Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Belize retains over 61 per cent of its natural, intact forest cover [ ] 61 Managing marine and coastal biodiversity Over the last five years, there has been a gradual increase of recogni- tion of the importance of the envi- ronment in Belize’s national develop- ment, in its adaptation mechanisms for climate change, and the need for cross sectoral integration of the en- vironment into mainstream policies and planning. Several environmental resource management policies and plans have been developed, and have either been endorsed or are awaiting endorsement, aiming at success for the future of Belize’s biodiversity. Plans have been developed in marine and coastal biodiversity, with a series of complementary manage- ment strategies instituted to address issues identified in the marine environment, and allowing Belize to largely avoid the catastrophic collapse of fish stocks. Through its Fisheries Department, Belize has been piloting managed access under its Sustainable Fisheries Initiative in collaboration with protected area managers, fish- ermen and environmental organiza- tions. The target is the implementa- tion of rights-based managed access as part of a national fisheries manage- ment policy, to address overfishing and unregulated and illegal fishing, leading to restoration and recovery of the industry, and protection of the health of Belize’s marine ecosystem. Rights-based managed access is currently being successfully piloted in two of the marine protected areas — Port Honduras and Glover’s Reef Marine Reserves — with a national roll-out to include the territorial waters through the establishment of nine fishing zones over the next five years. This is being launched in conjunction with the Economic Alternatives and Fisheries Diversifi- cation Plan (2014–2019), developed to guide implementation of interna- tional investments into those coastal communities most tightly linked to the declining fisheries resources. In 2011/12, Belize revised and modern- ized its Fisheries Act of 1948, align- ing it with the needs of the tradition- al fishing industry supported by the coastal waters. It includes provisions for fisheries management planning, including species protection, and covers different types of fishing; the role of a fisheries advisory board (or council),; the role of cooperatives; monitoring; control and surveillance; jurisdiction and evidence issues; and offences and effective penalties. In support of improved manage- ment of the marine resources and strengthening resilience to climate change, a national project is working to expand replenishment zones to meet the 10 per cent national target for no-take areas in the marine envi- ronment. The Fisheries Department will also be addressing surveillance, enforcement and management issues in freshwater bodies and rivers, iden- tified as under-represented within the National Protected Areas System. Caye caulker off the coast of Belize Belize B elize is a very small country with a rich endowment of natural resources of global importance. It is founded on a wealth of biodiversity, from the first days of the logging industry to today’s reliance on a healthy, natural resource-based tourism industry; the primary productivity sectors of fishing, agriculture, and forestry; and ecosystem services that provide water security, tropical storm and flood protection, non-timber forest products and hydroelectric power. Belize retains much of its high biodiversity due to a low human footprint. Maegan Luckiesh on Unsplash