Belize : Marine Program

In October 2002, WCS broadened its presence in Belize with the creation of the Belize Marine Program, which works in close collaboration with Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station.  The primary aim of this program is to ensure that the results of research activities carried out at the research station are integrated into national and regional planning, and the decision-making process.  The overall goal is to expand and strengthen WCS’ marine conservation activities in Belize and the Mesoamerican region.

The Human Aspect
Through direct contact and participation in numerous regional committees, the program maintains close ties with relevant government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.  These relationships increase the program’s success of getting research results integrated into policy and promote marine conservation in the area.  The program also reaches out to the fisheries and local people through posters, newsletters, training sessions, and workshops, all of which focus on educating and raising awareness about conservation and management laws and regulations.

Threats
The program’s initiatives and goals focus on addressing controversial conservation issues that are hard to manage.  Currently, one of the biggest threats to conservation in the area is lack of effective and enforced management.  A large amount of research is being done in the area, which provides managers with useful information to help conserve the coral reefs. For maximum effect, however, this scientific effort must be coupled with strengthened management to address increasing pressures, including overfishing, coral bleaching, pollution, and tourism.

WCS Activities
The program has proved to be a successful link between policy making and planning, and scientific research conducted at Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station (GRMRS).  Extensive research focused on Nassau groupers conducted at GRMRS, led by Dr. Enric Sala, has allowed WCS to provide assistance in both implementing Belize Nassau grouper legislation and working to educate and raise awareness among the public.  The goal is to help achieve successful, enforced protection of the species and its spawning aggregations.  WCS has also focused on sharing research results with other NGOs to help them design effective management plans for other local marine protected areas.  Through this program, WCS shared data collected at GRMRS, focusing on conch populations within Glover’s Reef, with the Belize Fisheries Department for incorporation into a report for CITES on the status of the species in Belize.  Beyond influencing policy-making, the Belize City Marine Program has also initiated the Glover’s Reef Living Seascape project, supported by USAID-GCP.  Some aspects of this project include preparing an implementation plan, identifying the performance-monitoring indicators, conducting a threats assessment for the reef, and determining the seascape species.  During the past year, the program has also hosted seminars and meetings attended by employees of the Belize Fisheries Department, donors, universities, other NGOs and WCS staff from other country programs.

Important Next Steps

• Continue to act as a liaison between researchers and relevant authorities to ensure that significant research findings are shared and incorporated into policies and planning on a timely basis.
• Support the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve by assisting in the development of the operational plan and incorporating changes to the reserve design.
• Arrange for researchers visiting Belize to give presentations on their work to government agencies and organize tours of Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station. 
• Organize and host several workshops for the Glover’s Reef Advisory Committee; topics include finalizing threats assessment for Glover’s Reef, selecting seascape species for the reef, and increasing leadership, group dynamics and conflict resolution skills through training sessions.
• Promote training and education by hosting interns from the University of Belize for the summer and holding training course in the LAMP protocol for 4-6 marine reserve biologists in May 2004.