10% of Belize’s Forests Were Irretrievably Destroyed  

How all of this will factor into Belize’s standings at this year’s COP Conference in terms of carbon credits and the benefits we are seeking is yet to be determined. Habet said that while a lot of the forests were burnt, only about ten percent of it was irretrievably destroyed. The rest, he said will regrow with time, and the current rains, coupled with the ashes that formed after the infernos are good for that regrowth to occur.

 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“We lose some credits if we cannot show that we prevented certain emissions. Really, we initially painted a picture of the area got burned and destroyed. It wasn’t burned and destroyed. They were affected by fire, but only about 10 percent from the information I’m getting was damaged to the extent that it will not regenerate. But most of it will regenerate. Now that the rains have come out, now all those seeds that are on the ground will find fertile soil, especially with the ashes providing a natural environment for growth. And so some of the fires were good for the Pine Ridge Mountain. The area near San Antonio, where we have the protected area for the Elijio Panti National Park, there was some damage, not extensive, but there was some damage. And so all that will be assessed so that we can put a value to it.”