Protected areas and conservation in Belize

Since its declared independence in 1981, the country of Belize has passed many environmental protection acts which have had a profound influence on the conservation of biodiversity in the country. These acts have established many different types of protected areas, with each category having its own set of rules regarding everything from public access and large scale resource extraction, to the small scale harvest of animals and plants for local populations, and general tourism. The success of these parks has played a large part in keeping roughly 40% of the country protected and preserved.

History

Belize, originally British Honduras, had relatively relaxed and non-enforced environmental laws and regulations in the past. However, with the formation of the Belize Audubon Society in 1973, awareness regarding environmental preservation grew rapidly. By the time Belize achieved independence the country had received an important education related to the value of protected lands for the good of the environment, and the country. That same year, the National Park System Act and the Wildlife Protection Act were both passed, designating many protected areas of different status, as well as the protection of the immense biodiversity of life contained in the parks.

Since then, governmental departments such as the Department of the Environment and the Forests Department, both in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment were established to research and regulate the issues and laws revolving around the country’s forests. Soon following was the Environmental Protection Act of 1992, which outlined the statutory powers of the Department of the Environment.

To ensure proper financial backing, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) was created. This trust is responsible for all fund raising, and the delegation of funds to protected areas.

Timeline

1924: The Forests Act is passed.

1927: Establishment of the Forests Dept.

1981: Independence of Belize from Britain.

1981: Passing of the National Park System Act and the Wildlife Protection Act.

1989: Establishment of the Department of the Environment.

1992: The Environmental Protection Act is passed.

1996: The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is created.

Types of protected areas

Archeological Reserve: These reserves are designated for the protection of historic archeological sites, usually ancient Mayan ruins.

Forest Reserve: These areas are designed for reasonable resource extraction without destroying the biodiversity of the location. Companies are given permits to extract after being reviewed by the Forests Department.

National Park: These parks are areas of tourism, as well as environmental protection. Visitors are welcome to explore the park, and the system is designed very similar to national parks of the USA.

Natural Monument: This protected area is designated for unique geographic features of the landscape, to preserve them for research projects and future generations.

Nature Reserve: This park has the highest amount of protection: permits are required to enter the area and are restricted to researchers only. Nature reserves tend to be very pristine, untouched ecosystems.

Wildlife Sanctuary: These areas are created for the preservation of an important keystone species in the ecosystem. A good example of this is the jaguar. By preserving enough area for them to live in, many other species receive the protection they need as well.

Marine Reserve: These aquatic areas are designated for the preservation of marine animals and the regions they inhabit. Note that these reserves are managed by the Department of Fisheries.

Design of protected areas

To protect as many different species and ecosystems as possible, methods of conservation biology are used to maximize the biodiversity of each park or reserve. There are design methods to these parks on both the micro and macro scale. When designing a particular park, care is taken to ensure that the area contains as many different ecosystems as possible, and allows enough space for populations of species to thrive. An Edge effect, or the negative impacts of having developed or destroyed land all the way up to the edge of protected area, can be very detrimental to the organisms living in the preserve. To compensate for this, parks are planned to have as much of a buffer zone as possible to prevent destructive practices all the way to a parks perimeter. Well planned protected areas also prevent phenomenon such as habitat fragmentation. For instance, the Bladen Nature Reserve, an area of pristine primary rainforest, is surrounded on all sides by other less regulated protected areas, ensuring that no negative edge effects will ever reach the borders of the reserve. On the larger scale, parks are designed together to create corridors, or areas of passage for migratory or wide ranging species. A great example of this is the planned Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which, when completed, will allow for the migration of animals from Mexico through Central America and down into South America.

External links

* [http://www.mnrei.gov.bz/index.asp Belize Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment]
* [http://www.pactbelize.org/default.asp Protected Areas Conservation Trust]
* [http://www.belizeaudubon.org Belize Audubon Society]
* [http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/corredor/corredor.html Mesoamerican Biological Corridor]

References

citation
title = Belize Audubon Society
url = http://www.belizeaudubon.org
accessdate = 2007-05-21

citation
title = Belize Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism
url = http://www.chm.org.bz/legislation.php
accessdate = 2007-05-21

citation
first = Biodiversity and Environmental Resource Data System of Belize
title = Protected Areas
url = http://www.biodiversity.bz/belize/protected_areas/
accessdate = 2007-05-21

citation
title = Country Profile: Belize
url = http://ncseonline.org/PopPlanet/country.cfm?countryid=4
accessdate = 2007-05-22

citation
title = Lexadin Legislation of Belize
url = http://www.lexadin.nl/wlg/legis/nofr/oeur/lxweblz.htm#Environmental%20Law
accessdate = 2007-05-22

citation
title = The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment
url = http://www.mnrei.gov.bz/about_us.asp
accessdate = 2007-05-23

citation
title = PACT Website
url = http://www.pactbelize.org/default.asp
accessdate = 2007-05-21