Guide

A Day in the Life of a Protected Area Manager

Navigating climate change impacts on Belize's ecosystems and communities using nature-based solutions

Protected area managers in Belize are increasingly navigating the impacts of climate change on ecosystems while supporting local communities to adapt. These comic booklets follow the day-to-day lives of two fictional protected area managers working in Belize's marine and terrestrial protected areas, highlighting key climate change impacts and showcasing how communities are responding through nature-based solutions.

Key Messages

  • Belize is experiencing multiple climate hazards across marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including rising temperatures and stronger hurricanes.

  • Protected area managers in Belize play a critical role in supporting ecosystems and local communities to adapt to climate change.

  • Nature-based solutions for adaptation can reduce climate change impacts while delivering benefits for both communities and biodiversity.

  • Nature-based solutions help people and ecosystems thrive together.

Climate change is impacting Belize's ecosystems and local communities, including those that depend on natural resources in and around protected areas, such as the Maya Forest Corridor and Glover's Reef Marine Reserve, for their livelihoods. 

These comic booklets follow the lives of two fictional protected area managers working in Belize's marine and terrestrial ecosystems. They highlight the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and communities and show how protected area managers support communities to adapt using climate adaptation strategies such as nature-based solutions. 

The booklets build on Belize's Climate Risk Profile, developed under the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas Initiative, offering a practical guide to understanding climate impacts and how communities and protected areas are adapting. The content of the booklets was shaped through close collaboration, as well as invaluable insights and feedback from the initiative’s implementing partner, WCS Belize.