Participants in the "SURFACE" Climate Data Management System Training in Belize

The Government of Belize through The Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA), in collaboration with The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representation for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize and Belize’s National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is conducted a three-day workshop geared towards improved coastal management.

The workshop series sought to enhance the capacity of the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), the Fisheries Department, the Blue Economy Unit, the National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMSB) and the National Hydrological Service for climate-risk informed coastal planning and management.

The training is a follow-up to a recent donation of weather equipment which included two radar water level sensors, one measurement datalogger, and one control data logger. The equipment will be complimented with the climate database management system (“SURFACE CDMS”) upgrade for the measuring of sea level and other ocean wave parameters to process, store, and disseminate information obtained from these measurements.

Through the NMSB’s provision of climate services, the NMSB provides critical support for managing risks and reducing disasters in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, health, the blue economy etc.