Once again the Belizean struggle between financial gain and environmental preservation has lost ground in favor of cashing in now; Crooked Tree Wildlife Preserve is the latest casualty.

The Crooked Tree Wildlife Preserve and Crooked Tree Village in central Belize is an extraordinary place. The people and the unique ecology and geography of Crooked Tree have made it an internationally recognized RAMSAR site. RAMSAR wetland sites are recognized as being of “international importance”. Crooked Tree Wildlife Preserve is the only inland island in this hemisphere which can make that claim. Why then are the people of Belize standing by as this Belizean jewel is being choked to death by a road across the very lagoon that breaths life into the Crooked Tree ecosystem.

Belize News Post has exclusive images of the damage to the Crooked Tree Wildlife Preserver ecosystem.

Water Stagnation and Sediment Build Up

This improperly and illegally constructed road had exposed Crooked Tree and other communities to much greater storm damage by removing the natural storm protection provided by these wetlands.

The Road Crooked Tree Lagoon

The environmental damage caused by this road has also contaminated the water systems for Crooked Tree and impacted the water system that replenishes the aquifer that provides water to Crooked Tree Village.

Crooked Tree Lagoon

Finally, the road has destroyed habitat that thousands of birds rely on. Birding is the primary reason that tourists go to Crooked Tree. The Golden Goose is dying.

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