Enhancing the Resilience of Belize's Coastal Communities to Climate Change Impacts - that is the name and the aim of a $4 million US dollars project to strengthen the climate resilience of Belize's coastal communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure.
The initiative is being led by PACT and it was officially launched today in Dangriga. Here are the highlights from the event.
Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy
"This 4 million USD investment through the adaptation implemented through the protected areas conservation trust in partnership with the government of Belize and the national institutions reflects Belize's continued commitment to building climate resilience through strategic science based and people centered actions. Importantly this initiative directly advances the implementation of Belize's Blue economy development policy strategy and implementation plan. The Belize sustainable ocean plan, the integrated coastal zone management plan and the recently enacted integrated coastal management act and it also aligns with the government's broader vision under plan Belize to strengthen climate resilience, sustainable development and national well-being."
Hon. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative for Dangriga
"We have lost 2-300 feet of beach. If you fly over Dangriga you will be able to see the magnitude of the erosion between the town pier and Pelican. You will see a big carve-out, a big U where the stones are on the pier that is where the sands used to be you will see a big carve out right out to the point by Social Security by the Ministry of Education and all the way to Commerce Bight. And of course that continues all the way. And so it is in a sense a matter of awe when you see the power of nature especially if you don't visit for a while and you come back and say wow this is what's happening."
"And certainly the beach restoration of this project will add significantly to that so it is a part of a larger plan for us to community to develop our community and continue to give opportunities especially for our young residents who will be the ones who as we have said, who in fact are the ones who will inherit."
The project will directly benefit more than 117,000 residents across 27 coastal communities in the Corozal, Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo districts.
