Officials From Central Africa Come to Belize to Exchange Ideas

Belize welcomed nine visitors from Gabon, a small African country on the Atlantic coast, on Tuesday for an exchange on how “nature and blue bonds” can help protect the sea while supporting local economies.

The Nature Conservancy, together with the Government of Belize, is hosting the delegation, which includes Gabonese officials and project partners, as part of a “Nature Bonds Knowledge Exchange”.

The visit is focused on sharing practical lessons from Belize’s experience with ocean debt deals. Discussions covered how funds are managed, how ministries coordinate, and how these tools support conservation and blue economy priorities such as fishing and tourism.

Belize also presented its pilot programme for electronic monitoring of fishing boats, while Gabon outlined its own governance structure and challenges.

Over the rest of the week, the delegation will meet behind closed doors with government agencies, local NGOs, and other partners involved in Belize’s bond commitments.