COPE Report to Help Influence Policies

Nadia Bood

The workshops, which were held in Placencia earlier this week and today in Belize City, mark the conclusion of year one of the project.  WWF Country Representative Nadia Bood says that the first year was more about data gathering and meeting with strategic partners. The consultative process is comprehensive and will help to provide data, as well as the tools needed for various sectors in decision-making processes.

Nadia Bood, Country Representative, World Wildlife Fund

“Not only the threats of erosion, but also threats from the loss of these ecosystems means that we will lose the services that we are getting from these ecosystems – be it fisheries, tourism or coastal protection. So we are taking all of this into account as we try to strategize with the local communities, with NGOs, with the civil society and those working on the ground to make sure that all this information and science that is generated actually goes to where it needs to go. Subsequent to having that information and strategies, we will be working to mainstream that into policies – whether it is national policies, local policies, working with different sectors that are having a footprint on the ground. After that, then we will also be looking at interventions on the ground. How can we implement whatever recommendations or strategies that come out of the project. We have five years to do the research and science needed. So along the way, we will be working with the government because the government has to adapt some of these strategies and policies and include it within their development plan going forward.”