April 10, 2024
This project strives to expand our understanding of the impacts of climate change on seagrass ecosystems utilizing the Antillean manatee as a key forager within these habitats across coastal Belize. This project seeks to gather information on the status of climate change to seagrass habitats within coastal Belize via seagrass surveys in 26 sites; 15 of them located in manatee hot spots.
Funds from Belize Fund ($BZD)
$,985
Co-financing ($BZD):
$,000
Grantee
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Belize
Location
Coastal Belize, Belize Barrier Reef System
Thematic Area
Time-frame
February 2025 – April 2027
Project Goal:
To expand our understanding of the impacts of climate change on seagrass ecosystems by utilizing the endangered Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) as a key forager across coastal Belize to ultimately reduce any impacts by providing collected data for future protections.
Project Objectives:
- Increase conservation capacity to implement water quality testing, seagrass monitoring, protection and management in Belize through an exchange program with regional partners by training local Belizean co-managers.
- Improve understanding of seagrass ecosystems, manatees, and environmental factors to assist in mitigating climate change impacts on the Belize coastline.
- Launch an awareness campaign to educate Belizean citizens about the importance of seagrass ecosystems in reducing climate change, as shelter and foraging for species, and ways for citizens to conserve seagrasses through daily activities.
- Utilize the endangered Antillean manatee as an indicator species to identify important seagrass habitats and measure ecosystem health through health assessments and satellite tagging of wild individuals in Gales.
Expected Outputs:
- NGO and government personnel trained in seagrass survey skills and water quality testing.
- Report on the status of seagrass ecosystems
- A baseline dataset of 26 seagrass monitoring sites along the Belizean coastline for future reference and comparison.
- Seagrass coverage map updated
- Twelve outreach events conducted at local schools.
- Awareness billboard on Coastal Plain Highway installed
- Public service announcement (PSA) aired on television and social media.
- Five signs installed indicated areas of high seagrass concentration.
- Six manatees health assessed, tagged, and tracked.
- Maps of seagrass habitats utilized by manatees during tracking campaign.
CMARI Final Proposal