GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE IV NATIONAL REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment May 2010 Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment Forest Department of Belize The present document is the product of the project entitled “Support to GEF Eligible CBD Parties for carrying out 2010 Biodiversity Targets National Assessments – Phase 1 (4NR)” (PIMS 3918) executed by the Forest Department of Belize financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme-Belize. The information presented in this document is the exclusive responsibility of the project and is not necessarily that of the United Nations Development Programme. Project: “Support to GEF Eligible CBD Parties for carrying out 2010 Biodiversity Targets National Assessments – Phase 1 (4NR)” (PIMS 3918) Forest Department: Wilber Sabido, Chief Forest Officer Marcelo Windsor, Deputy Chief Forest Officer Consultants: Belize Environmental Technologies, 2216 Juliet Soberanis Street, Belize City Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment Forest Drive, Belmopan, Belize Tel: (501) 822-1524 Fax: (501) 822-1523 Email: [email protected] www.forestdepartment.gov.bz i TABLE OF CONTENT ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................ v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... I CHAPTER I: OVERVIEW OF STATUS, TRENDS, THREATS ........................................... 1 1.0 Background ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Belize and the Convention ..................................................................................... 1 1.2 Biodiversity Status ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 Terrestrial Resources ............................................................................................. 1 1.2.2 Agriculture and Aquaculture ................................................................................. 7 1.2.3 Coastal and Marine Resources .............................................................................. 7 1.3 Trends ............................................................................................................................ 8 1.3.1 Terrestrial Resources ............................................................................................. 8 1.3.2 Coastal and Marine Resources ............................................................................ 11 1.4 Threats ......................................................................................................................... 13 1.4.1 Climate Change ................................................................................................... 13 1.4.2 Improper Solid Waste Disposal ........................................................................... 13 1.4.3 Invasive Species ................................................................................................... 13 1.4.4 Protected Areas Management .............................................................................. 14 CHAPTER II: CURRENT STATUS OF NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS ....................................................................................... 16 2.0 The National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan– An Overview ............................ 16 2.1 Incorporation of Global and National Targets and Indicators. ............................. 16 2.2 Implementation and Overview of Progress of NBSAP ............................................ 17 Article 9 - Ex-situ conservation .................................................................................... 17 Article 10 - Sustainable use of components of biological diversity .............................. 18 Article 11 - Incentive measures..................................................................................... 20 Article 12 - Research and training................................................................................ 20 Article13 - Public education and awareness ................................................................ 21 Article 14 - Impact assessment and minimizing adverse impacts ................................. 22 Article 15 - Access to genetic resources ....................................................................... 24 Article 16 - Access to and transfer of technology ......................................................... 24 Article 17 - Exchange of information............................................................................ 24 ii Article 18 - Technical and scientific cooperation ......................................................... 24 Article 19 - Handling of biotechnology and distribution of its benefits ....................... 25 2.3 Domestic and International Funding ........................................................................ 25 2.4 Effectiveness of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ........................... 26 CHAPTER III: SECTORAL AND CROSS-SECTORAL INTEGRATION OR MAINSTREAMING OF BIODIVERSITY CONSIDERATIONS ................ 27 3.0 Government Approach to Biodiversity ..................................................................... 27 3.1 Legal and Regulatory Framework ............................................................................ 27 3.1.1 The Forest Act ...................................................................................................... 28 3.1.2 Forests (Mangrove Protection) Regulations ....................................................... 28 3.1.3 The National Parks System Act ............................................................................ 29 3.1.4 Wildlife Protection Act ......................................................................................... 29 3.1.5 The Fisheries Act ................................................................................................. 29 3.1.6 The Environmental Protection Act ....................................................................... 30 3.1.7 Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act .............................................................. 30 3.1.8 Cayes Development Policy .................................................................................. 31 3.1.9 Belize Tourism Policy .......................................................................................... 31 3.1.10 National Lands Act ............................................................................................ 31 3.1.11 Protected Areas Conservation Trust .................................................................. 31 3.1.12 The Donor Community ....................................................................................... 32 3.1.13 National Capacity Self-Assessment.................................................................... 33 3.1.14 Sustainable Land Management .......................................................................... 33 3.2 Existing Measures and Programmes in Place for the Conservation of Biodiversity ...................... 34 3.2.1 The National Protected Areas System.................................................................. 34 3.2.2 Regional Partnerships ......................................................................................... 36 3.2.3 International Agreements..................................................................................... 37 3.3 Mainstreaming biological diversity through the education system and capacity building .............. 40 CHAPTER IV - CONCLUSIONS: PROGRESS TOWARDS THE 2010 TARGET AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN .................................... 42 4.0 General Introduction .................................................................................................. 42 4.1 Progress towards the 2010 Target ............................................................................. 42 Goal 1. Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems, habitats and biomes....................................................................................... 42 iii Goal 2. Promote the conservation of species diversity ..................................................... 43 Goal 3. Promote the Conservation of Genetic Diversity .................................................. 44 Goal 4. Promote sustainable use and consumption. ......................................................... 45 Goal 5. Pressures from habitat loss, land use change and degradation, and unsustainable water use, reduced. ............................................................................. 46 Goal 6. Control threats from invasive alien species ......................................................... 47 Goal 7. Address challenges to biodiversity from climate change, and pollution ............. 47 Goal 8. Maintain capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods ..................................................................................................... 48 Goal 9. Maintain socio-cultural diversity of indigenous and local communities ............. 49 Goal 10. Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources .........................................................................................