Belize's Environmental Reliance: A Sustainable Future In The Balance

Belize is a small country with a high level of biodiversity. It has a wealth of natural resources, including terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that are critical habitats for threatened and endangered species. The country's economy relies heavily on its natural assets, particularly tourism and commercial fisheries, which contribute significantly to its GDP.

Belize has recognised the importance of environmental protection and has enacted various laws and policies to preserve its natural and cultural heritage. Despite these efforts, Belize faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, coastal development, oil exploration, and illegal activities such as logging and gold mining, which threaten its rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystems.

The country is also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with rising sea temperatures causing coral bleaching and reduced fish catch, and more frequent and intense storms disrupting economic activities and local communities. To address these challenges, the Belizean government, with support from organisations like The Nature Conservancy and the World Bank, has implemented projects such as the Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation Project (MCCAP) to strengthen the resilience of its barrier reef and mangrove ecosystems and promote sustainable practices.

Belize's marine ecosystems, including the Belize Barrier Reef System, are vital to the economy and food security

The health of Belize's tourism and fishing industries is directly tied to the management of its marine sites. The country's reef-related tourism sector supports 28,000 jobs, while the fisheries sector has 2,400 registered fishers and several thousand more involved in processing and exporting roles. In total, nearly 50,000 people in Belize directly depend on the health of reef and mangrove ecosystems for their livelihoods, with a further 190,000 people supported when including their families.

Belize has recognised the importance of its marine ecosystems and has implemented various conservation measures. The country has a network of marine protected areas, including the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, which is managed by the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association. These protected areas are vital for reducing the loss of biodiversity, supporting healthy ecosystem balance, and protecting endangered and economically important species.

The Belize Barrier Reef System was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, recognising its global importance. However, by 2009, it had been placed on UNESCO's List in Danger due to threats such as offshore oil exploration and unsustainable development projects. In response, the Belizean government has placed an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil exploration, banned the use of trawlers in its waters, and worked to curb overfishing. These efforts have been successful, with UNESCO removing the Belize Barrier Reef from the endangered list in 2018.

The conservation of Belize's marine ecosystems is not only important for the country's economy and food security but also for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The barrier reef and mangrove ecosystems provide invaluable ecosystem services and protect coastal communities from the increasingly strong storms expected in the future.

Belize has also committed to protecting 30% of its ocean territory, which it will achieve through a participatory, stakeholder-driven marine spatial planning process. This commitment includes restructuring approximately US$550 million of external commercial debt, reducing the national debt by 12%, and investing US$180 million in the conservation of its marine ecosystems over the next two decades.

Overall, Belize's marine ecosystems are vital to the country's economy, food security, and climate resilience. The country has recognised the importance of these ecosystems and has taken significant steps towards their conservation, ensuring their benefits can be enjoyed by future generations.

Deforestation and illegal logging threaten Belize's rainforests and natural resources

Belize's tropical rainforests are under threat from deforestation and illegal logging. While the country has taken steps to protect its forests, these measures have not been entirely successful.

Deforestation is a significant issue in Belize, with thousands of hectares of broadleaf forest cleared for agriculture and other purposes. This has resulted in a loss of tree cover and primary forest extent. Between 2001 and 2020, Belize lost 261,673 hectares of tree cover, which is 15% of its 2000 tree cover. Additionally, the country lost 127,371 hectares of primary forest between 2002 and 2020, which is 10.9% of its 2001 primary forest cover.

Illegal logging is also a contributing factor to the decline of Belize's rainforests. While the country has laws in place to protect its forests, enforcement is challenging due to the vastness of the area and limited resources. As a result, illegal logging continues, driven by the demand for virgin wood from consumers and companies in the Global North.

The Belizean government has implemented various protective measures to safeguard its forests. The country's Forest Policy, overseen by the Ministry of Natural Resources, aims to protect water catchments, prevent erosion, produce timber, maintain and enhance natural habitats, and improve amenity areas for recreational activities. Additionally, Belize has designated several categories of protected areas, including forest reserves, natural reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation and management areas, archaeological reserves, and private reserves. These areas are meant to balance conservation with compatible land use practices, such as timber extraction, ecotourism, and research.

However, despite these efforts, deforestation and illegal logging continue to threaten Belize's rainforests. It is crucial to address these issues to protect the country's natural resources, maintain biodiversity, and mitigate climate change.

Oil exploration and drilling impact protected areas and indigenous communities

Belize's natural resources are at risk from offshore oil exploration. In 2010, a map was released by the Geology and Petroleum Department confirming that massive oil exploration concessions had been granted throughout the country, including in marine reserves and national parks.

In 1994, the Belize government converted almost 42,000 acres of Maya and Garifuna people's ancestral territory into government land, the Sarstoon-Temash National Park (STNP). The government then opened the STNP to oil exploration by US Capital Energy Belize, Ltd, a wholly owned Belizean subsidiary of American company US Capital Energy, Inc.

In 2011, campaigners gathered more than 20,000 signatures, calling for the issue to be put to a national referendum. However, the government disqualified 8,000 of the signatures, and the official vote was called off. Activists then organized an unofficial referendum, with roughly 96% of the 29,235 total participants voting against offshore oil drilling.

In 2013, the Belize Supreme Court declared the country’s oil concessions and contracts invalid due to inadequate environmental impact assessments. In 2015, the government withdrew its appeal against this ruling.

In 2017, the Belize government announced its commitment to legislate an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil activity in its territorial sea, including its Exclusive Economic Zone. In December 2017, Belize made history by passing the Petroleum Operations (Offshore Zone Moratorium) Bill, 2017, which placed an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil in its marine territory.

Belize's decision to choose reefs over oil is significant, as the country relies on its natural resources for its economy. Oil constitutes more than a quarter of its exports, while tourism brings in more than $200 million, with the reefs being the country's biggest tourist attraction. The barrier reefs support more than 190,000 livelihoods in a country with a population of 370,000.

Belize's decision to protect its natural resources has been praised by environmental groups, with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) stating that the country is "taking new steps to protect this fragile resource for the future."

Waste management issues, such as burning solid waste and improper disposal of liquid waste, contribute to pollution

Belize is a country with a unique ecology, and its popularity as a place to visit and live is growing. However, as the nation expands, byproducts of this growth are taking a toll on the preservation of natural resources, creating waste and sanitation issues.

Belize has made significant progress in improving access to clean water and waste management systems. Since revising its infrastructure, the government has continuously worked to improve sanitation and access to drinkable water. For example, companies like Belize Water Services Limited (BWS) have doubled their water supply by investing in the country's infrastructure.

However, waste management issues persist, particularly in rural areas. Small villages often lack adequate sanitation systems due to the high cost of organised sanitation infrastructure. Basic outhouse toilets are common, and some are located in the middle of forests or over the sea. While the construction of a landfill named Mile 24 in 2009 has improved waste management in tourist areas and other villages, deep rural areas continue to struggle.

Improper waste disposal methods, such as burning solid waste and dumping trash in rivers or the sea, contribute to pollution and undo the progress made in sustainable waste management in cities. This is especially detrimental in ecologically sensitive areas, such as the islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, which are popular tourist destinations known for their diving spots and proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef.

To address these issues, the Government of Belize has implemented the Solid Waste Management Project (SWMP), which aims to improve solid waste management practices, reduce environmental pollution, and enhance the country's image in the eco-tourism market. The project includes constructing transfer stations and sanitary landfills, closing dumpsites, and incorporating informal recyclers into the waste management process. While there have been delays and challenges, the project has been successful so far, and the government is considering expanding it to other regions.

Belize's efforts to improve waste management are crucial for protecting its unique ecology and the health and well-being of its citizens and visitors.

Conservation efforts, including the Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation Project, aim to protect marine resources and adapt to climate change

Belize's natural assets are a significant part of its economy. The country is dense with flora and fauna unique to the Caribbean and Central America, and much of this biodiversity lies along its coast. The Belize Barrier Reef System is home to three of the four coral atolls in the Atlantic, lush mangrove forests, numerous offshore islands, and one of the most extensive seagrass areas in the Caribbean. It hosts 77 species listed as threatened by the IUCN, including a sizeable population of West Indian Manatees.

Belize's marine resources are also critical to climate change adaptation and mitigation. The barrier reef and mangrove ecosystems protect coastal communities from increasingly strong storms. Recognising the urgency of this issue, the Government of Belize, supported by the World Bank, implemented the five-year Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation Project (MCCAP), financed by the Adaptation Fund. The project aimed to strengthen the climate resilience of the Belize Barrier Reef System by taking a two-pronged approach: enhancing ecosystem function and resilience through recovery and restoration, and reducing degradation caused by overexploitation and pollution.

The MCCAP had three main components:

• Improving the protection regime of marine and coastal ecosystems: This included expanding and enforcing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and replenishment (no-take) zones in strategically selected locations to improve climate resilience.
• Supporting viable and sustainable alternative livelihoods for affected users of the reef: This involved promoting sustainable alternative livelihoods for fishers and other resource extractors, such as organic farming, growing high-value forms of seaweed, and developing skills for the tourism sector.
• Raising awareness, building local capacity, and disseminating information: This component focused on building public awareness about climate change, the importance of marine resources, and the overall health of the reef ecosystem and the climate resilience of coral reefs. It also included mainstreaming climate change into the Belizean education curriculum and providing vocational training for secondary school students in fishing-dependent communities.

The MCCAP has had a significant impact on conservation and climate adaptation in Belize. It helped expand marine protected area coverage from 13% to 22% and increased marine replenishment zones from approximately 2% to 3.1%. Additionally, it supported the drafting of updated Forest (Protection of Mangroves) Regulations that came into effect in 2018. The project also contributed to the local economy by ensuring sustainable management of fish populations, providing opportunities for livelihood diversification, and supporting the country's tourism industry.

Frequently asked questions