Belize, situated on the northeastern coast of Central America and bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Caribbean Sea, is a country with strong ties to both the American and Caribbean regions. Its tropical climate features distinct wet and dry seasons, influenced by elevation and coastal proximity. Hurricanes have left a mark on Belizean history. Its geography spans flat, swampy coastal plains in the north, the Maya Mountains in the south, and boasts the world's second-longest barrier reef. The country has become a leader in protecting biodiversity. European contact began in the early 1500s and, after Spanish rule, Belize became a British Crown colony until 1981. The region has a deep-rooted cocoa history dating back to the ancient Mayan civilization. Today, the region is again recognized for its excellent cocoa production. Most cocoa is grown in the Toledo and Stann Creek Districts by smallholder farmers, many of whom use agroforestry systems to grow cocoa alongside plantain, avocado, and other crops. Belize is also home to a unique stand of wild cacao trees, genetically 100% pure Criollo parentage, believed to be the “original” trees propagated by pre-contact civilizations. These trees are among the purest wild cacaos globally and were instrumental in sequencing the cocoa genome in 2011.