ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
Providing Vigorous Advocacy for Turneffe’s Environmental Needs
Overview
In 2015, Turneffe Atoll Trust (TAT) initiated a much-needed Conservation Oversight Program for Turneffe Atoll intended to closely monitor development to ensure that all environmental laws of Belize are properly followed.
Belize is recognized as a world conservation leader and its decision makers have passed good environmental laws. However, these laws are not always vigorously followed by the permitting agencies, largely due to budgetary constraints. Turneffe Atoll Trust provides the leadership and resources needed to adequately monitor the atoll, ensuring that negative environmental consequences are avoided due to lack of compliance with Belizean law.
Program
Monitoring: Development activities are monitored closely through communications with Turneffe Flats guides and others. We also communicate regularly with permitting agencies to obtain early information about development applications at Turneffe.
Communication: When development activity is noted, we notify the developers to ensure that they are aware of all required standards as outlined in TAT’s Developer’s Guidelines Manual. Additionally, we contact appropriate officials at the Department of Environment to ensure that the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been completed and that an Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) has been issued. Note: All development in Marine Protected Areas, including within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve require a full EIA.
Evaluation: Turneffe Atoll Trust carefully evaluates proposed projects to ensure that are consistent with the principles of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve and the long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability of Turneffe Atoll and Belize, that they comply with sustainability standards for the Atoll based on the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Management Plan, Coastal Zone Management Institute and Authority recommendations and relevant Master Plans for Belize, and that they do not damage or destroy Turneffe’s unique environmental assets including its coral reef, backreef flats and mangroves.
Assistance: If necessary, we provide environmental and engineering information for permitting agencies to assist them in their decision making processes. We also offer transportation assistance to permitting agencies who often do not have a budget to adequately monitor development in remote areas like Turneffe Atoll.
Advocacy: If necessary, we will actively oppose development which is not sustainable or does not follow legal guidelines.
In Risking the Atoll, Dr. Shal 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
Legal Action: If developments do not comply with Belize’s environmental laws and all other avenues have been exhausted, legal action is considered. In 2016, Turneffe Atoll Trust mounted a successful legal challenge to an environmentally destructive development which was halted.
Follow up Monitoring: Vigorous monitoring of permitted development ensures that EIAs and ECPs are properly followed.