7 News Belize

Men Convicted For Taking Timber In Reserve
posted (February 21, 2017)
Last May, the Association for Protected Areas Management Organizations and the Forestry Department conducted an operation in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park. They found Carlos Palacios and Donald Wewe in possession of twenty seven pieces of prickly yellow lumber and a chainsaw. They were charged with entering a protected area and destroying valuable timber. Palacios and Wewe appeared in the Dangriga Magistrate's Court yesterday where they were they pled guilty to the charges. They were fined $10,000 each, and if they default on the payments, must serve one year in prison.

Both APAMO and The Forestry Department are hailing the conviction as a notable victory for conservation.

APAMO says, quote, "illegal timber harvest is one of the biggest threats to the conservation of Belize's valuable forests…This constantly growing unlawful commerce is a major contributor to the yearly increase in deforestation and destruction of wildlife and flora." End quote. They add, quote, "a National Park is established for: the protection and preservation of natural and scenic values …for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public."

The Forest Department issued a statement saying, quote, "Such exploitation seriously undermines Belize's forest-dependent economy and ecological integrity, costing us far more than what illegal loggers oftentimes pay when caught and even more when they elude authorities,"

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize