Conservation
Forest Department Receives Specialized Equipment Under Sustainable Development Project II
On December 21, 2021, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, through the Belize Forest Department, received a donation of specialized forest equipment from the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations under the Sustainable Tourism Project II (STPII).
Conservation
Conservation Highlight – San Pedro Instructors Certify Punta Gorda Youths as PADI Open Water Divers
“Ched Cabral enlists partners and friends to travel to his hometown in hopes of inspiring a new generation of divers and marine professionals.” Valentine Rosado writes in Conservation Highlights — The San Pedro Sun
Conservation
Aces Wildlife Rescue and ECI Development work together on mangrove restoration
As the island develops mangroves are cleared in some regions with little consideration for environmental impact. Aces Wildlife Rescue and ECI Development have joined forces in a mangrove rehabilitation program that has led to planting mangrove propagules (seeds) along specific areas of the beach.
Conservation
GOB and BCCI Convene Private Sector Focus Group Kick-off Meeting
As part of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded Readiness Support for Strengthening Belize Private Sector Access to Climate Finance Project, a kick-off meeting was convened on November 16, 2021 to launch a collaborative process with a Private Sector Focus Group of key Belizean private sector partners. These partners belong to a broad range of organisations, from large corporations with in-depth sectoral expertise, financial institutions and regulators, national institutions promoting private sector engagement and inclusion, and trade associations.
Community and Society
Win a brand-new motorbike at Aces Wildlife Rescue’s first annual Christmas raffle
Aces Wildlife Rescue, the only wildlife rehabilitation organization serving Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, is hosting a Christmas raffle with a brand new 2022 Honda xr150 motorbike up for winning. The drawing will be held on Christmas eve at 8PM at The Truck Stop. Tickets are BZ$50 and are available at The Truck Stop or ACES by calling 623-7920. All proceeds go to support Aces operations.
Conservation
Stakeholders attending virtual Smart Coast Project workshop say enforcement is critical for any environmental plan to succeed
Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently hosted a virtual workshop on the Smart Coast Project. Many of the participating stakeholders and environmentalists registered their disappointment in the lack of enforcement to protect Belize’s natural resources. The workshop presented modeling results and proposals for adaptation options and management scenarios in the northern communities of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.
Community and Society
Development underway at Cayo Rosario; government still resolving the controversial project
New developments indicate that construction plans continue at Cayo Rosario, including what appears to be survey markers on protected fishing flats. The proposed tourism development on the 10-acre mangrove caye sits within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The present government claims not to support the proposed project but admits difficulties in dealing with the case they inherited from the previous administration.
Conservation
Pollution from Plastics regulations go into effect in December 2021
Minister of Sustainable Development Honourable Orlando Habet said that the deadline for single-use plastic and Styrofoam products in Belize would be December 2021. Habet shared this with the media from Glasgow, Scotland, where he is attending the UN Climate Change Summit. He said his ministry is preparing to enforce the Environment Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations that was signed in January 2020.