Climate Mitigation Works Begin in Vulnerable Monkey River Village

Climate mitigation efforts have officially commenced in Monkey River Village, marking a renewed focus on protecting one of Belize’s most climate-vulnerable coastal communities.  In a public statement, Toledo East Area Representative Osmond Martinez said the works represent a critical intervention for a village that has suffered years of coastal erosion, land loss, and displacement. Martinez reflected on the long-term impacts of climate change on Monkey River, noting that earlier action could have prevented the loss of homes, land, and livelihoods, and reduced the number of families forced to relocate inland.  Martinez acknowledged that while Belize no longer has access to major funding streams such as PetroCaribe or oil revenues, the government is prioritizing limited resources toward projects that can deliver meaningful and lasting benefits to communities most at risk. He described Monkey River as a once-thriving village that had become one of the country’s most overlooked, but said that is now changing as targeted climate resilience efforts take shape.  The Toledo East representative expressed appreciation to Minister Oscar Requena, Chief Executive Officer Valentino Shal, and the Ministry of Rural Transformation for their continued support and commitment to the project. He added that the initiative forms part of a broader push to improve living conditions and resilience across communities in his constituency, “one project at a time.” Monkey River has been among the communities hardest hit by coastal erosion in recent decades, and officials say the start of climate mitigation signals a renewed commitment to ensuring the village is no longer left behind.