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The Portico project hasn't been in the news much lately - but it came up today when we got to speak to the Minister of Sustainable Development at another event.
We asked him about mangroves in the broad area of influence set out by Portico in the Belize District.
Independent Environmental experts we've spoken to say that the portico project will destroy 388.7 hectares of mangrove. It's consequential because In the Nationally Determined Contributions Belize made to the world in 2020, the government promised to restore 2,000 hectares of mangroves by 2025, but Portico's project may tip the scales and destroy 20% of that promise. We asked the Minister today for a comment on this issue.
Reporter:
"In regards to the independent assessments by environmental experts say that the portico project will destroy 388.7 hectares of mangrove - this is what was approved by NEAC - what is your position on that?"
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"I guess that if you get different assessments some will be pro some will be against, some might be just in between we have to make a decision on some of these large development projects."
"But we can't forget that the country cannot develop if we do not have investments but these investments have to be structured in such a way that they cause the minimum environmental damage and the department of environment really is not there to stop any of these development plans. As a matter of fact they guide the process so that if there is something that could be detrimental then they can actually advise in some ways how to mitigate that impact so that we can still have the development but with minimal impact."
"How will the government's carbon credit programme report the emissions of close to half a million tons of CO2 from mangrove deforestation, when the government has made commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to conserve mangroves and halt deforestation?"
"We know that as a policy we have the protection of mangroves is something that is absolutely essential most development especially in the tourism sector if you look at the coastal areas Placencia Seine Bight hopkins that development goes along the coast where some mangroves have been growing for many many years affording us a protection of the coast. The development has come in such a fashion that they tear down the mangroves to build the buildings and the hotels and everything else. In the Cayes it is the same thing. So like I said there has to be a balance but we can do it if we structure it properly. Also the developers have to abide by the regulations they have to make their applications and the department of environment can allow certain amounts of mangroves to be taken down for the development and also we have to put in place programmers where if you take down two then put back five not only in terms of the costal areas for mangroves but even in the terrestrial Forests."
We note that Portico developer David Gegg says the project will only destroy only 20 acres of mangrove, and that the mangrove imprint will be minimal. He also says that he plans to reforest the de-watering site with what he calls "proper mangroves".
