UK and Belize move to establish a Biodiverse Landscapes Fund

The Governments of Belize and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a Biodiverse Landscapes Fund to replenish and protect Belize’s forest reserves. The program will provide 20 million US dollars to support poverty reduction, biodiversity protection, and conservation, climate change mitigation, and adaptation in the Mesoamerica region. In Belize, through the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management, projects will be implemented to accelerate the recovery of nature in the Selva Maya Region, including the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet says that the venture will support sustainable agricultural practices, promote the sustainable management of resources, and strengthen the rights and capacities of indigenous people. 

British High Commissioner, Nicole Davison, explained that climate change and biodiversity loss exacerbate the poverty felt by people living in rural communities and highlighted the need to protect the world’s natural resources.

The MOU was signed on Friday in Belmopan.