News & Events Archives - The Belize Fund

The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future has opened its 4th Call for Proposals!

Blythe Thompson / August 25, 2025

📣We’re seeking bold, community-rooted, and science-backed ideas under two key themes: 🐟Sustainable Fisheries 🌿Blue Business Innovation Whether you’re innovating with seaweed, piloting reef-friendly tourism, or testing new traceability tech for fishers, this funding can help you scale impact. 🐬🐙 If you have a project aligned with our mission, apply for a grant and make a positive impact on Belize’s coastal and marine resources!🌊🌿 📅 Apply by 12th September 2025 🔗Learn more about the eligibility criteria and application process, and apply through our platform: www.belizefund.bz 📣 Tag someone who should see this._#BelizeFund#OceanConservation#SustainableFinance#CoastalCommunities#BlueEconomy#Biodiversity#SustainableFishing#ClimateResilience#SaveOurOceans

News & Events

Three Lagoons Eco Guardians: Youth Leading Coastal and Mangrove Protection

Blythe Thompson / August 26, 2025

From the beaches of Sarteneja to the mangrove-lined shores of Chunox, a new generation of conservation leaders is rising. What began as a family-led effort has grown into the Three Lagoons Sustainability Program—a movement of young “Eco Guardians” cleaning coastlines, restoring mangroves, and inspiring their peers to protect the environment they call home. Every cleanup tells a story of stewardship: plastic pulled from mangroves, bottles lifted from beaches, seeds planted where erosion once claimed the land. And every action teaches us that safeguarding our environment is not someone else’s job, it’s a responsibility we share as a community and a country. With support from the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, the Three Lagoons team is proving how community-based action, powered by sustainable financing for conservation, can build resilience, create pride, and safeguard our coastlines for generations to come. This feature is part of the “Financing for Belize’s Ocean Space” series—stories that show how innovative conservation funding is strengthening Belize’s blue economy and empowering people across the country. #BelizeFund #EcoGuardians #YouthInAction #MarineConservation #SustainableFutures 🎥 Produced in partnership with and by Greater Belize Media/ News 5 Live.

News & Events

From Fishers to Conservationists: Safeguarding Sharks, Safeguarding Our Seas

Blythe Thompson / August 6, 2025

Sharks may be feared for their teeth, but in Belize, they’re valued as guardians of the sea. At Glover’s Reef, local fishers are teaming up with scientists to tag sharks, track their movements, and collect vital data that informs how we protect marine life. What once was seen only as fishing is now evolving into conservation, where every dive, every tag, and every discovery helps keep our ocean in balance. Through the Belize Shark Fishers Association, second-generation fisherfolk are blending traditional knowledge with modern science, creating new livelihoods while contributing to global shark research. Their work proves that conservation is not only about protecting species—it’s also about protecting communities and building a sustainable blue economy. Backed by sustainable financing through the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, local partners like the Shark Fishers Association are proving that conservation can create jobs, protect species, and strengthen coastal livelihoods. This feature is part of the “Financing for Belize’s Ocean Space” series—real stories of how conservation funding supports Belize’s blue economy, its people, and its future. #BelizeFund #SharkConservation #BlueEconomy #MarineConservation #SustainableFutures 🎥 Produced in partnership with and by Greater Belize Media/ News 5 Live.

News & Events

Belizean Women Lead Blue Revolution Through Seaweed Farming

Blythe Thompson / July 15, 2025

Off the coast of Placencia, women are redefining what it means to work with the sea. Through the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association, they are transforming a traditional practice into sustainable businesses that support families, protect marine ecosystems, and strengthen Belize’s blue economy. From seaweed gels and scrubs to soaps and natural skincare, their products are creating waves of opportunity both locally and internationally. But this story goes beyond seaweed. It’s about women breaking barriers in the maritime world, inspiring the next generation of girls to dive into conservation, science, and seafaring with confidence and purpose. The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, established as a private conservation trust fund under the Belize Blue Bonds, is proud to finance and support initiatives like this. By channeling resources directly to community-based organizations, the Belize Fund is helping women, youth, and coastal communities thrive while safeguarding our ocean’s future. This feature is part of the “Financing for Belize’s Ocean Space” news series—stories that bring to life how conservation finance is driving resilience, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods across Belize. #BelizeFund #WomenInSeaweed #BlueEconomy #MarineConservation #SustainableFutures 🎥 Produced in partnership with and by Greater Belize Media/ News 5 Live.

News & Events

PRESS RELEASE: Belize Fund Awards $250,000 in Emergency Response Grants to BTIA and BHA to tackle Sargassum

Blythe Thompson / August 28, 2025

(City of Belmopan, August 28, 2025) – Today, the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future awarded Emergency Response Grants totalling BZ$250,000 to the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) and the Belize Hotel Association (BHA), to help address the worsening sargassum emergency impacting people, ecosystems, and livelihoods. The emergency funding is equally distributed between the BTIA and BHA, with each organization receiving BZ$125,000 to support affected hotels in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Hopkins, Seine Bight, Placencia, and other offshore islands. The Funds will be used to support sargassum removal through equipment rental, hiring of personnel, and safe disposal. This intervention will also help maintain cleaner beaches for both residents and visitors. “Beyond tourism impacts, decomposing sargassum creates serious respiratory health risks for coastal communities, kills marine life through oxygen depletion, contaminates our waters, and threatens the livelihoods of fishermen and other coastal workers,” expressed Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director of the Belize Fund. “While we cannot solve this emergency alone, we want to help reduce its immediate impacts on both our environment and our people.” The Signing Representatives were: • Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts (Belize Fund) • Ms. Linette Canto (BTIA) • Mr. Reynaldo Malik (BHA) The two-month intervention operates through a re-granting mechanism, allowing BTIA and BHA to distribute funds directly to the most severely affected hotels in coastal areas where they are needed most urgently.

News & Events

On the Water with Belize’s Fishers

Blythe Thompson / July 16, 2025

Over the past two days, our team hit the water for a boat-to-boat outreach with fishers from Chunox, Copper Bank, and Libertad. We spoke with them about the Belize Fund’s upcoming Call for Proposals, opening August 25th, and how they can access grant funding to support their livelihoods and ideas for sustainable fishing. 🐟🦞 📣 Fishers are at the heart of our ocean communities, and we’re working to ensure they have the tools, info, and support to benefit from this opportunity. From giant lobsters to nurse shark encounters, our Program Manager, Josue, and Project Officer, Patty, got to see fishers in their element and learn more about life at sea. 🦈🛶 We’ll continue engaging fishers across Belize to build awareness and promote healthy oceans, sustainable practices, and thriving coastal communities.

News & Events

Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Belize Fund Sign MOU to Strengthen Financing for Climate Adaptation and Blue Economy

Chalsey Gill Anthony / July 29, 2025

Belmopan City | July 29, 2024 – The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at expanding access to financing for climate adaptation and blue economy development in Belize. This agreement marks a significant milestone in national efforts to strengthen environmental and economic resilience through strategic partnerships and shared expertise. As the country faces growing climate challenges and increasing pressure on its marine and natural resources, the partnership brings together Belize’s only development bank and a private conservation trust fund pioneering new blue economy models to create innovative financial solutions that drive resilience, sustainability, and inclusive growth. Through the MOU, the Belize Fund and DFC commit to closer collaboration in areas such as knowledge sharing, joint financing initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. The five-year MOU will see both organizations collaborate to: “This agreement strengthens the reach and impact of the Belize Fund,” remarked Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director of the Belize Fund. “Working alongside DFC allows us to amplify national efforts to secure a more resilient future for both our people and our marine and coastal ecosystems.” Mr. Henry N. Anderson, CEO of DFC, added, “We are proud to work with the Belize Fund in bridging financing gaps for sustainable development. This partnership aligns directly with our mission to foster equitable growth and support the nation’s climate and economic resilience.” This partnership reflects a unified approach to supporting Belize’s development goals while addressing the growing challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. Both institutions will work within their respective mandates to co-develop solutions that promote sustainability, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship for the benefit of current and future generations. About DFC: The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is Belize’s only development bank, established under the DFC Act to provide long-term, innovative financing that supports the resilient and sustainable development of the country, empower Belizean individuals, businesses, and communities. DFC offers tailored financial solutions across key sectors, including MSMEs, education, renewable energy, housing, agriculture, and tourism. As a key partner in national development, DFC continues to work closely with the Government of Belize and other stakeholders to empower individuals and businesses, foster job creation, and drive long-term economic resilience across the country. About the Belize Fund: The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) is a private conservation trust, established in March 2022, to support conservation and climate change adaptation activities in Belize, with a focus on marine resources. Created as a sustainable financing mechanism, the Fund manages the conservation payments from the Belize Blue Bonds. In partnership with the Government of Belize, the Belize Fund finances and supports initiatives that advance the conservation commitments under the Blue Bonds agreement to ensure a sustainable future for Belize. For more information, please contact:

News & Events

Announcing the Winners of our Ocean Awareness Poetry Contest

Blythe Thompson / June 30, 2025

🎉 Congratulations to the Winners of our Ocean Awareness Poetry Contest! 🐚🌊 We’re proud to celebrate the young voices who used the power of creative expressions to speak up for our oceans. Under the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”, these poems captured creativity, care, and a call to action about the ocean’s beauty, power, and importance in our lives, and why ocean health matters. A heartfelt thank you to all participants who inspired us with your words and passion! 💙 Standard 4 1st Place – La’Briah Dawson 2nd Place – Josse Lattibadare 3rd Place – Susana Penner Standard 5 1st Place – Anthony Quan 2nd Place – Eryn Peters 3rd Place – Juliana Belisle Standard 6 1st Place – Dylan Teul 2nd Place – Conner Ferguson

News & Events

Update from the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France!

Blythe Thompson / June 10, 2025

The first-ever Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conservation Trust Fund Community of Practice was held, bringing together the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Micronesia Conservation Trust, Niue Ocean Wide Trust, SeyCCAT, and our very own Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future! As our Executive Director Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts shared: “It was great to meet other SIDS CTFs who share similar challenges and experiences. We discussed the creation of a Community of Practice to bring SIDS CTFs to the forefront, and how we can engage multilaterals and donors for a place at the table to access funding directly, to mobilize this to communities on the ground.” With record ocean heat and acidification threatening marine ecosystems worldwide, this collaboration couldn’t be more urgent. The Community of Practice represents a unified force of island nations leading the charge for ocean health. Together, we’re working to make sure small nations like Belize get the funding they need, and that the money reaches the communities driving local action for our ocean every day.🌐➡️🏝️ This is what ocean leadership looks like: small islands, big impact! 🏝️✨ 📌 Special thanks to Kate Brown for capturing the energy of the session. Participation in Seaside Chat at UNOC At the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) Seaside Chat, Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts shared how Belize is pioneering sustainable ocean management through innovative financing models and data-driven approaches. She highlighted the Belize Fund as a private Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), established in March 2022 to manage conservation payments from Belize’s Blue Bond. As the first CTF of its kind born from a sovereign Blue Bond deal, the Fund serves as a critical financing mechanism to help Belize meet its marine conservation and blue economy goals, operating with transparent, independent governance and aligned with national strategies such as the Marine Spatial Plan and Blue Economy Strategy. Dr. Cho-Ricketts emphasized the importance of ocean accounts in tracking progress, ensuring transparency, and unlocking sustainable financing opportunities. These data systems support measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of investments and pave the way for emerging financing mechanisms like blue carbon and biodiversity credits. She also outlined the Fund’s impact to date: In advancing 30×30 and ocean finance, the Belize Fund goes beyond project funding, it enables systems change and multi-stakeholder governance. This includes financing for participatory marine spatial planning, legal designations of biodiversity zones, enforcement, ecosystem restoration, and community-based solutions aligned with national and global frameworks. She concluded with an important lesson: Getting funds to the ground is complex, requiring flexible and adaptive mechanisms to remain fit-for-purpose.

News & Events

Belize Fund hosted a two-day Media Tour to some of Belize’s most iconic marine protected areas, on June 26–27, 2025.

Blythe Thompson / June 30, 2025

Over June 26–27, the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future hosted a two-day Media Tour to some of Belize’s most iconic marine protected areas — Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park, and the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. We were joined by representatives from 7 News Belize, Love FM, News 5, Hot Off The Press, San Pedro Sun, and Climate Spotlight, who got a front-row seat to conservation in action. Day 1: At Gladden Spit and Laughing Bird Caye, journalists heard from our grantee partners: They also took to the water to snorkel and experience the vibrant marine life these MPAs protect. Day 2: The tour continued to Hunting Caye in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, where shared insights on enforcement, biodiversity protection, and expanding Belize’s ocean protection zones to 25%. Through its Grants Award Program and Government Strategic Allocation, the Belize Fund supports the stewardship of 14 MPAs covering over 612,000 hectares — funding local innovation, strengthening enforcement, and ensuring long-term sustainability for generations to come. This media tour helped connect storytelling with science, giving journalists a deeper look into the people and partnerships shaping Belize’s ocean future.