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And on the topic of marine animals, there is a manatee that needs help somewhere in our waters. Local manatee conservationist Jamal Galvez is asking the public to report any sighting of a manatee that is tangled up in a gillnet. The report was made on Tuesday by the Sarteneja Conservation Group on Tuesday. Galvez […]
Written on May 13, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Be on the Lookout for a Manatee Entangled in a Gillnet!
Last week we told you about “Global Big Day” which was being observed on Saturday. It’s a single day out of the year when birders all over the world try to spot as many bird species as they can in a twenty-four hour period. Despite the S.O.E. restrictions which limit movement across districts and out of […]
Written on May 13, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on 383 Bird Species Spotted in Belize for Global Big Day!
There is significant beach erosion near Maya Beach in the Placencia peninsula. In the area, the beach has eroded up to fifteen feet. Residents say that dredging for a marina is a main contributor to the wearing down of the beach. The sand that is dredged is then transported to other locations for landfill, but […]
Written on May 12, 2020 | Posted in
Environment,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Placencia Beaches Disappearing Due to Dredging
Almost two weeks ago we reported on a Kinkajou that was injured up north and was receiving treatment at the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic. Well, the sad news tonight is that the Kinkajou, called Fuego, didn’t survive the injuries. He passed away on Sunday night while receiving treatment at the clinic. On April twenty-eighth, the […]
Written on May 11, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Kinkajou Dies 2 Weeks Later!
There’s a bit of good news to report tonight as it relates to the fires that were ravaging the forests and farm lands. According to the Forest Department, the satellite mapping system didn’t record any fires this morning. This is as a direct result of the downpour the country experienced on Thursday night and this […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on No Fires Recorded Today!
May ninth is birding’s biggest day around the world. It is called Global Big Day which is an annual celebration of birds around you. While the current state of emergency limits movement, birding enthusiasts are not able to participate this year as they usually would this. But despite restrictions, birders in Belize will be up […]
Written on May 8, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Global Big Day Observed in Belize!
Tonight, we share more from our trip out west to cover the fires that have been consuming large plots of farmlands and virgin forested areas. A small group of concerned Benque Viejo residents have taken it upon themselves to try to out the fires and create fire lines to prevent the spread and occurrence of […]
Written on May 7, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on Fire! Fire! Western Belize is on fire!
For the past two weeks we have been reporting on a spate of forest fires across Belize. Many of those fires are concentrated in the western part of the country. While the Forest Department has a new law—with heavy fines attached—that prohibits burning outside, there are still many fires recorded around the country. This week, […]
Written on May 6, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on Wildfires in the West – the Burning Continues!
The Chiquibul and Vaca Forests have also been destroyed by wildfires, but these have decreased significantly. The rains last week doused the huge inferno that destroyed habitats and killed animals. The fires in the Vaca Forest and along the western border are believed to have been sparked by Guatemalan farmers slashing and burning in the […]
Written on May 6, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on FCD Executive Director Says Environmental Education Program Needed
The rains last week doused the huge fires that were burning out of control in the Vaca and Chiquibul forest in the west. The damage, however, was already done. Huge areas of the forests were destroyed, several animals were killed and their habitats destroyed. The fires in the Vaca forest and along the western border […]
Written on May 5, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on Forest Fires Killed Animals, Destroyed Habitats
The forest fires in the west and south are having devastating consequences for wildlife. Panthera Belize, an organization that focuses on the future of wildcats, has been monitoring the situation. Recent fieldwork brought to light the reality inside the burning forest. Small creatures are unable to outrun the fires and perish. Big cats such as […]
Written on April 30, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on Animals Dying Due to Forest Fires
In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is facing another crisis; it has to do with bush and forest fires that have been spreading all over the country. In the Cayo District, the situation has become unbearable as the fires and smoke levels threaten the health and property of residents. The fires have been […]
Written on April 29, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on Wildfires Run Amok in Cayo District
The forest fires are caused by a number of environmental factors such the current high temperatures. The Vaca Forest has experienced the largest wild fire affecting the biodiversity of the protected area but there was little relief this afternoon when it rained. And as the unprecedented fires started to spread closer to the village of […]
Written on April 29, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on Community Effort to Stem Wildfires Outside of Succotz
One million dollars in damages were caused by a raging farm fire on fifty acres of cacao plantation in the south. The fire keeps burning tonight, stretching beyond the villages of Columbia and San Miguel in the Toledo District. The cacao plantation is owned by Serendipity Farm and one of the owners, Lawrence Chavarria says that over […]
Written on April 29, 2020 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Disasters,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on Fire Causes $1 Million in Damages to Cacao Farm
Bush fires have been popping up all over the country in recent days as the dry weather prevails. A few days ago, laws were put in place to fine persons starting bush fires. Recently, fires spread in the Cayo area, presenting health issues to residents as the thick smoke made it difficult to breathe. The […]
Written on April 27, 2020 | Posted in
Disasters,
Environment |
Comments Off on Forest Department and Partners Battle Wildfires
In addition to the arrests made at the river banks and elsewhere during the state of emergency, five persons were also arrested, charged and fined for violations of the National Protected Areas Systems Act. On Friday, April twenty-fourth, Jose Angel Maravilla, Joaquin Ico, Florencio Choc, Elsueio Cho and Alfus Edwards, all of San Roman Village […]
Written on April 27, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Environment |
Comments Off on Five Men Charged $6000 for Illegal Activities within a Wildlife Sanctuary
Earlier this week, the Department of the Environment officially outlawed the lighting of brushfires, citing the activity as a public health hazard, aside from the destruction that it wreaks. But farmers in the north, particularly those in Blue Creek complain that the fires that they have had to put out since the beginning of the […]
Written on April 24, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Fires are Deliberately Set by Hunters in Blue Creek
The early closure of the conch season and the coronavirus pandemic have also had an impact of fisherfolks. While they are still allowed to harvest finfish within the non-curfew hours, many have not been able to go out to sea so have lost their source of income. The vast southern waters are problematic to patrol, […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Crime,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on Three Dangriga Residents Charged for Out-of-Season Conch
Conservation and Compliance Supervisor at the Fisheries Department, Hampton Gamboa also gave an update on another case, which occurred on March twenty-ninth. In that incident at sea, also in the Twin Caye area, four men were detained, their vessel seized and cargo recovered, which contained one hundred and thirty-two whole lobsters. As you know, the […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Crime,
Environment |
Comments Off on Almost $4500 for Fisherman Caught with Out-of-Season Lobster
We have been reporting on the growing number of fires which have been sparking all over, and there are now regulations to fine persons who start these fires. Tonight, we can report that the forests are burning out of control. Friends for Conservation and Development is reporting that huge fires are burning in the Vaca […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Belize’s Forests Burning Out of Control
A new statutory instrument signed on April twentieth prohibits the lighting of fires during the State of Emergency. Concerns grew after the number of fires recorded across the country soared to one hundred and eighty-six. This continues to pose serious health and safety issues, especially for Belizeans living in the Cayo District, including Belmopan, where […]
Written on April 23, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Environment |
Comments Off on Police to Enforce New Law on Lighting of Fires
On April fifteenth, the importation of single-use plastics and styrofoam into Belize stopped and in three months time, local manufacturers will also stop production of these items as the country moves forward to completely phase out plastics. In January, we reported on the Environmental Protection Regulations 2020, which was signed into law to reduce plastic […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on April 15th Plastic Importation Stopped!
Doctor Percival Cho outlined that while the current state of emergency has caused a hold-up for some of the work needed to be done, Belize is still expected to meet the deadline set to complete the phase out. Dr. Percival Cho, C.E.O., Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, Environment & Sustainable Development “In regards to challenges […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Environment |
Comments Off on Belize Remains on Schedule to Phase Out Plastics!
The third and final day of the Placencia Ambition Forum concluded today. The Government of Belize hosted the three-day forum which brought together the Alliance of Small Island States, via the internet. The discussion focused on the central theme of increasing ambition and safeguarding the Paris Agreement. The forum also highlighted the importance of “Keeping […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Environment,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Placencia Ambition Forum Concludes; PM Barrow the Alliance of Small Island States
According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, COVID-19 magnifies the importance of key island priorities for the global climate change agenda. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “If left to the Small Island and Low-lying Coastal Developing States history will absolve us. That is because we would cease the moment and tackle decisively not just the consequences […]
Written on April 22, 2020 | Posted in
Environment,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on COVID-19 Magnifies Importance of Climate Change
