Environmental Impact Assessment Of The Mountain Pine Ridge ...

The total number of staff to be engaged in mining, processing and export will be approximately 120
persons who will be divided approximately equally between the mining and factory site. Potable
water supply for the development will be obtained from a combination of rainwater capture in
cisterns, direct supply from Pinol Creek, and direct supply from the Belmopan municipal water
supply system. Effluent discharge from the development will be treated by septic tank and leach
field facilities. Solid waste management will rely on partial source separation, with combustible and
bio-degradable waste being treated onsite, and all other solid waste being stored at the regional
solid waste storage facility closest to either Cayo or Belmopan, in keeping with the national solid
waste management plan.
WILDLIFE PROFILE AND CONSERVATION PLAN
A rapid biological assessment (RBA) of the proposed development site established that three
habitat types common to the Mountain Pine Ridge region of Belize were extent at the mining site,
which included Woodland and Pine Ridge; Oak Thicket; and Tiger Fern Thicket. The overall
taxonomic diversity of plants on the 40-acre property was low but typical for the ecosystem type(s)
represented, with a combined total of 59 plant species representing 49 genera and 35 families
found to be extent on the property. Wildlife diversity of the project site was equally low but typical
for the ecosystem types represented, with the most important transient species of conservation
interest including a range of Mammals (e.g. Tailed Deer, Baird’s Tapir, Jaguar, Ocelot, and etc.),
along with the year round or seasonal occurrence of some 38 species of birds common to the
Mountain Pine Ridge region of Belize (see Illustration 4). Consequently, development of the
mining site as a granite quarry is not anticipated to create any direct or unmitigated impacts on
wildlife species of particular conservation interest.
LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK
The legal, policy and administrative framework relevant to the proposed development delineate the
obligations and responsibilities of the project proponent as well as those of the Government of
Belize with respect to conservation practice. This framework is loosely embodied by international
conventions and treaties, the laws of Belize (Revised 2000), and policy guidelines developed by
national institutions from time to time.
International Conventions and Treaties
There are a number of international conventions and treaties that Belize has enjoined which are
principally concerned with conservation practices and compliance at the national level (see Table
2). The key conventions of particular relevance to the proposed development concern the
International Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Central American Biodiversity
Convention, which specifically address conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use and sharing
the benefits of biodiversity.
The Mountain Pine Ridge Granite Quarry EIA / Ecoworks Page 6 of 167