Environmental Advocacy
Vigorous Advocacy for Turneffe’s Environment
In 2016, Turneffe Atoll Trust completed a successful legal action stopping a very destructive development in the Northern part of Turneffe Atoll. This action involved the Department of Environment, Fisheries Department, and Forestry Department, as well as the developers. The primary issue was that the development did not comply with several environmental laws, including the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment. The case was settled successfully in the plaintiff’s favor.
Risking the Atoll
Dr. Shal's report looks at several environmentally damaging developments at Turneffe Atoll including a four story, 96 room hotel which jeopardizes Turneffe's substantial environmental assets through large-scale dredging of a backreef flat, coral reef damage and extensive mangrove deforestation.
Dr. Valentino Shal & Osmany Salas