Blue Economy Officer within the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, in Belize Deeriann Buckley-Wade

The increasing impacts of climate change and threats to coastal communities and fisheries sector, challenge the role of local and national governments as decision makers.

Climate data is essential to increase resilience to extreme weather events and strengthening the planning processes of these institutions. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representation for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize in collaboration with the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Blue Economy, and Civil Aviation (MBECA) and Belize’s National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), is hosting three (3) four-day trainings for better tracking of ecosystem health and forecasting future climate change impacts, including the use of innovative technologies such as remote sensing.

 The training series which commenced April 25, is divided into 3 modules and is expected to conclude on May 26. The main thematic areas include Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing, Climate Data Analysis & Visualization and Coastal & Fisheries Data Management.

Blue Economy Officer within the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, Deeriann Buckley-Wade, shared her experience on the completion of the first set of trainings in the interview below.

How was your experience participating in this kind of training?

I am pleased to have been included in the training being conducted by FAO under the project Enhancing Adaptation planning and Increasing Climate Resilience in the Coastal Zone and Fisheries Sector of Belize. The course is a refresher for me having previously done an introductory course in 2012 while doing my bachelor’s degree. The instructor was well versed and relayed the components of the training in a manner where participants were able to grasp and apply it.

What were some takeaways from the training?

Having completed the first two modules and being presented with a great deal of information, it is obvious that GIS is an application that can be widely used by organizations for the visualization and analysis of data, as well as for monitoring and contributing to scientific data driven decisions and policies.

How will this training help to improve the work you do?

This training is integral to the work that I do in the Blue Economy Unit as it will aid in the ability to represent data, conduct analysis as it relates to my areas of focus, and aid in the continued monitoring of sectors within the blue economy to ensure that they are developed and utilized sustainably.

How has your organization’s involvement benefitted from this training?

As the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation moves towards laying the foundation for the development of a robust blue economy sector for Belize, this training is key to ensuring that staff has the capacity necessary to implement the Belize Blue Economy Development Policy, Strategy and Implementation plan, as well as provide the necessary support and coordination with the Fisheries Department and Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute in their areas of focus. The vast capabilities of the GIS technology will contribute to monitoring, especially as it relates to increasing resilience to climate change and the impacts that it has on the Coastal Zone and Fisheries sector.

What do the outcomes of this training mean for the blue economy in Belize?

As previously mentioned, this training will contribute to capacity development within staff of the Ministry, thus resulting in a staff having the knowledge, skill set, and programs necessary to develop Belize’s blue economy in a manner that’s driven by data and scientifically sound.

At the end of the training the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), The Belize Fisheries Department, The National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMS), The Blue Economy Unit under the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation and The University of Belize (UB) will have the capacity to track ecosystem health and forecast future climate change impacts, with the use of innovative technologies such as remote sensing tools.

The training is a deliverable under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness project entitled, “Enhancing adaptation planning and increasing climate resilience in the coastal zone and fisheries sector of Belize”.