Photo: Aerial view of Port of Magical proposed project location
WWF says it has “consistently raised concerns about port development projects in Belize, both publicly and with RCG, including Port of Magical.”
by Marco Lopez
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Aug. 21, 2023
A statement from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released this morning comes following substantial criticism of the conservation organization by the Opposition party, UDP. The WWF shared its concerns about the potential social impact of the proposed port developments, stating it, “does not support the clearing of large-scale mangrove forests at any potential site.”
The public statement outlines very clearly, “WWF does not play any role in approving the development of Port Magical, or any port in Belize.” This is a given – since our local government environmental agency, the Department of the Environment and its accompanying sub-bodies like the National Environmental Appraisal Committee are tasked with approving or denying developments like the Port of Magical Project in Belize.
Of concern, however, is the WWF’s proximity with a main proponent of the Port of Magical Project – Royal Caribbean Group (RCG). That multinational cruise line company signed a memorandum of understanding with the principals of Port of Magical Belize. They plan to work together to execute the massive project on a mangrove-rich portion of Belize’s coastline.
WWF and Royal Caribbean are also partners. The worldwide conservation group’s website states the two “are working together to embed sustainability into the core of its business.” It adds, “WWF and Royal Caribbean Group endeavor to make a positive impact on both the oceans and coastal destinations.”
Belize City, Belize is listed as one of the three locations where Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Destination Assessments were completed as a part of the Royal Caribbean and WWF partnership. In a response to the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s letter to RCG – the company VP of Destination Development, Joshua Carroll wrote that the company “invested considerable resources” to do an in-depth analysis of each cruise port project being proposed near Belize City, and that they looked at how each aligns with its guiding principle for “sustainable and operational developments.”
They found that the Port of Magical Belize project, “is the only project, of the three”, that meets their “standards for environmental impact and operational viability.”
This project is however proposing the most expansive undertaking of the cruise ports. The proposed scale of dredging, which in total is about 8.5 million cubic meters is worrying for the environmental community. A release from Oceana Belize in 2021 also cites the impact the project will have on mangroves in the area.
Some independent experts say as much as over 1000 acres of mangrove will be impacted by the project’s footprint, according to 7News. Port of Magical’s EIA approved by the DOE cites about 18 hectares or 44 acres of mangrove and coastal forest in total that will be impacted. The project point person, Belizean businessman David Gegg told local media that about 20 acres will be removed and that efforts will also be made to reforest the area following the land reclamation.
The discrepancies in the potential impact do not sit well with the environmental community. Just this month, Jamal Galves, the Manatee Man reiterated his call for protection of the area, which sits within the Sibun River and the Northern Lagoon, both very important habitats for manatees.
So, the question remains, could WWF both champion the cause of conservation and sustainable management in Belize, and partner with the multinational cruise company that is seeking to benefit from what some experts believe to be a most environmentally disastrous project?
Approval aside, since that matter remains embroiled in the Belize High Court, the issue at hand remains the proximity of the cruise line company and the conservation group to this proposed cruise project.
We asked local representative Nadia Bood, and also reached out to the media contact of the WWF to comment on the partnership with Royal Caribbean in light of this project.
Below is the email received at 6:37 p.m. this evening from Maria del Rosario Calderon, Senior Communications Officer, WWF Mesoamerica:
“Thank you for inquiring about our position regarding the matter you mention. Below you will find our response to your query:
“At a global scale, WWF works with many organizations in the corporate sector, including Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), to reduce environmental footprint and improve sustainability in operational practices. WWF has consistently raised concerns about port development projects in Belize, both publicly and with RCG, including Port of Magical. WWF does not endorse Port of Magical.”
A meeting was reportedly scheduled today with WWF representatives from Belize and WWF technical personnel on the work done with RCG.