Case Study-Environmental Challenges of Sustainable Development: Colin Young

As a sustainability minor not knowing much about Belize, I found Colin Young’s presentation to be quite thought-provoking. Although seeming a little hopeless at first, Mr. Young provided ideas in which Belize could be headed in the right direction towards sustainable development.

            There are many problems that must be addressed and solved first. One problem is that their current framework for protected areas in misleading, and not really protecting as much as one would believe. For example, it was thought that 46 percent of Belize was protected, when only about 26 percent actually is. Not only that, but of that 26 percent, only 9 percent is strictly conserved.

            Another problem in Belize are the deforestation rates. Most of deforestation is a result from farmers creating more farmable land. The saddest part about this though, is that most of the crops grown are not even given to the residents of Belize. They are exported to countries such as the United States or United Kingdom, while the remainders that are “not good enough” are giving to Belizeans. In other words, countries like us are forcing countries like Belize to diminish their environment for our own benefit. And they do this, because they need to make a living, and this is one of their few options. According to Colin Young, Belize is losing 2 percent of their forest every year, and if this rate continues, their forest will be completely diminished in just 40 to 50 years.

            And if these problems were not enough, there are more such as rapid coastal development. This does not seem but to a impartial observer, but when looking more deeply into the matter, it becomes clear what coastal development is doing to the environment. Because coastlines are so popular and profitable for property, a lot of construction has been made in order to make these beachfront properties pleasing to the owner. However, in order for this to be achieved, mangroves must be exterminated from their native homes—the coastlines. Mangroves grow in swamps, which are then converted to beaches to create more profit for property. Because of this, Belize becomes much more vulnerable to hurricanes without its mangroves as a buffer for this severe weather. It is now predicted that without these mangroves, if a hurricane were to hit, it would take Belize back 80-100 years in development.

            It is clear now that there is a point made that Belize has many issues that need to be fixed, but how can it? Colin Young offered a valuable, yet simple insight that could be a huge stepping-stone towards Belizean sustainable development. His idea of focusing more on the people that live in Belize, rather than the other issues at hand offers some hope to building up this developing country.  His belief is that, if we rely on those living in this situation, we must have their well being be of first priority. If this is the case, and we offer them a good lifestyle, more would be willing to live by sustainable means. I personally, couldn’t agree more with this statement, and believe that this should be a motto in which everyone everywhere should be advised to follow.