Conservation
DOE details amendment to plastic pollution regulations
Through the Department of the Environment (DOE) within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management, the government continues its efforts to fully implement the regulations that will see the end of pollution from plastics in Belize. On Monday, February 14th, the DOE informed the public about the amendment to the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations providing details on these changes, including a new phase-out process on single-use plastic products and strict deadlines.
Conservation
Hol Chan Marine Reserve to spearhead emergency response brigade training
From the 17th to the 20th of May, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve will train advanced-level divers to create an emergency response brigade. The brigade will assess damages to the barrier reef following any major natural disaster. The Rapid Response and Emergency Reef Restoration Course training collaborates with the Fisheries Department, the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, The Nature Conservancy, and the Mesoamerican Reef Fund. The deadline for the application is February 11th, and the training is free of cost.
Conservation
BTB and APAMO sign MOU for greater cooperation in the sustainable development of protected areas
The MOU was signed at the BTB headquarters in Belize City on Wednesday, February 2nd by the Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations and Mr. Jose Perez, Executive Director of APAMO. As part of the MOU, the BTB will develop a pilot project alongside APAMO to further develop areas of Sustainable Certification/Accreditation and growth.
Conservation
Participate in the naming of the new Conservation Fund and win a trip to Ambergris Caye
Following the historic Blue Bond debt conversion program procured in November 2021, a conservation fund was created for marine conservation. To mark this momentous program, the Ministry of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), invites Belizeans to name the new conservation fund. Participants could win a four-person trip to San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, hotel stay, and a guided tour of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
Conservation Highlight
Conservation Highlight – Fragments of Hope returns to access San Pedro’s thriving coral nurseries
“Lisa Carne is no stranger to San Pedro. The coral nurseries are growing with amazing success,” Valentine Rosado writes in Conservation Highlight — San Pedro Sun
Community and Society
Belize’s Shark Conservation efforts highlighted on The Ellen Show
Under the Ministry of the Blue Economy and the collaboration of local and international experts, Belize has been making significant efforts to protect marine species. One milestone that became a reality on June 25, 2021, was the establishment of a protected area of 1,500 square miles around Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Glover’s Reef, and Turneffe Atoll, where shark fishing is no longer allowed. The country’s efforts in shark conservation were discussed by shark expert Dr. Demian Chapman when he was a guest on the popular United States television show, The Ellen Show.
Community and Society
Bonefish and Tarpon Trust highlights the continued challenges affecting Belize’s fishing flats
The pristine Caribbean waters around Ambergris Caye house a series of unique marine habitats supporting livelihoods in fisheries and tourism. One of these sectors, particularly in tourism, is the fly-fishing industry. The survival of this livelihood depends on healthy and intact habitats for marine life such as tarpon, bonefish, and permit, which continue to be threatened by coastal development. A recent short film titled ‘Paradise Under Threat’ by the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) highlights some of the challenges to conservation and the best approaches authorities can engage in to save these natural habitats.
Conservation
Forest Department Receives Specialized Equipment Under Sustainable Development Project II
On December 21, 2021, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, through the Belize Forest Department, received a donation of specialized forest equipment from the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations under the Sustainable Tourism Project II (STPII).
