List of protected areas of Belize explained

This is a list of protected areas in Belize.

National parks

In Belize, national parks are areas designed for the protection and preservation of natural and aesthetic features of national significance for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Therefore, they are areas of recreatitourism, as well as environmental protection. National parks are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981. They are administered by the Forest Department and managed through partnership agreements with community-based non-governmental organisations.

Reserve !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Co-management Est. Description
Aguas Turbias 3541ha II - 1994
4510ha V Green Reef Environmental Institute 1996 Excludes adjacent marine reserve.[1]
Billy Barquedier 663ha II Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association 2001
106839ha II Friends for Conservation and Development 1995 Excludes adjacent forest reserve.[2]
Five Blues Lake 1643ha II Friends of Five Blues Lake National Park 1994
Gra Gra Lagoon 534ha II Friends of Gra Gra Lagoon 2002
23ha II 1994
Honey Camp 3145ha II Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative 2001
4095ha II Southern Environmental Association 1996 [3]
2868ha II Friends of Mayflower Bocawina National Park 2001 [4]
Monkey Bay 859ha II Guardians of the Jewel 1994 [5]
5130ha II Belize Development Foundation 2001 [6] [7]
14739ha II Toledo Institute for Development and Environment 1994 [8]
Peccary Hills 4260ha II Gracie Rock Reserve for Adventure, Culture and Ecotourism 2007 [9]
38ha II Río Blanco Mayan Association 1994
16938ha II 1994 Ramsar site.[10]
269ha II Belize Audubon Society 1986

Natural monuments

A natural monument is designated for the preservation of unique geographic features of the landscape. The designation is primarily based on a feature's high scenic value, but may also be regarded as a cultural landmark that represents or contributes to a national identity.

Natural monuments are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981; marine-based monuments additionally come under the Fisheries Act. Of the five natural monuments in the country, three are terrestrial, administered by the Forest Department, while the remaining two are marine-based and come under the authority of the Fisheries Department.

Image !! width="20%"
Reserve !District Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Co-management Est. Description
185ha Ia Belize Audubon Society
Institute of Archaeology
2004 Terrestrial.
414ha III Belize Audubon Society 1996 Marine.
3954ha II Belize Audubon Society 1982 Marine.
522ha III - 2004 Terrestrial.
1959ha III Belize Audubon Society 1998 Terrestrial.

Nature reserves

The country's three nature reserves enjoy the highest level of protection within the National Protected Areas System Plan. The designation was created for the strict protection of biological communities or ecosystems, and the maintenance of natural processes in an undisturbed state. They are typically pristine, wilderness ecosystems.

Nature reserves are legislated under the National Parks System Act of 1981. It is the strictest designation of all categories within the country's national protected areas system, with no extractive use or tourism access permitted. Permits are required to enter the area and are restricted to researchers only. The nature reserves are under the authority of the Forest Department.

The oldest of these, Bladen Nature Reserve, forms the centrepiece of the Maya Mountains biological corridor, and is considered one of the most biodiversity-rich, and topographically unique areas within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot.

Reserve !! width="8%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Co-management Est. Description
40411ha Ia Ya’axché Conservation Trust; Bladen Management Consortium 1990 [11]
2126ha Ia - 1992
2543.85ha Ia 1994 Formerly known as Society Hall Nature Reserve.

Wildlife sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries are created for the preservation of an important keystone species in the ecosystem. By preserving enough area for them to live in, many other species receive the protection they need as well.

Wildlife sanctuaries are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981, and are the responsibility of the Forest Department. There are currently seven wildlife sanctuaries, three of which are being managed under co-management partnerships, whilst the other four are managed under informal arrangements. Two of the following wildlife sanctuaries are considered to be marine protected areas, and may also have collaborative agreements with the Fisheries Department in place.

Reserve !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Co-management Est. Description
Aguacaliente 2213ha IV Aguacaliente Management Team 1998 Terrestrial.[12]
49477ha IV 1997 Terrestrial.
Corozal Bay 73049ha IV Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development 1998 Marine.[13]
15372ha IV Belize Audubon Society 1984 Ramsar site. Boundaries ill-defined. Terrestrial.
Gales Point 3681ha IV Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary Community Management Committee 1998 Terrestrial.[14]
Spanish Creek 2428ha IV Rancho Dolores Development Group 2002 Terrestrial.
Swallow Caye 3631ha IV Friends of Swallow Caye 2002 Marine.[15]

Forest reserves

Forest reserves, overseen by the Forest Department, are designed for the sustainable extraction of timber without destroying the biodiversity of the location. These are gazetted under the Forests Act of 1927, which allows the department to grant permits to logging companies after extensive review. There are currently 16 forest reserves with a combined acreage of, making up 9.3% of total national territory.

Reserve !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Est. Description
38ha VI 1998 Excludes adjacent marine reserve.
Chiquibul 59822ha VI 1995 Excludes adjacent national park.
Columbia River 60016ha VI 1997
Deep River 27232ha VI
Fresh Water Creek 13513ha VI 1926
Grants Work 3199ha VI 1989
Machaca 1253ha VI 1998
Manatee 36621ha VI 1959
Mango Creek 12090ha VI 1989 Comprises two separate segments.
Monkey Caye 669ha VI 1996
43372ha VI 1944 [16]
16887ha VI 1997
Sibun 32849ha VI 1959
Sittee River 37360ha VI
Swasey Bladen 5980ha VI 1989
Vaca 14118ha VI 1991

Marine reserves

Marine reserves are designed for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, including marine wildlife and its environment. The majority of these reserves contribute to the conservation of Belize's Barrier Reef, which provides a protective shelter for pristine atolls, seagrass meadows and rich marine life. The preservation of the Barrier Reef system has been recognised as a global interest through the collective designation of seven protected areas, including four of the following marine reserves, as a World Heritage Site.

Marine reserves are legislated under the Fisheries Act, and are administered by the Fisheries Department. One of the department's key responsibilities is to ensure the sustainable extraction of marine resources. There are currently eight marine reserves, management of which is either direct, by the department, or in partnership with non-governmental agencies.

Reserve !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Co-management Est. Description
6391ha IV Green Reef Environmental Institute 1996 Excludes adjacent national park. Divided into two zones: a conservation zone, and a general use zone.
3913ha VI Forest & Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker 1998 Excludes adjacent forest reserve.
10514ha IV Southern Environmental Association 2000 Divided into two zones: a general use zone, and a conservation zone.[17]
86653ha IV - 1993 In 2001, the reserve was divided into four zones: a general use zone, a conservation zone, a seasonal closure zone, and a wilderness zone. A spawning aggregation zone was broken off in 2003 and comes under separate management (see below).
1444ha II Hol Chan Trust Fund 1987 Divided into four zones: Mangrove, Seagrass, Shark Ray Alley, and Coral Reef.
40470ha IV Toledo Institute for Development and Environment 2000 Divided into two zones: a general use zone, and a conservation zone.
15618ha IV Southern Environmental Association 1996
47702ha IV - 1996 [18]

Spawning aggregation sites

Aggregation zone !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Est. Description
Dog Flea 576ha IV 2003
Emily or Glory Caye 0ha IV 2003
Gladden Spit 1617ha IV 2003 Managed as part of Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve.
Nicholas Caye 673ha IV 2003 Managed as part of Sapodilla Marine Reserve.
Northern Glover's Reef 621ha IV 2003 Managed as part of Glover's Reef Marine Reserve.
Rise and Fall Bank 1721ha IV 2003
Rocky Point 570ha IV 2003 Managed as part of Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.
Sandbore 521ha IV 2003
Seal Caye 648ha IV 2003
South Point Lighthouse 533ha IV 2003
South Point Turneffe 558ha IV 2003

Bird sanctuaries

The seven bird sanctuaries are some of the country's oldest protected areas established for the purpose of biodiversity conservation. They were gazetted in 1977 as crown reserves for the protection of waterfowl nesting and roosting colonies.[19] They were later reorganised under the National Parks System Act in 1981. They are under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. All of them are tiny islands with a combined surface area of .[19]

All the sanctuaries are nesting and roosting sites for wading birds, though the species vary.

Reserve !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Est. Description
Bird Caye 0.5ha IV 1977
Doubloon Bank 1.5ha IV 1977
Little Guana Caye 1ha IV 1977
Los Salones 1ha IV 1977
Monkey Caye 0.5ha IV 1977
Man of War Caye 1ha IV 1977
Unnamed Caye 0.5ha IV 1977

Archaeological reserves

Before the arrival of Europeans in America, Belize lay in the heartland of the Maya civilisation, and consequently contains some of the earliest and most important Maya ruins.[20] Archaeological findings at Caracol, in the southern end of the country, have suggested that it formed the centre of political struggles in the southern Maya lowlands.[20] The complex covered an area much larger than present-day Belize City and supported more than twice the modern city's population. Meanwhile, Lamanai, in the north, is known for being the longest continually-occupied site in Mesoamerica, settled during the early Preclassic era and continuously occupied up to and during the area's colonisation.[20]

While the majority of reserves under this category are related to the pre-colonial era, Serpon Sugar Mill and Yarborough Cemetery, both designated in 2009, only date from the 19th century and are alternatively described as historical reserves.

The country's 15 archaeological sites are managed by the Institute of Archaeology, a branch of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH),[19] which comes under the authority of the Ministry of Culture.[21] This type of protected area was gazetted under the Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act, 1 May 1972.[19] All of the following reserves are open to the public. Many other sites, such as Cuello and Uxbenka, are located on private land and can only be visited if prior permission is obtained from the landowner.[20]

Image !! width="20%"
Reserve !District Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Est. Description
15.5ha II 1995
2ha II 2003
9ha II 1995
10339ha II 1995
10ha II 1976
771ha II 1998
396ha II 1985
16ha II 1995
3.1ha II 2011 [22]
24ha II 1985
7ha II 2010 Also known as Caves Branch. Formerly a private reserve owned by Jaguar Paw.
0.1ha II 1995
13ha II 2009
3ha II 1995
0.5ha II 2009

Private reserves

Private reserves are owned and operated by non-governmental conservation initiatives, and enjoy various levels of protection. Most of them are essentially multiple-use reserves, and include managed extraction of resources.[19]

In 2003, the Belize Association of Private Protected Areas (BAPPA) was formed to assist in the co-ordinatation of private conservation initiatives as a cohesive group, and to represent and assist landowners in attaining recognition from the Belizean government and integration into the national protected areas system. It maintains a directory of landowners that are attempting to manage their land holdings for conservation purposes.[19]

A total of eight private reserves have so far been officially recognised as national protected areas.[23] While most of these recognised reserves have no formal or legal commitment to remain under conservation management, there are additional private landholdings which are considered to be very effective in biodiversity conservation and critical to the national protected areas system, but which are not yet recognised within the system. Formal adoption and implementation of proposed legislation to manage and regulate such areas is required to attain such recognition.

Official

As of January 2005, a total of eight private reserves were officially recognised as being part of the country's national protected areas system.[23] Two have a standing agreement with the government, while the remaining six have their own management system in place.[19] Of the following, Aguacate Lagoon is the only non-participatory reserve, its management expressing little interest in being part of the system.

They cover a combined total area of approximately .[19]

Reserve !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Management Est. Description
Aguacate Lagoon 115ha IV Aguacate Park 1987
Block 127 3736ha IV Toledo Institute for Development and Environment 2001 Forms one block of the TIDE Private Protected Lands, which total .[24]
5253ha IV Women's Conservation Group 1985 [25]
Golden Stream 6085ha IV 1998 Formally known as Golden Stream Corridor Preserve.[26]
Monkey Bay 465ha IV Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary 1987 Formally known as Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.[27]
104897ha IV 1988 Formally known as Río Bravo Conservation and Management Area.[28] [29]
Runaway Creek 2431ha IV Foundation for Wildlife Conservation; Birds Without Borders 1998 [30]
8228ha IV International Tropical Conservation Foundation; Papiliorama-Nocturama Foundation 1987 Formally known as Shipstern Nature Reserve.[31]

Proposed

Reserve !! width="11%"
District !Size
(ha) 		Size
(acres) 		Management Est. Description
Balam Na 166ha IV Wildtracks; Tropical Rainforest Coalition 2000 [32]
Belize Maya Forest 95500ha Belize Maya Forest Trust 2021 Adjacent to Rio Bravo Reserve[33] [34]
BFREE 572ha IV Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education 1995 [35]
Boden Creek 5447ha IV Belize Lodge and Excursions 1998 Formally known as Boden Creek Ecological Preserve.[36]
Fireburn 745ha IV Wildtracks; Fireburn Community [37]
Gallon Jug 54154ha IV Gallon Jug Estate [38]
Green Hills 43ha IV Meerman, Jan 1996 Formally known as Green Hills Private Conservation Management Area.[39]
Hidden Valley 2925ha IV Hidden Valley Institute [40]

Others

See also

Bibliography

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Green Reef Environmental Institute. The World Heritage Site. Greenreef Belize. 17 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327191809/http://www.greenreefbelize.org/secondary.php?a=wheritage. 27 March 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: Friends for Conservation and Development. Index. 2011. FCD Belize. 17 July 2011.
  3. Web site: Naturalight Productions Ltd.. Laughing Bird Caye National Park. SEA Belize. 2011. Southern Environmental Association. 17 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002092051/http://seabelize.org/laughing_bird_caye.html. 2 October 2011. dead.
  4. Web site: Salam, T.. Friends of Mayflower-Bocawina National Park. APAMO. Association of Protected Areas Management Organisations. 17 July 2011.
  5. Web site: Guardians of the Jewel. Projects. 2011. 17 July 2011.
  6. Web site: Garcia, M.. Noj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park. Elijio Panti National Park. 2002. Itzamna Society. 17 July 2011.
  7. Web site: Belize Development Foundation. Noj K'a'ax Meen Elijio Panti National Park. Elijio Panti National Park Official Website. 2011. 17 July 2011.
  8. Web site: Toledo Institute for Development and Environment. Payne's Creek National Park. 17 July 2011.
  9. Web site: Gracie Rock Reserve for Adventure, Culture and Ecotourism. GRACE Initiative. Rainforest Carbon Remove Society. 17 July 2011.
  10. Web site: Gomez, L.. About SATIIM. Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management. 12 July 2011.
  11. Web site: Ya’axché Conservation Trust. Bladen Nature Reserve. Yaaxche.org. Ya’axché Conservation Trust. 16 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002033057/http://www.yaaxche.org/bladen_nature_reserve.html. 2 October 2011. dead.
  12. Web site: Pop, F.. Aguacaliente Management Team. APAMO. Association of Protected Areas Management Organisations. 19 July 2011.
  13. Web site: Verde, J.. Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development. 2011. 19 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110514133039/http://sartenejaconservation.org/Corozal%20Bay%20Wildlife%20Sanctuary.html. 14 May 2011. dead.
  14. Web site: Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary Community Management Committee. The Sanctuary. Gales Point. 2009. 19 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327212816/http://galespointbelize.com/sanctuary.php. 27 March 2012. dead.
  15. Web site: Friends of Swallow Caye. Friends of Swallow Caye News. Belize Manatees. 2006. 19 July 2011.
  16. Web site: Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Belize National Parks, Natural Reserves, & Wildlife Sanctuaries. Casado Internet Group. 17 July 2011.
  17. Web site: Gladen Split/Silk Cayes . https://web.archive.org/web/20111002092212/http://seabelize.org/gladden_split_silk_cayes.html . dead . 2 October 2011 . SEA Belize . Southern Environmental Association . 12 October 2011 .
  18. Web site: South Water Caye Marine Reserve. Welcome. Government of Belize, Fisheries Department. 5 September 2011.
  19. Web site: Meerman J.C.. Protected Area Categories. National Protected Area System Analysis. August 2005.
  20. Web site: Association for Belizean Archaeology. Maya Archaeological Sites in Belize. Maya Sites in Belize. 2008. Cubola Productions, Casado Internet Group. 12 July 2011.
  21. Web site: National Institute of Culture and History. About NICH. Government of Belize, Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture. 12 July 2011. 19 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719225838/http://www.nichbelize.org/about-nich/about-nich.html. dead.
  22. Web site: Brown, J.. Contact us. Marco Gonzalez Maya Site. 2011. 12 July 2011.
  23. Web site: Martinez, F. Rationale for Belize Association of Private Protected Areas. Brooksmith Consulting. 16 July 2011.
  24. Web site: Toledo Institute for Development and Environment. TIDE Private Protected Lands. 16 July 2011.
  25. Web site: Community Baboon Sanctuary. About the CBS. https://web.archive.org/web/20040320092544/http://howlermonkeys.org/about.html. usurped. March 20, 2004. Howlermonkeys.org. 16 July 2011.
  26. Web site: Ya’axché Conservation Trust. Golden Stream Corridor Preserve. Yaaxche.org. Ya’axché Conservation Trust. 16 July 2011.
  27. Web site: Miller, M.. About Monkey Bay. Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Naturalight Productions. 16 July 2011.
  28. Web site: Romero, E.. Conservation. 2011. Programme for Belize. 16 July 2011.
  29. Web site: Río Bravo Conservation and Management Area. Maya Sites in Belize. Belize National Parks, Natural Reserves, & Wildlife Sanctuaries. Casado Internet Group. 12 July 2011.
  30. Web site: Van Schyndel, A.. History. Runaway Creek — Belize Rainforest Preserve. Foundation for Wildlife Conservation. 16 July 2011.
  31. Web site: Fondation Papiliorama-Nocturama. Welcome to Shipstern Nature Reserve!. Protected Areas database. Shipstern.org. International Tropical Conservation Foundation. 16 July 2011.
  32. Web site: Tropical Rainforest Coalition. Balam Na, Belize. Projects. 2010. 17 July 2011.
  33. Web site: Great Maya Forest, Belize . Global Conservation . 5 May 2024.
  34. News: Harrison . Derek . Can Carbon Offsets Save a Fragile Band of Belize's Tropical Rainforest? . 5 May 2024 . Inside Climate News . 10 March 2024.
  35. Web site: Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education. What is Bfree?. 12 July 2011.
  36. Web site: Karas, P. Conservation at Boden Creek Ecological Preserve. Protected Areas database. Belize Lodge & Excursions Ltd. 12 July 2011.
  37. Web site: Walker, P.. Introduction to Fireburn Reserve. Protected Areas. Wildtracks. 17 July 2011.
  38. Web site: Gallon Jug Estate. Home. 21 July 2011.
  39. Web site: Meerman, J.C.. Green Hills Private Conservation Management Area. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch and Botanical Collections. 2011. Biodiversity in Belize; Belize Explorer Group. 17 July 2011.
  40. Web site: Hidden Valley Institute. Conservation Efforts. 17 July 2011.
  41. http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/protected_area/profile.phtml?pa_id=107642
  42. http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/protected_area/profile.phtml?pa_id=107619
  43. http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/protected_area/profile.phtml?pa_id=107632

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