In a landmark ceremony commemorating World Wetlands Day 2026, the Belizean community of Crooked Tree has entered into a transformative conservation agreement with national authorities. The tripartite Memorandum of Understanding unites the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, the Crooked Tree Village Council, and the Belize Audubon Society in a groundbreaking participatory conservation model.
This comprehensive framework establishes sustainable fishing protocols and resource management guidelines while significantly amplifying local community input in sanctuary governance decisions. The agreement formally recognizes traditional fishing practices while implementing robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure ecological balance.
During the signing ceremony, Village Chairlady Elizabeth Wallace Escobar presided over proceedings, while Belize Audubon Society representative Shane Young chronicled the extensive collaborative journey leading to this accord. Saul Cruz of the National Biodiversity Office detailed the MOU’s specific provisions that balance conservation needs with community livelihoods.
Minister Orlando Habet, delivering the keynote address, emphasized the agreement’s significance in demonstrating how cultural traditions and environmental stewardship can coexist synergistically. The pact potentially paves the way for establishing a Wildlife Sanctuary II classification, which would further institutionalize community-led protection initiatives for Belize’s vital wetland ecosystems.