Right now. there is an imminent threat facing our nation that too few people are fully aware of or informed about. It is an issue of grave national concern for the devastation it will cause in one of the most ecologically important places in our country and in the world.

The land in question stretches from the Caribbean Shore to canopied jungle. It is located between two existing reserve areas: Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary and the Manatee Forrest Reserve. The property is currently known as White Ridge Farms.  This area is home to over 100 species of birds, all of Belize’s National Symbols including Baird’s Tapir, Keel Billed Toucan, Mahogany, Black Orchid as well as every species of wild cat endemic to Belize.  The shoreline in question is part of the largest Sea Turtle nesting grounds in the region.

A mining company known as Vulcan Materials operating in Belize as Carocol Holdings has a contingency contract to purchase +- 14,000 acres from White Ridge Farms.  The purchase is contingent on the buyer finding the materials they wish to mine (which they have) and on getting approval for their Environmental Impact Assessment (which they are in process of procuring). 

Please, this EIA MUST BE DENIED to them.  The Environmental Impact of strip mining here would be devastation in an area where some of the world’s most critically endangered species are surviving.  As you certainly know, critically endangered means close to extinction and extinction means gone forever.  We cannot in good conscience allow this for our jewel. The operations would include a conveyor belt cutting across Sea Turtle nesting beach and dredging to allow for loading their cargo ships.

Also, the sale would be between two American companies with very little economic gain for Belize. Local villagers are not even considered qualified for the jobs they would create which will likely go to foreign company trained employees. 

The most impact would be to squelch any further development in an area that will otherwise develop naturally due to the work being done to upgrade the Coastal Road.  Villagers, who at first were persuaded by Vulcan with the promise of jobs, have come to realize that the damages strip mining would cause are too great.  Stakeholders in the area are afraid of losing everything.  This strip mine would literally kill any other investment in the area including new development that will provide jobs for locals.

More importantly, there are alternate buyers who have already gone through process and who would have a positive impact on the local and national economy. These buyers intend to build a hospital for medical tourism.  They are willing to work with the organization putting the Maya Mountain Corridor in place.

We cannot afford to allow this type of environmental degradation to happen in Belize.  Their contingency contract was extended to October of this year because of Covid-19.  Time is of the essence in confronting them. The Villagers and the threatened wild species at stake deserve our protection.  They are an asset to our beautiful nation.

May we recognize, especially in this time of pandemic, how interdependent we all are. Humans and Nature: wilderness and wild species from the greatest in size to the most miniscule, we all have an impact.  What we do matters.  The choices we make today affect tomorrow. PLEASE SAY NO TO VULCAN aka CARACOL HOLDINGS. NO STRIP MINES IN BELIZE!