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Belize's Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity

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Belize’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity Reporting Period: 2009 - 2013 September, 2014 Belize’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, submitted by the Forest Department, Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Belize We thank all those participants who took part in the review process, both in Government agencies, in regional workshops and focal group meetings across Belize. Nature ----- Culture ------ Life This report was produced under the “National Biodiversity Planning to Support the implementation of the CDB 2011 - 2020 Strategic Plan in Belize (National Biodiversity Enabling Activities)” With funding from the United Nations Development Programme – Global Environment Facility Please cite as: Fifth National Report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity: Belize (2014). Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Belmopan. INTRODUCTION 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 PART 1. UPDATE ON BIODIVERSITY STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN WELLBEING 4 1. The National Importance of Biodiversity to Belize 4 2. Major changes in the status and trends of biodiversity in Belize 14 3. The Main Threats to Biodiversity in Belize 28 4. Impacts of the changes in biodiversity for ecosystem services, and the socioeconomic and cultural implications of these impacts 44 PART II: THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS, ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND THE MAINSTREAMING OF BIODIVERSITY 47 5. Belize’s Biodiversity Targets 47 6. Status of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, incorporation of biodiversity targets and mainstreaming of biodiversity. 48 7. Actions Belize has taken to implement the Convention since the fourth report, and the outcomes of these actions. 49 8. Biodiversity mainstreaming into relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies, plans and programmes 62 9. Status of implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy And Action Plan 71 PART III: PROGRESS TOWARDS THE 2020 AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 79 10. Belize’s progress towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- 2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets 79 11. The contribution of actions to implement the Convention towards the achievement of the relevant 2015 targets of the Millennium Development Goals in Belize 112 12. Lessons learnt from the implementation of the Convention in Belize 116 ANNEX ONE: National List of Critical Species (Draft) ANNEX TWO: Climate change implications for Belize ANNEX THREE: Key Strategies under the Policy on Adaptation to Global Climate Change ANNEX FOUR: Acronyms Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, 2015 1 Belize’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity INTRODUCTION Belize became a contracting partner to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1993, and is committed to implementing its obligations under the CBD. This 5th National Report provides a mid-term review of the status of implementation of the CBD in Belize, covering a five year period from January 2009 to December 2013, using information generated through a consultative process, with significant input from both public and private sectors. It also draws on the key sources of information, including the following: National Development Framework . Horizon 2030 . National Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan (2009) . Belize Medium Term Development Strategy 2010 – 2013 (2010) . Belize Millennium Development Goals Report and Post 2015 Agenda National Reports on Biodiversity Status . The Rationalization Report of the National Protected Areas Policy and System Plan (2013) . National Stocktaking Report (2014 – in prep.)) . National Report on Threats to Biodiversity and Drivers (2014 – in prep.) . The Belize National Aichi Targets and Indicators (2014 – in prep.) . The Status of Protected Areas: Belize (2010) Report development has been led by the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, of the Government of Belize, in accordance with Article 26 of the CBD, which states that each Contracting Party shall report on measures it has taken to implement the CBD and the effectiveness of these measures. The reporting process has been supported by the United Nations Development Programme. The information provided in this report has been presented in such a way as to facilitate integration into the CBD mid-term review of progress towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- 2020, into the status of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and towards development of the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook. Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, 2015 2 Belize’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides a summary of Belize’s activities towards implementation of this convention for the reporting period 2009 to 2013. Part I of the report provides a broad overview of trends in biodiversity since 2009. Belize is founded on its biodiversity wealth, with a heavy reliance on a healthy, natural resource-based tourism industry, the primary productive sectors (fishing, agriculture, and forestry), and ecosystem services that supply the nation with water security, renewable natural resources, tropical storm and flood protection and hydroelectric power. As a country faced with increasing climate change impacts, ecosystem integrity is recognised as critical in the mitigation of the potential catastrophic damages resulting from predicted, increased temperatures, increased drought and flood events, and increasingly strong tropical storms. Belize still retains 61.1% of its natural, intact forest cover, with approximately 35.8% of Belize’s land territory falling within protected areas. Whilst 19.8% of territorial waters fall under marine protective management, only 6.7% of this is through legally established replenishment zones (No Take zones) – the remainder allow for commercial, recreational and subsistence fishing. The Belize Fisheries Department is focusing on incorporating 10% of all marine and coastal habitats within Belize’s territorial waters as functional and legally protected non-extractive replenishment zones. 90% of Belize’s recognized ecosystems have greater than 10% representation within the National Protected Areas System. The majority of the gaps are within the marine environment, and have been partially addressed through the declaration of Turneffe Atoll in 2012, Belize’s newest and largest marine protected area. Threats to biodiversity are being addressed, though efforts are limited by human and financial resource availability. Four areas of particular concern are: i) declining coral reef health; ii) increasing rate of clearance of large tracts of lowland forests; iii) large-scale transboundary incursions into protected areas along the border with Guatemala, and iv) potential oil exploration and extraction in the marine environment. Steps are being taken by aquaculture, agricultural and forestry industries towards improving environmental sustainability, and reducing pressures on the environment – particularly on the coral reef. Part II of this report provides an update on the status of Belize’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (currently being revised). It also discusses the challenges of ensuring that biodiversity and the environment are mainstreamed, and that national development decisions take into account the maintenance of the natural environment. The development of the National Land Use Planning Framework and the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan seek to address this at the national level. Part III summarises Belize’s progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and contributions towards relevant Millennium Development Goals. Whilst many of the targets are only partially met, actions are being taken by both Government and Non-Government agencies to improve their status. This will be strengthened further once the national Aichi Targets have been clearly defined, integrated into the revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, socialised and mainstreamed to provide national goals. Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, 2015 3 Belize’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity PART 1. UPDATE ON BIODIVERSITY STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN WELLBEING 1. THE NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY TO BELIZE Belize, as a nation, is considered relatively unique -“a very small country with a rich endowment of natural resources of global importance” (FAO, 2000). It is founded on its biodiversity wealth, from the first days of the logging industry to today’s reliance on a healthy, natural resource-based tourism industry, the primary productivity sectors (fishing, agriculture, and forestry), and ecosystem services that supply the nation with water security, tropical storm and flood protection, non-timber forest products and hydroelectric power. As a country faced with increasing climate change impacts, ecosystem integrity is recognised as critical in the mitigation of catastrophic damages resulting from increased drought and flood events, and increasingly strong tropical storms. Many rural families across Belize have smallholdings producing basic, subsistence level crops for their households, supplementing their diets with freshwater or marine
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