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Progress in Belize
Situated between southeast Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea, Belize is well known as one of the best diving destinations in the world. With approximately 60 miles of coral reefs stretching along its coasts, Belize’s diverse dive sites boast stunning atolls, coral canyons, sheer cliffs, and caves. But like so many coral reefs around the world, Belize’s reefs are threatened by the effects of climate change, overfishing, pollution, coastal development, and other human-induced stresses. This is why Belize has become a priority destination for CORAL’s work.
Read more about our projects in Belize »
Reef Threats & Progress
The coral reefs of Belize provide many benefits to the local community; however, factors such as intensive coastal development, agricultural runoff, uncontrolled sewage and sedimentation issues, increases in cruise ship tourism, and irresponsible marine recreation activities are threatening the health of the reefs. CORAL is working with community leaders, local government, and marine recreation providers to build effective management of marine protected areas and support new conservation projects and alliances.
Read more about threats & progress »
Our Partners in Belize
CORAL partners with a variety of stakeholders in Belize, including local community groups and non-governmental organizations, marine park managers and marine recreation operators, and the government institutions focused on tourism development and natural resource conservation. In partnership with Conservation International, CORAL developed the Sustainable Marine Recreation Environmental Walk-Through Program, and continues to seek opportunities with other international NGOs working on similar issues in the region.
Valentine Rosado, CORAL’s field representative in Belize, has brought together stakeholder groups from across the country to collaborate on local conservation initiatives that support standards implementation, reduce reef threats, and create meaningful opportunities for local communities to save their coral reefs by supporting marine protected areas.
CORAL is helping Belizean marine tourism operators attract more customers who care about the environment. As a means of aiding businesses to check their environmental practices and improve their conservation efforts, CORAL and its partner, Conservation International, created the Environmental Walk-Through Program and Environmental Performance Checklist. More »
Designed at a CORAL Conservation in Action workshop and funded by a CORAL microgrant, the Kids in Action program in Belize teaches school-aged children about coral reef, mangrove, and sea grass ecosystems, and the importance of supporting marine protected areas.
Kids in Action touring a mangrove forest in Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve.
Photo credit: Valentine Rosado