NEAC Sets Conditions for Solar and Ecotourism Projects, Protects Mangroves

The Department of the Environment (DOE) announced key decisions on three major projects, highlighting a strong commitment to environmental protection. According to an official statement from the DOE, the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) has set important conditions to ensure that development does not come at the expense of Belize’s natural heritage.

For Fortis Belize Limited’s Chalillo Solar PV Facility, the NEAC required a revised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a second public consultation.  “An updated EIA report is to be resubmitted and a second public consultation is to be held,” the DOE stated.

The MW Collective’s Crawl Caye project received approval with strict conditions, including mangrove preservation and the removal of a helipad. A decommissioning plan for an existing solar farm was also mandated. “The environmental clearance be granted to the MW Collective with strict conditions,” the DOE stated, adding “the verification of the mangrove cover to be maintained and legally declared into a private reserve.” “NEAC also recommended that a decommissioning plan be incorporated for the existing solar farm and that the helipad be removed from the project concept,” the DOE continued. 

In the case of Earlene Dixon’s Turneffe Atoll vacation home, only the residential part of the development was approved. Due to the potential adverse impacts on the marine ecosystems, the DOE stated that “the dredging component and the marina component of the development be removed and thus was not recommended for approval.”

The DOE confirmed it will follow NEAC’s recommendations and informed the developers of these decisions.