Protected Areas:
Belize has 44% (2.6 Million acres / 1.22 Million hectares) of its land and sea resources protected under a variety of management structures:
1,900,469 acres (769,093 ha) of terrestrial reserves, 392,970 acres (159,030 ha) of marine reserves, and a further 317,615 acres (128,535 ha) protected through 'officially recognised' private conservation initiatives.
In all, the Protected Areas system of Belize comprises 92 reserves of varying levels of protection and purpose.
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This system of Protected Areas has evolved over several decades, reflecting changing conservation attitudes, as has the scope and direction of the various
agencies responsible for its administration. However, Belize now finds itself at a crossroads: the system represents a wealth of valuable resources, yet,
in the face of calls for additional reserves, how should it be developed, and how should it be integrated more effectively with the national economy?
In October 2003, work began on developing a comprehensive National Protected Areas Policy and Systems Plan founded on the need to ensure that biodiversity
conservation becomes an important and integral part of national social and economic development. The adopted guiding principle being that the potential
contribution of the Protected Area System to national development and poverty alleviation is maximised, thereby putting the system on a sound and rational
footing. Read more ... |
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