Belize’s coastal waters contain the core of the largest coral reef system in the western hemisphere, with almost 60 species of coral, three of sea turtles and 500 of fish. The Mesoamerican Reef weaves along shallows from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to the north, through Belize to Guatemala and Honduras to the south and east. This extraordinary resource is being degraded by overfishing, pollution, and unregulated development and tourism. Belizean officials, residents and businesses show low awareness of these threats and scant eagerness to restrain them. Media have provided extremely limited coverage of this problem, and even that has been reactive, shallow and lacking in enterprise.

The November workshop was the first of three that ICFJ plans to help Belizean journalists to report on conservation issues more effectively. ICFJ also is helping conservation groups and scientists communicate better with the media and sponsoring awards for the best conservation coverage. By training journalists, ICFJ can help increase professionalism and interest on this important topic. Journalists in turn will help inform the public and build a constituency for conservation of biological diversity in Belize.

Program Activities and Outcomes

In workshops, ICFJ has recruited and trained up to 15 Belizean journalists to improve their coverage of coastal and marine conservation.

In year 2007, ICFJ administered a three-day workshop on management of the terrestrial environment. Journalists visited a garbage dump and a proposed dam site, and learned about a variety of environmental issues.

ICFJ journalism trainers visited newsrooms to coach reporters and promote environmental news to editors and owners. Participants in the workshop announced plans to launch the Belize Environmental Reporters Network (BERN) to enable journalists to exchange information about environmental coverage.

Finally, ICFJ ran the first Biodiversity Reporting Award (BDRA) contests for Belize in 2007. Conservation International, ICFJ and the International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ) have run this contest in six countries for five years. Conservation International (CI) has recently expanded the contest to eight countries. First prize for each country is an expenses-paid trip to an international conference on environmental journalism or conservation. Second and third prizes have been cash awards. Winners also receive training materials and plaques that are awarded in ceremonies in each country. The new Belize contest will be part of a second group of contests administered by ICFJ, with help from CI.

For more information go to: www.biodiversityreporting.org