The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2025–2035 establishes Belize’s national framework for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from biological resources. It aligns national biodiversity planning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and addresses Belize’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Strategy is organised around five goals concerning biodiversity mainstreaming; reduction of pressures and sustainable use; protection of ecosystems and species; ecosystem services and benefit-sharing; and implementation and capacity building. The NBSAP addresses marine, freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity and identifies pressures including agricultural expansion, land-use change, unsustainable harvesting of natural resources, pollution, fires, invasive alien species, unsustainable tourism practices and transboundary incursions. Measures include sustainable management of natural resource extraction; restoration of degraded ecosystems; management of invasive species; pollution monitoring and mitigation; environmental impact assessment and environmental standards; sustainable agricultural, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture practices; watershed management; and fire management. The Strategy also provides for biodiversity considerations to be integrated into land-use, coastal-zone and development planning. Conservation measures include the management of protected areas and community lands, establishment and management of biological corridors, development of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures, and restoration and maintenance of priority ecosystems. The NBSAP provides for threatened-species assessment and recovery planning, enforcement of wildlife legislation, and measures governing the sustainable and legal use, harvesting and trade of wild species. It also addresses marine and coastal biodiversity, fisheries, forest resources and wetlands. Measures concerning genetic resources include the development of a national framework for bioprospecting and the regulation of access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, together with fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation. Implementation is coordinated through designated lead and supporting agencies, with the National Biodiversity Office coordinating NBSAP implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The Action Plan establishes national targets, actions, activities, indicators, responsible agencies and implementation timeframes. It provides for biodiversity monitoring and data management, public access to biodiversity information, public and community participation, capacity building and biodiversity financing. The Strategy provides for annual monitoring, biennial evaluation and national and international reporting, including reporting under the Convention on Biological Diversity. A mid-term review is scheduled for 2028 and a final review for 2035.
Belize · 2025-01-01