In a recent enforcement action highlighting Belize’s commitment to mangrove conservation, a private landowner has resolved a violation of national forest protection rules by paying a BZ$10,000 out-of-court settlement to the Belize Forest Department.
The case centers on Sanju Lal Chulani, owner of a parcel of land located at Mile 6.5 along the Phillip Goldson Highway in Belize District. On September 17, 2026, Forest Department officials launched an on-site inspection after receiving public reports of unauthorized land clearing and potential harm to protected mangrove ecosystems in the area.
Investigators confirmed during the inspection that a stand of red mangroves, a protected species critical to Belize’s coastal ecology, had been cleared and altered as part of the land preparation work. While the total affected area measured less than one-quarter of an acre, the landowner had not secured the legally required permit for any mangrove modification, a clear violation of existing conservation regulations.
Under Belize’s 2018 Forests (Protection of Mangroves) Regulations, specifically Regulation 3(1), no individual or entity may modify, authorize, or facilitate the alteration of any mangrove habitat without first obtaining official written permission from the Forest Department. Regulation 19(1) outlines the penalties for noncompliance: convicted offenders can face fines of up to BZ$25,000, a prison sentence of up to 12 months, or both punishments simultaneously.
Rather than proceeding with formal court prosecution, the case was resolved through a negotiated out-of-court settlement on September 30, 2026. Chulani agreed to pay the full BZ$10,000 settlement to close the matter permanently.
This enforcement action comes as growing coastal development across Belize, particularly popular tourist and residential areas like Caye Caulker, has put increasing pressure on the country’s ecologically vital mangrove habitats. Mangroves provide a range of irreplaceable ecosystem services, including storm surge protection for coastal communities, carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change, and critical nursery habitat for commercial and recreational fish species.
In the wake of this settlement, the Forest Department issued a formal reminder to all landowners, real estate developers, and construction contractors operating in Belize that any form of mangrove alteration requires prior official authorization before work begins. To encourage public participation in conservation enforcement, the department also reminded community members that suspected mangrove damage or illegal clearing can be reported anonymously via the department’s dedicated hotline at 610-1524.