Belize | Announced its First Blu Carbon Pilot Project for Marine Conservation and Driving Climate Solutions

Belize has launched its first carbon pilot project to strengthen marine conservation efforts, and driving climate solutions, an initiative in partnership between the Government of the Central American country represented by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association and Brightwater, organization specializing on projects prioritize high quality, auditable initiatives focused on protecting, restoring, and expanding ecosystems like coral reefs, mangroves and salt marshes to enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate change and provide social and economic benefits.

This initiative to develop the country’s first high – quality blue carbon focuses initially of the Turneffe Atoll, located southeast of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, off the coast of Belize, approximately 32.0 kilometres from Belize City, one of the three atolls of the Belize Barrier Reef, along with Glover’s reef and Lighthouse Reef, considered one of the Caribbean’s most diverse ecosystems. 

The project’s goal announced by a statement of Belize Government aims to be a model for scalable, science - driven climate action that delivers measurable emissions reductions, restoring mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, supporting sustainable livelihoods, enhancing biodiversity and strengthening the resilience of Belize’s coastal ecosystems and communities.

Speaking to the press, Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet explained that the program will seek to finance the conservation of mangroves and seagrasses through the sale of certified carbon credits. This is a pilot investment to evaluate how the country can generate funds through the protection of these ecosystems, which are vital to capture carbon and mitigate climate change.

The Minister stressed that while Belize already has a carbon reduction bill pending approval in Parliament, initiatives like this could move forward independently to accelerate climate action.

This model follows the example of other similar mechanism, such as the “Blue Bond” , previously implemented in land projects.

Belize despite its small size possesses a rich biodiversity due to the variety of ecosystems, including rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, cays, cave system and it is home to a large of species, many of them endemic or endangered.

The Central American’s well - known reef system the second largest in the world, eclared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) considered a national icon.

Like the entire region, also Belize has threats derived from a high level of deforestation, pollution by plastics and chemicals, that affect reefs, climate change, coral bleaching and sea level rise, and poaching, especially jaguars and manatees. Despite that the country is very sensitive to preserve its natural heritage considered a national pride having an incomparable value.

Belize is recognized as a global leader in conservation, with over 36% of its land area under protection. This extensive network of protected areas includes national parks, nature reserves, and marine conservation zones. While the high percentage of protected land is commendable, challenges remain in ensuring effective management and connectivity between these areas.

Link 
https://infoturlatam.com/belice-anuncia-programa-de-carbono-azul-para-conservacion-marina/