The Central American nation of Belize has embarked on a monumental environmental restoration project in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The landmark initiative, officially launched on January 27, 2026, aims to plant one million trees across the country by 2035 as a strategic response to climate change challenges and rapid development pressures.
Prime Minister John Briceño ceremoniously planted the first tree, marking the commencement of the Belize Greening Initiative. This comprehensive long-term program focuses on three core objectives: large-scale reforestation, environmental rehabilitation, and nationwide community engagement in conservation efforts.
John Pinelo, Acting Chief Forest Officer, emphasized the critical timing of this initiative, noting significant forest cover decline following recent fire seasons. “Our forests are vital for climate mitigation, biodiversity and rural livelihoods,” Pinelo stated. He highlighted the project’s alignment with multiple international commitments including the Belize National Landscape Restoration Strategy and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
The program specifically targets wildfire-affected regions and degraded areas, with implementation relying heavily on community participation. “Without community awareness and engagement, we cannot do this successfully,” Pinelo acknowledged. “The Forest Department guides it, but we can’t plant a million trees by ourselves.”
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, framed the initiative as both an environmental and cultural imperative. “Our forests, mangroves, rivers and farms are not just features of our landscape. They’re part of who we are as a people,” Minister Habet declared during the launch ceremony. “They protect us from storms, feed our families, support livelihoods and anchor our resilience in a changing climate.”
The minister issued a sobering reminder of conservation urgency: “What we do not protect, we will eventually lose.” The program represents the government’s commitment to restoring natural landscapes while simultaneously strengthening climate resilience and supporting sustainable economic development nationwide.
This massive reforestation effort positions Belize as a regional leader in climate adaptation strategies, creating cleaner public spaces while protecting biodiversity through systematic landscape restoration.