Janus Foundation --environmental audit for sustainability; and fundraising
Located at the 2500-acre Maya Ranch and Rainforest Reserve Campus, the not-for-profit Janus Foundation was incorporated in Belize in 1996 to demonstrate and promote sustainable methods for development in the tropics. The Foundation provides a home for the Center for Tropical Studies in Sustainable Development (CTSSD) and Janus Enterprises, Ltd. The former carries out education and research in the fields of tropical biology, forestry management, and organic agriculture and operates a design-and-build program in tropical architecture. The for-profit Janus Enterprises runs 10 small businesses and conducts micro-enterprise incubation workshops. All Janus-sponsored efforts are related to sustainable development in the tropics and to the further development and transfer of ecologically sustainable technologies. The Foundation also conducts a program of charitable giving to local towns and villages, supports community initiatives and carries out vocational training and education days at the Ranch. ARC conducted preliminary work to assist in an environmental audit of Janus’ practices, in preparation for a $2.5 million fundraising campaign that would increase the educational offerings and campus infrastructure to make the CTSSD one of the top centers for teaching, research and sustainable development in Central America. |