Moratorium on Logging Licenses to Protect Forests

Belize’s forests are in trouble, and the Ministry of Sustainable Development says the pressure is mounting. New evidence shows young, regenerating trees are being wiped out, thanks to unsustainable logging, construction demands, and outright illegal extraction. Just last week, four men were charged after unloading nearly a hundred logwood posts in Orange Walk. Now, big changes are coming. Starting December first, the ministry will impose a five-year moratorium on short-term forest licenses and petty permits, meaning construction workers may need to find alternatives to those ‘prop sticks.’ The decision, backed by Cabinet, aims to protect national lands and secure Belize’s timber future. Officials warn that wildfires and overharvesting are putting our forests, and our economy, at risk. During the moratorium, the Forest Department will assess forest stock, crack down on illegal logging, and promote sustainable options like bamboo and reusable steel scaffolding.