UB-ERI Launches Project to Strengthen Seagrass Conservation in Belize
The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB-ERI), funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), is leading a project titled “Strengthening Seagrass Stewardship in Belize through Scientific Evidence, Capacity Building and Community Engagement”. The project runs from September 26, 2026, to February 26, 2027, with fieldwork and training based at the Calabash Caye Field Station within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve.
The project aims to strengthen environmental governance in Belize by improving the knowledge, capacity, and stewardship needed to conserve and sustainably manage seagrass ecosystems. Seagrass meadows are vital coastal ecosystems. They support marine biodiversity, sustain fisheries, stabilize sediments (often called “blue carbon”) among other benefits. Despite their ecological importance, long-term seagrass monitoring in Belize remains limited, and few accessible resources exist to turn scientific findings into management action and public understanding.
Through this project, UB-ERI will establish three seagrass monitoring and demonstration sites in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve and develop a coordinated baseline evidence of seagrass condition, species composition, and blue carbon across healthy, transitioned, and dredged meadows. Marine protected area practitioners will receive training in standardized monitoring methods to strengthen their ability to assess seagrass health and contribute to ongoing conservation efforts.
The project will also develop monitoring protocols, policy guidance, and educational and communication resources to make seagrass science more accessible and useful to practitioners, decision-makers, and the wider public. Two regional stakeholder dialogue workshops will provide opportunities to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and discuss approaches to seagrass management and conservation.
By connecting field-based research, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement, the project aims to support the implementation of Belize’s emerging national seagrass policy and promote the integration of seagrass ecosystems into marine management and climate resilience planning. The project’s educational and policy resources will be shared nationally, supporting broader awareness and action for Belize’s seagrass meadows.
Through this initiative, UB-ERI continues to advance research and collaboration that inform environmental management and strengthen the conservation of Belize’s natural heritage.
