Overview

The Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) consisted of two main assessment teams: ecological assessment and social assessment. The ecological assessment team collected baseline ecological data at Punta Negra Lagoon in the Paynes Creek National Park. The social assessment team collected community data on resident livelihoods, community capacity and local  priorities in Monkey River Village. Both teams were composed of faculty and students from the University of Belize and Penn State University. Community outreach and logistical support for the REA was provided by the Toledo Institute for Development and the Environment (TIDE).

The social assessment team (approximately 10 members) was based in Monkey River Village from March 6 to 11th.  Data collection involved team members working in pairs and small groups. Selected field methods were used as appropriate to gauge community perceptions, livelihoods and attitudes regarding protected lands and ecotourism potential in the region. The social assessment team hosted a community meeting with invited members of the village to discuss community priorities prior to leaving the field research site. A final social assessment report, based on field data gathered by the team, has been submitted to TIDE in May 2004.

Social Assessment Field Methods The main techniques used in the social assessment are based on a Peace Corps model called, “Participatory Analysis for Community Action”, and include: 

	Community Mapping (CM): locates different spheres of activity spatially over the community landscape and reflects gender differences in terms of labor, resources and integration into existing institutions inside/outside the community.
	Daily Activities (AD): identifies routine activities of men and women in their daily lives. Information provides insight into labor constraints of each group and how new community enterprises might be incorporated into daily life. Gender-specific data can demonstrate different perceptions of work load in community.
	Seasonal Calendars (SC): identifies gender-based patterns of labor, income and expenditure patterns, changes in household health, welfare and leisure time.
	Needs Assessment and Priority Ranking (NA): is a nominal group process that identifies principal constraints and opportunities for any planned community intervention based on local preferences. The technique can be used to focus on “what if” scenarios.