The Belizean Environment

Transcription

1 Minnesota State University, Mankato Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato Service-Learning Experiential Project Demonstrations 2014 The Belizean Environment Lauren Marie Bach Minnesota State University, Mankato Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Latin American Studies Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, and the Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons Recommended Citation Bach, Lauren Marie, "The Belizean Environment" (2014). Service-Learning This Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the Experiential Project Demonstrations at Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. It has been accepted for inclusion in Service-Learning by an authorized administrator of Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato.

2 THE BELIZEAN ENVIRONMENT Created by Lauren Bach

3 PRESENTATION OUTLINE Governmental Support of the Environment The Ministry Department of the Environment Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) Fishery Department & Issues Forestry Department & Issues Mangrove Environmentalist Movement

4 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL MAKEUP 45 Forestry Protected Areas 13 Marine Protected Areas 8 Marine Reserves Amazing Biodiversity Second Largest Coral Reefs Huge Tourism Appeal

5 MINISTRY OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Ministry Responsibilities: Manage the Protected Areas and Reserves Monitor Climate Change Forestry Department Fisheries Department

6 THE MINISTER The Honorable Lisel Almailla Born in Belize City Graduate of the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources

7 DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT Established in September 1989 Responsibilities: Natural Resource Management Preservation, Protection & Improvement Control of Pollution Environmental Protection Act (EPA) (1992) Gave the DOE Power Higher Penalties for Violations One Law

8 PROTECTED AREAS CONSERVATION TRUST Belize s National Trust Provides Funding to Protect & Preserve Funding Source: Belize visitor fees Cruise Ship Fee Commission The Start: USAID gave BZ $72,000 BZ $5 Million Fund Today Logo: Man + Environment

9 FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ent/habitats-environment/habitats-oceansenv/belize-coral/

10 MISSION & RESPONSIBILITIES Mission: Manage Belizean aquatic and fishery resources to the best of their ability for Belize and the Belizean people. Responsibilities: Protect Belize s Marine Resources Guide the Aquaculture Industry Marine Assessments Licensure (vessels etc.) Water Patrol to Uphold Fishery Laws

11 EIGHT MARINE RESERVES Bacalar Chico Caye Caulker Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Glover s Reef Hol Chan Port Honduras Sapodilla Caye South Water Caye

12 BACALAR CHICO (15,530 ACRES) Northern tip of Ambergris Caye Protects Endangered Staghorn & Elkhorn Corals Turtle Nesting Area nesting turtles Rocky Point (1996): Conch Nursery Spawning Aggregation Site Black Grouper, Dog Snapper, & Horse Eye Jack

13 HOL CHAN (13,632 ACRES) Location: South of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye First Marine Protected Area in Belize (1987) Primary Tourism Destination in Belize Four Zones: Coral Reef Sea-grass Meadows Coastal Mangrove Habitats Shark Ray Alley

14 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY & INSTITUTE (CZMAI) Mission: Support & Protect Costal Resources Monitors Coastal Policies Protect Coral Reefs & Coastal Water Quality History: 1989 San Pedro Work Shop CZM Institute: Top Marine Research Organization Promote Education & Public Awareness Research: Endangered Manatees

15 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT news/environment-news/belize-rangerswcvin/

16 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT Mission: Forestry Natural Resource Management Law Enforcement Program (Forest Officers) History: Excessive Logging of Mahogany Trees 45 protected Areas

17 FORESTRY PROGRAMS Herbarium: collection of preserved dried plants research and plant identification 18,000 specimens The Wildlife Program: Fosters Public Wildlife Appreciation & Knowledge

18 FORESTRY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS Illegal Immigrants Using Resources Tourism & Development Logging (Mahogany Trees) Decrease in Biodiversity Panning for Gold Animal Poaching Maya Artifact Looting Pollution

19 THE MANGROVE MOVEMENT

20 MANGROVES 70 Species of Mangroves (Black Mangroves) In Shallow Seawater Ecosystem for: Barnacles, Oysters, Crabs, Sponges, Anemones, etc. Filtration system: Keeps out Salt Stabilize Shores Filter Runoff & Polluted Water Absorb Carbon Dioxide

21 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS Human Developments & Pollution 35% of World s Mangroves Destroyed Over Past Decade Mangrove Restoration Project San Pedro Junior College (2009) Coral Reef Alliance (2012) San Pedro High School Students Researcher Dr. IIka C. Feller Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

22 THE BELIZEAN ENVIRONMENT Government Involvement Fishery Department Forestry Department Mangrove Movement

23 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

24 ANY QUESTIONS?

25 REFERENCES Belize Internet Marketing and Website Design. PACT: Protected Areas Conservation Trust, Web. 16 February Belize Fisheries Department. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Web. 16 February Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute. Coastal Zone Belize, Web. 16 February Department of the Environment. Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development, Web. 16 February Guatemalan Incursion is a Major Threat to Belize s Pristine Forests. The San Pedro Sun News, 31 Janaury Web. 16 February Mangroves. Ocean Portal. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Web. 16 February National Geographic. Oceans: Belize Coral Reef. National Geographic. n.d. Web. 16 February National ICT Center. Government of Belize: The National Government Portal, Web. 16 February Plant Mangroves Save our Beach. The San Pedro Sun News, 6 January Web. 16 February Public Television s Wild Chronicles. Environment News: Rangers Protect Belize Reserve. National Geographic, 17 January Web. 16 February SPJC implement Mangrove Restoration Project. The San Pedro Sun News, 22 April Web. 16 February The Forest Department. Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Web. 16 February 2014.