There is some interesting news from southern Belize where a new species of tree has been discovered in the forests. The species is Parasenegalia lundellii which was discovered by plant ecologist Steven Brewer within the Bladen Nature Reserve. Ya’axché Conservation Trust, which co-manages the park, says that the new species is found in semi-evergreen tropical […]
Back in 2012, a national shark working group was established to devise a national plan of action for the conservation and management of sharks. That plan now provides for a framework for the management of domestic small-scale shark fishery. In order to build on what we know of the shark populations and their management, the […]
Earlier this year, the Forestry Department announced the amendments for forest offences; those changes saw a significant increase in fines for forest related crimes. In light of the approaching logging season, the Forest Department reminds the public that they are enforcing the new amendments for forest offences on persons found logging illegally. As stated in […]
All eyes are on Tropical Depression Sixteen which has maximum sustained winds of thirty-five miles per hour and recently formed off the coast of Nicaragua where it is moving at seven miles per hour in a northwest direction. It is forecasted to continue on that path and become a tropical storm by Friday and will […]
At the next meeting of the House in mid-October, a bill will be introduced on the indefinite moratorium against offshore oil exploration activity. The content has not been circulated and it is highly anticipated by environmentalists and conservationists. Over the weekend, OCEANA Belize Vice President Janelle Chanona pronounced at the Ocean Hero Awards ceremony that […]
The Kingdom of Morocco is all the way in Africa, but that huge country with a population of thirty-two million plus, shares commonalities with Belize. This week, representatives from Morocco are in Belize to collaborate on issues involving the marine environment. A first of its kind study tour between the two countries is being coordinated […]
Over the weekend, OCEANA in Belize formally recognized two Belizeans as the 2017 Ocean Heroes. They are eleven-year-old student Madison Edwards and career tour guide and conservation educator, Luz Hunter. Both have inspired and encouraged others to be conscientious about the marine environment as well as the flora and fauna. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. […]
Earlier this week, we reported on the interception of four men from Orange Walk who were found in possession of illegally harvested mahogany logs. The Forest Department says that on Thursday forty-seven-year-old Guinea Grass resident; Pablo Valladarez was fined twenty-two thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight dollars after he was found guilty for the unlawful possession […]
An illegal logging operation in northern Belize District has resulted in the arrest of four men who were found with as many as thirty-two pieces of mahogany logs in an area off the old Northern Highway. On Sunday afternoon, sometime around three-thirty, Orange Walk police came upon the individuals in a white Isuzu freighter. The […]
Cowpen is a small village located in the heart of the banana belt in southern Belize. It is populated by workers of the industry, who toil the fields or package the fruit. While the export of bananas, primarily to the European Union, contributes significantly to the economy as one of the top agricultural exports, the […]
The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility has announced that Dominica will receive a payout of over nineteen million U.S. dollars following the passage of Hurricane Maria as it begins the process of recovery. Prime Minister Dean Barrow said on Thursday that Belize will be offering some sort of assistance to Dominica. The island has been […]
It’s been three days since a seven point one earthquake hit Mexico City, killing two hundred and eighty-six persons and hundreds more remain missing, at last count. Those numbers continue to climb as over one thousand volunteers and officials continue to conduct searches for survivors from the rubble of dozens of buildings within the capital, […]
At Monday’s University of Belize lecture on security threats to Belize, Minister of Foreign and Home Affairs Wilfred Elrington made pointed comments at the environmental lobby against offshore drilling for petroleum. He suggested that some would prefer humans starve rather than take advantage of possible opportunities with petroleum so as to save the animals. This […]
More than two hundred and twenty people, including twenty-one school children, are dead in Mexico after Tuesday’s seven point one earthquake. The deadly quake toppled buildings and cut off power and communication services in Mexico City and surrounding states. The hunt continues for dozens who are listed missing after the earthquake. Firefighters, cops and volunteers […]
Within a span of fifteen hours, Hurricane Maria went from a category one to a category five storm. The catastrophic storm hit the island of Dominica on Monday night – causing widespread destruction and a state of emergency has been declared on the island. Dominica completely without power, running water and telecommunication services and there […]
After the hurricane devastated that island, it moved over towards the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico where it made landfall on Puerto Rico shortly after six this morning as a category four storm. The hurricane knocked out electricity on the entire island and it is being reported that electricity may be out for the […]
Following an eight point oh earthquake off Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico twelve days ago, a seven point one magnitude earthquake killed over a hundred people in Mexico City and surrounding states earlier this morning. The powerful earthquake toppled buildings, damaged streets and knocked out electricity for millions in Mexico. Some reports say that at least […]
Hurricane Maria, a category five storm, made landfall on the island of Dominica on Monday night. Not much is known as yet about the extent of the damage, as initial assessments and search and rescue are believed to have just started later today. During the passage of the hurricane, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit updated his […]
It is no secret that incursions into the Chiquibul by Guatemalans have been denuding our rich forest. While harvesting xaté is now almost non-existent, Rafael Manzanero says that the issue of illegal gold panning by Guatemalans within the Chiquibul is ever increasing within the forest. Despite the installing of various outposts, gold panners are still […]
There have been active efforts by the FCD and other environmental organizations to replenish the scarlet macaw population in the forest. Earlier this week, the season for scarlet macaw closed following seven months of research and biological monitoring in the area. Manzanero says that the good news is that in the past three years, they […]
September is a month of celebration for all Belizeans, as we commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye, as well as the annual observation of Belize’s independence. The itinerary of activities has grown to include other events that are not officially listed on the celebrations calendar, but nonetheless enjoy their share of […]
Since its inception and inaugural voyage a year ago, the BTV initiative has seen support from Belizeans in the Diaspora. Heading a team of fundraisers from California is Belizean/American volunteer Mario Lara. Together with several others in the States, he has been able to raise enough funds to contribute as prize monies for the growing […]
Pressure from members of the subdivision of Las Flores in Belmopan seems to have turned the Catholic Church around on the issue of two parcels of land located next to the Roman Catholic community school which residents want returned from the purchaser. On Thursday there was a protest at Belmopan City Hall by residents and […]
Before Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Harvest Caye opened last November, Belize had exactly zero docking facilities for visiting cruise ships. With construction set to open on Michael Feinstein’s Stake Bank project in December, and the subjects of this next story, there could be as many as three in the coming years. The Government of Belize and […]
A second phase to the project will add two berthing docks and a five-star three hundred-room hotel and water theme park. The Government, represented at the signing by Minister of Economic Development Erwin Contreras and Minister of Defence John Saldivar, expects that at least seven hundred Belizeans will be employed to build the new facility. […]
