
Projects
The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute aims to accomplish its main objectives and mission, and work towards fulfilling its vision through the development and implementation of several projects.

Empowering Youth to Embed Curriculum Change, Agency and Action related to Natural Risks
Funders:
GeoAct
Project partners:
The University of the West Indies, Dominica Red Cross Society
Active
The project aims to increase knowledge of Climate Change and Geological Risks at primary and secondary levels in the Caribbean, using creative learner-centred pedagogy to equip girls, boys and educators with necessary skills to enact change in their communities. A data driven approach will be used to inform co-created teaching and learning resources that will be implemented through Project Based Learning within formal and informal education spaces in select regions of Belize, Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago.

Population Structure Assessment of Fished Marine Species within Belize
Funders:
BFSF
Project partners:
University of Boston, University of Toronto
Active
The goal of this project is to strengthen the scientific research on fish populations and incorporate genetic data into fisheries management in Belize. The project will describe patterns of population connectivity and structure for 4 target fish species (Caribbean red snapper (Lutjanus purpureous), lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris), hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) & nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) from across Belize. In addition, we will examine the population structure of Queen Conch (Aliger gigas) from Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve.

Strengthening coral reef resilience through science for adaptive management and stakeholder engagement
Funders:
Great Barrier Reef Foundation, RRI
Project partners:
CZMAI, TASA
Active
This project aims to strengthen adaptive management and stakeholder engagement to respond to long-term reef threats and build restoration solutions.

Comparison of Rookery and Non-Rookery Mangrove Cayes through Biodiversity and Biomass
Funders:
Smithsonian
Project partners:
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Active
Mangroves are important for carbon capture, fisheries, and coastal protection. There is evidence that mangrove cayes used by birds as rookeries are disappearing at a faster rate than non-rookery mangroves. The work proposed in this project will help to determine where management and restoration resources should be focused and assess how mangrove rookeries impact mangrove communities, carbon stocks, and fisheries.

Assessment of human-jaguar conflict and exploring implementation of preventative/mitigative measures in the Belize Maya Forest
Funders:
WWF
Project partners:
The Belize Maya Forest Trust
Active
The Belize Maya Forest, approximately 236,000 acres, is located in northwestern Belize adjacent to the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area and is managed by the Belize Maya Forest Trust which is a Belizean non-profit organization. The project aims to assess the extent of human-jaguar conflict and approaches to reduce human-jaguar conflict in the area.

Addressing Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve through tourism stakeholder involvement
Funders:
MARFund
Project partners:
TASA
Active
This project will investigate the effect of dive guides visiting and treating sites affected by SCTLD on the coral population of Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. As frontline stakeholders, they will be trained in identification of SCTLD, the effective application of treatment to colonies affected with SCTLD, and reporting presence/absence of SCTLD at sites using the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) disease tracking tool.

Building Community Environmental Stewardship in the Maya Forest Corridor through Avian Ecology.
Funders:
UNDP GEFSGP
Project partners:
Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, The Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center, Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Active
The project focuses on building the local capacities to secure long-term protected area management through community based natural resource management, first by utilizing the capabilities of stakeholder organizations in education and outreach, and then by equipping communities with the necessary skills in biodiversity monitoring.

National mangrove and seagrass carbon storage assessment
Funders:
Smithsonian
Project partners:
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Active
The project will conduct an IPCC Tier 2 assessment of marine carbon storage for the country of Belize, providing a quantitative estimate of carbon stocks of the mangroves of Belize and training in field techniques of in-country partners for future assessments.

Conservation Of The Lowland Savanna Ecosystem In Belize.
Funders:
Darwin Initiative
Project partners:
University of Edinburgh, Belize Forest Department, Belize Botanic Gardens
Nonactive
The purpose of the project is to increase available data and enhance the capacity of local institutions to undertake taxonomic research and mapping required to identify priority areas for conservation within savannas.

Large Mammal Corridor Project
Funders:
Darwin Initiative
Project partners:
Panthera, Belize Forest Department
Nonactive
The purpose of the project is to plan a workable natural corridor to connect protected areas in Belize; implement this into the framework of existing protected areas and zoning plans of Belize; establish an in–country tradition of training skills for Belizeans to study their own wildlife.

Edulink Caribbean Reef Education And Training Initiative (CREATIVE) Project
Funders:
Various
Project partners:
University of the West Indies, College of the Bahamas
Nonactive
UB ERI became actively involved in the CREATIVE project in September, 2009. The objective of the CREATIVE project is to contribute towards better, science–based management and conservation of the Caribbean's economically–important coral resources and more regionally–initiated research on the Caribbean's reefs.

Assessing the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Belize's Water Resources
Funders:
DFID, DGIS
Project partners:
CATHALAC, CARIBSAVE
Nonactive
UB ERI has partnered with the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) and CARIBSAVE to assess the potential impacts of climate change on Belize's water resources.