The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) has announced a BZ$7.75 million investment under its enhanced Conservation Investment Strategy (CIS) 2.0. Spread over three years, the funding will support 15 co-management agencies working across 28 protected areas in Belize. The initiative is part of a broader BZ$12 million strategy aimed at strengthening the management and sustainability of the Belize National Protected Areas System (BNPAS).
CIS 2.0 focuses on improving protection of priority ecosystems, building the financial and operational capacity of co-managers, and deepening community involvement in conservation. The investment also supports climate resilience by funding projects rooted in long-term sustainability and inclusive partnerships.
At the launch, Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet praised the dedication of co-managers and community groups who maintain the system with limited resources. “This is only possible through the hard work and passion of our co-managers, their teams and their community partners. From small community groups to large NGOs, from Maya lands in the south to marine reserves in the north—you are the ones maintaining trails, checking permits, leading education programs, monitoring wildlife, and often doing so with limited support.”
Prime Minister John Briceño said, “It is not something we do when everything else is handled. It is a necessity. When we protect our forests, we protect our water. When we protect our reefs, we protect our coasts and our fisheries. When we protect our biodiversity, we protect our livelihoods, our health, our food, and yes—our nation’s identity.”