Belize and Madagascar join Women Ocean Guardians initiative

Belize and Madagascar have pledged to integrate women’s leadership into their national marine conservation strategies and blue economies. This commitment was announced at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CoP17) as part of the Women Ocean Guardians Initiative.

By joining this global public-private partnership, these two nations become part of a coalition of 16 governments and over 30 partner organizations. The initiative aims to place women at the forefront of ocean governance and the sustainable management of marine resources, addressing gaps in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework regarding gender equality and the goal to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean areas by 2030.

The initiative is convened by the Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, and the Global Environment Facility. It currently involves 75 women ocean guardians from 33 countries working to influence decision-making processes in marine protection.