Welcome!

This week Belize Alliance Conservation Non-Governmental Organisations (Bacongo) will begin preparing an appeal Privy Council London, the final court appeal Belize, which gained full independence Britain 1981.

Fortis – backed Belizean government, which has made millions pounds privatising its electricity industry – wants construct huge concrete dam across upper Macal river, designated "biogem" because range of habitats found area near Maya mountains the south-west country.

If project, known Chalillo Dam, goes ahead, more than 1,000 hectares rain forest will flooded, destroying foraging area jaguars nearby reserve, well unique riverbank feeding grounds for the Baird's tapir, Belize's national animal, listed as endangered International Conservation Union.

The greatest fear Belizean international environmental organisations – which have enlisted the support Hollywood stars Harrison Ford Cameron Diaz – is loss Belizean scarlet macaw, which there are more than 150 left wild.

There are many unexcavated Mesoamerican ruins the surrounding jungle which will flooded if Fortis starts work next few weeks before rainy season begins.

Fortis already operates another dam Belize, Mollejon. When opened 10 years ago company claimed would supply more than enough electricity meet growing demands 250,000-strong Belizean population without the need any further construction.

While most people agree country's electricity needs must met, those opposed new dam say will operate just 50 years. They want government to support use alternative, sustainable energy, such as the use bagasse, byproduct sugar manufacturing process which once major industry Belize, buy in power neighbouring countries, which could cost less over long term.

Fortis commissioned an environmental impact study Amec, the British construction group, which used scientists from the Natural History Museum London carry out part of the assessment. But when scientists concluded much more work needed region before dam could proceed, their recommendations were buried an annexe of the final 1,500-page report.

Colonel Alastair Rogers, former Royal Marine co-author of assessment, now says dam could disaster for the area. "Fortis claims bedrock area is granite. We believe presence large amount of porous rock such limestone could render dam useless. The forest would flooded, but water would drain away. You'd left with negatives none the positives."

It has since emerged Fortis's subsidiary, Becol, was never granted government licence generate electricity from Mollejon dam, let alone Chalillo, even though logging has already started jungle construct roads to proposed site new dam. According Lois Young, Belizean lawyer Bacongo, means the company breaking law breaking terms the original sale contract, with knowledge Belize government. Fortis not available comment.

Sharon Matola, director Belize Zoo leading campaigner against dam, has more than 10 years' experience surveying Macal river watershed. She told The Independent on Sunday: "It would an environmental crime if dam were built one most pristine areas planet. We could have electricity preserve our wildlife, which would attract visitors, which would bring revenue. Why can't see if say to this dam, then lose national treasure ever?"