Before a developer can get the greenlight on any project there are numerous environmental impacts to consider.
And that's why a proposed development on Turneffe atoll has raised quite a few red flags, with critics in conservation circles saying the project isn't as promising as it seems. Today Jomarie Lanza spoke via Zoom with two very important stakeholders on Turneffe Atoll who prioritize safeguarding the Caye and its resources. They told us why - in their view - this EIA won't fly.
On June 11th EIA for the construction of a proposed vacation home on Turneffe Atoll was uploaded to the Department Of Environment's web page. It details the construction of an Eco resort that would sit on 1 acre of the 2 acre property, which would take about 18 months to build.
And a number of concerns have been raised surrounding this EIA. Stakeholders on Turneffe Atoll tasked to work on technical assessments of any development in the area say that although the development is small, its potential impact must be viewed in tandem with the fragility of the ecosystem - specifically, whether this project will do more bad than good.
Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association
"I want to put into context too that we have not always said no to all developments. There are few developments that we have sad yes to with certain conditions to ensure that a they provide adequate development guidance for protecting the ecosystems and protecting the ecosystems, protecting people's livelihoods and ensuring that the business models are sound and safe because the last thing we want to do is recommend a business development or any development that will close down and then they have already destroyed the environment and then the business doesn't work or nobody benefits from jobs or anything from it so there are multiple considerations that we have to do here."
When it comes to offshore developments there are numerous factors that need to be considered when you are 30 miles out at sea, far away from land and essential resources. For the other developments located out at Turneffe, the resorts specifically, Andrade says that it takes up to 30-40 workers to keep the place functioning. In addition to the handful of guests that are needed to make each investment commercially viable
Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association
"In the case of Dickson again they are stating 14-23 guests because they state 14 in some areas and 23 in other areas and this is a consistent issue with the Dickson EIA where they state one number in one place and then another number in another place so we are not so sure what number they are shooting for or looking at but they only state 5 workers. Right that is a concern from many points of view in terms of management because if you're gonna have solar facilities and desalination plants if you're gonna have a diesel generator if you're gonna have a solar field then you need people to be managing all of these things because Alex and I can tell you no one person can manage this."
Andrade says that there are other details regarding power requirements, sewage and potable water systems where sufficient information is lacking within the EIA. In addition to this much time was not given for real public consultation and discussions to be held with key stakeholders like sports and commercial fishermen whose livelihoods depend on Turneffe. They believe that the inclement weather and planning these hearings during commercial fishing season has taken away from proper consultation.
Alex Anderson, Executive Director, Turneffe Atoll Trust
"Turneffe is one of the most pristine ecosystems you are going to find in the entire western hemisphere. It is the largest and the most biologically diverse atoll and that's the reason why we keep doing the work that we do and for any development it requires full consideration. When we look at this area it's already inundated and under sea level they say it in the EIA that the entire property is below sea level and so it requires a lot of filling to be able to get it to a point where it's even able to walk on that property. And so 60% of the entire property is mangrove Forrest. The mangrove act makes it clear that you should not even entertain any project that requires the clearance of mangroves within any of our marine protected areas."
Turneffe generates over 500 million in blue carbon and shoreline value each year. And while Andrade says that TASA did reach out to them, they cannot produce a viable assessment until the document is completed with consideration to all the developmental factors.
Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association
"So just to put these things in context right I mean it shows that the entire module is flawed but it also shows, Alex would concur here in our humble opinion there has to be a screening process before these things are tabled because if not we get into a back and forth and it is not out role to be able to tell the developer that this thing is not complete but it is not complete. I mean when you reach to a point where you cannot even assess because there is not enough information to assess certain things I think you have a red flag there that you have to take note of. So in my humble opinion I just from the preliminary assessment of this we would have to say this is not a development that is ready to be assessed at this point in time."
"In this case we are also I just want to emphasize that we are saying that with the data that is lacking or the things that are unclear and not complete we cannot even give a complete assessment we would only be giving based on the document that is there and what we see we would only be able to put together something based on what is there but in our estimation this is certainly something that should be turned back right away for completion. Let it be completed and sent back to us or to the general public and brought to consultation when it is really complete. We really have to stop bringing incomplete, unacceptable EIAS that are cut and paste and brought in front of us over and over with the same mistakes at the end of the day."
They hope the EIA report will be revised and a completed one will be released.
