belize study abroad – summer, 2010 ccp faculty

Belize Study Abroad – Summer, 2010

CCP Faculty

Margaret Stephens - Environmental Conservation/ Geography

Stan Walling - Anthropology/Archaeology

Belize, A Jewel of Central America

1Belize-Stephens, 2010

http://blip.tv/file/1896217

If the world had any ends, Belize would certainly be one of them. It is not on the way from anywhere to

anywhere else. It has no strategic value. It is all but uninhabited.

-Aldous Huxley, Beyond the Mexique Bay (1934)

40% percent of the country is managed as parks and reserves, and the Belize Barrier Reef is recognized as a

world heritage site. ~ 60% of the country still remains under natural forest cover.


Protected Areas

Source: http://biological-diversity.info/protected_areas.htm


http://biological-diversity.info/protected_areas.htm

Program Activities and FeaturesOur host: Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary•Central tropical savanna•River trip•Western Maya Mountains•Barrier reef marine station•Maya archaeological site

Our study will include the natural environment, diverse habitats, land use issues, history and cultural diversity

as we follow the Sibun River watershed from the mountains to the sea.


Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary bunkhouse accommodations


Belize, formerly British Honduras

•Population: ~ 307,000 (UN, 2009), ~ 60% classified as living in poverty.

•Location: roughly15º 52’ to 18º 30’ North Latitude; 87º 28’ to 89º 13’ West Longitude

•Borders: Mexico in the north, Guatemala in the west and the Caribbean Sea in the east. •~ 22,963 km2 (8,866 sq ml) of land area, including ~1000 cays


Belize-Stephens, 2010 7

Capital: Belmopan Major languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Major religion: Christianity

Life expectancy: 74 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 Belizean dollar = 100 cents = ~50 U.S. cents

Main exports: Sugar, bananas, citrus fruits, oil, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

GNI (gross national income) per capita: US$3,820 (World Bank, 2008)

What’s in a name? Belize

Various theories:

Wallis (wahl-EEZ) from pirate Peter Wallis

From Maya words belix, meaning “muddy river”, or

belikin, now the name of the local beer


Sub Umbra Florero

Under the shade, I flourish.

The motto on the Belizean flag, referring to the mighty mahogany, the national tree.


Coat of Arms - based on the mahogany industry, mainstay Belize’s economy in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Shield at the center: a ship at sea in full sail with tools of the timber industry held by woodcutters.

At right, a paddle and a squaring axe; left, a saw and a beating axe.

Encircled by a wreath of 50 leaves, recalling 1950, the year the People’s United Party (PUP) came into power.


The National Bird: Keel-billed ToucanRamphastos Solfurantus

•About 20 inches long

•Found in open areas of the country with large trees

•Nest in natural holes or holes made by woodpeckers in trees


The National Animal: Tapir or Mountain Cow (Tapirello Bairdii)

• largest land mammal of the American tropics. • ~the size of a cow, up to 600 pounds. • not a cow, despite its name• closely related to the horse; also kin to the rhinoceros. • vegetarian •spends much of its time in water or mud shallows; strong swimmer•protected under the wildlife protection laws of Belize•hunting of the tapir is illegal.


Climate16-18 degrees N. latitudeTropical to Subtropicalmean annual temperature: ~79 degrees F; Range 50-95

Dry season ~Dec-May

Rainfall varies N to S:North 40-60 inches/yearSouth 160-190 inches/year


Source: http://biological-diversity.info/climate.htm14Belize-Stephens, 2010

Hurricanes

1931 (unnamed): 2000 people killed; Belize City (18 in above sea level) nearly destroyed; water rose ~ 9 feet

Hattie (1961): 262 drowned; capital moved inland to Belmopan

Mitch (1998); Keith (2000); Iris (2001); Arthur (2008)


Source: http://biological-diversity.info/images/Articles/Belize_thumb.jpg

Topography

Relief image of Belize & Central America from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)

Generated from GIS software


Belize-Stephens, 201017http://www.doe.gov.bz/documents/EIA/CDL%201.pdf

Source: http://biological-diversity.info/images/Articles/Belize_thumb.jpg

Topography

Highest point: Doyles Delight in the Southern Maya Mountains 1124 m (3687') elevation

Victoria’s Peak, north of Cockscomb basin was thought to be the highest (1120 m, 3675').

Much of the country is w/in a few inches/feet of sea level; very vulnerable to storms and sea level rise.

Belize City ~18 inches above sea level.Many burial sites are below s.l.


Central tropical savanna


Western Mountains: Forest ecosystems and caves


Tobacco Caye Marine Field Station in the Caribbean


http://www.tcmsbelize.org/

•Deforestation•Land and water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, especially from shrimp and citrus industries•Mining wastes – sedimentation of estuaries, reefs and marine ecosystems

•Unplanned development in environmentally sensitive areas, esp. mangroves, barrier beaches, riparian (riverbank) regions

•Energy concerns – importing expensive power from Mexico; Chalillo Dam project (Recommended Book: Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw)

•Oil and gas drilling•Cruise ship industry•Land use issues•Land acquisition by corporate interests and expatriates•Conservation/preservation issues

Environmental Issues


Biodiversity conservation is an important and integral part of national social and economic development

Protected Areas System Belize has two large, unified, blocks of intact habitat (Western Orange Walk and Chiquibul-Maya Mountains) which are likely to be the last strongholds for species that need large, undisturbed areas for their long term survival but even these areas may not be totally sufficient if biological corridors can not be maintained. Source: http://www.biodiversity.bz/downloads/Synthesis_NPAPSP_analysis.pdf

Marine Protected Areas

Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA)

Conservation Issues


http://www.adb.org/documents/guidelines/environmental_assessment/REA_Ports_Harbors.pdf

•35 major and minor river catchments or watersheds •drain the Maya Mountains and the Coastal Plain•discharge into the Caribbean Sea. (Boles, R. 1999. The Sibun River Watershed Atlas)

“There is no away.”http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/watershed/

Watersheds


The average daily water supply from river sources is approximately 3.79 million gallons, from groundwater sources 0.59 million gallons and from springs 0.38 million gallons (Johnson, 1996. National Report on Water Resources: Belize, Country Report.).

Groundwater, from 7 'provinces', is a vital source for freshwater in rural Belize, where almost 95% of the freshwater supply comes from groundwater (Rural Water Unit, Ministry of Rural Development)." - Ramon Frutos - Nat'l. Meteorological Service of Belize.

http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/watershed/

Sibun River Watershed, Monkey Bay http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/protected_area/profile.phtml?pa_id=117


http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/watershed/

http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/protected_area/profile.phtml?pa_id=117

Sibun River Watershed

Watershed or drainage basin: land from which surface or groundwater drains into a body of water

Central Biological Corridor of Belize, linking the Maya Mountains with the coastal plains of northern Belize and the Yucatan in Mexico.

Over half of the watershed area remains in natural forest cover with the remaining acreage dedicated to citrus cultivation, livestock grazing and subsistence farming.


http://www.belizeanjourneys.com/sibun/river.html

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/business/worldbusiness/21belize.html

Spanish Lookout: Site of first four active oil wells/drill sites


Oil & Gas Exploration in Belize

The current United Democratic Party government has made an election promise to establish a Belize Petroleum Trust Fund to benefit all Belizeans which much needed social

programs. Some Two years after taking office, the he trust fund is yet to be established and all oil revenues - estimated at $120 million - are absorbed by the government for its day

to operations.

18 companies have petroleum contracts: 8 years to explore; 25 years to undertake production and pump oil

commercially. If no oil found within 8 yr exploration phase, the contract

“self-terminates” = no longer in effect.


Oil & Gas Exploration in Belize

The first discovery of petroleum and gas deposits in Belize was made by Belize Natural Energy Ltd.

(BNE) in 2005.First well in Spanish Lookout began pumping then.

(BNE) production ~5,000 barrels per day.



Plate tectonics: Belizehttp://mineralsciences.si.edu/tdpmap/

Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/tectonic.htm

Washington, DC, (June 29, 2009) — At the ongoing 33rd World Heritage Committee meeting in Seville, Spain, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System has been added to the “List of World Heritage in Danger” due, in particular, to unsustainable tourism activities.

WildCam Belize Reef will be the first long-term deployment of an open-ocean, live, streaming video system available to the public.

Belize coral reef video: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/threats-to-animals-environment/belize-coral.html (3:27)


http://www.unfoundation.org/press-center/press-releases/2008/wildcam-spotlight-belize-barrier-reef.html

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/threats-to-animals-environment/belize-coral.html



Rio Bravo Conservation – Program for Belize area issues: video http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/news/animals-news/belize-rangers-wcvin.html (5:27)

Goals: prevent deforestationEmploy local communitiesProvide alternatives to hunting and logging for income generationEcotourismLeases for climate action project: dedicated carbon sequestration goal 7 million tons of CO2 over 40 yearsSustainable logging – storing carbon


http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/news/animals-news/belize-rangers-wcvin.html

What are corals?

Sources: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=5&subtopic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=8&topic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=1http://coris.noaa.gov/about/what_are/

Animals: Individual coral polyps, related to sea anemones, create reefs by secreting limestone skeletons. Coral polyps divide as they grow and form coral colonies, creating a coral reef.


http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=5&subtopic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=8&topic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=1



Most of the reefs, with a few exceptions, are found in tropical and semitropical waters, between 30° north and 30° south latitudes.

Source: http://coris.noaa.gov/about/what_are/

Distribution of Coral Reefs


Three Types of Coral Reefs

Fringing reefs directly border shorelines

Barrier reefs – similar to

fringing, but separated from

shoreline by lagoons

Atoll-circular, form on rim of submerged volcanoes

Sources: http://www.coral-reef-info.com/types-of-coral-reefs.htmlhttp://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY%28entry_subtopic_topic

%29=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=67&subtopic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=8&topic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=1

Fringing (or apron) reefs directly border shorelines:


http://www.coral-reef-info.com/types-of-coral-reefs.html

•ancient animals (fossils of solitary corals over 400 my old)•evolved into modern reef-building forms over the last 25 million years. • largest structures on earth of biological origin• very complex systems •Slow growing•Narrow tolerance limits (light, pH, temperature)•Rain forests of the sea – habitats and nurseries for thousands of species, vast biodiversity

Anthozoans, the largest class of organisms within the phylum Cnidaria. over 6,000 known species Stony corals > build reef structures. Mostly colonial w/ hundreds to hundreds of thousands of individual polyps


A Perfect Match: Symbiosis

Symbiosis of corals and their algae partners, zooxanthellae.

Corals provide:• a protected environment • the compounds necessary for photosynthesis: CO2, nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates (metabolic waste products of the coral)

Algae: •produce O2 •help coral remove wastes. •supply organic products of photosynthesis: including glucose, glycerol, and amino acids, which coral use to make proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and their calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeletons 38Belize-Stephens, 2010

Coral reef conservation issues

Belize barrier reef, the second longest in the world, Extent: a ribbon from the tip of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula southward ~180 miles into the Gulf of Honduras. 35 species of reef-building corals500 different species of fish and 65 species of coral shelter coastline against erosion provide food and refuge for manatees, porpoises, turtles, sharks, butterflyfish. Belize's barrier reef ecosystem includes reef, cays, grass flats, and mangrove swampsChallenges grossly overused and abused. Population pressures, increasing exploitation and destruction of reefs. Sustainability initiatives: education, organizing, raising political and social consciousness about the limits of reef sustainability, devising viable economic alternatives.


Hurricanes & Reefs

Hurricanes: “giant, wet heat engines”- tropical cyclones that gather heat and moisture from oceans

Reefs: buffer mainland from full force of storms

Some benefits of hurricanes: break off dead coral, some may migrate and form new colonies


Threats to Coral Reefs:Bleaching

Stressors:increased sea surface temperatures (SST) or toxic exposures to oil, changes in light availability, pH, reduced salinity can cause coral polyps to lose their pigmented zooxanthellae, or to "bleach."



Mangroves

Feeding grounds, nurseries for fish, birdsFragile habitat for reptiles, amphibians, mammalsStabilize soil, prevent erosionBuffer storm energyBroad tolerance of salinity, filter pollutantsProvide materials for fishing (traps, fuel, construction)Land clearing for development


Four species:Red mangove (Rhizophora mangle)closest to water’s edge, long, supportive prop roots

Source: http://ambergriscaye.com/reefbriefs/briefs81.html


Black mangove (Avicennia germinans) – further away; pneumatophores around base help w/ gas exchange

Source: http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLFieldGuide/Avicenn_germin.htm

White mangrove (Laguncalaria racemosa)

Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) – furthest away

Threats to Marine Ecosystems & Coral Reefs: Anthropogenic

•Coastal development•Runoff: pollution, excessive nutrients & sedimentation, sewage, agrochemicals•Overfishing•Cruise ships •Oil/gas drilling & spills•Invasive species•Ship groundings/anchors•Increased CO2 – weaker skeletons & reduced growth rates


Threats to Marine & Coastal Ecosystems: Cruise Ships


Cruise Ships

•8 mt (2228 gal) of oily bilge water dumped/day•1 mt garbage•Number of cruise tourists grew 25x from 1999 to 2004•2004: 850,000 cruise ship visitors (~3x the country’s total population & >3x the number of land based visitors


Threatened species: Hawksbill Turtle

•100 million years on earth•Little known about life at sea

•~20 years to reach reproductive age•Many predators: skunks, fox, racoons, birds,fish

•~1/1000 young survive•Now nests/eggs protected by law during nesting

season; adults year-roundSource: http://www.belizeanjourneys.com/turtle.html

48 Belize-Stephens, 2010

Threatened species: Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus

captureassessmentradio tagging

monitoring

49

Belize-Stephens, 2010


Coatimundi (Nasua narica)•member of the raccoon family•often travel in large packs• a wide variety of habitatas•feed on fruit, insects, and small animals.

Source: http://www4.samford.edu/schools/artsci/biology/belize/animals.html


Red-footed booby, Sula sulasource: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/red-footed-booby.html


Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens


Barrier ReefBe One With Belize - Part 5 - Belizean Culture (2:28) http://blip.tv/file/1895992All Blip.tv files: http://trphoto.blip.tv/posts?view=archive&nsfw=dcBelize Zoo on Nightline http://trphoto.blip.tv/file/455489/ (5:54)


Example of a photo essay:http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/mangroves.htm

Maya Archaeological Sites


belize study abroad – summer, 2010 ccp faculty

Documents

belize study

belize barrier reef

national animal

natural holes

national bird

national tree

mexique bay

natural environment