ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
Providing Vigorous Advocacy for Turneffe’s Environmental Needs
Overview
In 2015, Turneffe Atoll Trust (TAT) launched a much-needed Conservation Oversight Program for Turneffe Atoll intended to closely monitor development activities at Turneffe Atoll to ensure that Belize’s environmental laws are 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: TAT actively monitors development at Turneffe, and we maintains regular communication with permitting agencies to obtain early information about development applications.
Communication: When development activity is noted, TAT engages to ensure that they understand pertinent regulations outlined in TAT’s Developer’s Guidelines Manual. TAT also coordinates with the Department of Environment to confirm that the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and related Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) are in place.
Note: All development within Marine Protected Areas — including within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve —
requires an Environmental Impact Assessment. However, the Department of Environment is currently (May, 2025)
considering changes that would remove this requirement for certain developments.
Evaluation: Turneffe Atoll Trust conducts thorough evaluations of proposed projects to ensure they align with the principles of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve and support the long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability of Turneffe Atoll and Belize. Each project is reviewed for compliance with sustainability standards outlined in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Management Plan,the Coastal Zone Management Institute and Authority recommendations and relevant Master Plans for Belize. Proposed developments must not damage or destroy Turneffe’s critical ecosystems, including its coral reef, backreef flats and mangroves.
Assistance: TAT provides technical and logistical support for permitting agencies when needed to assist in their decision making processes. We offer transportation assistance to support site inspections in this remote area, which are sometimes beyond the reach of permitting agency budgets.
Advocacy: When proposed developments are deemed unsustainable or do not follow legal guidelines, TAT activiely advocates against approval. This may include public awareness campaigns, legal review and collaboration with aligned organizations.
TAT publication, Risking the Atoll, Dr. Valentino Shal and Osmany Salas documents 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: When compliance cannot be achieved through dialogue and advocacy, and a development does not comply with Belize’s environmental laws, TAT has turned to legal action as a last resort. In 2016, Turneffe Atoll Trust halted an environmentally destructive development through legal action, setting a precedent for prospective developers following environmental laws and obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Follow up Monitoring: TAT conducts ongoing monitoring of approved developments to ensure that Environmental Compliance plans are fully implemented and followed.