Residents of Seine Bight, Belize, an impoverished community along the Atlantic coast, burn mangroves and fill them with garbage in an attempt to create buildable land for houses. This can lead to health and environmental problems for members of the community. Mangroves provide a natural buffer from hurricanes while filtering seawater and are a home to countless species. Trash pollutes the water and leads to health issues for members of the community. With rampant unemployment and a lack of sanitary trash disposal services, this practice is often the only way for locals to build their own homes. Trinell Smith Martinez, a Seine Bight village councilwoman, says they are doing their best to keep trash off the streets, but she doesn’t discourage using it to fill in land. “I’m pretty sure in years to come [Seine Bight will] develop more. Land here is gold” she says.