The Programme for Belize is the first project undertaken by the World Land Trust, in 1989. The goal of the project was to purchase and protect tropical rainforests in Belize to save them from exploitation like over-logging. The project (and also the Trust) was initiated by a fundraiser held in the London Butterfly House in May 1989. The famous naturalists Gerald Durrell and his wife Lee Durrell were instrumental in raising funds, and also visited Belize in 1989 to help with in-situ conservation efforts there. By 1996, more than of land had been purchased and protected, and the project was brought to a successful completion. The World Land Trust the project Friends of Belize for fundraising to help cover costs of continuing protection of the purchased lands, as well as to aid in in-situ conservation efforts. Friends of Belize is an ongoing project.