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Political drivers such as those related to territorial disputes between tropical countries can result in direct and indirect ramifications negatively impacting conservation of native ecosystems report Arlenie Perez, Chuang Chin-Ta and Farok Afero in the March issue of the open access journal Tropical Conservation Science.
Arlenie Perez and colleagues document the historical and political base of the territorial disputes between Belize and Guatemala and its consequences for ecosystem conservation and management and people’s well-being. The still unresolved territorial disputes between these two countries has lead to loss of biodiversity resulting from illicit settlements, illegal logging, unregulated hunting and fishing, unsanctioned land subdivision, and illegal harvesting of forest and marine products. Further consequences have been the loss of property and threat to human life. Both countries continue to work on a bilateral agreement through the Organization of American States and other international agencies for a peaceful settlement.
 Proposed EEZ for Belize and Honduras. |
Bettina Heider, Elke Fischer, Tanja Berndl, and Rainer Schultze-Kraft 2009. Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute and it’s implications for conservation. Tropical Conservation Science Vol. 2 (1): 11-24.