DWS is proud to support WWF’s (World Wild Fund for Nature) marine conservation efforts in Belize, protecting the Mesoamerican Reef—the second largest in the world—and its rich marine biodiversity in a multi-year conservation project. Since 2021, we’ve been supporting WWF to address climate change, overfishing, and rising water temperatures that threaten coral and mangrove ecosystems. By collaborating with policymakers and local communities, the project is driving sustainable development and promoting a resilient “blue economy” in the region.
We are expanding our long standing engagement with WWF and now supporting a new marine conservation project in the German Baltic Sea near Stralsund and Rügen.
The new project focuses on restoring local seagrass meadows — key ecosystems that provide habitat for marine species, protect coasts from erosion and storms, and absorb CO₂ at high efficiency, up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.
These ecosystems are under severe pressure from pollution, nutrient inputs, underwater construction, fishing, and the impacts of the climate crisis.
The project applies drones, cameras, sonar, and AI to map existing seagrass beds and identify optimal sites for replanting, with the goal of restoring around 100 hectares. This work strengthens our commitment to effective environmental action and to protecting essential marine ecosystems.
Conservation project: what have we achieved?
Phase two of the project is progressing well, with continued efforts to protect and restore coral reefs and mangroves. However, the reefs remain vulnerable to coral bleaching caused by extreme heat waves and rising sea temperatures. Despite these challenges, coral restoration initiatives have advanced significantly—26 coral gardens are now operational, and an additional 5,000 resilient corals (in total since 2021 over 16.000) have been planted across 16 restoration sites.
The Belize Mangrove Alliance—a coalition of NGOs and stakeholders dedicated to mangrove conservation—is thriving. The Alliance now includes over 30 member organizations, and has strengthened their technical capacity in mangrove restoration. Mangroves, as major carbon sinks, continue to provide vital coastal protection and serve as a natural barrier against storm surges.
Coral cover at key restoration sites has risen dramatically, from less than 10% in 2015 to over 50% today. This achievement is critical for safeguarding reef ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and supporting the livelihoods of local communities. These underwater habitats remain an essential source of food and income for the people of Belize.
Our measures for the protection of the coral reef
The goal of the project is to restore and protect both the coral reef and mangrove ecosystems so that they continue to provide sustainable livelihoods for local coastal communities.
All photos seen on this page are copyrighted.: © Antonio Busiello WWF-US
