Environment

So far, for 2024, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) has documented 63 sea turtle nests on the shores of Ambergris Caye during the nesting season. Most of these nests were found between Robles and Rocky Point, away from the busy areas of San Pedro Town. Forty-one of these nests successfully hatched, resulting in 2167 hatchlings entering the warm Caribbean shores of La Isla Bonita. Among these hatchlings were 1281 loggerheads, 798 green turtles, and 88 unidentified species, which are currently under further research for identification.

San Pedro Town is the most populated and developed area of Ambergris Caye. Over the years, it has rapidly expanded to accommodate progress and the growing population. As it grows, the challenge of balancing progress and conservation remains a concern for the local authorities. To address this, studies have been conducted in partnership with international organizations such as IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture SAU, and the Inter-American Development Bank to develop a master plan that will include protected areas. While the project is being finalized, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has launched an aggressive project to protect the downtown beaches by implementing a nature-based approach.

On Tuesday, September 17th, the Belize Department of Environment (DOE) organized a training session from 9AM to 12:30PM in Ambergris Caye. The session, hosted by environmental officer Mr. Kendrick Gordon, was to educate council members, traffic managers, and head traffic wardens about a new ticketing initiative. This initiative involves issuing litter tickets to individuals improperly disposing of waste or contributing to environmental pollution, starting with random inspections on the island. Those failing to adhere to the regulations will be subject to ticketing and fines based on the severity of the offense.

On Monday, September 23rd, scientists from Florida International University (FIU), USA, revealed a newly identified species of hammerhead shark named “Sphyrna alleni," in honor of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, a strong supporter of shark conservation. Anglers fishing in Belize’s Robinson Point and Riversdale Village caught several hammerhead sharks between 2016 and 2019, passing them on to scientists. After years of analysis, researchers have now confirmed the discovery of a new species.

The Government of Belize (GOB) has recently acquired ownership of Angelfish Caye, also known as Will Bauer Flats, located off the coast of Placencia in South Belize. This acquisition is part of an effort to promote marine environmental conservation and support the expansion of the Belize Barrier Reef as a national park and protected area, all to ensure sustainable use. The previous owners of Angel Fish LLC will be compensated for the acquisition and have been asked to submit their compensation claims to the Chief Land Acquisition Officer at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining in Belmopan, Belize.

Over the past months, a series of consultations with crucial San Pedro Town and Ambergris Caye stakeholders have taken place to discuss the Bacalar Chico National Park co-management plan. The consultations led by the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) have captured the feedback from business community representatives, fly-fishing tour guides, local marine biologists, conservation agencies, island residents, and enforcement agencies like the Belize Coast Guard. This input was compiled into a validation session on Friday, August 30th, where the co-management plan was presented and further discussed before it was given to the Ministry of Sustainable Development for official vetting and made available to the public.

From August 30th through the 31st, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, hosted the third High-Level Meeting of the Regional Climate Change Platform of Economy and Finance Ministries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Hosted by the Government of Belize in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the two-day event saw delegations from various countries. The ministerial meeting ended with a powerful demonstration of unity as the participating countries adopted a regional vision for sustainable finance. This collective effort aims to boost sustainable finance and promote effective investments, reinforcing the shared responsibility of the participating countries in meeting their climate commitments.

A significant home composting initiative was launched in Ambergris Caye on Thursday, August 29th. The event occurred from 3:30PM to 5PM at the Lions Den in downtown San Pedro. Recycle Organics, in partnership with the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWMA) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), organized the workshop to distribute 200 composting bins and kits to local households as part of the nationwide Belize Home Composting program.