Deliver Your News to the World

Belize becomes a world leader in ocean protection by ending oil activity in its waters

-The Belize Barrier Reef and its World Heritage site have been at risk of irreversible damage from offshore oil activity
-New laws bring hope Belize’s WHS could be removed from UNESCO’s in danger list
-Tourism brings in around US$182 to $237m a year, so the health of the reef – Belize’s biggest attraction – is vital to the country’s future
-WWF and Oceana welcome the move to protect the Belize Barrier Reef from oil exploration, but say more needs to be done


WEBWIRE
Ambergris caye, Belize, Central America. © Antonio Busiello/WWF-Guatemala
Ambergris caye, Belize, Central America. © Antonio Busiello/WWF-Guatemala

Belize, home of the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, has become a world leader in ocean sustainability, following the Belizean government’s adoption of a permanent moratorium on oil activities in its waters. The legislation, which was signed into law on 29 December 2017, marks the first time that a developing country has taken such a major step to protect its oceans from oil exploration and extraction, and places Belize in a tiny minority of countries with similar laws.
 
This legislation follows the Belize government’s commitment in August 2017 to establish a permanent moratorium on offshore oil activity in its waters, after national and global pressure to preserve the fragile Belize Barrier Reef and its World Heritage site. This huge step by the Belize Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, comes a year after an international outcry by WWF, Oceana and supporters led to the suspension of seismic oil exploration close to the UNESCO-recognised reef.
 
Nadia Bood, Mesoamerican reef scientist at WWF in Belize, said:
 
“This is great news for Belize. Not only has its government listened to calls to protect the Belize Barrier Reef, which only a year ago was under threat from seismic oil exploration, it has stepped up to become a world leader in ocean protection by ending all oil activity in its waters. This is a ground-breaking move for a country with a struggling economy.
 
“The Belize Barrier Reef is both home to an incredible number of species and vital to Belize’s economy, which is heavily reliant on reef-based tourism and fishing. By acting to remove a major threat to the reef, Belize is safeguarding its future prosperity. We hope this bold step will encourage other countries to follow suit and take the urgent actions needed to protect our planet’s oceans.”
 
Janelle Chanona, Vice President of Oceana Belize, said:
 
“As a nation, we would never have gotten to this point were it not for the enduring participation of the Belizean people. That engagement reflects the national consciousness that we are ‘people of the reef’We will ensure that the world knows that the Government and people of Belize are serious about safeguarding our heritage and protecting our collective future from the reality of offshore oil.
 
Moving forward, we will support continued vigilance on this issue to ensure that if any future parliament is minded to lift this moratorium, it would do so transparently and only in the context of the express consent of the Belizean people.” 
 
Home to almost 1,400 species, including the endangered hawksbill turtle, manatees and six threatened species of shark, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage site has languished on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 2009. This new legislation is a major step in protecting the site that will bring it closer to being removed from the In Danger List when the UNESCO World Heritage Committee makes their recommendations mid-2018.
 
Dr Fanny Douvere, coordinator, UNESCO world heritage marine programme, said:
 
“This legislation is a major milestone toward removing the second largest reef system in the world from the in danger list. The World Heritage Committee is expected to take its decision on this matter at its next session in June-July 2018.”
 
Belize’s economy depends on tourism, so the health of the reef is critical to the country’s future. Tourism alone is estimated to bring in between US$182 to 237 million a year1, with reef-related tourism and fisheries supporting half of the Commonwealth member’s population (about 190,000 people).
 
While the ban on offshore oil activity will be significant progress, urgent action is still needed to strengthen mangrove regulation and limit the sale of public land in the World Heritage site.
 
“Unfortunately, the World Heritage site remains at risk from the destruction of mangroves for coastal development. We urge Belize’s government to follow today’s historic announcement with the additional actions needed to ensure the site is removed from UNESCO’s in danger list,” added Bood.
 
In 2016, WWF and Oceana led a coalition that successfully campaigned against seismic testing close to the reef.  WWF’s campaign to put an end to oil exploration and other harmful activities in the World Heritage site has gained support from 450,000 people from around the world.   

----

Relevant reports and information:

  1. The report Too Precious to Drill: The Marine Biodiversity of Belize outlining why Belize’s marine environment needs to be protected from oil activities can be found here.
  2. WWF assessment published in June this year showed the Belize Barrier Reef to be under threat from offshore oil drilling and damaging coastal construction.
  3. 2016 report published by WWF details the issues faced by natural World Heritage sites and how safeguarding these areas of outstanding universal value can drive sustainable development.
  4. In 2015 WWF, Aviva Investors and Investec Asset Management published a report showing that almost a third of world heritage sites listed for their natural value were under threat of oil, gas and mining exploration.
  5. In June 2017 WWF published a report - How banks can safeguard our world heritage - which examines the increasingly important and urgent role that banks need to play in helping to safeguard natural World Heritage sites now and for future generations. 
  6. In April 2016 WWF launched a campaign, Together, Saving Our Shared Heritage, which aims to safeguard natural World Heritage sites. Over 1.5 million people have taken advocacy actions to political and business leaders including the leaders of Belize, Bulgaria, Spain, Mexico and Tanzania: makeyourmark.panda.org/  


 
About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit www.panda.org/news for latest news and media resources and follow us on Twitter @WWF_media
About Oceana
Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 600,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in Asia, North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.belize.oceana.org.
 


( Press Release Image: https://photos.webwire.com/prmedia/6/218547/218547-1.jpg )


WebWireID218547





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.