GEORGE’S GRENADA- AUGUST 22, 2025- The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) congratulates Paul Lopez and Kenroy Mitchell, of Greater Belize Media, winners of this year’s award for Best Production on Land Degradation Neutrality- at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s Media Awards Gala in Barbados on Wednesday 20, August 2025.
The winning submission, “ The Cost of Deforestation at the Supermarket,” explores how climate change is reshaping and threatening the livelihoods of rural farmers. The production tells the story how in Belize, around 30% of the labor force depends on agriculture, yet unpredictable weather patterns and increasingly severe storms are making it harder to plan, plant, and harvest, along with the impact of deforestation, which affects food availability. It also makes mention of Belize’s land use policy and how the country can balance agriculture, urban development, and forest conservation.
Executive Director Dr. Ronen Francis, who presented the award affirmed that PISLM, was pleased to support this undertaking that highlights environmental journalism- particularly related to sustainable land management- affects the lives and livelihoods of rural people.
He said, “Stories like these are important-as it allows us to understand the impacts of practices like deforestation on our land and soil health, reinforcing the need for sustainable soil and land management practices.”
The PISLM is a returning sponsor of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s Media awards.
PISLM extends congratulations to all awardees and all journalists, reporters, editors and media practitioners from across the Caribbean that were awarded for work submitted in the various categories.
