Title National Land Use Policy and National Integrated Planning Framework for Land Resource Development Duration: 32 Weeks Objective: Adoption of appropriate land use planning approaches to: Maintain the ecological integrity of the biophysical environment. Maintain the integrity of the cultural landscape including traditional economic activities (agriculture, fishing), significant historical and archaeological sites, and the form and character of small villages. Safeguard suitable lands for affordable housing, tourism development and viable agriculture. Background: Land-use (or Land Resources) Planning is a systematic and iterative procedure carried out in order to create an enabling environment for sustainable development of land resources which meets people's needs and demands. It assesses the physical, socio-economic, institutional and legal potentials and constraints with respect to an optimal and sustainable use of land resources, and empowers people to make decisions about how to allocate those resources. The planning and management of land resources is an integral part of a Belize s development agenda. Planning for land use is essential to for the realization of the country s sustainable development goal. The process embodies an interactive partnership, between government and non state actors, to address their common concerns to manage land resources sustainably for their mutual benefit. This is consistent with emerging principles of good governance now viewed as a prerequisite to sustainable development. The Government of Belize, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme financed by the Global Environment Facility, is embarking on the development of a National Land Use Policy and associated Planning Framework. The National Land Use Policy to be formulated is expected to articulate GOB s position and strategy for the transparent and accountable allocation and distribution of land, and to guide the use and development of land according to its suitability and functionality. The policy will serve to inform sectoral policies dealing with land use (forest, agriculture, human settlements, tourism etc.) and will serve to facilitate a holistic approach to development by integrating Land Use Planning into Development Planning. Land-use planning is an integral part of the process of national growth and development. This process will seeks to identify, articulate and satisfy the basic social/human needs of Belize s population within a technical and spatial framework securing the rational and orderly development of lands in an environmentally sound manner. The National Integrated Planning Framework for Land Resource Development is a statement of intent or vision prepared to: anticipate the development needs of Belize; identify relevant development issues; identify opportunities for and constraints to development; identify areas which are suitable/unsuitable for different types of development; make proposals for the way in which the area should develop over time; and establish policies and standards to guide development.
Activities: Consultants are required to carry out reviews of existing literature as well as be prepared to collect primary data in the:- i. Drafting of a national land use policy which addresses the growing demand for land and its optimum utilization and provides general standards for land development and requirements for national and local planning, Drafted policy is to take into consideration the principles of: a) Equitable access to land b) Secure land ownership c) Effective regulation of land development d) Sustainable land use e) Access to land information f) Efficient land management g) Vibrant land markets; and h) Transparent and democratic administration of land. ii. Identification and characterization of priority and critical land issues, taking into consideration: a. Historical context of land tenure in the country. What have been the main modalities of accessing land, securing rights and land administration systems (including the roles of central and local government institutions, traditional authorities and the devolution of responsibilities to local land boards or other bodies). The overall significance and extent of formal land rights, and of land registration and titling should be identified. b. Impact of past policies and programs: To what extent have past policies and programs affected land use? Is land currently used productively in agriculture and other sectors (e.g. for investment, credit, and taxation by local governments? How are disputes over land titling, boundary demarcation, and the clarification of rights resolved? Specific land conflicts, and problematic areas such as the periurban fringe, should be identified and characterized. Attention should be paid to trends and changes in patterns of access to land, the development of land markets, changes in land values, terms and conditions for accessing land, and their impacts on different groups, identifying winners and losers where they exist. c. Key issues for the future: Includes the identification and characterization of priority land issues, highlighting their potential impact on the poor, relating them to other development problems, and identifying the positions of the main stakeholder groups on how to address these issues most effectively. The importance of access to land and natural resources for the poor and for specific vulnerable groups will be discussed. d. Key programs affecting land policy and use: Main government policies affecting land directly or indirectly will be identified from various sources. The government s vision (insofar as it exists) of the role of land access and land tenure in the overall development process will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the internal consistency of this strategy and the extent to which it addresses the key problems perceived by the population or identified earlier. iii. iv. Interpret a basic theme for development of Belize based on document revision and consultations with national development planners Evaluation and characterization of Belize s land resources based on suitability and functionality and vulnerabilities.
Specific activities to be carried out by the consultants include: i. description of the kinds of land use to be considered, and establishment of their requirements ii. description of land mapping units, and derivation of land qualities iii. comparison of kinds of land use with the types of land present iv. economic and social analysis v. land suitability classification (qualitative or quantitative) ( Land Mapping Unit: An area of land delineated on a map. May consist either of a single land type or of multiple land types occurring as a complex or association. Land Type: A Specific Unit of land with definable ranges of characteristics. May not always be mappable at scale used. Land Quality: A complex attribute of land which acts in a distinct way in its influence on the suitability of land for a specified use.) LAND EVALUATION RATIONALE v. Matching of land attributes with key development issues/ strategies vi. vii. viii. Consulting on options to be reflected in the national land use plan ensuring financial and economic viability, social acceptability and environmental soundness. Reflect land use designations spatially through the use of GIS technology. Make recommendations for the institutionalization and implementation of the Policy and Plan, taking under consideration the following functions related to land use management: a. coordination of land-use planning activities at national level and advising the government on issues related to land and to the use and management of land resources b. facilitation of exchange of information to the district and community level, and promotion of a holistic and integrated approach to land related issues c. development and maintenance of information systems covering land resources, land use and effects on the environment d. prediction and tracking of land-use needs and priorities e. support of a coordinated approach to the formation, implementation and monitoring of development and management plans f. modification and updating of the land-use policy and related legislative or institutional matters g. final decision making in cases of conflicting objectives in land use
Outputs/Deliverables: 1. Land suitability map for Belize (overlaying all layers including PAs) 2. National Land Use Policy 3. Integrated Planning Framework for Land Resource Development (including map, plan and recommendations) Qualifications: A multidisciplinary team is required for the execution of the above described consultancy. It is expected that such a team will reflect the following competencies: Senior Land Use Planner, Natural Resource Manager, GIS Specialist, Tourism Planner, Sociologist, Environmental Specialist, Agriculture/ Aquaculture Planner The team is expected to demonstrate: Strong research, survey, and reporting skills Relevant experience in policy analysis and development and planning An intimate knowledge of land management issues in Belize; stakeholders roles and functions, constraints and potential, as well as the supporting policy and legal framework