What Happened to the Chiquibul Sustainable Development Plan? 

Under the Barrow Administration, a comprehensive 15-year sustainable development plan for the Chiquibul–Mountain Pine Ridge–Caracol complex was unveiled. The aim was to guide economic growth while safeguarding the fragile ecosystems and cultural heritage. Back then, officials warned that without careful planning, increased access to the region could accelerate environmental degradation rather than sustainable growth. With the landscape changing, there is no doubt that a sustainable development plan is needed. We asked Minister Orlando Habet and FCD’s Rafael Manzanero about it.

 

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD

“It is changing. The only thing I can tell you is that the landscape is changing today. It is no longer secluded. It is no longer an area that is hidden away now. It is one that is more open, much more accessible today, and I would hope  and I urge the government really to look at that sustainable development phase that can be done. Some ten years ago when the tourism development for this part of the country was being developed, it was called a model of sustainable tourism development. I think it can be done. There is a sustainable development plan that was developed under the last administration. Even if it’s revisited and modified whatsoever it’ll take, but I think the answer is let’s look at those pillars of sustainable development for this area, which is large. I mean, I’m talking about this Western Maya Mountains.”

 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“I believe we will have to look at it because we have the dam that supplies the water. We also have the water supply for communities. My information is about forty percent of Belize gets water coming from the Chiquibul area so I believe it is absolutely important to look at it.”