Belize's Coastal Capital

A study by the World Resources Institute and WWF Central America evaluating the economic contributions of coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems to Belize's economy, focusing on tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection.

• In 2007, coral reef- and mangrove-associated tourism contributed between US$150 million and US$196 million to Belize's national economy, representing 12 percent to 15 percent of the GDP.
• Reefs and mangroves provide significant economic value through fisheries, estimated at US$14–16 million annually, and shoreline protection, which provides between US$231 million and US$347 million in avoided damages per year from erosion and wave-induced damage.
• Despite the high economic value of coastal resources, investment in their protection is small relative to their contribution to the economy. These ecosystems face threats from unchecked coastal development, overfishing, tourism pressures, and climate-related changes such as warming seas and fiercer storms.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Belize's Coastal Capital. https://www.wri.org/research/belizes-coastal-capital

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Belize's Coastal Capital. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/belizes-coastal-capital.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Belize's Coastal Capital |url=https://www.wri.org/research/belizes-coastal-capital |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendbelizes, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Belize's Coastal Capital}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/belizes-coastal-capital}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }