Goals: To secure a ban on oil exploration in Belize's offshore and protected areas and to strengthen the legislative framework for the equitable distribution of oil revenues and promote strong environmental safeguards for the oil industry

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Welcome to the official site of the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage.

The Coalition: Many Voices Join together to Effect Policy Change

Belize was informed via the local media that the entire country of Belize was parceled out into petroleum concession blocks. These petroleum blocks covered sensitive ecosystems areas including the offshore/coastal-marine area and terrestrial protected areas, demonstrating government’s intent to allow exploration to be conducted throughout the country with little regard for sensitive ecosystems and natural resources, especially in areas already placed under some protective status.

In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico heightened the growing concern for the proposed oil exploration in Belize’s offshore and protected areas. The Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage morphed from individual outrage and concern over the level of oil exploration concessions granted throughout the country into one collective voice representing over 40 organizations and individuals.

The Coalition has launched a petition drive to call for a Referendum to have Belizeans vote on whether or not there should be oil exploration in Belize’s offshore and protected areas. On February 14, 2011, the Coalition officially launched its “Learn -Sign -Vote” campaign focusing on educating the public on the implications of oil exploration, promoting the petition campaign to collect 17,000 signatures to trigger a national referendum on the issue and encouraging people to vote on referendum day.