The Stake Bank Cruise Port is finally getting off almost a decade after it was first conceived and introduced by developer Michael Feinstein. The proposal to construct a cruise ship terminal off the coast of Belize City that would rival Harvest Caye in southern Belize is set to begin in early August. That’s according to […]
The project will see the employment of hundreds of local laborers in erecting the twin piers, as well as the structures on the island. Once completed, however, Stake Bank will be off-limits to Belizeans wanting to enjoy its myriad amenities, similar to Harvest Caye in the south. That’s because in order for the port to […]
In another tourism development, two months ago we reported on the proposed development at Cayo Rosario in San Pedro. Tourism stakeholders, fishermen and residents are opposed to the development of the small caye because it falls within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The National Appraisal Environment Committee has gone ahead and approved the plan despite […]
Public and private sector representatives were recognized today for their contributions towards the removal of the Belize Barrier Reef from the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in danger. It took a little less than ten years for that to happen, but today, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber and Minister Omar Figueroa singled out fifteen […]
Personnel from Belize Natural Energy worked around the clock to avert any damage to the environment in Spanish Lookout where an oil spill occurred. The spill was caused by a leak in a pipe at one of the wells. That leak led to a gush of an undisclosed amount of water and crude oil into […]
Reports spread like wildfire today that a tapir had been killed on the Boom/Hattieville Road. An investigation carried out by the Belize Tapir Project has since revealed that the young female adult mountain cow was struck by a speeding vehicle sometime between three and four p.m. on Thursday as it was crossing the road. Despite […]
The Friends for Conservation and Development says that xaté stocks are recovering in the Chiquibul. An assessment done this year shows that eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty xaté plants within thirty plots are from five different species. Of those five species, the F.C.D. found evidence that only three were being harvested in the forest. […]
United States President Donald Trump believes that climate change is a hoax started by the Government of China. The Trump Administration has proceeded to cut back on domestic and international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This poses a huge risk to many Caribbean countries which are impacted by climate change. So while news that […]
A system has strengthened to become the first hurricane for the 2018 season; Beryl is not heading this way and expected to weaken before landfall. But on Thursday evening, a freak storm damaged at least one house in its direct path. It happened during the downpour in Ladyville caused by two tropical waves crossing over […]
Sea turtles are a valuable part of marine ecosystems because they help to preserve sea grass beds which are important for shelter and resource to many other sea organisms. But the reality is that sea turtles all over the world are threatened, particularly the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, which has been listed as critically endangered with a […]
Two Guatemalan farmers from Peten were detained inside the Chiquibul National Park on Wednesday. Friends for Conservation and Development and Belize Defense Force personnel were on a patrol to document human footprint in the area of Cebada in the southern Chiquibul National Park, when they came across two farmers with two horses about two point […]
Tonight, a male manatee calf is being rehabilitated at Wild Tracks; a rehabilitation facility in Sarteneja, after it was is rescued near Long Caye. Sea to Shore Alliance Coordinator Jamal Galvez was en route to Caye Caulker for a tour with the Real Tarzan Man Michael Holsten, who is in Belize promoting the unique animals […]
Hurricanes and flooding in Belize are nothing new. Compounded with a changing climate, the frequency and intensity of these natural disasters are growing. In Belize, we have had our fair share of costly natural disasters and over the years, the focus on building resilient communities has grown. The Government of Belize and Taiwan are now […]
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is finally off the List of World Heritage in Danger. The precious ecosystem was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1996, but in 2009, it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the destruction of mangroves and marine ecosystems, offshore oil exploration and […]
Taking in the announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber reminded the international community that Belize’s ecosystems are under attack due to continued incursions, including illegal fishing and the pillaging of the forests by Guatemalans. As soon as the DPM concluded his statement, the Guatemalan head of delegation raised his flag to counter the statement by […]
Michael Holsten, known on social media across the world as the Real Tarzan, is in Belize for a five-day tour of the country. The twenty-four-year-old is an exotic animal specialist, zoologist, biologist and animal science behavior. In his first visit to Belize, organized by Dah Belize World Class, Holsten will be visiting the Baboon Sanctuary […]
The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute is celebrating its twentieth anniversary of promoting the sustainable use and management of Belize’s coastal zone. To mark the occasion, the organization has partnered with OCEANA Belize and the World Wildlife Fund and has released a commemorative phone case. Chief Executive Officer Chantalle Samuels says the transition from […]
Sea to Shore Alliance Programme Coordinator, Jamal Galvez visited out studios on Tuesday, but it wasn’t to report on the case of another dead manatee along the Belize City coast; he brought good news. The organization applied and was awarded a grant of over twenty six thousand Belize dollars from the Zoological Society of London. […]
A workshop was held today at the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute focusing on the susceptibility of certain marine species, including the spiny lobster and conch, to the acidification of the sea. It’s a highly scientific undertaking; one, which Principal Ecologist Doctor Silvana Birchenaugh explained to the media. Dr. Silvana Birchenaugh, Principal Ecologist, […]
There have been persistent illegal activities in western and southern Belize. The most recent reports was from the village of Otoxha in the deep south. Villagers have complained that Guatemalan nationals cross into Belize unimpeded to clear land for farms. The village alcalde, Santiago Peck , first sounded the alarm at the end of May […]
Today the signing of contract for infrastructure work under the Solid Waste Management Project Two took place in Belmopan. The Solid Waste Management Two is a continuation of project one that will extend services to the north and the south and will see construction of several transfer stations across the country. The signing was for […]
Since sounding an alarm several weeks ago that Guatemalan farmers have been encroaching on land surrounding Otoxha Village in the Toledo District, the Belize Defense Force has been deployed to the area. But tonight, there is information that illegal activities continue to take place within the Columbia Forest Reserve at the hands of Guatemalan poachers. […]
South Cebada is one of the most remote areas of the Chiquibul National Park. While it is deep inside the protected area and difficult to reach, it is also located about one point five kilometers from the border with Guatemala. That makes it an open ground for illegal activity perpetuated by nearby communities who depend […]
As you heard, manning the Chiquibul National Park poses a huge challenge to the relevant agencies, including Friends for Conservation and Development. FCD rangers on June sixth spotted a group of five illegal farmers and were able to apprehend two: Guatemalan national Edras Garcia and Honduran national Elder Diaz four kilometres within Belizean territory. Following […]
There is growing public concern about the status of a development in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve by a group of businessmen led by former Immigration Minister Elvin Penner. His phone number and name are listed as a contact on the billboard welcoming persons to a planned subdivision for an acreage said to be […]
