Ambergris Caye Belize Resort Development - Department of ...

impacts’, which within the context of the current EIA varies in magnitude only [See EIA Matrix
outlined in Table 10.1]. In the case of primary or “Level 1” impacts, this may be explained by
the fact that variations in the magnitude of these parameters in and of themselves are neither
deleterious nor beneficial. Thus an increase in dissolved oxygen, macro-nutrients, or turbidity are
neither positive nor negative, until and/or unless they in turn act on some other ecosystem
component(s). This is in principle the secondary or “level 2” impacts. The consequence of
increased nutrients on sea-grass productivity near the caye should be beneficial – thus within the
context of the EIA Matrix outlined in Table 10.1, the impacts are assigned a positive values, i.e.
they are beneficial. Conversely the impacts of sedimentation on these sea-grass meadows is
deleterious and is consequently assigned a negative value.
Primary or level ‘1’ impacts may also have an effect on ‘higher order’ activities, which are
usually human systems or human development activities. These are generally referred to as
‘tertiary’ or ‘level 3’ impacts. Thus within the context of the currently proposed project, an
increase in sedimentation associated with dredging activities could have a deleterious or negative
impact on seagrass productivity and macro-invertebrate populations in the nearshore seagrass
beds: These are referred to as ‘level 2’ impacts [See Table 10.1]. The increase in sedimentation
may also have negative consequences on fishing activities for lobsters and conch, not only in
regards to the potentially decreased number of lobster and conch in the area, but also as a
consequence of increasing the incidence of “Trap” loss and the increased amount of time spent
searching for the traps, or diving for conch, given the poor visibility caused by sediments in the
water column [See Table 10.1]. The direct impacts to fishing activities are in principle “level 3”
impacts [See Table 10.1].
Under the current analytical process outlined in the EIA Matrix [See Table 10.1], although a
relationship may exist, the magnitude of change of the particular parameter may be so small or
insignificant, that no discernible impact is identified: In such circumstances the event is assigned
a score of “0” in the EIA Matrix.
10.2 Overview of Environmental Impacts
The level of adverse, or alternatively, beneficial impacts on the ecosystem and in general flora
and fauna is a function of the magnitude of the development activity, the nature of the resource
in question, the capacity of the environment to assimilate these influences and the methodology
to be applied in relation to the particular project activity.
The connectivity or hierarchal nature of the impacts of the proposed project has been
underscored by the integration of a color scheme in the EIA Matrix outlined in Table 10.1. The
vertical commonality of a particular color in the Matrix has been done to underscore the cascade
of the impacts of a particular parameter at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the
system.
The primary activities that are likely to give rise to environmental impacts of note are the
dredging activities, the construction of the swimming beach, the sourcing of potable water,
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