Environment

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED), Belize’s National Designated Authority (NDA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Climate Finance Unit (CFU), are proud to announce that the GCF has approved a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) application for a project titled, “Integrated Flood Management in the Upper Regions of the Belize River Watershed.”

In October 2022, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) began a beach restoration demonstration at a Boca del Rio beach section. The project is said to be aiding in improving the erosion problem affecting the island's beaches. The project has now produced a second demonstration site between the Mayan Princess Hotel and Central Park, where the effects of erosion are eliminating the beach.

On December 20th, 2022, Tuesday, December 20th, 2022, the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), revealed the logo for Belize’s Marine Spatial Planning process, during a live Facebook event. Previously, in September of this year, through an electronic voting poll hosted on the CZMAI’s Facebook page, the Belizean public selected the “Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan” (BSOP) as a fitting name for Belize’s Marine Spatial Plan. On Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, the public was once again invited to participate in creating a distinctive brand for this all-important planning process by selecting a unique and memorable logo that aptly reflects the purpose of the BSOP.

The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is inviting the public to choose a logo for the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP)- Belize’s Marine Spatial Plan (MSP). The development of the BSOP is a principal milestone in achieving Belize’s conservation commitments under the Blue Loan Agreement and the Conservation Funding Agreement signed between the Government of Belize and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in November 2021.

Keeping the island’s beaches and other public areas free of trash has been an ongoing battle in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Even though the efforts of the sanitation department at the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) are conducting daily beach clean-ups, particularly in the Boca del Rio area, the improper disposal of garbage continues to be a challenge. To address the situation, the SPTC is reaching out to residents in these areas to cooperate and better dispose of their rubbish by properly bagging it before sanitation personnel picks it up.

A group of environmentalists and filmmakers are currently working on a documentary on marine conservation called ‘UNBELIZEABLUE,’ which follows a multigenerational group of inspiring women leaders in Belize. The film highlights their efforts to protect Belize’s barrier reef, the second longest in the world, and other marine resources. To further the discussion on the topic, a virtual event featuring Program Director for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Belize, Julie Robinson, and the documentary’s filmmakers Eladio Arvelo, and Phil Karp, was held on Tuesday, December 13th, where they shared the goals and motivation behind the conservation film.

The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize and Belize’s National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), hosted the 2022 Blue Economy and Climate Resilience Forum and Blue Economy Fair on December 1 and December 2, 2022, respectively, at the Belize City Civic Center.

Stakeholders from Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) have welcomed the decision to establish a loss and damage response fund from the recently concluded United Nations Climate Conference (COP27) in Egypt.