Environment

The public is hereby advised on the situation with wildfires across the country and updated on the work being done by the Government of Belize. The Forest Department, the Department of the Environment (DOE) and other agencies including the Fire Department, the Belmopan City Council, the San Ignacio Town Council, and ranger volunteers such as the Southern Wildfire Group, continue to collaborate to actively address the ongoing fires.

The Ministry of Health advises the public that due to the recent and ongoing bush and backyard fires set by some individuals, many persons have reported side effects such as irritated eyes, prolonged coughing spells, and worsening of existing breathing problems.

On April 10, 2020, an Antillean manatee that was recently released into its natural habitat by Wildtracks Rehabilitation Center in Sarteneja Village, Corozal was found with a spear injury to its head. It is believed that the manatee was injured anytime between April 9th to 10th.

The Government of Belize, in its capacity as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), hosted the Placencia Ambition Forum from April 20-22, 2020. The Placencia Ambition Forum brought together major actors in the climate change negotiations around the central theme of increasing ambition and safeguarding the Paris Agreement.

With the high and unprecedented number of fires and persistent burning, the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, and Sustainable Development has enacted a set of new regulations cited as Environmental Protection (Prohibition of the Open-Burning of Refuse and Other Matter) Regulations via Statutory Instrument No. 59 of 2020 which comes into effect today, April 21, 2020.

The National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize hereby informs the general public that the seasonal rainfall forecast for April to September 2020 is showing a probability of drier than usual conditions across much of the country. Driest conditions are expected over northern and central areas while rainfall over the Stann Creek and Toledo district is expected to be normal to slightly below normal. One of the main climatic drivers in our region is the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Whenever there is an El Nino, as was the case in 2019, there is high confidence that our region will see less than normal rainfall. However, for this year the ENSO is expected to remain in a neutral phase for the coming months. This creates greater uncertainty in the seasonal forecasts.

The Department of the Environment (DOE) continues to receive reports of the burning of household and yard waste in both urban and rural areas. This prevalent and harmful practice continues to greatly reduce the air quality for residents and threatens life and property from fires, especially around this time of the year, due to the dry season.

With the quota for the 2019-2020 conch season set at 925,000 pounds, the Belize Fisheries Department has declared the season closed, 3 months early.