There's some positive news on the environmental front tonight as with the launch of a project called "Resilient and Biodiverse Landscapes of Northern Mesoamerica."
It seeks to reduce poverty and create sustainable economic development for communities. Shantel Neal traveled to Valley Of Peace today for the launch of the project and has this story.
Our planet's rich tapestry of life is under threat due the many challenges faced by conservation. But today in Valley of Peace we saw a glimmer of hope with the launch of the Resilient and Biodiverse Landscapes of Northern Mesoamerica project.
In attendance were Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable and Nicole Davison, British High Commission who both shared how beneficial the project will be for conservation and the livelihood of the community.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"It is landscape project that looks at various area of conservation, biodiversity, conservation, stemming biodiversity loss but also it looks at how you can conserve or preserve those areas that are carbon sink like Belize, which is basically a carbon sink because we produce less emotions than we can capture but Belize is considered carbon sink but also very much important is the work in the communities, so the communities are involved because of the livelihood projects, that will be able to be, that emulate from the project itself so that is absolutely important."
"There's at least three areas that we need to look at the conservation of the land so that you don't have more deforestation, the restoration of those areas that have already been degraded, so that you then work with them. But there's also this agriculture component where we have regenerative agriculture, sustainable agriculture, where a lot of the livelihood will be provided for the communities."
Funding came from the UK government's Biodiversity Landscapes Fund which tackles three challenges: biodiversity loss, poverty, and landscape degradation. They partner with various organizations globally to achieve this. The Mesoamerican region is one of six areas they're currently working on.
The British High Commissioner explained that this funding a sign of their commitment in fighting climate change in Belize.
H.E Nicole Davison, British High Commission
"Teaming up with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the other partners that we are working with in this really enables us to work at a very local level and understand the needs within Belize. So the UK government is really committed to working with countries on climate change and this is a commitment of a pledge that came out of 2019 but also following on from when we hosted COP26 in Glasgow and committed a lot of really serious projects to fight climate change."
"What this fund enables these partners to do locally, it's investing at least $3.2 million USdollars in Belize to work, to combat climate change in Belize and fight against the loss of Biodiversity."
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is leading the effort on the ground, working with local partners and donors. Nicole Gomez says that what makes this project special is that it brings together a network of partners across the Mesoamerican region to achieve a common goal.
Nicole Gomez, WCS Belize
"In Belize we have the focal point and we coordinate with all of the partners locally, we all have our own prioritized work activities to fulfill one of the four principles, objectives of the project and so our team really works to support everybody all the other partners to provide the reporting requirements need for the monitoring evaluation requirement for this grant. So we are sort of the catalyst between the partners on the ground and donor."
"What is exciting and unique about this project is that it allows multiple partners to work towards the same objectives along with the government of Belize and we are looking at key big sites from the northern part of Belize, Rio Bravo, Maya Forest and through the corridor and then chiquibul, Vaca and then lands in Toledo that are managed through the Mayan Community with the Julian Cho Society and Mayan Leaders Alliance."
Community collaboration is one of the main focuses of the project and it is visible in the agricultural work being done at the Valley of Peace SDA Academy, one of the project sites donated by the Belize Maya Forest Trust through the aid of the Biodiversity Landscape Fund. Principal Justine Myvette says that the project has helped them to develop several sustainable techniques on their 8 acres of agricultural space.
Justine Myvette,Principal Valley of Peace SDA Academy
"We were having a lot of challenges growing on the soil because it's very heavy clay based. So we were looking at alternative methods and that is where we partnered up with the Belize Maya Forest Trust in utilizing several sustainable techniques."
With a one-year track record and a five-year commitment, this project allows for sustained progress and measurable impact.
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