By Belize Live News Staff: The Government of Belize is taking decisive action to protect its precious forest reserves, forming a temporary task force comprising government ministries and local NGOs. The task force aims to review and strengthen existing legislation and regulations, ensuring they align with global conservation standards and promote sustainability.
The collaboration involves the Ministry of Sustainable Development & Climate Change, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining, and prominent NGOs such as Panthera Belize, Programme for Belize, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Centre, Wildlife Conservation Society Belize, Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Belize Maya Forest Trust, and Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
Key issues the task force will address include illegal activities like squatting, farming, animal rearing, and logging within forest reserves, with a focus on the Manatee Forest Reserve. These unauthorized actions have led to deforestation and soil degradation, contributing to recent floods that impacted the Coastal Highway. They also pose a threat to the connectivity of Belize’s protected areas system, vital for biodiversity and watershed health.
Immediate measures are being taken to halt all illegal activities within forest reserves, particularly the Manatee Forest Reserve. The government is seeking support from other stakeholders and NGOs, and is calling for cooperation from individuals involved in breaching forest reserve laws.
For more information, contact Deputy Chief Forest Officer John Pinelo at 822-2079 or email dcfo@forest.gov.bz.
