REFORES Strengthens Partnerships for Biodiversity Conservation and Integrated Water Management in Belize

• CATIE, as an implementing partner of REFORES, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Belize National Hydrological Service to strengthen integrated water management, monitoring, and climate change adaptation.

As part of Belize’s Second Annual Biodiversity Dialogue, held from May 26 to 28, 2026, in San Ignacio Town, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), as an implementing partner of the project Using Nature-based Solutions to Increase Resilience to Extreme Climate Events in the Atlantic Region of Central America — REFORES: Forest Restoration for Climate Resilience, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Belize National Hydrological Service.

This agreement represents an important step toward strengthening institutional collaboration in integrated water resources and watershed management, while promoting greater coordination among monitoring, planning, and climate change adaptation efforts.

The annual dialogue was organized by the National Biodiversity Office (NBIO) under the theme “Acting Locally for Global Impact: Our Culture, Our Biodiversity, Our Impact.” The event brought together representatives from government institutions, civil society organizations, academia, communities, and stakeholders involved in environmental management to reflect on the connections between biodiversity, culture, and sustainable development, while promoting actions that contribute to the implementation of Belize’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

During the event, Helen Choco, REFORES National Coordinator in Belize, shared the project’s progress in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience-building across its intervention areas. She highlighted the work carried out through the Restoration Roundtable at both national and community levels, as well as restoration actions and Nature-based Solutions that contribute to the recovery of ecological functions, the reduction of climate-related risks, and the well-being of local communities.

The project’s participation also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with various national stakeholders committed to the conservation of natural resources and the strengthening of environmental governance in Belize.

As part of the closing activities, a Biodiversity Education Fair was held, during which the National Biodiversity Office and its partner organizations shared information with students and the general public about their programs, initiatives, and actions aimed at biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management, and the strengthening of the country’s protected areas.

REFORES’ participation in this event reaffirms the project’s commitment to building strategic partnerships and promoting actions that strengthen ecosystem resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods for communities across the Atlantic region of Central America.

About REFORES

The REFORES: Forest Restoration for Climate Resilience project is a regional initiative that strengthens climate resilience along the Atlantic coast of Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras through ecosystem restoration as a climate change adaptation measure. The project is implemented by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), executed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and CATIE, and funded by the Adaptation Fund (AF).