The Department of the Environment is headed by a Chief Environmental Officer and assisted by several technical staff. To carry out its functions, the Department’s responsibilities is programmed into five units.
Coordinate all activities for projects being executed under the Department to ensure their successful implementation and work closely with reputable international organizations to enhance environmental prospects for Belize.
Provide environmental information to the public to guide policies and strategies for informed decision-making.
Educate the public on environmental matters through public education campaigns and district outreach activities, in order to encourage community based environmental planning and enforcement of regulations.
Advise the Government of Belize on policies relating to environmental matters and review and revise, as necessary, existing environmental legislation regulations as well as strengthening their enforcement. Email: lawunit@environment.gov.bz
Ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Act and subsequent regulations and regulate matters potentially hazardous to the environment by establishing and enforcing standards for pollution control.
Examine and evaluate environmental impact assessment and risk analysis and make suitable recommendations to mitigate against harmful effects of any proposed action on the environment and ensure that the Government’s Environmental Clearance Process is implemented for all environmentally sensitive projects.