Framework for fostering just and equitable seagrass policy, management, and social-ecological outcomes: Lessons learned from Belizean marine resource managers

Seagrass beds have historically received little to no management attention, contributing to significant declines in their extent globally. Recently, seagrass beds, and other blue carbon ecosystems, have gained greater management attention due to their potentially critical role in climate mitigation. Therefore, some countries, such as Belize in 2021, have included blue carbon ecosystems within their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). To date, no specific regulations exist to manage seagrass beds in Belize; however, there is a plan to develop a national seagrass policy. In support of this effort and to gain a better understanding of institutions' current knowledge and perceptions regarding seagrass beds and their management, as well their experiences with community engagement, we conducted interviews with six Belizean management institutions (two government departments, four non-government organizations) involved in marine resource management. Respondents perceived seagrass beds as important, identifying climate mitigation and fisheries as critical ecosystem services. They saw the importance of managing and protecting seagrass beds, and identified several direct (e.g., dredging) and indirect (e.g., land-based pollution) threats. Also highlighted were several management challenges, with governance structure identified as a major one; seagrass beds can fall under the purview of several government departments, which has jurisdictional implications. Interviewees discussed challenges and opportunities regarding community engagement, and they desired greater community inclusion within marine resource management at planning and implementation phases. Based on these findings, we build on existing management frameworks to present one that can foster just and equitable seagrass policy, management, and social-ecological outcomes.