Environment

The Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) and a representative from the Belize Forest Department went on their first deployment within the Bacalar Chico National Park (BCNP) on Friday, October 4th. As part of their mission to protect and preserve this critical area, the team set up temporary signs, while permanent signage is completed to ensure clear identification of key areas. The primary goal of this endeavor is to facilitate movement through the park's intricate mangroves, wooded trails, and coastal terrain while ensuring the preservation and surveillance of Belize’s valuable ecosystem. After nearly three decades, the team has successfully located and upgraded outdated markers at seven important southern points within the protected areas.

Since its establishment on June 21 this year, the Department of Environment (DOE) in Ambergris Caye has proactively addressed environmental concerns. The DOE staff actively engages in various activities and plans to continue efforts to oversee the Cayes' environmental demands. DOE operates independently to uphold the Environmental Protection Act, which grants broad regulatory and enforcement authority for preventing and controlling environmental pollution and conserving and managing natural resources.

The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) is aggressively addressing the ongoing issue of improper garbage disposal across the island. Despite several calls for residents to help clean up the island, the issue persists at an alarming rate. As a result, the SPTC is now taking a proactive approach to solving the problem. Anyone caught violating the law regarding littering and improper garbage disposal will be liable to pay a minimum fine of five hundred dollars.

On Saturday, October 5th, Reef Adventures hosted its annual Lionfish Tournament at the Palapa Bar Dock. The event began at 7AM as participating boats set out to capture lionfish. After a day at sea, the teams returned at 4PM with iceboxes full of lionfish to weigh and count. Six teams participated in this year's competition: Team Carma, Elite Divers, Chingon, Plentyfulltoo, Amigos del Mar, and Bossgial. Team Carma emerged as the winner, capturing 446 lionfish and claiming the top prize of $5,000.

Press Release - Belmopan, Belize – October 7, 2024. The Department of the Environment (DOE), under the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change,...

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.