Trouble in paradise: New initiative transforms tourism in Belize and its threat to the environment

This fact sheet describes a project led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and supported by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) to address climate change vulnerabilities in Belize's tourism sector. The initiative focused on identifying at-risk coastal sites, assessing policies, and proposing adaptation strategies, culminating in the adoption of an integrated coastal zone management plan in February 2016.

• Climate change poses a significant threat to Belize's tourism industry, which is the country's second-largest industry with an annual value of just under US$350 million. Specifically, 70% of the tourism sector is vulnerable to risks including coral die-off, biodiversity loss, coastal floods, and coastal erosion.
• The Government of Belize adopted an integrated coastal zone management plan in February 2016. Developed by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute and the Natural Capital Project, the plan uses the economic value of marine resource services and open-source software to project the impact of zoning schemes on protected species habitats, recreational areas, and lobster fisheries, with a goal of reducing at-risk areas by 20%.
• Effective climate adaptation requires inclusive policy-making and tailored communication. The document highlights that consulting communities, governments, and tourism operators builds trust and buy-in, while information must be adapted to the audience: policy-makers require concise briefings, the private sector responds to business language, and communities need accessible, non-technical information.
• To secure private sector commitment to sustainable development, it is necessary to understand the priorities of the tourism sector. The document notes that the Government of Belize previously tended to prioritize tourism revenue over climate action without considering the sector's own priorities.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2016). Trouble in paradise: New initiative transforms tourism in Belize and its threat to the environment. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Belize_WEB.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Trouble in paradise: New initiative transforms tourism in Belize and its threat to the environment. 2016. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Belize_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Trouble in paradise: New initiative transforms tourism in Belize and its threat to the environment |date=June 2016 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Belize_WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2016trouble, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Trouble in paradise: New initiative transforms tourism in Belize and its threat to the environment}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2016}, month = jun, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Belize_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }