Page 17 - Belize

It is our collective responsibility to preserve our marine environment and
maintain the biodiversity of this planet.” – Dr. Guy Harvey
A strategic collaboration with
THE BLUE ECONOMY
The coastal area of Belize is an outstanding natural system consisting of the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and estuaries. The system’s seven sites illustrate the evolutionary history of reef development and are a significant habitat for threatened species, including marine turtles, manatees and the American marine crocodile.
Why is tiny Belize a world leader in protecting the ocean?
Covering all of Belize’s waters, the MA scheme is unique, says fisheries’ administrator Beverly Wade. “Belize is the only country in the world that has successfully divided all its territorial waters, including functional fishing waters. We direct all fishermen into two of nine areas to build an architecture from the ground up, where a constituent takes ownership of resources because their livelihood depends on it.”
The program is just part of a groundbreaking approach to ocean protection that has won the tiny country in Central America a reputation as a world leader.
Bordered by Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean sea, Belize is home to a 300km stretch of the Mesoamerican barrier reef, whose stunning array of fish includes whale sharks, angelfish and parrot fish, and dozens of species of coral. In what was hailed as a hugely significant point for marine conservation worldwide, the reef was removed from Unesco’s World Heritage danger list in June 2018, after 10 years.
Talking to environmentalists in Belize, there is a clear sense of pride in their success, along with fishers, scientists, the government and others, but also pressure to keep up sustainable initiatives. A bigger commitment is needed from the tourist industry, which accounts for almost 40% of GDP, they say.
“Belize is a little corner of the northern hemisphere where people and nature really are working together. This is the vision for
the future.”
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