April 14, 2008
Dear Editor,
Imagine our low-lying coastline clear of all mangroves. Long, man-made beaches, full of visitors but only a few Belizeans employed. Imagine our reefs, all white. Imagine a hurricane hitting our little country; the outcome is we all get flooded, and more than that, we get wiped out! Why?
Mangroves are the nurseries of the coral reef, where young marine animals and nesting birds find a safe haven and the food that enables them to grow and later populate the coral reef. Without mangroves, there will be far fewer fish on the reefs for our tourists and fishermen. Mangroves filter the water coming from our rivers and prevent siltation of the reefs, which can kill the coral.
Mangroves also provide important protection from storm surges in hurricanes, preserving the land and property of coastal residents.
Yet, despite these valuable services and being protected by our Belizean laws, in many places our mangroves are being mowed down by bulldozers right before our eyes. These activities are in clear violation of the mangrove protection laws contained in Chapter 213 of the Subsidiary Laws of Belize.
This is true right here at the north side of the mouth of the Sittee River. The mangroves currently being cleared for the Sittee Estates Subdivision, a private gated community, are thought to be the oldest and tallest in the Western Hemisphere.
We sincerely hope that the new administration at the Ministry of Natural Resources will do the right thing and not allow the development to extend to the south side of the Sittee River mouth. Why not take progressive steps to protecting this area as a Wildlife Sanctuary?
Studies have been made around the world, not only in Belize, regarding mangroves, so why can’t we follow those examples and preserve our coastline? There is a reason why God decided that Belize should have lots of mangrove trees growing along the low-lying coastline, instead of long white sandy beaches.
And, we don’t need scientists to tell us why, we can just deduce our conclusions by looking around and asking our grandpas and grandmas stories about the good old days when there was plenty of food in the sea.
About when storms would hit the coast and about Hurricanes 1931 and 1961’s Hattie. Yes, they were great hurricanes and Belize suffered terrible losses, but we were not wiped out.
Why? Mangroves. I am not against the development of my country; on the contrary …I see potential! Not as a mass tourism destination, but as an eco-sustainable attraction, with interesting, long nature-made coastline where nature is in control and not some private foreign company, which leaves almost no profit in the country because it takes the money back home.
Belize should not be following the crowd, but should be pioneering trends for other developing countries to follow. And, we can start with saving the coastline, by saving those defenseless, “ugly looking” mangroves that in the end will feed us, our families and safeguard our land and World Heritage Sites like the beautiful Barrier Reef.
You and I may not see the end result of the destruction of the mangroves, but our children’s children will. Let’s start thinking for the days after tomorrow, not just tomorrow! Yes, we are a developing country, but let’s not grow up in a hurry to be like our big brothers (the developed countries).
Instead, let’s set trends for them to follow. Let Belize be the leader when it comes to preserving a country and the many wonderful natural things it has to offer.
So …are we ready to be the next Cancun? Are we ready to give up our coastlines? Are we ready to go into history as the country that preferred having long private white sandy beaches over the well being of our land and families
Sincerely,
Dilma Yolanda Cano
Tourism Marketing and Management, Belizean Student at ITH Salzburg, Austria
And member of the Hopkins/Sittee River Conservation Committee