by Brent A. Mitchell, Zoe Walker and Paul Walker

Abstract 

The size, scale and diversity of protected areas in Belize provide an informative case study of system management and governance that can offer a model for countries with expanding systems. The Belize National Protected Areas System is proportionately large for the size of the country, with terrestrial protected areas covering 36.6 per cent of the national territory and 19.8 per cent of the marine environment. The 108 sites in the National Protected Areas System exhibit the full spectrum of management categories and governance types recognized by IUCN. Though 85 per cent of terrestrial protected areas are national lands, only 43 per cent are managed directly by government agencies. The system overall is characterized by a heavy reliance on co-management, privately protected areas and ICCAs, in that order. Central government provides less than 18 per cent of the funding for management of the system. The diversity of actors in protected area management creates a dynamic, multivariate governance system, with different parties contributing to the debate to constantly refine management practices.

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Key words: Belize, protected areas, system, governance, co-management, shared governance, privately protected
areas, connectivity

Suggested APA reference: Mitchell, B. A., Walker, Z., & Walker, P. (2017). A Governance Spectrum: Protected Areas in Belize.