Government of Belize Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation Community Action for Public Safety II Environmental and Social Analysis (draft) This document was prepared by Christa Hulse, Environmental and Social Consultant for the Government of Belize, Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation Belmopan, Belize. December 2019. 2 Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... 9 IMPACTS AND MITIGATION .............................................................................................................................................. 9 INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT................................................................................................................................ 10 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Site location ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Description of the site ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Users of the site .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Conceptual project design .................................................................................................................................. 14 Size of development ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Construction logistics ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Land acquisition ................................................................................................................................................. 16 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Purpose .............................................................................................................................................................. 16 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................... 19 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................................................ 19 Location alternatives .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Activity alternatives ........................................................................................................................................... 20 Site layout alternatives....................................................................................................................................... 22 Design alternatives ............................................................................................................................................. 22 ADDITIONAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................. 23 OTHER PROJECTS IN THE AREA ....................................................................................................................................... 23 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................... 25 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ........................................................................................... 25 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR SOCIAL ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................... 25 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................... 30 THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS .......................................................................................... 30 LOCAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS............................................................................................................................ 31 LOCAL PLANS AND POLICIES ........................................................................................................................................... 34 RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS .............................................................................................. 35 NATIONAL REGULATORY AGENCIES, DEPARTMENTS AND STATUTORY BODIES .......................................................................... 35 INTERNATIONAL POLICIES AND STANDARDS ....................................................................................................................... 37 IDB policies ......................................................................................................................................................... 37 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS ....................................................................................................... 38 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Land use ............................................................................................................................................................. 38 Air quality ........................................................................................................................................................... 38 Noise .................................................................................................................................................................. 39 Geology .............................................................................................................................................................. 39 Soil ...................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Hydric resources ................................................................................................................................................. 41 Flora and fauna .................................................................................................................................................. 41 3 SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ............................................................................................................................................ 45 Population demographics .................................................................................................................................. 45 Levels of urbanization ........................................................................................................................................ 45 Age ..................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Ethnic composition ............................................................................................................................................. 46 Language ............................................................................................................................................................ 47 Religion............................................................................................................................................................... 48 Poverty ............................................................................................................................................................... 48 Belize district labor status .................................................................................................................................. 50 Employment sectors ........................................................................................................................................... 50 Gross domestic product (GDP) ........................................................................................................................... 51 Economic base ...................................................................................................................................................