Natural Resource Management
The Natural Resource Management Program (NRMP) is focused on the effective management and stewardship of natural resources in CBWS. As part of the NRMP, SACD has identified and prioritized a series of conservation targets and threats to guide its management decisions, working closely with its primary stakeholders, and engaging them in management decisions and activities. In 2012, SACD developed the CBWS Management Plan (2013-2018), which provides the background information for informed management decisions, and a structured framework of activities to implement effective conservation management.
The SACD Surveillance and Enforcement Sub-Program is focused on educating local users about regulations and encouraging good stewardship towards the sustainable use of natural resources in CBWS. SACD works in partnerships with other enforcement agencies of the Northern Belize Coastal Complex – such as the Belize Coast Guard, Fisheries Department, and Forest Department, as well as its NBCC partners – Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve and Hol Chan Marine Reserve – maximizing surveillance and enforcement efforts in CBWS and boundary areas. SACD has incorporated the SMART system (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) in the daily work, feeding into the national data base and contributing to improved natural resource management in Belize.
The Research and Monitoring Sub-Program is focused on providing information for effective management of the identified conservation targets, and through them, the natural resources of CBWS with outputs feeding back into the adaptive management regime. CBWS and its key stakeholder communities have been classified as highly vulnerable to climate change, and the Monitoring and Research Sub-Program seeks to ensure sound knowledge on which to base conservation efforts, in order to increase resilience and plan for adaptation.
