The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has expressed concern about the oil exploration concessions granted by the Belize Government:
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) this week expressed great concern with news that the Government of Belize has granted concessions to explore for oil and natural gas both offshore and on-shore.
Apparently, 18 concessions have been granted by the Belize Geology and Petroleum Department, of which 8 are within the territorial waters of Belize.
If true, this may generate potential risks for Belize’s barrier reef and the wider Mesoamerican Reef. WWF is particularly concerned that, apparently, concessions have been granted to carry out exploration within Belize’s marine protected areas including World Heritage Sites, and most of the terrestrial natural protected areas.
The Mesoamerican Reef covers nearly 115 million acres, from the northern end of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and the Caribbean coasts of Belize and Guatemala, to the Bay Islands in northern Honduras.
It is the second largest and important coral reef barrier in the world, hosting more than 65 species of stony coral and more than 500 species of fish, including whale sharks and many species of high commercial value.
See the complete article from the Belize Reporter.
Previously on Green Antilles: Gulf spill causes concern about Caribbean oil operations and The Belize Barrier Reef.
[Photo: Jetske19]
