And while it's being played out in the courts, the case of SATIIM versus the Forestry Department is really a battle over conservation ethics. Indeed, the government of Belize has sanctioned over 90 protected areas, but now in the petroleum era, those protected areas seem to be set on shifting sands, particularly if there's oil beneath the sand! And just as the battle of conservation versus exploration is being waged in the courts, PACT, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, today celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Funded by a government imposed PACT fee that every visitor must pay and led by a government appointed statutory board, PACT should be the embodiment of government's commitment to the conservation and sound development of protected areas. So, we figured, what better time to ask: does government still really believe in preserving protected areas, especially if they've got oil bubbling up beneath them?
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
St. Luke's sang about the o-zone and the collected guests gushed, smiled and clapped on cue, but all is not well with Belize's protected areas, even as PACT celebrates its tenth anniversary. Sure, the money's right, and it shows.
Valdemar Andrade, Exec. Director - PACT
"Over the past ten years our revenues have increased from $763,265 in 1996 to $4.5 million in 2005/2006."
Jules Vasquez,
One has the sense that PACT is rich and in fact you said there is $2.7 in the trust. Is PACT living large, living high off the hog based on the contributions that it should in fact not be spending on gala events but it should be spending on conservation oriented efforts.
Valdemar Andrade,
"No actually as I said before, and that's why I brought out the statistics because I know you would ask this question Jules, 70% of our revenues are spent directly on the grants program and it goes directly to protected areas management and conservation efforts. PACT is not living large. In fact this year alone the managers switched to the Yarsis instead of 4X4s because fuel is expensive and the thought of a vehicle that gives 50 miles a gallon is a better approach. I think you also have to set the example."
But is PACT setting the example in the protect areas which are the bedrock of its charter. It certainly talks the talk.
Valdemar Andrade,
"Hence the importance of parks has also increased as the only national environmental trust fund contribution to the development of Belize through conservation."
But is Belize really developing through conservation? Increasingly it looks like that development will come through oil exploration - which often conflicts directly with conservation. It's a contradiction which PACT has not spoken on.
Jules Vasquez,
Certainly as PACT looks at he challenges of the future, it must look at the fact that a protected area has been authorized for oil exploration, preparatory seismic testing, in that area and it is a subject on which PACT has been completely mute. As the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, should not PACT have said something about it and does it now have anything to say about oil exploration in national parks?
Valdemar Andrade,
"PACT is a trust fund and so basically it does not have a advocacy arm. The Board can choose to have a position on these matters but at this time we don't have a position, the Board doesn't have a decision on the oil exploration."
Jules Vasquez,
I'm saying that when PACT needs to be heard for the political interest, to serve the political interest it is heard, but when the voice may go against what is the current political interest, PACT seems to be mute.
Valdemar Andrade,
"That is not the case at all Jules. At this point in time we have not gone in to SATIIM and looked at the issues."
Jules Vasquez,
Is it not an imminent emergency for PACT to develop a position on oil exploration vis a vie protected area? What is our national priority, If it has change being a conservationist oriented country that is fine but we need to declare what our position is.
Valdemar Andrade,
"From PACT's perspective, our position hasn't changed in terms of what are the importance of the protected areas within the contest of Belize, supporting some of the major industries; fishing, forestry and tourism. We have to be careful when we approach these issues from a conservation standpoint or from a development standpoint. We have to look at how do we strike the balance between these. The reality of the economy of Belize today Jules, you and I know, we have to look at whatever resources there are with respect to the way the economy stands today and so basically we have to look at whether we should develop and if we are going to develop, the how is the critical issue."
"How" is one question but "when" is another, as in when will PACT declare its position on oil exploration in protected areas? A tenth anniversary seems as good a time as any.
Perhaps the last word on government's stance on conservation comes from the fact that PACT Minister John Briceno, who is also the Petroleum Minister, was a no show at today's event. As part of the celebration, PACT presented 10 vhf radio sets to 10 stakeholder organizations including the Agua-Caliente Management team and the Rio Blanco Maya Association for the purpose of we gather, creating a speak-easy network between pact stakeholders. Individual awards were also presented to outstanding contributors and employees. PACT also donated $50,000 to St. John's College to support its programme for associates degrees in natural resource management.
