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The future of one of Central America's most important wildlife sites, Chalillo,
in Belize, remains uncertain after the privy council, the final court of appeal
for Commonwealth countries, failed to rule on plans to construct a controversial
dam in the area.
Last week, five appeal judges in London did not find in favour of environmental
campaigners. They have "reserved judgment" and say
that their decision is unlikely until some time next year.
Chalillo is fast becoming the Three Gorges of Latin America. Conservationists
argue that the building of the 160ft-high hydroelectric dam could wipe out much
of the wildlife around the upper Macal River Valley, which would be flooded.
This includes 20% of the world's remaining scarlet macaws, as well as rare
jaguars, tapirs and crocodiles.
The World Wide Fund for Nature says: "An unblemished wilderness, teeming with
exotic flora and fauna, risks being razed to the ground and flushed from the
face of the earth."
High-profile protesters include the Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz, who says:
"One of our continent's last remaining rainforest habitats is at great risk of
being destroyed."
Readers can sign a petition to lobby against the dam at www.stopfortis.org,
which is run by a coalition of environmental
groups.
Return to the StopFortis.org home
page...
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