Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FRA 2000

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOREST COVER CHANGE

BELIZE

July, 2000

Forest Resources Assessment Programme Working Paper 40 Rome, 2000 The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Annotated Bibliography Forest Change

The Forest Resources Assessment Programme

Forests are crucial for the well-being of humanity. They provide foundations for life on earth through ecological functions, by regulating the climate and water resources, and by serving as habitats for plants and animals. Forests also furnish a wide range of essential goods such as wood, food, fodder and medicines, in addition to opportunities for recreation, spiritual renewal and other services.

Today, forests are under pressure from expanding human populations, which frequently leads to the conversion or degradation of forests into unsustainable forms of land use. When forests are lost or severely degraded, their capacity to function as regulators of the environment is also lost, increasing flood and erosion hazards, reducing soil fertility, and contributing to the loss of plant and animal life. As a result, the sustainable provision of goods and services from forests is jeopardized.

FAO, at the request of the member nations and the world community, regularly monitors the world’s forests through the Forest Resources Assessment Programme. The next report, the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000), will review the forest situation by the end of the millennium. FRA 2000 will include country-level information based on existing forest inventory data, regional investigations of land-cover change processes, and a number of global studies focusing on the interaction between people and forests. The FRA 2000 report will be made public and distributed on the World Wide Web in the year 2000.

The Forest Resources Assessment Programme is organized under the Forest Resources Division (FOR) at FAO headquarters in Rome. Contact persons are:

Robert Davis FRA Programme Coordinator [email protected]

Peter Holmgren FRA Project Director [email protected] or use the e-mail address: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER

The Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) Working Paper Series is designed to reflect the activities and progress of the FRA Programme of FAO. Working Papers are not authoritative information sources – they do not reflect the official position of FAO and should not be used for official purposes. Please refer to the FAO website (www.fao.org/fo) for access to official information.

The FRA Working Paper Series provides an important forum for the rapid release of preliminary FRA 2000 findings needed for validation and to facilitate the final development of an official quality- controlled FRA 2000 information set. Should users find any errors in the documents or have comments for improving their quality they should contact either Robert Davis or Peter Holmgren at [email protected]. Annotated Bibliography Forest Change

Table of Contents

1 Introduction ...... 4 2 General profile of ...... 5 3 Principal causes of forest cover change – general conclusions ...... 10 3.1 General causes...... 10 3.1.1 Agriculture...... 10 3.1.2 Road infrastructure ...... 11 3.2 Structural causes...... 11 3.2.1 Technical aspects...... 11 3.2.2 Social aspects...... 11 3.2.3 Economic aspects ...... 12 3.3 Political causes ...... 12 3.3.1 Legal aspects...... 12 3.3.2 Institutional aspects ...... 12 4 Annotated bibliography ...... 13 5 Summary of interviews with national forestry and environmental professionals...... 29 6 References ...... 31 6.1 Document not annotated...... 32 Appendix 1: International conventions and agreements relating to biological and natural resources and the environment to which Belize has become a party ...... 33 Appendix 2: List of persons contacted and interviewed...... 35 FRA Working Papers ...... 36

Coordination and revision by: Christoph Kleinn Paper compiled by: Lenin Corrales Country assistant: Oscar Rosado Editorial assistant: Patrizia Pugliese, FRA Programme

2 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Abbreviations

ACB-ORMA Forest Protected Areas Conservation Programme for Mesoamerica

CAPAS Central American Protected Areas System

CATIE Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza

CCAD Central American Commission on Environment and Development

CCAB-AP The Central American Council of Forests and Protected Areas

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FOR Forest Resources Division

FRA 2000 Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000

GEF Global Environmental Fund

GNP Gross National Product

GHG Greenhouse Gases

IUCN The World Conservation Union

LUC&F Land Use Change & Forestry Sector

PROARCA Programa Ambiental para Centroamérica

TFAP Tropical Forestry Action Plan

UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

3 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

1 Introduction

The world's forests are changing in quantity and quality, in both positive and negative ways. This process is associated with social, economic and environmental factors. These factors are not always presented in a comprehensive way, based on all available information, and free of preconceived ideas or biases. What are the factors that motivate people to plant or cut trees and forests (human driving forces)? What are the natural phenomena that affect forest cover (natural driving forces)?

Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000), a priority programme within the FAO Forestry Department, is executed at the request of all FAO member countries. FRA 2000 is based on country-level information from national inventories, research projects, national consultations and various studies that provide information on forest cover, volume and change over time.

With the assistance of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) of Costa Rica, FRA 2000 carried out a literature review of positive as well as negative changes in the forest cover of Mesoamerica, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. The present paper presents the results for Belize. They were produced with the cooperation of national and international institutions, which supplied the best available information with respect to the principal factors, situations and processes that have an impact on the change of forest cover and land use (cutting of trees, reforestation, afforestation and degradation).

This document is divided into seven main sections:

1. General profile of Belize 2. Principal causes of forest cover change – general conclusions 3. Annotated bibliography 4. Summary of interviews with national forestry and environmental professionals 5. Bibliography 6. Appendix 7. List of persons contacted and interviewed.

4 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

2 General profile of Belize

Principal source referred to: Abstracts of Statistics, Belize. Central Statistical Office, 1998 and 1999 Reports.

Geographic co-ordinates: 15°53´ - 18°30´N; 87°15´ - 89°15´W.

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: Total: 46 620 km² Land: 22 960 km²(8 867 sq. miles) Water: 16 660 km² (territorial sea)

Location: Central America, bordering the between Mexico and Guatemala.

Land boundaries: Total 426 km, approximately Border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 160 km

Coastline: 230 km

Maritime claims: Continental Shelf – in accordance with the UN Law of the Sea Conference. Exclusive Economic Zone – 200 miles in accordance with the Maritimes Act, 1992. Territorial Sea – 12 miles in the north, 3 miles in the south.

Climate: Subtropical; temperatures cooler in the higher elevations.

Terrain: Coastal Plain up to 50 km wide north of the Belize River, narrowing considerably to the south; rolling limestone plateau to the northwest; the in south-central Belize.

Elevation extremes: Lowest point – 12 inches below sea level in Belize City Highest point – 1124 m at Doyles Delight.

Natural resources: Land; water; forests; coastal and marine; minerals such as gold, silver and other precious metals and petroleum, although development of these is very limited.

5 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Land use:

Table 1. Land use in Belize 1985. Land use Area (ha) % Total area 253 549 100.0 Arable land: Temporary crops in the off season 9 902 3.9 Fallow & temporary pastures/meadows 12 458 4.9 Semi-permanent crops 21 341 8.4 Permanent crops 10 182 4.0 Permanent pastures/meadows 47 686 18.8 Old fallow land 11 186 4.4 Wood and forest 134 402 53.0 Other 6 204 2.4 Source: Agricultural Census 1984-85

Irrigated land: 45 272 acres (18 321 hectares) (1998)

Natural hazards: Tropical storms, hurricanes, wildfires, lightning storms, occasional floods.

Environment: Water pollution, deforestation, hydroelectric dam construction, solid waste, land use.

International agreements: (See Annex 1)

Geography–harbours: Belize City; Commerce Bight Pier; Big Creek; Punta Gorda.

Population: 243 390 (April 1999 estimate)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 50 275, female 48 400) 15-64 years: 54% (male 64 915, female 67 195) 65 years and over: 5% (male 6 375, female 6 230)

Population growth rate: 3.4% per annum (April 1999 estimate)

Birth rate: 25.1/1000 population (1998 estimate)

Death rate: 5.7/1000 population (1998 estimate)

6 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Sex ratio: At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female (1998 estimate) Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 estimate) 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 estimate) 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 estimate) Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 estimate)

Infant mortality rate: 144 deaths/1000 live births (1998 estimate)

Life expectancy at birth: Total population 71.87 (1991 estimate) Male 69.95 (1991 estimate) Female 74.07 (1991 estimate) Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (1992 estimate)

Nationality: Noun: Belizean(s) Adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups: Mestizo – 43.7%; Creole – 29.8%; Garifuna – 6.6% (1991 estimate) Ketchi Maya – 4.3%; Maya Mopan – 3.7%; East Indian – 3.5% (1991 estimate) Mennonite – 3.0%; Other Mayan – 3.1%; White – 0.8% (1991 estimate) Chinese – 0.6%; Lebanese – 0.1%; Other – 1.0% (1991 estimate)

Religions: Roman Catholic – 58%; Anglican – 7%; Pentecostal – 6% (1991 estimate) Methodist – 4%; Adventist – 4%; Mennonite – 4% (1991 estimate) Not stated – 6%; Other – 11% (1991 estimate)

Languages: Official: English Other: Spanish, Garifuna, Mayan, East Indian

Literacy: (definitions based on Formal education – 7 or 8 years at primary level or from secondary level up)

Total population 75.1% (1996) Male 74.9% (1996) Female 75.3% (1996)

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Country name: English: Belize Spanish: Belice

Data code: BZ

Government type: Parliamentary system – Westminster model – National Assembly with a House of Representatives and a Senate.

Capital:

Administrative divisions: Six districts – Belize, Corozal, Orange Walk, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo.

Independence: September 21st, 1981

Constitution: Approved September 20th, 1981, effective September 21st, 1981.

Legal system: Common law system – House of Representatives approves legislation that is ratified by the Senate. The Judicial Branch consists of the Supreme Court of Justice and magistrates for each district.

Suffrage: Universal adult suffrage – 18 years of age

Economy: Industries: food processing, garments, flour, fertilizer, cigarettes, beer, soft drinks, batteries, nails and roofing. Export crops: sugar, bananas, molasses, citrus concentrate, papayas, marine products Food crops: corn, beans, rice, potatoes, root crops

Forestry data The Land Information Center (LIC) of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Environment and Industry, which includes the Forest Department, estimates that Belize’s forest cover is about 17 213 km² or about 79% of the land area.

Protected Areas account for about 42%, which include Forest Reserves, National Parks, Nature Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Natural Monuments, Archaeological Reserves, Marine Reserves and private protected areas.

Only 14% of Belize’s land area has potential for timber production. During the period 1989/1992 to 1994 approximately 78 100 hectares of forest were cleared or about 10 000 to 12 000 hectares per year. In 1996 approximately 26 000 hectares were cleared. 8 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Forestry sector Key forest export products include timber, furniture, doors and some non-timber forest products (e.g. orchids).

The Land Information Center (LIC, 1994) reports the following forest information.

Table 2. Forest classes, areas and percentages for Belize mainland (LIC, 1994). % of Area Area Area Forest class land (ha) (acres) (km2) area Broadleaf forest 1 419 000 3 503 704 14 190.00 65.12 Open broadleaf forest 12 031 29 705 120.31 0.55 Pine forest 57 625 142 283 576.25 2.64 Open pine forest 7 307 18 041 73.07 0.34 Thicket and other degenerated broadleaf forest 84 838 209 477 848.38 3.89 Herbaceous and scrub, secondary growth after clearing 18 859 46 564 188.59 0.87 Bamboo and riparian vegetation 11 527 28 462 115.22 0.53 Coastal strand vegetation 2 483 6 131 24.83 0.11 Mangrove, medium and tall 7 820 19 308 78.20 0.36 Mangrove, dwarf 23 460 57 925 234.60 1.08 Saline swamp vegetation with palmetto and mangrove 34 487 85 152 344.87 1.58 Marsh swamp 41 963 103 613 419.63 1.93 Total of forested areas 1 721 398 4 250 366 17 213.98 79.00

9 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

3 Principal causes of forest cover change – general conclusions

There are several components of forest cover change. On the negative side there is deforestation and degradation of natural forests. On the positive side, afforestation and reforestation can take place, either naturally or by planting. This document summarizes the analyses and findings of professionals at both the global and national levels on the causes of forest cover change in Belize.

Country information was collected and interviews were conducted with national experts at the local level. This material has been organized into an annotated bibliography (main document). Findings and conclusions are summarized in this section. The bibliographic references that support the conclusions or points of view are listed at the conclusion of each section.

Some published data indicates that a substantial increase in the rate of clearing of forest and associated woodlands has taken place over the past two to five years - relative to previously published estimates (25 000 ha in 1999 as opposed to 5 000 – 9 000 ha/yr over the previous decade (1981-1990)).

The information presented below highlights the principal causes of forest cover change as reported by the documents reviewed and the professionals interviewed.

Basically, only two of the documents reviewed establish causes that explain the change in forest cover of the country in the last 20 years (16, 17).

3.1 General causes

3.1.1 Agriculture

The demand of land for extensive agriculture and aquaculture, including cultivation of sugarcane, citrus, bananas and rice, primarily for export, has been identified as one of the most relevant factors in the change of forest cover in the country. At a smaller but still important scale, the demand for small cultivation areas, or “milpas”, represents an area of concern, with an annual demand of approximately 6 100 ha.

Even though extensive deforestation in Belize does not yet represent a large-scale problem, the change in forest cover has been concentrated in the northern and western areas of the country, primarily because of sugarcane and cattle ranching. In the case of cattle ranching, in 1978 there were about 100 000 ha established as pastures. The traditional land use by indigenous people cultivating “milpas” is concentrated primarily in the south and west. Very recently the citrus and banana industries have expanded toward the south, although some citrus cultivation is found throughout the country.

It is important to note that the change in forest cover has occurred primarily on privately owned land where the interest is in maximising utilization and economic return and there is little knowledge or concern about natural resources. 10 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

3.1.2 Road infrastructure

At present the rate of deforestation is not considered critical in the country, but it is believed that this situation may change rapidly. The opening of new highways and roads often leads to deforestation and, at the edges of those passing through forested land, deforestation extending hundreds of meters into the forest can be observed. This is cause for alarm since the forest is being slashed and burned without considering the topography.

3.2 Structural causes

3.2.1 Technical aspects

Forest inventories are lacking. Periodic forest inventories would be able to give guidance on the amount and rate of depletion of forest resources. They would allow better planning and utilization of the resource through the granting of licenses and concessions to forest-based industries.

High levels of waste presently occur in forest operations, both in the forest and in the sawmills. This means that a greater amount of trees must be harvested for the volume required, speeding up the process of deforestation.

The shortage of personnel and investigators in the forestry administration limits the planning, monitoring and control of forest operations.

Employment in the industrial forest sector is seasonal, which makes it difficult to hire and retain expert and specialized personnel. This exacerbates the problems in forest operations noted previously .

The lack of personnel and scientific documentation about resource conditions and trends are problems that limit the ability of the country to regulate forest licenses and concessions to guarantee long-term forest productivity.

3.2.2 Social aspects

In the recent past the increase in population due to immigration from other Central American countries, primarily of El Salvador, has led to increased deforestation, mainly along the principal roads. This was a big problem during the 1980s. Nowadays, even though diminished, it is still a problem.

The owners of forestry operations and industries claim they have a problem in obtaining credit at commercial banks and state agencies to modernize their equipment. This situation is made worse by the decrease in the country’s commercial forest resource.

11 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

3.2.3 Economic aspects

Restructuring of the public sector has reduced the personnel of the Forest Department to administer the national forest resources and control private actions.

The agriculture sector carries greater weight for decisionmaking in governmental politics than does the forestry sector.

Even though tourism is an important source of revenue, a large increase in the number of tourists and the associated development of roads and infrastructure could have a negative impact on forests in the future.

The expansion of shrimp farms and tourist development has led to the widespread destruction of mangrove forests along the coast.

3.3 Political causes

3.3.1 Legal aspects

Land tenancy laws are reported as a fundamental weakness, both for the conservation and utilization of the forest resources.Getting the right of absolute ownership is only possible after demonstrating that the land “has been developed”, which usually means that it has been cleared for agricultural use.

3.3.2 Institutional aspects

The criteria used to determine which areas may be leased or sold or to choose those in the private sector to benefit from government programmes are not clear, are a source of economic inefficiency and increase the pressure for illegal deforestation.

12 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

4 Annotated bibliography

1. Belisle, R. 1993. The Belize National Report on the State of Forestry for the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission. Eighteenth Session. 6–10 December 1993. Montevideo, Uruguay.

This work presents an overview of forestry in Belize. In the first part the author describes the current state and trends for the forests, forest industries and forest products.

Twenty-one percent of the country is covered by Forest Reserves. Management of these areas is based upon the principle of multiple use, which aims to achieve a sustained supply of a range of forest products, ranging from timber to tourist facilities.

Approximately 60 percent of the land within the Forest Reserves is included in protection forests, 37 percent by production forests and 3 percent by other land.

Eleven percent of the Forest Reserves have been identified as containing significant areas suitable for sustainable hardwood timber extraction. Seventy-two percent of the country's economic pine resources are found within Forest Reserves.

The area of existing plantations was reduced by some 500 hectares in 1991. The exclusion of areas of melina plantations for the establishment of citrus plantations by the agricultural sector is reported as the main cause.

There exists a very strong demand for mahogany and cedar but these heavy, hard timbers are difficult to cut and market profitably. Pine is intermediate between these two groups.

In the report is also found detailed information about forest production, export of timber, the Tropical Forestry Action Plan (TFAP ), forest policy and legislation and forestry institutions of Belize.

2. Bird, N. M. 1998. Sustaining the yield. Improved timber harvesting practices in Belize 1992-1998. Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute.

This publication documents six years of work with the objective of improving the methods of wood harvesting and the general administration of broadleaved forests. Guidelines are proposed for forest management, aiming at public and private employees who, in the past, only had access to general standards for the administration of broadleaved forests.

The publication also attempts to provide a link to the study and investigation of tropical ecology, which has been beyond reach of many forest administrators. The document is based on forest administrative experiences during the 1990s.

13 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

The document attempts to show the forestry potential of Belize, demonstrating how sustainable forest harvesting practices can contribute in a positive way to the conservation of the tropical forest.

3. Bird, N. M. 1998. The Chiquibul Restoration Felling Programme. Forest Planning and Management Project, Ministry of Natural Resources, Belize.

The document describes the harvesting system developed for the Forest Reserve of Chiquibul, one of the most important forest reserves of Belize, with an area of 59 818 ha, of which 69% is proposed as an area for sustainable harvesting. The suggested system is based on management experiences accumulated at the Rio Columbia Forest Reserve. It also describes the past severe damage it has suffered because of hurricane Hattie (1961) and from uncontrolled harvesting. Those two impacts have led the author to propose a forest restoration system to assure a sustainable structure for the forest.

4. Bird, N. M. 1998. The Columbia Controlled Felling Programme. Forest Planning and Management Project, Ministry of Natural Resources, Belize.

The document describes the harvesting system developed for a broadleaved natural forest located in the southeast of Belize, forming part of the Rio Columbia Forest Reserve in the Toledo District.

The forest management area covers 53 100 ha. The described system is based on environmental and ecological principles that help to formulate positive guidelines for sustainable land use. One of the system’s distinctive characteristics is that it emphasizes the trees that should be protected during harvest rather than those to be selected for cutting.

5. Castañeda, Anselmo. 1999. Draft Report. Mitigation and Adaptation Assessment - Land Use and Forestry. UNDP/GEF Climate Change Project "Enabling Belize to prepare its First National Communication in Response to its Commitment to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change".

This report revises the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the forest and land use sector with respect to the Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Belize in 1994. It also analyses and evaluates the mitigation measures proposed for the sector.

The 1994 Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Belize revealed that this country was a net sink for carbon dioxide during the review period. This means that Belize absorbed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than was emitted through the activities of the population. This could be attributed mainly to the fact that the country still has approximately 79 percent of its territory under some form of vegetative cover, despite the fact that there had been measurable levels of deforestation during the ten-year period prior to the survey year.

A gross volume of 6 165.861 gigagrams (6 185 861 metric tons) of CO2 gas was removed from the atmosphere due to the existence of the 1 721 398 hectares (17 214 km2) of forest and other vegetative cover of the country. The inventory determined that 1 991 gigagrams of

14 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize carbon dioxide, accounting for 69% of the total volume of greenhouse gases emitted in the sector, were produced and released into the atmosphere because of human activities. The table below summarizes the types, volumes, and relative importance (determined by global warming potential) of the greenhouse gases emitted in the land use change and forestry sector.

Table 3. Greenhouse gases emitted in the land use change and forestry sector. Emissions by Global Percentage of Greenhouse gas Emissions by global warming total GHG (GHG) weight (Gg) warming potential emissions potential (Gg) CO2 (net) -4 174.260 1.0 -4 174.260 - CO2 (gross) 1 991.601 1.0 1 991.601 86 CH4 6.473 24.5 158.589 9 N2O 0.044 320.0 14.08 >1 NOX 1.608 - N/A >1 CO 56.639 - N/A 4 NMVOC - - N/A >1 SO2 --N/A>1 Total 2 056.365 - 2 164.398 - Percentage Gross 69.00 - 67.00 100 1 gigagram (Gg) = 1 000 metric tons; gross figures are emissions; net emissions are emissions less absorption/removals.

Table 4. Emissions (Gg) and proportions (of the total) of greenhouse gases in the land use change and forestry sector. Portion CO *CO Activity 2 2 CH N ONo CO of total emissions removals 4 2 x % Change in forest and other - 5 750.721 - - - - woody biomass stock Forest and grassland 1 731.304 - - - - - 79.93 conversion Abandonment of managed - 415.14 - - - - - land CO2 emissions and removal 325.061 - - - - - 15.01 from soils Other (burning savannas) 44.868 6.473 0.044 1.608 56.639 5.06

TOTALS 2 101.233 6 165.861 6.473 0.044 1.608 56.639 100

The measures of mitigation proposals are: 1. Comprehensive land-use policy 2. Forest management plans 3. Promotion of agroforestry 15 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

4. Restoration of abandoned agricultural lands 5. Establishment of tree plantations 6. Develop and implement national fire management plan.

6. CCAD, CCAB-AP, UICN, ACB-ORMA. 1998. Belize Forest Sector Review, 1997. Prepared by Oscar Rosado and Edited by Lenin Corrales and Alberto Salas and Tomi Tounmajuskka. CCAD, CCAB-AP, UICN, ACB-ORMA. San José, Costa Rica, 1998.

This document is a revision of the Belize forest sector condition for 1997. The first part reports the general situation in the country, the second part describes in detail the national forest sector and the third part analyses different aspects that have influenced the deforestation process in the country. The document has never been published nor made public by the institutional authors.

The following tables are presented in the report.

Table 5. Forest classes in Belize. Class Cover (ha) Closed forest (broadleaf) 1 649 000 Woodland and pine forests 99 000 Mangrove and swamp 240 000 Open areas and grassland 212 000 Total 2 200 000 Source: Wright, et-al (1959)

Table 6. Estimated forest cover of Belize. Type of forest Cover (ha) % of cover % of the country Primary 1 462 755 82.0 67.3 Coniferous 54 911 3.1 2.5 Broad leaved 1 171 844 65.7 53.9 Mangrove and swamp forest 236 000 13.2 10.9 Secondary 318 000 17.8 14.6 Artificial 2 245 0.1 0.1 Total 1 783 000 99.9 82.0 Source: NARMAP, 1995

Table 7. Projected forest cover in Belize, 1996. Type of forest Cover (ha) % of total forest % of country cover Primary forest 1 452 755 81.9 66.9 Secondary forest 318 000 17.9 14.6 Artificial forest 2 245 0.1 0.1 Total 1 773 000 99.9 81.6 Projected year for zero primary forest cover: 2142 Source; Projection based on the data presented in Table 6

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Table 8. Broadleaf forests of Belize classified as to production and protection forests. Category Cover (ha) Total (ha) % Protected broadleaf forest National parks 101 100 Wildlife sanctuaries 87 300 Forest reserves (slopes >25°) 261 600 450 000 20.7 Timber production broadleaf forest Forest reserves (slopes <25°) 96 500 Forested national lands 108 700 Forested private lands 98100 303 300 14,0 Total broadleaf forests 753 300 34,7 Source: Alder (1993)

7. Forestry Department. 1985. Progress Report 1980-1984 by the Forestry Department of Belize prepared for the Twelfth Commonwealth Forestry Conference, 1985. Belmopan, Belize.

Information is reported on the forest estate, the forest types and the employment situation. Forestry’s contribution to the economic and social welfare is discussed, covering such areas as environmental problems, wood for energy and forest industries.

The existing forest estate of the country is described as follows:

Table 9. Existing forest estate of Belize. Total land area: 2 296 200 ha Area permanently devoted to forestry: 672 300 ha Area under forest: 2 132 300 ha Natural forests: 2 129 700 ha Man-made forests: 272 100 ha

The principal types of forests with relevant area are given below:

Table 10. Principal types of forests and their area. Closed forest: 1 581 200 ha Woodland and pine forest: 98 700 ha Mangrove and swamp: 240 800 ha Open areas and grasslands: 211 600 ha

In general, the small amount of information on forest cover isn’t discussed very well, nor are citations given for the given numbers quoted. A lot of emphasis is given on employment, the economic and social situation, forest industry and sources of finance.

17 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

8. Gray, I.M. 1995. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve Harvesting Plan, 1995- 2000. The Forest Planning and Management Project. Ministry of Natural Resources, Belize.

This plan was prepared to replace the Management Plan of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve of 1992-1997. The period covered by the new plan is from 1995 to 2000.

The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve covers a total area of 51 976.8 ha, of which 79.4% (41 295.5 ha) is coniferous forest, mainly Pinus caribaea (86%) and Pinus patula (14%), 19.9% (10 329.7 ha) is pure hardwood forest and 0.7% (350.1 ha) are roads and non- productive areas.

9. Green, E. D. 2000. Belize First National Report on the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 2000.

This report has been prepared in order to fulfil part of Belize’s obligation to implement the conditions of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It was prepared with input from a number of governmental and non-governmental institutions as well as community-based organizations.

The report represents Belize’s first effort to analyse the situation regarding land degradation that has occurred and continues to occur in the country. Drought-related issues presently developing or that have the potential to become greater problems are also discussed to some extent.

No data are present in the report.

10. Hartshorn et al., 1984. Not titled.

The article consists of various tables containing information on the state of Belize’s forests:

Table 11. Area of forest by origin, formation and function. Forest origin and formation Production forests (1 000 ha) Natural forests Closed forests (broad-leaved and coniferous) 1 215.0 Open forests (broad-leaved and coniferous) 212.0 Sub-total natural forests 1 427.0 Sub-total forest plantations 3.5 Total forests 1 430.5 Year of reference: 1989.

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Table 12. Areas of forest land by ownership (1 000 ha). Public forest land Private forest Land Total forest land State Industrial Other private (Federal, state, (Industrial (Farmers, provincial, government corporations, cooperatives, other corporations) companies) private) 1 375.2 254.0 575.3 2 201.5 Year of reference: 1977. Source: FAO, p. 4, p. 49.

Table 13. Recent timber production (m3) statistics for Belize. Year Total timber production 1977 28 282 1978 32 503 1979 38 620 1980 43 833 1981 38 435 1982 42 460 Data provided by O. Rosado Table includes mahogany, cedar, pine, 2° hardwoods, rosewood, ziricote and logwood production between 1977-1982

Table 14. Legal status of forest land (1 000 ha). Other forest land Conservation Production Total forest alienable 56 1 286.9 839.7 2 132.2 Year of reference 1989

Table 15. Legally established Forest Reserves of Belize. Forest Reserve Area (km2) Freshwater Creek 300 Mountain Pine Ridge 515 Chiquibul 1 849 Sibun 430 Manatee 459 Grants’ Work 39 Silk Grass 29 Commerce Bight 12 Deep River 591 Swasey Bladen 62 Mango Creek 267 Sittee 381 Maya Mountains 927 Machaca 23 Columbia River 417 Total 6 301 (Source: Forest Department, 1984) 19 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

11. Howell, J. Not dated. Tables of standardized results for incorporation in the global database. Ministry of Natural Resources, Belmopan, Belize.

This paper contains tables that summarize the standardized results for incorporation in the global database.

Eight sources are listed for the state of forest cover inventory between 1969-1989.

Table 16. Baseline forest cover area data in line with the FRA 1990 classification. Total area Forest area Reference year Sub-national unit (ha) (ha) 1979 Country 2 280 000 2 050 000

The average reference year is estimated as 1979 and the forest area at 2 050 000 ha including 1 430 500 ha of production forests (1 218 500 ha of closed forests, and 212 000 ha of open forests, including broadleaved and coniferous), plus 619 500 ha of protection and conservation forests.

Table 17. Estimated area of forest plantations (ha). Annual Annual Annual Annual plantation plantation plantation plantation Plantation Plantation Plantation area area area change area change area 1980 area 1990 area 1995 change change rate rate 1981-1990 1991-1995 1981-1990 1991-1995 1 800 2 000 2 000 20 0 % 0 %

Table 18. Standardized results: estimated area of natural forest (1 000 hectares). Annual Annual Annual Annual Natural Natural Natural change of change of change of change of forest forest forest natural natural natural natural area 1980 area 1990 area 1995 forest forest forest rate forest rate 1981-1990 1991-1995 1981-1990 1991-1995 Not 2 046.5 1 993.2 legible on -5.3 -6.7 -0.3 % -0.3 % copy

Table 19. Standardized results: estimated area of total forest (1 000 hectares). Annual Annual Annual Annual change change Total Total Total change change Reliability of total of total Land forest forest forest of total of total class of forest forest area area area area forest forest change rate (%) rate (%) 1980 1990 1995 1981- 1991- assessment 1981- 1991- 1990 1995 1990 1995 2 280 2 048.3 1 995.2 1 961.5 -5.3 -6.7 -0.3 % -0.3 % (3) Forest Department / MNREI.2000. Belize Report. EU / FAO. 20 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

The authors of this paper describe the current status of the forestry sector (forest resources, forest products, forestry services and forestry policies, legislation and institutions) and give an outlook for the forestry sector.

Estimated forest cover of Belize amounts to 17 214 km2 or 79% of the country’s total area. The present area of reserved forests is about 421 000 ha. Forest reserves and other private protected areas cover approximately 37% of the country, with forest reserves being 53% of this area. Today, the area of Belize that is suitable for sustainable timber production is approximately 14% or 302 834 ha of the total land area, which is divided almost equally between forest reserves, forested national lands and forested private lands.

Table 20. Forest vegetation cover of Belize. Proportion of Forest classes Area (ha) land area (%) Broadleaf forest 1 419 000 65.12 Open broadleaf 12 031 0.55 Pine forest 57 625 2.64 Open pine forest 7 307 0.34 Thicket and other degenerated broadleaf forest 84 828 3.89 Bamboo and riparian vegetation 11 527 0.53 Coastal strand 2 483 0.11 Mangrove (medium & tall) 7 820 0.63 Medium (dwarf) 23 460 1.08 Saline swamp vegetation, palmetto and mangrove 34 487 1.58 Marsh swamp 41 963 1.93 Total forested area 1 721398 79.00 Source: Land Information Center/MNREI

The Zisman report of 1992 indicated that mangroves occupy 771 km2 or approximately 3.4% of Belize’s national territory and that Belize was losing its mangrove forests at about 3.6% per year in 1991.

Table 21. Estimated area of forest plantations. Species Area planted (ha) Mahogany 780 Gmelia 710 Teak 80 Eucalyptus 10 Pinus caribaea 1 660 Total 3 240

21 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Table 22. Protected areas. Protected areas Area (ha) Nature reserves 111 647 National parks 413 573 Wildlife sanctuary 323 320 Marine reserves 329 174 Natural monuments 15 560 Private protected areas 299 594

12. Jacobs, N. D. and Castañeda, A. 1998. Belize National Biodiversity Strategy

This report is the Belize National Biodiversity Strategy prepared for the National Biodiversity Committee by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. The section Assessment and Analysis of Biological Resources describes the current status of forests.

The report shows that forests dominate the Belizean landscape. Mainland forests have been divided into the classes listed below (Land Information Center, 1994):

Table 23. Classes and areas of mainland forests. 2 Forest class Area (km ) % of land area Broadleaf forest 14 190.00 65.12 Open broadleaf forest 120.31 0.55 Pine forest 576.25 2.64 Open pine forest 73.07 0.34 Thicket and other degenerated broadleaf forest 848.38 3.89 Herbaceous and scrub, secondary after clearing 188.59 0.87 Bamboo and riparian vegetation 115.27 0.53 Coastal Strand vegetation 24.83 0.11 Mangrove, medium and tall 78.20 0.39 Mangrove, dwarf 234.60 1.08 Saline swamp, vegetation with palmetto and mangrove 344.87 1.58 Marsh 419.63 1.63 Total forest areas 17 213.98 79.00

Forest cover is 79% of the mainland area of the country and 82% of the total land area, including coastal islands.

13. Lindo, L. S. 1988. Brief Overview of Forestry in Belize. FAO.

In the first part of this paper the author presents a short historical overview of forestry, the economy and some facts about the forest estate.

After dominating the Belizean economy for some 200 years, the importance of forest industries has diminished. By 1964, the export income from forestry was only 17% of the gross national product, by 1974 it had fallen to 6% and by 1979 to 3%. The importance of the 22 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize forestry sector to the national economy was replaced by a number of agricultural crops that are produced primarily for export (sugarcane, citrus fruits and bananas).

The author suggests developing industries based on forests, the country’s most abundant renewable resource, to improve the state of the country's economy.

Table 24. Forest land. The forest estate Total land area 22 962 km2 Total area under forest 21 323 km2 Area permanently devoted to forestry (Forest Reserves) 6 723 km2 Natural forests 21 297 km2 Man-made forests 26 km2

Table 25. Types of forests and relevant areas. Principle types of forests and their areas Closed forests 15 812 km2 Woodland and pine forests 987 km2 Mangrove and swamps 2 408 km2 Open areas and grasslands 2 116 km2

Table 26. The area permanently devoted to forestry (Forest Reserves). Name/Division Location Area in km2 A. Northern Division 1. Freshwater Creek 0/Walk District 296.19 B. Western Division 2. Mountain Pine Ridge Cayo District 514.75 3. Chiquibul ““ 1 912.36 C. Southern Division 4. Sibun Cayo/Stann Creek Districts 429.76 5. Manatee Belize/ Stann Creek Districts 458.43 6. Grant’s Works Stann Creek District 32.40 7. Silk Grass “ “ 26.39 8. Commerce Bight ““ 37.63 9. Cockscomb Basin “ “ 46.20 10. Deep River Tledo District 59.52 11. Swasey Bladen ““ 6216 12. Mango Creek Sann Creek District 144.5 13. Sittee “ “ 379.4 14. Maya Mountain ““ 933.72 D. Toledo Division 22.51 15.Machaca Creek Toledo District 16. Columbia River Toledo/Cayo Districts 416.68 Total 6 723.00

23 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

14. Rosado, Oscar. 1999. The Situation with Mahogany in Belize. Centro Científico Tropical, Comisión Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo, PROARCA/ CAPAS, San José, Costa Rica. Mayo, 1999.

This report covers the situation of mahogany in Belize, taking into consideration such aspects as the original and present existence, occurrence and distribution; a historical summary of exploitation an conservation; the system of exploitation; production and trade; the legal and institutional regulatory framework; the conservation status and options for sustainable management.

Brief information on geographical, geological, other physical features and other relevant aspects of Belize are included at the beginning to place it the regional context.

As for deforestation, this report indicates "The 1984 Belize Country Environmental Profile said that deforestation was not a major issue in Belize, but as the figures on forest cover indicate, this figure has been reversed from almost 97% in 1971 to the present 79% in about 30 years. Until a study on deforestation in Belize 1989/1992 - 1994/1996 was conducted, only then was deforestation recognized as very significant.

Most losses in forest cover are due to agricultural development, ranging from large citrus orchards to mixed farming and cropland to small individually but cumulatively large areas of "milpa" farming. There has been a substantial increase in the rate of clearing of forest and associated woodlands over the past two to five years (25 000 ha/yr) relative to previously published estimates (5 000 – 9 000 ha/yr) over the past decade (1981-1990)."

15. Team provided by the UK Overseas Development Administration, Canadian International Development Agency, US Agency for International Development and FAO. 1989. Belize Tropical Forestry Action Plan. Overseas Development Administration, London. After some general information on Belize the authors summarize the following forest estate data:

The most recent estimates of original vegetation cover include 74% closed broadleaved forest and 5% open pine forest. The actual extent of forest cover at present is unclear.

The area of reserved forests totals 2 545 square miles (659 200 ha) or 30% of the land area. The greater part of 2 531 square miles (655 700 ha) of other National Lands and the 3 241 square miles (839 700 ha) of privately owned land is also forested. In 1987 the Forest Reserves accounted for 39% of total log output and private lands 48%.

16. Tyler, N. 1998. Final Report – Remote Sensing Analysis of Land Cover and Land Use-Central Belize. The University of Texas at Austin. Bureau of Economic Geology-Austin, Texas.

This paper contains tables summarizing the results for land use-land cover in Belize: 24 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Table 27. Areal extent and percentages of land use-land cover units classified using 1996 Landsat TM imagery. Percent of Land use/land cover Area (ha) study area 1. Forest and savannah Broadleaf forest 196 832 53.2 Pine forest 4 731 1.3 Riparian/bamboo 1 989 0.5 Natural thicket and secondary regrowth 3 055 3.5 Low secondary regrowth, herbaceous and scrub/scrub 5 192 1.4 Savannah and other grasslands 18 652 5.0 2. Wetland and coastal land Mangroves, tall to medium height 3 306 0.9 Mangroves, dwarf 4 522 1.2 Marsh/swamp 1 067 0.3 Coastal broadleaf and strand vegetation 6 882 1.9 Coastal Savannah 632 0.2 3. Developed land Farmland 23 428 6.3 Residential/commercial development 1 269 0.3 Barren 2 728 0.7 4. Other Water 68 006 18.4 Clouds and shadows 17 872 4.8

Table 28. Areal extent and percentages of 1989/1992 land use in study area. Based on data from Fairweather and Gray (1994). 1989/1992 Forest and woodlands Area (ha) Percent of study area Classes Broadleaf 224 609 60.7 Bamboo/riparian 2 881 0.8 Pine totals 9 689 2.6 Thicket 12 819 3.5 Mangrove, dwarf 3 021 0.8 Mangrove, tall 356 0.1 Barren/thicket 47 0.01 Other 42 389 11.5 Subtotal 295 812 79.9 Water and other land use 74 406 20.1 Total 370 217 100.0

25 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

17. White, W., Raney, J., and Tremblay, T. 1996. Deforestation in Belize 1989/1992- 1994/1996, Final Report. Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin. Austin, Texas

One of the principal results mentioned by the report is that between 1989/1992 (reference base) and 1994 about 78 100 ha of forests and forested lands were deforested. More than 90% of the total forest loss (>70 000 ha) occurred outside protected areas, and less than 9% occurred inside them. This reflects the extent of the protected area system.

The report concludes that most of the forest loss is due to extensive agricultural development of plantations of citrus for export as well as small "milpa" areas, which in total represent an important area. The mean rates of forest loss were 5 000 ha/year in the southeast of Belize and 13 000 ha/year in the northwest, but for the whole country it was 25 000 ha/year from 1989/1992 until 1994. The missing 6 682 ha could be because of discrepancies in classification.

The report also mentions that approximately 80% of the lost forest cover corresponds to broadleaved forest (62 000 ha). The remaining 20% corresponds to secondary forest (10 000 ha), coniferous forest (3 400 ha), river vegetation and bamboo (1 600 ha) and mangroves (1 100 ha). This may be explained because the broadleaved forests of Belize represent 66%, secondary forests 4%, coniferous forests 3% and mangroves 1.4%.

Considering the total forest cover during 1989/1992 and 1994, 4% of broadleaved forest has been lost, 5% of coniferous forest, 12% of secondary forest, 14% of river vegetation and bamboo and 4% of mangroves.

The reported results are shown in detail in the following tables:

Table 29. Rates of forest cover loss on mainland Belize, 1989/1992 to 1994. Approximate Period Loss (ha) Annual rate (ha/yr) location in Belize 1989-1994 24 495 4 899 South 1990-1994 26 832 6 708 Central 1992-1994 26 749 13 374 North Total 78 076 24 981 1981-1990* 5 000 1980-1987?** 9 000 *Food and Agriculture (FAO) Organization of the UN (1994), Forest Resources Assessment 1990, Country Briefs **World Resources Institute (1987) cited in Ledec (1992)

26 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Table 30. Forest cover loss between 1989/1992 and 1994 in national and private reserves, parks and sanctuaries. Protected areas Forest cover loss (ha) Forest Reserves 5 640 National Parks 525 Private Reserves 238 Nature Reserves 199 Wildlife Sanctuaries 72 Archaeological Reserves 8 Total 6 682

Table 31. Amount of forest cover loss in those forest reserves in which losses were docu- mented between 1989/1992 and 1994. Approximate Size of Reserve Forest Reserve Loss (ha) Period of loss annual rate of (ha) loss (ha/yr) Vaca 21 114 2 227 1990-1994 557 Mango Creek 4 5 286 580 1989-1994 116 Columbia River 41 514 579 1989-1994 116 Mountain Pine 51 149 562 1990/1992-1994 187 Ridge Freshwater Creek 24 269 446 1992-1994 223 Sibun 42 908 327 1990/1992-1994 109 Swasey Bladen 5 960 274 1989-1994 55 Commerce Bight (B) 2 199 164 1990-1994 41 Mango Creek 1 4 357 107 1989-1994 21 Deep River 31 279 107 1989-1994 21 Grants Works (A) 3 189 63 1990-1994 16 Chiquibul 59 640 49 1990-1994 12 Terra Nova 2 735 41 1990-1994 10 Manatee (5 areas) 41 897 27 1990/1992-1994 9 Maya Mountain 2 20 740 23 1989-1994 5 Sittee River 37 973 22 1990-1994 6 Machaca 1 515 19 1989-1994 4 Maya Mountain 16 834 11 1989-1994 2 Mango Creek 3 1 945 8 1989-1994 2 Silk Grass 1 938 3 1990-1994 1 Total 418 440 5 640

27 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Table 32. Loss of forest cover in Nature Reserves, 1989/1992 to 1994. Nature Reserve Total area of Reserve (ha) Total loss (ha) Burdon Canal (3 areas) 2 119 102 Bladen 40 198 83 Tapir Mountain 2 720 14 Total 45 037 199

Table 33. Forest cover loss in National Parks.

National Park Total area of Park (ha) Total loss (ha) Chiquibul 115 454 319 Temash-Sarstoon 16 897 151 Five Blues Lake 1, 638 28 Paynes Creek 12, 775 22 Guanacaste 23 4 Monkey Bay 725 2 Aguas Turbias 3 546 - Blue Hole 268 - Total 151 327 525

Table 34. Forest cover loss, 1994-1996, in protected areas in southwestern Belize. Protected area Forest cover loss Rate of loss 1994-1996 (ha) (ha/yr) Forest Reserves Mountain Pine Ridge 720 360 Sibun 582 291 Columbia River 432 216 Chiquibul 392 196 Manatee 264 132 Deep River 177 89 Terra Nova 175 88 Maya Mountain 2 173 87 Vaca 106 53 Maya Mountain 89 45 Tapir Mountain 1.3 1 National Parks Chiquibul 464 232 Temash-Sarstoon 128 64 Blue Hole 4 2 Monkey Bay 0.05 Wildlife Sanctuaries Cockscomb Basin 115 58 Nature Reserves Blanden 108 54 See text for a more specific explanation of where and how forest cover loss was determined. 28 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

5 Summary of interviews with national forestry and environmental professionals

Forest cover and forest cover change for Belize are not really known. Approximations are made as in the case of Neil Bird in 1995. There is a need to obtain the information that we do not really know or have. Figures are being repeated that are not verified.

The latest satellite cover obtained by the Ministry of Natural Resources is for 1994-1996. But that for 1996 was not clear and there was a need to extrapolate from the 1994 cover when the White and Raney Report came out, which is the latest on the whole country.

Is forest cover and forest cover change really a change in land use as it is being interpreted? Classification, interpretations and differentiations are a problem. Secondary forest comes in after some land use changes and it is difficult to differentiate between secondary forest and thicket when making interpretations. The University of Texas is assisting with interpretation from the satellite imagery and the technology is improving, so information is improving.

Classifications differ between studies as in the case of the Neil Bird study and the White and Raney study, so the difficulties can be appreciated.

What is the answer? New technologies such as digital aerial photography, which ties digital cover to GPS reference points, will help. There is also remote sensing using radar and more frequent satellite imagery coverage available. Not having a national forest inventory does not help and this is something that is still needed.

Also, there is need for regional and national forest classifications, which need to complement each other. In the case of Belize, regionally it would need to blend into both the Caribbean and the Central American regions.

Institutional capacity building is also needed, both nationally and regionally. The country cannot continue to depend on outside assistance. As was mentioned, we have the technology. There are people who know GIS and mapping, and there are those with computer skills, but cannot tie in with the actual situation. Foresters need GIS expertise and computer skills because they are more in tune with the actual situation on the ground.

There is one ray of hope in that people are becoming more aware of the forest cover and change and how it relates to or can affect their daily life.

Forest cover change is primarily occurring through agricultural expansion and housing development. It is also occurring from increased aquaculture and rice growing. However, change goes both ways, increases and decreases. Increase of forest cover takes place through the practice of agroforestry and from mahogany plantations as both are taking place in Belize. The Agriculture Department has initiated an agroforestry programme and there are private initiatives to plant mahogany.

29 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Not much attention is being paid to erosion in forest cover change, but it is a factor, as is fire and milpa farming, especially in the hills. Change occurs not only on national lands but also in other land classifications ranging from Forest Reserves to Protected Areas and private lands.

Land use change from forestry to agriculture is also the biggest cause of green house gas emissions. Development calls for change – how can this be sustainable? Seeking a better quality of life to reduce poverty has usually been linked with land use change. But it is the large developments that have the greatest impact. So there is a need for a comprehensive land use policy and plan as well as a fire management plan.

30 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

6 References

1. Belisle, R. 1993. The Belize National Report on the State of Forestry for the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission. Eighteenth Session, 6-10 December 1993. Montevideo, Uruguay.

2. Bird, N. M. 1998. Sustaining the yield. Improved timber harvesting practices in Belize 1992-1998. Chatham, UK. Natural Resources Institute.

3. Bird, N. M. 1998. The Chiquibul restoration Felling Program. Forest Planning and Management Project, Ministry of Natural Resources, Belize.

4. Bird N. M. 1998. The Columbia Controlled Felling Program. Forest Planning and Management Project, Ministry of Natural Resources, Belize.

5. Castañeda, A. 1999. Draft Report. Mitigation and Adaptation Assessment - Land Use and Forestry. UNDP/GEF Climate Change Project "Enabling Belize to prepare its First National Communication in Response to its Commitment to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change". Ministry of Natural Resources, Belize.

6. CCAD, CCAB-AP, UICN & ACB-ORMA. 1998. Belize Forest Sector Review, 1997. Prepared by Oscar Rosado and edited by Lenin Corrales, Alberto Salas and Tomi Tounmajuskka. San José, Costa Rica. CCAD, CCAB-AP, UICN, ACB-ORMA.

7. Forestry Department–. 1985. Progress Report 1980-1984 by the Forestry Department of Belize prepared for the Twelfth Commonwealth Forestry Conference 1985. Belmopan, Belize.

8. Gray, I. M. 1995. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Harvesting Plan. 1995-2000. The Forest Planning and Management Project. Ministry of Natural Resources Belize.

9. Green, E. D. 2000. Belize First National Report on the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 2000. Ministry of Natural Resources Belize.

10. Hartshorn et al., 1984. Not titled.

11. Howell, J. Not dated. Tables of standardized results for incorporation in the global database. Belmopan, Belize. Ministry of Natural Resources.

12. Jacobs, N. D. and Castañeda, A. 1998. Belize National Biodiversity Strategy.

13. Lindo, L. S. 1988. Brief Overview of Forestry in Belize. FAO.

31 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

14. Rosado, Oscar. 1999. The Situation with Mahogany in Belize. Centro Científico Tropical, Comisión Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo, San José, Costa Rica. PROARCA/CAPAS, Mayo 1999.

15. Team provided by the UK Overseas Development Administration, Canadian International Development Agency, US Agency for International Development & FAO. 1989. Belize Tropical Forestry Action Plan. London, UK. Overseas Development Administration.

16. Tyler, N. 1998. Final Report - Remote Sensing Analysis of Land Cover and Land Use - Central Belize. The University of Texas at Austin. Bureau of Economic Geology – Austin, Texas.

17. White W., and Raney J., and Tremblay T. 1996. Deforestation in Belize 1989/1992- 1994/1996, Final Report. Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin. Austin, Texas

6.1 Document not annotated

Abstracts of Statistics, Belize. Central Statistical Office, 1998, 1999 Reports.

32 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Appendix 1: International conventions and agreements relating to biological and natural resources and the environment to which Belize has become a party

List of agreements, protocols and international conventions signed by Belize Year with respect to biodiversity, resources and the environment and trade

1. Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl 1971 Habitat

2. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as 1973 modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL)

3. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and 1980 Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) Toxins and their Destruction

4. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 1981 Fauna (CITES)

5. United Nations Law of the Sea Convention 1982

6. International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling 1982

7. Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment 1983 for the Wider Caribbean Region (The Cartagena Convention)

8. Convention concerning the Protection of Workers against Ionizing Radiation 1984

9. Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC) 1985

10. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer - Final Act of the 1987 Plenipotentiaries on the Protection of the Ozone Layer

11. International Plant Protection Convention 1987

12. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer - Final Act and 1990 Amendments

13. The UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural 1990 and Natural Heritage

33 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

14. Bilateral Agreement between Belize and Mexico on Cooperation for the 1991 protection and improvement of the Environment and conservation of Natural Resources in the Border Zone

15. Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent 1992 Countries

16. Central American Biodiversity and Protection of Priority Areas Convention 1992

17. Convention on Biological Diversity 1992

18. Climate Change Convention 1992

19. Agreement establishing the Inter-American Institute for Global Change 1992 Research

20. Agreement establishing the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples 1994 of Latin America and the Caribbean

21. Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America (ALIDES) 1995

22. Statement of Intent for Sustainable Development Cooperation and Joint Implementation of Measures to Reduce Emissions of Greenhouse Gases by 1994 the Government of the USA, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama

23. Marrakesh Declaration of 1994 - Final Act embodying the Results of the 1995 Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations re GATT

24. Agreement for the Implementation of the Provision of the United Nations 1997 Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks

25. Latin American Organization for Fisheries Development (OLDEPESCA) 1997

26. Ratification of RAMSAR Convention 1998

27. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 1998

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ellis, 1998.

34 Annotated Bibliography Forest Change, Belize

Appendix 2: List of persons contacted and interviewed

Mr. Oswaldo Sabido Chief Forest Officer, Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources, the Environment and Industry

Mr. Earl Green Technical Planning Coordinator, Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources, the Environment and Industry

Mrs. Noreen Fairweather Land Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, the Environment and Industry

Dr. Vincent Palacio Program for Belize

Mr. Bautista Ministry of Agriculture

Mr. Bruce Miller Associate Conservation Zoologist, Wildlife Conservation Society, Gallon Jug, Belize

Mr. David Gibson Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ms. Alonzo Central Statistical Office, Belmopan

35 FRA Working Papers 0. How to write a FRA Working Paper (10 pp. – E) 1. FRA 2000 Terms and Definitions (18 pp. - E/F/S/P) 2. FRA 2000 Guidelines for assessments in tropical and sub-tropical countries (43 pp. - E/F/S/P) 3. The status of the forest resources assessment in the South-Asian sub-region and the country capacity building needs. Proceedings of the GCP/RAS/162/JPN regional workshop held in Dehradun, India, 8-12 June 1998. (186 pp. - E) 4. Volume/Biomass Special Study: georeferenced forest volume data for Latin America (93 pp. - E) 5. Volume/Biomass Special Study: georeferenced forest volume data for Asia and Tropical Oceania (102 pp. - E) 6. Country Maps for the Forestry Department website (21 pp. - E) 7. Forest Resources Information System (FORIS) – Concepts and Status Report (20 pp. E) 8. Remote Sensing and Forest Monitoring in FRA 2000 and beyond. (22 pp. - E) 9. Volume/Biomass special Study: Georeferenced Forest Volume Data for Tropical Africa (97 pp. – E) 10. Memorias del Taller sobre el Programa de Evaluación de los Recursos Forestales en once Países Latinoamericanos (pp. 194 - S) 11. Non-wood forest Products study for Mexico, Cuba and South America (draft for comments) (82 pp. – E) 12. Annotated bibliography on Forest cover change – Nepal (59 pp. – E) 13. Annotated bibliography on Forest cover change – Guatemala (66 pp. – E) 14. Forest Resources of Bhutan - Country Report (80 pp. – E) 15. Forest Resources of Bangladesh – Country Report (93 pp. – E) 16. Forest Resources of Nepal – Country Report (78 pp. - E) 17. Forest Resources of Sri Lanka – Country Report (under preparation) 18. Forest plantation resource in developing countries (75 pp. – E) 19. Global forest cover map (14 pp. – E) 20. A concept and strategy for ecological zoning for the global FRA 2000 (23 pp. – E) 21. Planning and information needs assessment for forest fires component (32 pp. – E) 22. Evaluación de los productos forestales no madereros en América Central (102 pp. – S) 23. Forest resources documentation, archiving and research for the Global FRA 2000 (77 pp. – E) 24. Maintenance of Country Texts on the FAO Forestry Department Website (25 pp. – E)) 25. Field documentation of forest cover changes for the Global FRA 2000 (under preparation) 26. FRA 2000 Global Ecological Zones Mapping Workshop Report Cambridge, 28-30 July 1999 (53 pp. –E) 27. Tropical Deforestation Literature: Geographical and Historical Patterns in the Availability of Information and the Analysis of Causes (17 pp. – E) 28. World Forest Survey – Concept Paper (30 pp. - E) 29. Forest cover mapping and monitoring with NOAA-AVHRR and other coarse spatial resolution sensors (42 pp. E) 30. Web Page Editorial Guidelines (22 pp. – E) 31. Assessing state & change in Global Forest Cover: 2000 and beyond (15 pp. – E) 32. Rationale & methodology for Global Forest Survey (60 pp. – E) 33. On definitions of forest and forest change (13 pp.- E) 34. Bibliografía comentada. Cambios en la cobertura forestal: Nicaragua (51 pp. – S) 35. Bibliografía comentada. Cambios en la cobertura forestal: México (35 pp. – S) 36. Bibliografía comentada. Cambios en la cobertura forestal: Costa Rica (55 pp. – S) 37. Bibliografía comentada. Cambios en la cobertura forestal: El Salvador (35 pp. – S) 38. Bibliografía comentada. Cambios en la cobertura forestal: Ecuador (48 pp. – S) 39. Bibliografía comentada. Cambios en la cobertura forestal: Venezuela (32 pp. – S)

To receive copies of any of these papers, please send a message to [email protected] for electronic copies or download from http://www.fao.org/FORESTRY/FO/FRA/index.jsp (under Publications)