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Table of Contents
Overview
Belize has the largest continuous barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and has marine and land biodiversity. Legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act aims to protect Belize’s natural heritage and elements of environmental education are integrated in curriculum learning areas.
Policy & Practice
National Policy
The Environmental Protection Act is Belize’s primary legislation governing the environment and the act establishes the Department of the Environment. One of the functions of the Department of the Environment stipulated in the act is to provide information and education on environmental protection to the public. The National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan outlines Belize’s environmental policies and actions plans and includes environmental public education campaigns and outreach activities as one of its strategies.
EE in K-12 Education
The Belize National Curriculum Framework includes environmental education concepts such as environmental sustainability and climate change under a competency area related to sustainable human development. In addition to being integrated in key learning areas such Science and Technology and Civic Education and History, environmental education is also included in a broader School Based-Area from primary to secondary school. Environmental education is also incorporated in learning areas such as Physical Education and Arts/Craft through the Department of Environment’s outreach programme.
Professional Development
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology has a Teacher Learning Institute that provides continuing professional development for educators on the national curriculum. The Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education offers a 2 year Science and Education Fellowship Program for university and college graduates.
Leadership
National Associations
Belize is part of The Environmental Training Network of Latin America and the Caribbean, an intergovernmental platform to share knowledge and experience on environmental education that is coordinated by the UN Environment Programme. The network comprises representatives from ministries of environment across countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
EE in National Government
Belize’s Department of the Environment has a Public Awareness and Outreach Unit whose mandate is to conduct public education campaigns and outreach on the environment. The Department of the Environment supports a School and Community Outreach Program which targets solid waste management issues and developing environment friendly culture in schools through school based activities and curricular initiatives.
National EE Campaigns and Funding
The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future is a private conservation trust fund established through a partnership between the government and the Nature Conservancy. The fund provides grants to organizations working across environmental thematic areas such as biodiversity and sustainable fisheries, including projects that have educational components. For example, the Belize Tourism Industry Association received funding for a project to implement a marine conservation training curriculum among school students.
The Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education (BFREE) is a non-profit that leases and manages a tropical rainforest and works on research, environmental education, and conservation with funding from donations from corporate sponsors and other organizations. BFREE hosts various education initiatives for high school, college, and university students focused on rainforest ecology and conservation management themes.
- Organizations
Department of the Environment
The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute
https://www.ub.edu.bz/environmental-research-institute/
Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change
https://sustainabledevelopment.gov.bz/
Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education
Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future
The Southern Environmental Association
Toledo Institute for Development and Environment
Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society
Country Map