the management.

»  Strengthen the relations and community work.

»  Establish a biological and sociocultural monitoring system by agro-industrial and opencast mining of influence in the Wildlife Refuge.

»  Obtain the ministerial agreement for the recognition of the RVSBP-RBSM biological corridor by means of a model of “Joint Management of Productive Landscapes”.

»  Consolidate the Biological Monitoring Program of RVSBP (water quality, manatee and resident and migrant birds).

»  Decrease the illegal hunting of endangered species like manatee, lizard, turtle, iguana, Saraguate monkey (black howler monkey).

»  Consolidate the ecotourism and community tourism processes at the RVSBP.