By Zoila Palma: Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Sustainable Development Milagro Matus says that each Department is restricted by law to the offences it can address and the charges it can bring.
“The Forest Department, under the Mangrove Regulations, charged the developer for the approximately ¼ acre of mangroves that was cleared. The Department of the Environment (DOE) subsequently took enforcement action in relation to the approximately 3 acres of vegetation cleared and the environmental and biodiversity impacts resulting from the loss in such a sensitive area,” Matus said.
Matus said that while the Departments cannot “immediately restore what was destroyed, the penalties imposed and the measures required should help to mitigate the environmental impacts. I encourage everyone to read the press release for further details.”
In addition, CEO Matus explained that the Forest Department is currently in the process of procuring the services of a consultant to support the review and updating of our Forest Act.
“The Forest Department has been in existence for over 100 years, and it is important that our legislation keeps pace with today’s environmental challenges. We need updated laws that give our regulatory agencies the necessary legal authority to effectively manage, protect and enforce including updated fees and stronger penalties that reflect today’s environmental realities and serve as effective deterrents against environmental violations,” Matus explained.
CEO Matus thanked the public for their support and vigilance in bringing this matter to our attention and throughout the investigation.
“We encourage you to continue working with us and invite your support as we begin the process of updating our legislation,” she added.
The post Ministry of Sustainable Development CEO says Forest Department seeking to review and update Forest Act appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Sustainable Development Milagro Matus says that each Department is restricted by law to the offences it can address and the charges it can bring. “The Forest Department, under the Mangrove Regulations, charged the developer for the approximately ¼ acre of mangroves that was cleared.
The post Ministry of Sustainable Development CEO says Forest Department seeking to review and update Forest Act appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
