{"id":266,"date":"2025-04-09T23:52:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T23:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=266"},"modified":"2025-04-09T23:52:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T23:52:39","slug":"san-pedro-unites-to-protect-cayo-rosario-from-controversial-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=266","title":{"rendered":"San Pedro Unites to Protect Cayo Rosario from Controversial Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

San Pedro Town, Belize \u2014 April 9, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 8th, residents and environmental advocates gathered in San Pedro Town to voice concerns over a controversial development project on Cayo Rosario<\/strong>, a protected island within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve<\/strong>. The meeting, led by activist Elito Arceo<\/strong> and supported by groups like Oceana<\/strong> and the Belize Bonefish & Tarpon Trust<\/strong>, focused on dredging and mangrove destruction<\/strong> linked to a plan to build 45 over-the-water structures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite receiving environmental clearance, locals claim ongoing dredging violates regulations and threatens marine habitats vital to Belize\u2019s fishing and tourism industries. Presentations by Mito Paz<\/strong> (Green Reef) and Dr. Addiel Perez<\/strong> (Bonefish & Tarpon Trust) challenged the official Environmental Impact Assessment, providing scientific evidence of the area’s ecological and economic value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public officials including Mayor Wally Nu\u00f1ez<\/strong> and UDP Senator Gabriel Zetina<\/strong> voiced their support for protecting the reserve, with plans for fundraising and community action. Concerns were echoed by fishing communities<\/strong> across Belize, emphasizing the threat to the nation’s ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting ended with a call for unity, vigilance, and action against unsustainable development, though notably Minister Andre Perez<\/strong> was absent from the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

San Pedro Town, Belize \u2014 April 9, 2025 On April 8th, residents and environmental advocates gathered in San Pedro Town to voice concerns over a controversial development project on Cayo Rosario, a protected island within […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-266","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ambergris-caye"},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t