Support for Improving Disaster and Climate Resilience in Sustainable Tourism

closed

The general objective of the TC is to support the Sustainable Tourism Program II (STP II) approved in October 2015 in its aim to mainstream disaster and climate resilience in tourism destination planning in Belize, emphasizing ecosystem-based adaptation and risk reduction. The specific objective of the TC is to increase the availability of destination-specific risk information, addressing existing and future vulnerabilities, in order to improve risk awareness and knowledge, inform local level tourism plans and the design and feasibility of physical investments to be implemented as part of the STP II. The National Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan identifies Corozal as one of the areas with the highest vulnerability to flooding and erosion from storms and sea level rise, being one most concentrated population centers along the coast. The ICZM recommends the incorporation of adaptation strategies in management planning in all coastal and marine sectors of Corozal in order to reduce this high vulnerability. Therefore, this TC will develop the design of shoreline stabilization measures for Corozal, creating capacities for other coastal studies considered in STP II and include the following components: i) Coastal risk baseline studies and monitoring; ii) Design and feasibility analysis of shoreline stabilization measures; and iii) Capacity building in coastal risk reduction and shoreline stabilization measures. The expected outputs and results are i) Studies carried out to support the design and implementation of innovative disaster risk management programs base on ecosystem adaptation; and ii) Belize has increased its knowledge on disaster risk management, coastal management and ecosystem base adaptation and are fully consistent with the IDB's Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BIO) Program, which includes as one of its main lines of action the mainstreaming of natural capital in strategic economic sectors such as tourism. The operation is consistent with the objective of promoting ecosystem-based solutions to coastal risk reduction. It is also consistent with the Multidonor Disaster Prevention Fund, which provides non-reimbursable technical assistance to support countries in activities such as identifying risks to natural hazards; preparing disaster prevention projects; designing prevention and mitigation investments in high-risk areas. This TC is consistent with the IDB Country Strategy with Belize (2013-2017; GN-2746) which identifies tourism as a priority area for support. Disaster risk management and climate change adaptation are also identified as cross cutting issue of the Country Strategy. The TC is also consistent with Belize's Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy, which considers climate resilience and the maintenance of ecosystem services key elements of the overall strategy. It is also directly aligned with the objectives of the National Climate Resilience Investment Plan which emphasizes the integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in national development. Finally, this operation is also aligned with the GCI-9 priorities of (i) supporting development in small and vulnerable countries (GN-2616-2); and ii) climate change, sustainable energy and environmental sustainability.