And while that proposal is likely to generate a reaction in conservation and tourism circles, since last night - national park co-managers and other conservationists have been reaching out to us about the plan to grant a logging license for the Western Hardwoods. The Chief Forest Officer has strongly advised against it, but the Minister seemed ready to give it a green light when we spoke to him yesterday.
It's concerning for park co-managers in and around the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve - because there are detailed scientific studies which show that logging in that area will meaningfully degrade watersheds in the reserve.
We spoke to Aaron Juan who is the Co-Manager of the Tapir Mountain Reserve and the Thousand Foot Falls and the Executive Director of the Belize Karst Habitat Conservation.
He told us why the Western Hardwoods should not be logged:
Aaron Juan, Co-Manager Tapir. Mtn.Nature Reserve/1000 Ft. Falls:
"I was looking at some maps a little while ago and the area that is being proposed for this logging license will definitely impact a lot of the small streams and, of course, the Macall River. The trees in that area are very, very necessary, to stabilize the soils on the earth. And we're only looking at this surface water. What about what's happening down below? We know as things are being moved, roads will be built clearly, large, ancient or old trees will be removed, big root systems will be removed. And you destabilize the soils. And all of that sediment will definitely make its way., As you know, climate change is a big concern. We just went through some serious fires where we're going to be facing some serious flooding concerns all over the country. And and the more we remove trees and the more we remove forests in these areas, it's it's, to me it shouldn't be done, and, and I think more studies need to be, need to be done in that area and, and let the communities come together, and let the communities have a say because the communities that, are going to be impacted, are places like Cristo Rey, San Antonio and Georgecille, Progresso"
"But the communities that will be affected are actually our buffer communities."
"And I just think the amount of development that has already happened in Pine Ridge, I think, is enough. And at some point we need to way let's save something for the future. Let's save something for, for wildlife."
"you're basically going to be removing a last little pocket of pristine forest."
"Clearly the company that's interested has gone in and has seen something that they want and, and these come in the way of big trees, very old trees. And I think it's, a lot of it is a steep or steep slope ecosystem. And when you, when you tamper with slopes that has creeks that run into major rivers like the Macal River, I think of building roads, putting in big machinery. I don't think it's necessary. I think everyone has to really think about how much do we, how much do the government and the people doing the logging earn? And what is the outcome? You know, you give that ten, 15, 20 years, how much will we lose versus how much will we gain by issuing a concession of that sort?"
"And I again Jules, I just think that we as Belizeans need to step up and start preserving and start keeping some forests for the future, because the, with the pressures of agriculture and the pressures of more and more logging and more land clearing, Belize is a very small country and there won't be much left in the next 50 years. There won't be much left."
