By Zoila Palma: Belize has reaffirmed its commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development while calling for stronger international support to help countries protect their natural resources. The call was made during the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Yerevan, Armenia.
Representing Belize were Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet, Director of the National Biodiversity Office Saul Cruz, and a technical team, with support from Dr. Kenrick Williams, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations.
During his high-level statement, Minister Habet highlighted that approximately 40 percent of Belize’s land territory falls within protected areas, forest cover remains close to 60 percent, and the country is nearing its target of protecting 30 percent of its ocean space.
However, Habet stressed that implementing Belize’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2025–2035 will require approximately US$137 million. He called on developed countries to honour their commitments under Target 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by providing adequate, predictable and accessible financing, along with capacity-building and technology transfer. Belize also advanced discussions on the Tri-national Biocultural Corridor and Mesoamerica’s 30×30 agenda, emphasizing ecological connectivity and the involvement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation efforts.
Another key development was Belize’s commitment to join the Women Ocean Guardians Initiative, alongside 15 other governments, to strengthen women’s leadership in marine conservation and the blue economy.
Habet noted, “Belize has always punched above its weight in marine conservation, but our success has never been an accident of geography — it is the result of the dedication, wisdom, and leadership of our women on the coast.”
The post Belize calls for increased International funding to protect Biodiversity at COP17 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Belize has reaffirmed its commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development while calling for stronger international support to help countries protect their natural resources. The call was made during the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Yerevan, Armenia. Representing Belize were Minister of Sustainable
The post Belize calls for increased International funding to protect Biodiversity at COP17 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.