Rosewood is a highly prized wood that is made into furniture and craft items. Until recently, it was common in the southern Toledo district of Belize, but now it is under threat due to relentless logging in the area. Local farmers receive minimal financial benefit, while foreign exporters reap the rewards. All Belizeans are losing their natural heritage through the continued unsustainable logging.

Help protect rosewood and all other Belizean trees from unsustainable logging practices by petitioning the Government of Belize to intervene NOW, before it is too late. It will take over a hundred years to replace all the rosewood that has recently been plundered.

Encourage the Government of Belize to promote local processing and craftsmanship of rosewood, which will benefit local Belizeans far more financially and environmentally, instead of looking for minimal short-term gain.

Instead of steering toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives, they are advocating tapping into our strategic natural resources and protective areas, a measure that not only endangers the life forms around said areas but steals the future from our children and provides only a very short term benefit for our country and the companies that will be harvesting the oil.

The Government demeans our system with claims of progress and practicing political maneuvers that work behind closed doors instead of cooperating with the Conservation groups in Belize and abroad.

Download the full pdf version at http://fiwebelize.com/downloads/Petition%20against%20Offshore%20Oil%20Drilling%20in%20Belize.pdf

Keep an eye on the spill here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/01/us/20100501-oil-spill-tracker.html?ref=us