The Belize Fund is a private conservation trust fund established in 2022 through funding from the Belize Blue Bonds. We partner with the Government of Belize and non-government organizations to protect our coastal and marine resources while building a resilient blue economy. Through grants and funding, we support: ✅ Conservation and research ✅ Climate change adaptation ✅ Blue businesses ✅ Government efforts to meet conservation goals
The Belize Fund is a private conservation trust fund established in 2022 through funding from the Belize Blue Bonds. We partner with the Government of Belize and non-government organizations to protect our coastal and marine resources while building a resilient blue economy. Through grants and funding, we support:
Along the coastlines of Belize, you can find stretches of sandy shores, thick mangrove forests, and sparkling blue waters that provide a home to an incredible variety of marine life. From the bustling coral reefs to the quiet lagoons, it’s a place where people and nature are deeply connected. In these coastal communities, many groups discuss solutions to the environmental challenges they face. They know every tide, every change in the water, and even the creatures that swim below its surface. For years, they’ve worked quietly to preserve the marine resources their families depend on. But when it comes to securing the funding to amplify their efforts, they often hit a wall. It’s voices like these that the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) wants to uplift. Established to provide finance and support the sustainable management of Belize’s marine and coastal areas, the Belize Fund has awarded approximately BZ $10.8 million in grants to organizations tackling environmental challenges. Yet, until recently, many of these grants went to large, well-established NGOs. While these NGOs are critical players in conservation and managing protected areas, the Belize Fund recognized the imbalance. Smaller, community groups, often the ones closest to the issues, were being unintentionally left out. “We realized that while our process ensures accountability and transparency, it wasn’t reaching everyone it needed to,” says Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director of the Belize Fund. “We knew we had to rethink our approach if we wanted to truly achieve fairness and lasting results, recognizing that communities are very important to conservation.” Closing the Gap Through its first two Calls for Proposals, the Belize Fund recognized key barriers that many small, community groups face in accessing grants. Challenges ranged from a lack of formal registration and financial systems to limited experience with project reporting and management. “The traditional model worked well for large organizations, but it unintentionally excluded other people who are also on the frontlines every day,” explains Josue Oliva, Program Manager at the Belize Fund. “We had to ask ourselves: how can we change that?” A Revised Approach Determined to be more inclusive and responsive, the Belize Fund introduced Community Grants during its 3rd Call for Proposals. Designed specifically for smaller entities—like women’s groups, youth associations, and indigenous cooperatives—these grants seek to address the challenges these groups face in accessing financing. The requirements are simple: applicants must be registered in Belize and demonstrate active involvement in their communities. And then the Belize Fund helps with managing the funds. “We offer training in proposal writing, provide consultants to guide organizations through the application process, and we help with managing finances for approved projects, ” says Oliva. “We’re meeting people where they are, so these entities can focus on implementing their projects, building sustainable livelihoods and conserving our natural resources.” Investing in People Recognizing that access to funding is just one step, the Belize Fund has also invested heavily in capacity-building initiatives. These include in-person information sessions, proposal-writing workshops, and direct support from consultants to guide organizations through the application process. “We want to do more than just provide money for conservation,” says Dr. Cho-Ricketts. ” We want to equip people with the tools they need to succeed and create a foundation for long-term impact.” Empowering Communities, Ensuring Sustainability The Belize Fund’s new approach is already making a difference. Out of eight community grant proposals, four have been approved for funding totalling US $150,000, with another in the pipeline. The approved projects focus on key areas: managing the 66’ reserve around the Three Lagoons System, enhancing public awareness and engagement in coastal and marine management, supporting sustainable fishing and livelihoods in Chunox, and ensuring compliance with international shark fishery standards to protect key species. By removing barriers and supporting smaller groups, the Fund is giving underrepresented communities a chance to play a bigger role in conservation. “Every community has a part to play in creating a sustainable future,” says Dr. Cho-Ricketts. “When we give local groups the tools and resources they need, we’re investing in conservation that benefits everyone, now and in the future.” As the Belize Fund continues to evolve, it is balancing the need to conserve ecosystems with the importance of empowering the people who rely on them. With a focus on inclusion and innovation, the Fund is showing how grant-making can drive meaningful change. Written By: Chalsey Gill Anthony, Communications Officer, Belize Fund
At COP16, our Executive Director, Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, joined the launch of the publication The Vital Role of Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) in Implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework! 📑✨ CTFs are crucial in making long-term conservation a reality. Here’s how they’re driving progress to achieve global biodiversity goals: 🌿 Stable Funding: CTFs provide steady financial flows for managing protected areas, even during economic or political changes. 👥 Community Collaboration: By partnering with Indigenous groups and local communities, CTFs support sustainable livelihoods and community-led conservation. 🌊 Marine & Coastal Protection: CTFs fund efforts to protect fragile marine ecosystems, enabling actions like improved fishing practices, reef restoration, and waste management. 🌏 Pandemic Resilience: During crises, CTFs continued funding essential biodiversity work, like supporting rangers and preserving ecosystem services. CTFs are driving impactful, on-the-ground action for a healthier planet! 🌎💪
The Belize Fund proudly celebrates Jolie Pollard of iKooma on winning the Great Blue Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 7th National Entrepreneurship Convention (EntreCon 2024)! The Belize Fund supported BELTRAIDE’s event as a bronze sponsor. We congratulate all the businesses and recepients receiving awards and BELTRAIDE for recognizing the importance that businesses play in the blue economy. We are working towards shaping a future where entrepreneurship and sustainability go hand in hand. 📸 BELTRAIDE
Through special “no-take” zones and marine protected areas, we’re helping keep Belize’s ocean healthy and full of life. Our goal? To prevent the loss of important species and ensure our ocean stays vibrant and thriving for generations to come. 🌊🐠 Together, let’s safeguard Belize’s natural treasures!
The Belize Fund is proud to share its roadmap to safeguard Belize’s marine resources while empowering communities and supporting a resilient blue economy. This plan focuses on:1️⃣ Strengthening Our Organization – Building capacity to lead conservation efforts. 2️⃣ Expanding Funding Opportunities – Beyond the Blue Bonds, exploring new ways to safeguard our oceans. 3️⃣ Implementing fit-for-purpose grantmaking – Supporting Belize’s fisheries, tourism, and other marine sectors. 4️⃣ Building Partnerships – Collaborating nationally and internationally for greater impact. We want to create financing in perpetuity for Belize’s future through a vibrant, thriving ocean. 🌊💙
By promoting responsible fishing, we’re supporting efforts to rebuild fish stocks, explore new opportunities, and ensure sustainable practices—from the sea to your plate! Sustainable fishing benefits everyone—our ocean, our communities, and our future. Together, we’re creating a stronger future for fishing communities and Belize’s marine life. 🌊🐟
The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) has made a significant move to bolster its support for marine conservation by joining RedLAC, a network of environmental funds in Latin America and the Caribbean, at its 26th annual Congress. The RedLAC Congress, held in beautiful Saint Lucia from October 7-10, 2024, brought together about 200 conservation leaders from 42 countries to share ideas and strengthen regional efforts to conserve marine biodiversity. Belize Fund at the RedLAC Congress 2024 On October 6, during RedLAC’s General Assembly, the Belize Fund officially became a member of the network, joining 32 other members, including the Galápagos Life Fund. This partnership signifies a strategic advancement in Belize’s ability to translate global conservation commitments into local action. “Joining RedLAC means expanding our network and working together to make a bigger impact on marine conservation. ” said Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director of the Belize Fund. “Our strength lies in finding long-term funding solutions that connect global goals with Belize’s conservation needs.” Dr. Cho-Ricketts participated in a panel on “Blue Financial Mechanisms and Opportunities” at the Congress. She joined experts like Amilcar Guzman from Grant Thornton and Michael McGreevey from Conservation International to discuss how sustainable financing supports Belize’s marine conservation and blue economy goals. Another highlight was a panel on Marine Protected Areas management, where Mr. Joel Verde, Board Member of the Belize Fund and Executive Director of the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development, spoke about Belize’s unique approach to financing conservation efforts. “The Belize Fund’s Strategic Partnership model allows us to move from competitive bidding to more predictable funding for protected areas,” explained Verde. This is key to managing Belize’s marine and coastal ecosystems sustainably. This approach, made possible under the 2021 debt-for-nature swap agreement between the Government of Belize and The Nature Conservancy to generate US $180 million over 20 years, aims to support conservation efforts, such as the goal to protect 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. The discussion, enriched by insights from fellow panellists including Cuthbert Didier, Jenifer James, and Paola Romero, highlighted the importance of sustainable financing mechanisms for protected areas across the region. Advancing Regional Marine Conservation At the Congress, the Belize Fund also signed a pledge as a member of RedLAC’s Coastal and Marine Working Group. This pledge will allow the Belize Fund to better connect international conservation frameworks, like the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework, with local efforts. By joining this working group, the Belize Fund aims to collaborate on regional efforts to mobilize long-term funding for marine protected areas, restoring important habitats like mangroves and coral reefs, and supporting sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, all while sharing knowledge across the region. “This pledge reflects our shared vision for protecting marine life in the region,” Dr. Cho-Ricketts emphasized. “By pooling our resources and expertise through RedLAC, we can achieve much more in safeguarding our marine ecosystems.” Through new financing models, strategic partnerships, and collaboration, the Belize Fund is committed to advancing marine conservation and resilience in coastal areas. A Milestone for Conservation Finance The RedLAC Congress successfully brought together environmental funds, investors, government representatives, and conservation experts from around the world, highlighting the important role of conservation trust funds like the Belize Fund. Our active participation and new membership in RedLAC marks a key step in advancing our mission to secure sustainable funding for marine conservation in Belize while supporting wider efforts to protect marine life and ecosystems across the region. Organized by the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF), with support from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) and the Environmental Investment Fund of El Salvador (FIAES), the Congress theme was “30x30x30: The Path to 2030.”
In 2001, Category 4 Hurricane Iris left the coastal community of Placencia battered and devastated. Lisa Carne, a marine biologist who had been living in Belize since 1995, found herself grappling with the aftermath of the hurricane. “That year, there was no tourism because everything was flattened,” she recalls, a somber reminder of the fragility of the environment she had come to love. On the beach, Lisa stumbled upon a fragment of hope—broken pieces of corals lying still alive but detached from its home. “I thought, wow, maybe we could reforest the reefs like they do onshore,” she mused, igniting a passion that would lead to the birth of Fragments of Hope, an organization dedicated to coral restoration. When Lisa first began her coral restoration work in Belize, she faced skepticism. The journey from skepticism to support wasn’t overnight. It began with older fishermen who, observing the natural process of coral fragmentation and regrowth during storms, started to understand and endorse Lisa’s work. “It was those same older fishermen who finally said they get it,” she reminisces. This local validation spread “like wildfire,” fostering a sense of community ownership that remains central to Fragments of Hope’s principles. Today, Fragments of Hope is recognized for their success in coral restoration, not just in Belize but globally. The organization’s work at some restoration sites has yielded notable results, with restored sites showing significantly higher survival rates during recent bleaching events compared to natural stands. Despite facing mass global bleaching events and rising water temperatures, Fragments of Hope reported a remarkable 4% mortality rate among the 342 Elkhorn corals they outplanted. In contrast, natural stands in the same area experienced a staggering 31% mortality rate. “We came through much better at the restoration sites than in Northern Belize, which speaks to the power of genetic diversity and strategic positioning,” noted Dr. Leslie Kaufman, a colleague from Boston University and researcher supporting Fragments of Hope. But there are still many questions to be answered to continue replicating the success of coral restoration throughout the Belize Barrier Reef System. Sustainable financing is vital for the longevity of marine conservation efforts. The Belize Fund provided BZ$801,370.00 to Fragments of Hope for a three-year project focused on restoring critically endangered coral species. This funding supports Fragments of Hope in meeting its commitment to building local capacity through increased staff support and workshops aimed at improving the skills of community members in conducting bleaching surveys and understanding coral species. A key component of sustainable financing is demonstrating the broader economic and social benefits of conservation work. Healthy coral reefs are vital for tourism, fishing, and coastal protection. Lisa highlights an example where a local tour guide provided a detailed tour of Laughing Bird Caye, showcasing the restored corals. “Even though he’s never actually gone out planting with us, he still had the information and the pride to show everything. It’s a fantastic indicator of community commitment and its relation to tourism,” Lisa stated. “We want to ensure that the community can effectively monitor coral health and contribute to ongoing restoration efforts.” Climate change poses an ever-present threat to coral ecosystems, which propelled Fragments of Hope to work with experts to formulate a national restoration plan. This comprehensive strategy aims to coordinate efforts across Belize, maximizing the impact of coral restoration initiatives. Lisa discussed the importance of creating genetically diverse and self-replicating restored sites, ensuring connectivity and resilience in the face of climate change. Dr. Kaufman also emphasized the long-term nature of coral restoration, noting that the goal is to keep enough of the reef alive so that it can restore itself once climate challenges are resolved. “This is a long game,” he said. Looking ahead, Fragments of Hope is exploring the possibility of relocating more resilient coral genotypes from southern Belize to northern sites that have struggled with restoration efforts. This approach is based on the understanding that genetic diversity plays a critical role in the survival and adaptability of coral species. The work being done by Fragments of Hope in Belize serves as a model for coral reef conservation worldwide. By prioritizing community involvement, focusing on education and training, fostering climate resilience through genetic diversity, and adapting strategies in response to environmental challenges, the organization is contributing to the health of marine ecosystems in Belize and the global ocean space.
