Forest Department Begins Review to Shape New Five-Year Action Plan

The Forest Department is taking another step toward strengthening the way it manages and protects Belize’s natural resources. The Department has begun reviewing its operations as part of the development of its 2026 to 2030 Action Plan. During a workshop held yesterday, staff examined and updated the Department’s mission, vision, and core values to ensure they reflect the needs of Belize and the challenges facing the country’s forests today. According to the Forest Department, the review is designed to build a stronger and more modern institution that is better equipped to respond to issues such as sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and the growing impacts of climate change. Officials say the process will also help improve governance, strengthen the Department’s capacity, and enhance the services it provides to the Belizean public. Belize is home to vast forest ecosystems that cover more than half of the country’s land area. These forests support wildlife, protect watersheds, store carbon, and contribute to key industries such as tourism and sustainable forestry. The Forest Department is responsible for managing these resources while enforcing forestry laws and promoting conservation for future generations. The institutional review and Action Plan are being supported by the German Government through the German Cooperation, implemented by GIZ under the Selva Maya Programme. The programme works with Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico to promote the conservation and sustainable management of the Selva Maya, one of the largest tropical forest regions in the Americas. The Forest Department has thanked its partners for their continued technical support, saying the collaboration is helping to shape a stronger institution capable of meeting the country’s environmental needs both now and in the years ahead.