Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Belize

The 'Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Belize' (2026) documents NbS projects implemented between 2018 and 2025 across all districts of Belize. It highlights a shift from grey infrastructure to nature-based approaches to address climate risks such as sea level rise, hurricanes, and drought. Key projects include the protection of 96,000 hectares of the Selva Maya forest, the expansion of marine protected areas from 13% to 22%, and the restoration of thermally tolerant corals. The report emphasizes the role of NGOs and community-based organizations in implementing these solutions and the importance of integrating NbS into national policies like the National Landscape Restoration Strategy.

• Nature-based solutions (NbS) projects are implemented across all districts of Belize, with the highest concentration in the Belize district (18 projects) and the lowest in Orange Walk (five projects). Corozal, Stann Creek, and Toledo districts each have between 10 and 11 projects.
• The growth of NbS in Belize is driven by international and domestic public funding, leadership from civil society, and the integration of NbS into national policy. Specific policy examples include the National Landscape Restoration Strategy and the third Nationally Determined Contribution, which commits to piloting NbS in coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Coastal and marine NbS projects focus on restoring natural barriers to mitigate risks from sea level rise, hurricanes, and storm surges. Examples include sand renourishment in Dangriga and Hopkins to restore sedimentary balance, and the expansion of marine protected areas, which increased national coverage from 13% to 22%.
• Terrestrial NbS efforts emphasize forest protection and regenerative agriculture to combat drought, wildfires, and habitat loss. Notable achievements include the permanent protection of 96,000 hectares of the Selva Maya’s tropical forest and the promotion of the Maya nut (Brosimum alicastrum) as a climate-resilient crop for food security in Harmonyville.
• Specific marine biodiversity interventions include the restoration of thermally tolerant Acroporid corals by Fragments of Hope and the outplanting of king crabs to control macroalgal overgrowth on reefs, which supports coral recovery and maintains reef resilience.
• The inventory highlights the use of 'ridge-to-reef' approaches to reduce land-based pressures on coral reefs. This involves improving watershed management and monitoring water quality to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff that stresses reef ecosystems.
• NbS projects in Belize are primarily implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, associations, and local communities.

APA

Borland, G., Chan, B., Jang, N., & Prias, A. (2026). Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Belize. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-03/nature-based-solutions-inventory-belize.pdf

Chicago

Borland, Giselle, Bianca Chan, Nicole Jang, and Angela Prias. Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Belize. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-03/nature-based-solutions-inventory-belize.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Borland |first1=Giselle |last2=Chan |first2=Bianca |last3=Jang |first3=Nicole |last4=Prias |first4=Angela |title=Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Belize |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=March 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-03/nature-based-solutions-inventory-belize.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{borland2026naturebased, author = {Borland, Giselle and Chan, Bianca and Jang, Nicole and Prias, Angela}, title = {{Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Belize}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-03/nature-based-solutions-inventory-belize.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }