Marine Spatial Plan Supported by Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future

Julie Robinson

So what is the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan costing the country? Well, within the Blue Bond agreement, there is a conservation fund to provide financing for processes like these. TNC Program Director Julie Robinson explains that four million U.S. dollars will be available yearly. 

Julie Robinson, Program Director, TNC

“We have also established the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future. This is a conservation fund that was established as part of the blue bond agreement. So one of the strategic objectives under the B.F.S.F. is blue innovative financing. So for example if you do end up with any sector – it could be fisheries, it could be anybody – that is perhaps negatively impacted or has to compromise as I mentioned earlier, this is where the fund is available to provide support for innovative businesses, something different, diversification, maybe working in a different area. So that is what the fund is there for. It is there to support the overall initiative, marine spatial planning being one of those initiatives. Just wanted to make sure that you know it is not just this process, but there is also the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future that is accompanying the entire marine spatial planning process.”