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Conservation Letter

Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute and its implications for conservation [ pages 334-358 ]

Arlenie Perez1, Chuang Chin-Ta1 and Farok Afero1 24
    1 Institute of Marine Affairs and Resource Management, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Beining Road, Keelung City Taiwan ROC 202

Abstract
Guatemala has claimed Belizean territory for 150 years, ever since the colonial era. While several attempts have been made to settle this dispute, with no final resolution, several problems both on the land and sea still exist, including illegal settlements, illegal logging, illegal hunting, illegal fishing, illegal harvesting of forest products, illegal farming, illegal land subdivisions, loss of property and threat to human life. These problems have created conflict between the two nations along with a series of confrontations among the military forces, communities, and fishermen in the two countries. A proposal facilitated by the Organization of American States for confidence-building measures between the two countries did not succeed. Both countries now seek to finalize the settlement at the International Court of Justice. This paper introduces the issue with a summary of the history of Belize’s territory and the origins of the claim, followed by a summary of the treaties and negotiations agreed to between the two countries, important elements of the Belize Maritime Act, and a discussion of the implications for conservation and efforts made to resolve this conflict.

Guatemala ha reclamado territorio de Belice por 150 años, desde la época de la colonia. Mientras algunos intentos se han realizado para arreglar esta disputa, sin solución alguna, problemas tanto en tierra como en mar aun existen, incluyendo asentamientos ilegales, la tala ilegal, la caza ilegal, la pesca ilegal, extracción ilegal de productos forestales, la agricultura ilegal, subdivisiones ilegales de tierras, la pérdida de la propiedad y la amenaza para la vida humana. Esto ha creado una serie de confrontaciones entre las fuerzas militares, comunidades y pescadores en ambos países. Una propuesta facilitada por la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) para generar confianza entre los dos países fracasó. Ambos países ahora buscan finalizar el arreglo en la Corte Internacional de Justicia. Este documento establece el hecho conjuntamente con un resumen de la historia del territorio de Belice, los orígenes del reclamo, seguidas por un resumen de los intentos y negociaciones acordadas entre los dos países, asimismo, elementos importantes del Acto Marino de Belice referente a este asunto, y unas discusiones de sus implicaciones en la conservación y esfuerzos realizados para resolver este conflicto.


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General interest summaries (when available)
    English: Territorial disputes and conservation. 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. These authors 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.

    Portuguese: Disputas Territoriais e conservação. Diretrizes políticas como aquelas relacionadas às disputas territoriais entre países tropicais podem resultar em ramificações negativamente impactantes à conservação dos ecossistemas nativos de forma direta e indireta relatam Arlenie Perez, Chuang Chin-Ta e Farok Afero no volume de Março da revista de livre acesso Tropical Conservation Science. Esses autores documentam a base histórica e política da disputa territorial entre Belize e Guatemala e sua consequência para o manejo e conservação do ecossistema e bem estar das pessoas. A disputa territorial ainda não resolvida entre esses dois países tem levado à perda de biodiversidade resultante dos estabelecimentos ilícitos, desmatamento ilegal, caça e pesca não regulamentada, subdivisão da terra não aprovada, e exploração ilegal da floresta e produtos marinhos. Conseqüências adicionais têm levado à perda da propriedade e ameaça à vida humana. Ambos países continuam a trabalhar em um acordo bilateral através da Organização dos Estados Americanos e outras agências internacionais para o estabelecimento pacífico. [translated by Marina Lapenta]

    Spanish: Disputas territoriales y conservación. Las disputas territoriales pueden ser factores de cambio afectando negativamente la persistencia de ecosistemas tropicales, sean estos terrestres o marinos. Asi lo ilustran Arlenie Perez, Chuang Chin-Ta y Farok Afero en un reporte publicado en la edición de Marzo de la revista de acceso abierto (Open Access Journal) Tropical Conservation Science. Estos autores documentan las bases históricas y políticas de la disputa territorial entre Belice y Guatemala y sus consecuencias para la conservación de las selvas y ecosistemas marinos, incluyendo aspectos del bienestar de la población. Dicha disputa territorial aun sigue sin resolverse, algo que ha resultado en una degradación de los ecosistemas naturales en las zonas bajo disputa, con la esperada perdida de la biodiversidad local. Tal perdida ha resultado de la creacion de asentamientos ilegales, la extracción irregulada de madera, la cacería y pesca indiscriminadas, la creación de subdivisiones de la tierra sin fundamente legal y la sobreexplotación de recursos forestales y marinos. Otras consecuencias han sido la perdida de propiedades individuales y comunales así como amenazas a la vida de las personas. Ambos países continúan colaborando con la meta de resolver la disputa a través de organismos internaciones como la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) y otras agencias internacionales.

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   Tropical Conservation Science is an open-access e-journal that publishes research relating to conservation of tropical forests and other tropical ecosystems.

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