Belize Signs Co-Management Agreements for Marine Reserves

The Government of Belize has signed an agreement with two well-established conservation NGOs for the co-management of the Sapodilla and Port Honduras Marine Reserves. The Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA) signed the agreements on GOB’s behalf with the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) and the Southern Environmental Association (SEA) on October 6.  The agreement was signed under the newly developed Co-management Framework for Marine Protected Areas. The Ministry said that the co-management agreements reflect GOB’s commitment to focus on five critical areas for effective management and expansion of services over the next ten years. Those areas are enforcement, conservation, community, and social development, sustainable tourism, and sustainable financing. Signing the agreements were TIDES’ Executive Director Asad Magaña, and Albert Roches; SEA’s Executive Director Elizabeth Avila-Muschamp, and Finance Officer Roneshia Williams and CEO in the Ministry Kennedy Carrillo.