The Nature Conservancy

Walmart, Albertsons Companies, Thai Union, Belize, and the Federated States of Micronesia, joined as the first signatories of a new global initiative, led by global environmental NGO, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), to address unsustainable and illegal tuna fishing practices. Through the Tuna Transparency Pledge, signatories are aspiring to advance 100 percent on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna fishing vessels within their supply chains or jurisdictions by 2027—taking a bold yet achievable step in transforming the health and sustainability of our oceans.

Belize's Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) plays a significant role in the country's economy and identity. Every year, conservation partners team up to highlight the reef's importance and celebrate its existence in Belize. The 13th Annual Reef Week 2024 will be celebrated from March 9th to 16th under the theme "Unite in the Coral Reef Fight: Learn, Teach, and Do What's Right!" The public is invited to participate in a week-long series of activities celebrating the Belize Barrier Reef while learning and having fun.

On January 7th, the Blue Bond and Finance for Permanence Unit (BBDPU) hosted a panel discussion on the two years into implementing the Belize Blue Bonds. The live-streamed event saw members of the Government and other key figures sharing information on the achievements made since the launch of "Belize Blue Bonds: Blue Finance for Nature and People" and future plans.

Stakeholders from the tourism and fishing sectors attended a community outreach held on Wednesday, June 14th, at the San Pedro Lions Den to discuss the Marine Spatial Plan (MSP). This initiative under the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP) was hosted by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), who have been spearheading community meetings across the country and inviting the community to participate in the process that aims to bolster biodiversity protection in Belize's seas.

In March 2023, local non-governmental organizations, tourism partners and allies from the business community will host a series of fun, educational and civic-minded events to celebrate the many ways the Belize Barrier Reef contributes to the national economy and to the Belizean identity.

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.

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.