Environmental Challenges in in Belize: From Rivers to Sea

By

Dr. Colin A. Young

Galen University

Belizean History

• Belize first settled by European pirates between 1630-1638

• Raison d’ Etre in 17th century was logwood and later mahogany

• 1st African slaves in Belize arrived in 1722; by 1824, 2,300 slaves

• Last Spanish attempt to claim Belize was 1798 – Battle of St. Georges Caye Day

• Slavery abolished in 1832-38 • British Honduras declared a colony in 1862• 1954 Universal Adult Suffrage • 1973 – Name changed to Belize• 1981 – New Independent Nation

History cont.

• Since settlement in early 17th century Belize’s economy was based on forestry

• Forestry-based dependence contrasted sharply with rest of region and Caribbean

• Implication: dependence of forestry spared much of Belize’s forest; current forest cover of 69%

• Large scale agriculture replaced forestry in 1960 as the primary income earner (more later)

History cont.

• Belize’s 1st attempt at conservation occurred in 1920 (Silk Grass and Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve)

• First nature reserve established in 1928 (Half Moon Caye) to protect Red-footed Boobies

• By 1981, the colonial government designated 15 forests reserves covering ca. 20% of Belize

Red-footed booby

History of PAs Designation

• Exploitation of timber resources (forest reserves);

• Scenic value;

• Wildlife protection;

• Ecological or scientific purposes

Protected Area Analysis

• 94 protected areas exist in Belize

• Most are extractive reserves

N

EW

S

Archaeological ReserveBird SanctuaryForest ReserveMarine Reserve

National Park

Natural MonumentNature ReservePrivate Reserve

Marine Reserve:Spawning Aggregation

Wildlife Sanctuary

Map Prepared by Jan MeermanApril 2005

Grid: UTM zone 16, NAD 19270 10 20 30 Miles

NPAPSP Protected Area Analysis

Only 26.2 % and NOT 42% of Belize’s national territory is protected

NPAPSP Protected Area Analysis

• Terrestrially 36.46% is protected;

• Extractive reserves form 17%

• Only 13.64% of the marine realm is protected;• 8% is extractive reserves.

Belize’s unparallel biodiversity

• 571 species of birds, • 162 species of mammals, • 121 species of reptiles, • 43 species of fresh water fish, • 117 species of total inland fish, • 157 mollusks, crustacean, • 43 species of amphibians, • 288 species of Lepidoptera, • 176 species of Odonata and 2 other terrestrial

invertebrate.• 4,000 species of flowering plants (incl. 700 species of

trees)

Early Management challenges

• Lacked financial resources• Lack human resources and capacities• Deferred management to NGO rather than build

internal capacity • Relevant govt. ministries remain un-empowered

until independence; • Early designation lacked clear criteria, integrated

management;• Inadequate legal framework w/ respect to PAs• These challenges were inherited post

indepedence

Management Challenges: Post 1981

• Challenges magnified post independence• PA management ceded to multiple ministries

• Archeology – Ministry of Archeology• Terrestrial – Forest Department & BAS• Marine – Fisheries & BAS• Tourism – Ministry of Tourism

• Ministries lacked capacity, cooperation and coordination;

• Led to ‘turf wars’ among Ministries• Management lacked integration and was

always myopic and reactive

Management Challenges: Post 1981 cont.

• Large scale agriculture embraced as driver of economic growth post independence

• Led to increasing deforestation rates, including riparian deforestation

• Lacked of land zoning regulations led to disparate uses (e..g, farms adjacent to PAs)

• CIREFCA agreement allowed large influx of immigrants; many settled in riparian zones;

• Led to increase deforestation, sedimentation

Management Challenges: Post 1981 cont.

• Rather than build internal capacity, GoB embraced co-management of Pas

• While co-management is a viable, sustainable strategy, co-managers lacked capacity

• GoB saw co-management as a means to absolve them of management and financial responsibility

The Belize National Protected Areas System Plan

N

EW

S

Archaeological ReserveBird SanctuaryForest ReserveMarine Reserve

National Park

Natural MonumentNature ReservePrivate Reserve

Marine Reserve:Spawning Aggregation

Wildlife Sanctuary

Map Prepared by Jan MeermanApril 2005

Grid: UTM zone 16, NAD 19270 10 20 30 Miles

The challenge:

Current Situation

NPAPSP Protected Area AnalysisGap Analysis: Location of currently under-represented ecosystems

Human Footprint:

The Belize National Protected Areas System Plan

The Vision

Community Conservation cont.

• Was there a niche?

• What role do community conservation initiatives play in conservation?

• What has been the history of these in Belize?

• They usually fail - why?

• Lack capacity (financial, management, etc.,

Community Conservation cont.

• Are Community-based conservation initiatives a viable and sustainable strategy?

• Will they work everywhere?

Threats to Belize’s biodiversity

• Habitat destruction and fragmentation (2.3%/yr)m sedimentation;

• Invasive species• Population growth (2.7%/yr; doubling time of 25

years)• Pollution (both terrestrial and marine)• Overharvesting (marine and forests)• Corruption • Climate Change • Coastal Zone Developments (ca. 70% foreign

owned)• Migration • Tourism

Threats to PA network: Marine

• Decline in fish stocks, possibly from over fishing and illegal commercial fishing;

• Pollution from sewage from Chetumal and rivers discharges of the shrimp farms and agrochemicals

• Unsupervised excessive visitation by tourists (cruise ships) leading to degradation/ destruction of parts of the coral reef;

• Lack of pump-out stations for sailboats leading to dumping of sewage at sea;

• Increase intensity and frequency of storms• Climate change (warm temperatures, coral

bleaching etc.,)• Increased mangrove destruction

Other Threats to PAs

• Poor institutional capacity/coordination• Paper parks• Oil development (overlay with PA)• Lack of monitoring and enforcement of laws• Lack of zonation of sensitive areas• Little benefits to indigenous groups• Poverty -33% Belizeans poor

Oil Prospecting & PAsN

EW

S

Archaeological ReserveBird SanctuaryForest ReserveMarine Reserve

National Park

Natural MonumentNature ReservePrivate Reserve

Marine Reserve:Spawning Aggregation

Wildlife Sanctuary

Map Prepared by Jan MeermanApril 2005

Grid: UTM zone 16, NAD 19270 10 20 30 Miles

Poverty in Belize

• 33% of population below poverty line• 10% of population indigent • 13% unemployment rate• What does it mean to be poor in Belize?

– In Belize, Poverty Line and Indigence Line were estimated at $1,287.48 and $751.32 respectively.

– Minimum wage = $3.00/hr; agricultural workers = $2.50/hr

– Imagine raising a family of four on $1,287.48 = $25/week

Causes of Belizean poverty

• The historical underdevelopment especially of the South of the country

• Subsistence economy;• Lack of infrastructure;

• Deficiency in human resource development. • Lack of training and educational upgrading has inhibited the

development of skills in Belize;

• The substantial influx of poor immigrants • Belize, as a signatory of the CIREFCA Agreement, agreed to

host Central American refugees

Causes of Belizean poverty cont…

• Difficulty in resolving macro-economic problems.

• Increased public debt (now 97% of GDP) discouraged private investment; lacked of infrastructural development

• Debt service led to reduction of employment and expenditure on and services in education and health and environmental management

• Trade deficit

Impact of Poverty

• Environmental

• Social issues (health, education, crime )

• Economic

• Institution and lack of capacity

Solutions

• Need more transparency and integrated PAs management

• Need clear criteria for PA resignation, de-reservation etc.,

• Implement NPAPSP• NGOs agenda must become les esoteric • Conservation must become profitable to local

Belizeans• Socio-economic improvement through

empowerment initiatives• Improved legislative environment

Conclusions

• Independent nation of Belize inherited a inefficient protected areas system that lacked human resources and capacity

• GoB differed responsibility which slowed capacity building

• Globalization and high population growth poses new and serious challenges

• PAs system needs integration and simplified management structure to be effective

THANK YOU

Questions!!!!