Conservationists object to G.O.B. plans for marine reserve

The Musa administration’s announcement this week that it is considering to de-reserve a portion of the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, with the idea of selling it to interested investors have caught local conservation groups off-guard. According to the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, which represents eighteen environmental groups working in Belize, Bacalar Chico is one of seven sites that make up the Belize Barrier Reef, which was deemed a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1996.

Yvette Alonzo, Coordinator, APAMO
“They have to know that it is one of the seven sites that make up this complex Barrier Reef system so that’s what we want to get clarifications on. How comes this area would be considered any at all for de-reservation. It’s very concerning, extremely concerning for us if this is so because this could mean and have several indications for Belize. Funding for example, we have under the COMPACT program of the U.N.D.P. whereby Belize is receiving a large amount of funding with regards to the management of this area. Tourists also see the Belize Barrier Reef as an important site to come and visit. So knowing that it may be de-reserved and we only need to set the precedence for de-reservation of one and we are scared that it could mean more thereafter.”

Janelle Chanona
“Yvette what would be APAMO’s response to the suggestion that we have so much of our land, our resources under protected area status, reserved status, we have to have some room for development?”

Yvette Alonzo
“Definitely we want to advocate for sustainable development, we are not advocating for development not to occur, but we are asking and advocating that this be done in a transparent process where there is consultation, where there is scientific research to back up whatever findings we may be faced with so we can make informed decisions as where to go with regards to our development.”

Alonzo says APAMO has issued a formal request to the Ministry of Natural Resources for information regarding Government’s plans for the area.

But in an interview with Minister of Natural Resources Florencio Marin earlier this week, Marin defended Belmopan’s position, maintaining that while the environment must be protected, the government must explore channels of development.

Florencio Marin, Minister of Natural Resources
“Janelle we have to balance it with people that have to live and are living here. For example, right now I am considering, de-reserving some areas in Bacalar Chico for development. I am weighing that option. Then we have been lobbied here for piccary hills and the statutory instrument has been prepared and I hope to sign it. So in some areas, we de-reserve some for people and in other areas we feel it has immence value to conserve it and we are also doing that.”

Tonight we understand that while Cabinet did approve the decision to de-reserve the portion of Bacalar Chico during its meeting this week, the sale of the land is incomplete.