Tara Scarborough, Chief Resilience Officer at Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute

Growing up in Hopkins, a small coastal village on Belize’s southern shore, Tara’s life has always been linked with the ocean. Raised by a family whose livelihoods have been connected to Belize’s natural resources, Tara’s appreciation for marine ecosystems began early, shaped by her community—a bustling tourism hotspot—and her grandfather, a dedicated fisherman and legendary fly fisherman, who ingrained in her a deep love for the sea. Her parents instilled values of resilience, hard work, and self-reliance, laying a foundation that led her to a career in conservation—working with a full commitment to protect Belize’s vast marine ecosystems, including the largest living barrier reef in the world. Growing up in Belize helps to establish a deep respect for cultural heritage, rooted in an understanding that our natural resources are invaluable and closely intertwined with this heritage.

Today, as Chief Resilience Officer at the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Tara leads the Strategy for Reef Resilience in Belize, a collaborative approach to maintaining the health and sustainability of the country’s coastal ecosystems. Her work involves partnerships with organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Belize’s Environmental Research Institute, World Wildlife Fund and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Together, with hundreds of key community stakeholders, multiple government agencies, and NGOs. Together they address challenges like coral disease management and create alternative, sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, just to name a few.  

From diving and being a champion for local fisherfolk and ecotourism operators to engaging international scientists, Tara’s role is all about connecting diverse stakeholders in a unified effort to protect Belize’s marine environment. She acts as the glue that keeps the strategy together in times that are difficult, as well as in moments worthy of celebration—something she’s constantly striving for when it comes to her home country’s insurance for the future.

Her work fosters a culture of shared responsibility and puts the onus on those in her immediate circle to consistently and effectively deliver, as Tara will not back down from pushing a project through to completion. She serves on the National Coral Reef Monitoring Network, collaborating with leaders from marine protected areas, the Fisheries Department, and local conservation organizations. This wide network strengthens Belize’s commitment to marine conservation and aligns with her vision of a resilient reef system that will endure now and in the future.