Since 2016, Hamanasi and our guests have supported the work of The Nature Conservancy Belize.
Last week, Hamanasi donated BZD $13,469 to TNC Belize reaffirming our ongoing pledge to our shared mission. This renewed partnership shows Hamanasi’s and our guests’ commitment not just to tourism, but to the people, communities, and the environment that make Belize so special.
TNC Belize recognizes the unique location of Belize bordering both the reef and the rainforest. They helped Belize implement the largest debt conversion for ocean conservation, representing an investment in marine protection on an unprecedented scale. Through the use of “Blue Bonds”, Belize is able to restructure US$550 million in external commercial debt while protecting marine ecosystems.
Additionally, TNC Belize was instrumental in purchasing 236,000 acres of the Maya Forest in northwestern Belize protecting wildlife habitat, ensuring water security and cleaner air, and helping with climate mitigation and adaptation. This land abuts other protected areas in a tri-country Selva Maya region.
Closer to Hamanasi, TNC Belize is helping fishers find new employment through sustainable seaweed farming. Known as “Belize gold”, the seaweed grown by the farms provides a holistic approach to solving the problems that are facing Belize: overfishing, habitat for native fish and reducing ocean acidification locally.
“Hamanasi believes that tourism can have a positive impact on communities, culture and the environment. We and many of our guests strongly support the incredible work that TNC Belize does, both on land and in the sea,” noted Dana Krauskopf, co-founder Hamanasi Resort. “From TNC supporting alternative livelihoods for fishers through aquaculture, the harvesting and creation of seaweed products, to Hamanasi offering seaweed smoothies and rejuvenating seaweed body wraps, all the while creating habitat for juvenile marine species within the seaweed farms is an an example of a powerful circular economy benefiting both people and nature.
We hope that you will consider supporting TNC Belize and the great work they are doing for the reef, the rainforest and communities.