This Act concerns establishment and management of protected areas in Belize. All protected areas are established collectively as the National Protected Areas System. Protected areas shall be classified as follows: (a) national park; (b) nature reserve; (c) wildlife sanctuary 1; (d) wildlife sanctuary 2; (e) natural monument; (f) forest reserve; (g) marine reserve; (h) archaeological reserve; (i) private protected area; (j) protected landscape or protected seascape; (k) spawning aggregation site; (l) special management area; (m) scenic landscape of geomorphic significance. They may be stablished under the Fisheries Act or the Forestry Act. The main objective of the Act is to promote long-term conservation, management, and sustainable use of Belize s protected areas, but it also seeks to ensure maintenance of genetic diversity and the diversity of species and habitats.
The Act establishes the National Protected Areas Advisory Council, which shall, among other things, prepare at least every five years the National Protected Areas System Plan. Every management plan for each protected area shall be prepared in accordance with the National Management Plan Framework. The Minister may enter into an agreement with an NGO, or another organization, local community, or other party for (a) the co-management of the area by the parties; or (b) the regulation of human activities that affect the environment in the area. Protected areas shall be declared by competent ministers. The Chief Forest Officer shall be responsible for the administration of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, natural monuments and nature reserves. The Act sets out certain rules applying to national parks, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and natural monuments. The Act also concerns Belize s obligations under international and regional conventions relating to the National Protected Areas System (climate change, wetlands, biological diversity, habitats, etc.), issue permits for fishing in any area declared to be a national park, wildlife sanctuary or natural monument, the establishment of "biological corridors" (also for water conservation) and protection of water resources generally.
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Long title of text
An Act to provide for the maintenance of coordinated management of a system of protected areas that is representative of internationally agreed categories, effectively managed, ecologically based, consistent with international law, and based on best available scientific information and the principles of sustainable development for the economic, social and environmental benefit of present and future generations of Belize; to repeal the National Parks System Act, Chapter 215 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to amend the Fisheries Act, Chapter 210 and the Forests Act, Chapter 213 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Date of text
21 Oct 2015
Reprinted version of Act No. 17 of 2015 as at 31 December 2020.