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n Fall 2012, students in the capstone semi‐ nar for the Environmental Science and Pol‐ icy major were asked to develop solutions to real‐life environmental problems faced by the community of Ambergris Caye, Belize. My partner and I proposed a renewable energy farm on the Caye, and, although fossil fuel‐free electricity is important, I realized afterwards that there were more serious, even life‐ threatening issues that we had missed as a class. I decided to take on a special studies pro‐ ject during my last semester at Smith in order to further explore the issue of development. Ambergris Caye is a small island off the northern coast of Belize. The Mesoamerican reef, the largest barrier reef in North America, lies just off‐shore. On the island, there are man‐ grove forests, lagoons, and turtle nesting sites; all of which add ecological, cultural, and eco‐ nomic value to the island and country. Taken together, these features have made the island a popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, the increased demand for resources is straining the local ecosystems. The island only has one small town, San Pedro, which for a long time housed most of the locals and tourists. Recent increases in tourism and workers to support those tourists have re‐ sulted in an expansion of the town and creation of suburbs, and have led tourists to the pristine white beaches further from town. The rate of 26 CEEDS Design
development and lack of planning during this process has resulted in many new hotels and resorts being built in areas that were once dense forests and important nesting sites for turtles and other local fauna. Not only has this development led to a loss of biodiversity, but competition for pristine views have led to plans for further development in areas of great cul‐ tural and historical value, such as World Heri‐ tage Sites and the Bacalar Chico Marine and Wildlife Reserve on the northern part of the is‐ land. There are major threats to the island, its inhabitants, and the neighboring reef as a result of this rapid and unsystematic development, including sedimentation, ground water deple‐ tion, and loss of open space. Sedimentation from Ambergris Caye is a hazard to the nearby barrier reef; when amounts of waterborne sedi‐ ment are too high it can kill coral tissue and dis‐ turb the delicate balance of life on the reef. Ground water depletion is already of concern to the island because many residents, hotels, and resorts get the water they use for flushing toi‐ lets and showering from wells. The spike in de‐ mand for these purposes has already led to a decline in the water table. The increased num‐ ber of structures and hard surfaces has com‐ pounded the problem by making it difficult for rainwater to be absorbed back into the ground and recharge the aquifer. Not only is there a shortage of water, but the salinization of fresh water can occur when increased usage disturbs