Capacity Building in Water Resources Management

Dr. Elma KayTerrestrial Science Director

Environmental Research InstituteUniversity of Belize

June 5, 2013Bridgetown, Barbados

Belize

• 35 major and minor watersheds

• Integrated Water Resources Management Bill passed in 2010

• National Integrated Water Resources Management Authority currently being established

Source: BERDS

University of Belize

• 17 Undergraduate Programs• Natural Resources Management Program– Watershed Management Course in Year 3– No hydrology course offered

Environmental Research Institute

• Established late 2009• Mission to continuously build national

scientific capacity for the effective management, sustainable use and conservation of Belize’s natural resources

• Three main programs: Research & Monitoring; Training & Fellowships and Communication & Outreach

Environmental Research Institute

• Established late 2009• Mission to continuously build national

scientific capacity for the effective management, sustainable use and conservation of Belize’s natural resources

• Three main programs: Research & Monitoring; Training & Fellowships and Communication & Outreach

www.eriub.org

Environmental Research Institute

• Priority 1: Determine the impacts, including cumulative impacts, of different land-use practices on Belize's natural resources and hydrology.– Determine the impacts, including

cumulative impacts, of the various agricultural industries, different agricultural practices and other industries on the quality and quantity of water resources

Environmental Research Institute

• 2012: Initiated the development of a National Biodiversity Monitoring Program– Currently preparing a

Diagnostic of water quality monitoring efforts in Belize

Environmental Research Institute

• 2013: In partnership with CATHALAC and with support from the CARIBSAVE Partnership– Assess potential impacts of climate

change on Belize’s water Resources• Capacity Building Specific Objective:

Develop sustained capacity within Belizean institutions to iteratively model / assess climate change impacts on water resources and in other sectors