Belize & Oil ExplorationA Presentation

for Children

Think Belize!Coral Reefs Mangroves

Belize Coral Reef & Mangroves Worth 1 Billion $$$$$

• Tourism

• Fisheries

• Shore line use and protection

Why are Mangroves Important?

• Protect the shore line

• Provide habitat for fish nurseries

• Important eco systems (plants, animals, & environment interacting

together)

• Act as a filter for clean, clear water

Why are Coral Reefs Important?

• Important marine eco systems

• Highest biodiversity in the ocean (variation of life forms within an eco system)

• Fishing industry

• Tourism

Belize has Jungle, Forests &Trees

Why are Jungle, trees, and rivers Important?

• Important eco systems

• Biodiversity

• Trees Make O2

(Clean air for us to breath)

• Reduce Climate Change (global warming because of increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a result burning of fossil fuels)

• Provide us with clean water to drink

• Good soil and water for our fruit and vegetables can grow

Belize’s Protected Areas• 26% of land and marine areas are within

Belize’s protected areas

• 2.6 million acres

• 94 nationally recognized protected areas(See Map)

On the News!

• Recently on the news “Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico”

• Concessions to drill offshore and in Belize’s Protected areas

What is Oil?Petroleum & Crude

• Naturally found under the earth’s surface

• Crude oil comes from ancient fossilized organic materials or Fossil fuels (remains of plants & animal buried over millions of years)

• Toxic & Flammable

• Drilling down into

earth surface

• Must be refined

Why is it important?

• Gasoline to make car’s run

• Generate electricity

• Asphalt to make roads

• Even used to make plastics and pharmaceuticals

Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Economic Damages

• Devastating the fishing industry

• Devastating Gulf Coast Tourism industry

• Shrimp, oysters, and crab for many years

• Job loss

• Loss of livelihood

Environmental Damages

• Death of birds, sea turtles, mammals

• Finding damages to wildlife and oil pockets on beaches decades after Valdez and other spills

• Changes in oxygen levels in the sea effecting whales, squids, and manatee

• Previous spills have resulted in poor growth of sea grass, Depletion of the marshes and wetlands

• Erosion of the wetlands which is very important part of eco system and the fishing industries

Animals Caught in Gulf Oil Spill

Oil and Water Don’t Mix!

• Activity Time!

Risks to Belize Drilling Off Shore

• Loss of World Heritage site at Reef

• Loss of marine habitat

• Loss of sea life and Biodiversity

• Loss of tourism

• Damage to

fishing industry

Land Drilling

• On land Drilling can be done in a responsible way.

• New technology has minimized the risks of land drilling and spills can be contained quicker.

• However, spills do occur and there is damage.

• Drilling should not be done in protected areas

Risks for Drilling in Protected Areas

• Major infrastructure is need (Roads, landing strips, Industrial complexes etc..)

• Disrupt of wildlife, Loss of habitat

• Reduction of Biodiversity

• Reduce Oxygen production

• Increase effects of climate change

• Pollute Drinking water

Ecuador Santa Rosa River February 2009

Local resident Margarita Aigaje has no

clear water to drink after more than 14,000

barrels of crude polluted the river in front of

her hut

Damages result from leaks and spills on Land

Ecuador spills 32,000 gallons a year into

Amazon Rainforest

Oil Spill In River

Oil In River

Oil Spill on Land

What Can We do!

• Search for & use alternative energy sources such as

– Solar

–Wind

–Hydro

What can you do?• Minimize energy use

• Walk to school

• Ride your bike

• Turn lights of when not in use

• Talk with your parents

• Talk to others

• Oil is necessary but should be drilled Responsibly and NOT in protected areas!

• Drilling Off shore is NOT a good option for Belize the risks are to great!

• We should continue to conserve our energy by minimizing use.

• We should continue to look for alternative energy sources

Conclusion

Questions?