Belize, UNDP Kick Off Massive Reforestation Effort

Belize is going big on going green. The Government of Belize has teamed up with the United Nations Development Programme for an ambitious push toward a more climate‑resilient future, planting one million trees across the country. That effort officially got underway on Monday, with Prime Minister John Briceño planting the very first tree. This phase of the Belize Greening Initiative zeroes in on reforestation, environmental restoration, and getting communities involved as the country continues to face the pressures of climate change and rapid development. The goal is to protect biodiversity while creating cleaner, greener public spaces nationwide. Acting Chief Forest Officer John Pinelo and Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet explain how this massive effort is expected to make a real impact.

 

John Pinelo, Acting Chief Forest Officer

“Belize Forest are vital for climate mitigation, biodiversity and rural livelihoods. Our forest cover is declining, especially after the fire season. The Green Belize activities align with, as minister said, the Belize National Landscape Restoration Strategy or NDCs, the Bond Challenge, and a number of other commitments that we have regionally, nationally, and internationally. So the key objectives, plant at least one million trees in wildfire affected and degraded areas by 2035. Without community awareness and engagement, we cannot do this successfully. The Forest Department guides it, but we can’t plant a million trees by ourselves. We need everybody to participate.”

 

 

 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change

“Our forests, mangroves, rivers and farms are not just features of our landscape. They’re part of who we are as a people. They protect us from storms, feed our families, support livelihoods and anchor our resilience in a changing climate. But we also know this truth, what we do not protect, we will eventually lose. That is why today, on behalf of the Government of Belize, I am proud to officially launch the Greening Belize Initiative and National Effort and Long-Term Program of the government of Belize aimed at restoring landscapes, strengthening climate resilience and supporting sustainable development across the country.”