World Bank approves US$6m to protect Belize’s ecosystem

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2,CMC – With the approval of a Global Environment Facility (GEF) project amounting US$6 million the World Bank says Belize will be able to better manage natural resources key Biodiversity Areas.

“Like the rest of the Caribbean, Belize is most vulnerable to hurricanes. It is only by protecting its forest and rich environmental resources, as well as supporting reforestation that it can mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Sophie Sirtaine, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, on Wednesday.

Belize has the largest barrier reef in the Americas and the highest forest cover in both Central America and the Caribbean, including intact virgin forest.

She noted that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member-country is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Despite having succeeded in preserving its forest and outstanding biodiversity to a greater extent than its neighbors, forest cover has decreased over the last decade, the World Bank said.

It said Belize’s rich biodiversity remains threatened by deforestation as a result of the expansion of agriculture, housing, tourism, and forest fires.

The World Bank said Management and Protection of Key Biodiversity Areas project will increase the number of hectares under sustainable forest management by more than two folds in targeted areas.

It will also enhance biodiversity protection in six targeted protected areas and provide alternative livelihoods options and training to local forest communities on sustainable harvesting and marketing of non-timber forest products.

Additionally, the bank said the project will strengthen the capacity of Belize’s  Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development and other institutions to improve management and compliance monitoring of forest resources and environment.