DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE ON BELIZE Funded by A.I.D., Bureau of Science and Technology, Office of Forestry, Environment and Natural Resources under RSSA SA/TOA 1-77 with I.S. Man and the Biosphere Frogram Department of State Washington, D.C. February 1982 Prepared by the Arid Lands Information Cen,.er Office of Arid Lands Studies University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona R5721 Stephen L. Hilty - Compiler THE UNITED STATES NAT1©A4.- Cr C'M,.- , MAN AND THE BIOSPHERE ,, : Depa-=ment of State, ZO/UCS WASI-41NOTON. M. C.* 20!520 An Introductory Note on Draft Environmental Profiles. The attached draft environmenrtal report has been prepared under a contract between the U.S. Agency for international Development (AID), Office of Forestry, Environment, and Yatural Resources (S /1.NP.) and the U.S. Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Procgram. it is a preliminari review of information available in the United States on the status of the environment and the natural resources of the identified country and is one of a series of similar studies now underway on countries which receive U.S. bilateral assistance. This -eport is the irst step in a process to develop better information for the AID 'Misson, for host country officials, and others on the environmental situation in specific cotm iies and begins to identify the most critical areas of concern. A more comprehensive study may be undertaken in each country by Regional Bureaus and/or AID Missions. These would involve local scientists in a more detailed examination of the actual situations as well as a better definition of issues, problems and 2rl-oties. Such "Phase f1" studies would provide substance for the Agency's Country Develooment Strategy Statements as well as justifications for program initiatives in the areas of environment and natural resources. ora-ients on the actached draft report would be welcomed by USMAB and S?/FNR and should be addressed to either: James Co:son Molly Kux MIAB Project Coordinator Office of Forestry, Environment, and :O/1UCS/MAB OR Natural Resources SA-5 .rn 410 U.S. AID Departmenr of State Washington, D.C. 20523 WashintLon, D.C. 20520 A COM V1I 5. OF-T 'HE QNITED STATES NATIONAL. 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NECKZ*ARILY' kUYNOR TAriva SAM riamPjnt.-NgroBELIZE - GUYF OF tlO,VDIRAS o once mw - Mmidoy oo GUATEMALA a\'" _____________ ~H0 DURASrn TABLE OF CONTENTS Pagek List of Figures iii List of Tables V Summary vii 1.0 Introcuction 1 2.0 General Description 3 2.1 Relief and Climate 3 2.1.1 Relief 2.1.2 Rainfall 2.1.3 Temperature 2.1.4 Hur; icanes 2.2 Population 8 2.2.1 Historical and Political Background 2.2.2 Cultural Background 2.2.3 Population Growth and Distribution 2.2.4 Health and Nutrition 2.3 Land Use 13 2.3.1 Background and Trends 2.3.2 Forests and Crops 2.3.3 Cattle 3.0 Environmental Resources 19 3.1 Geology and Soils 19 3.1.1 Geological Formations 3.1.2 Mineral Deposits and Petroleum Reserves 3.1.3 Soils 3.2 'dater Resources 27 3.3 Vegetation 28 3.3.1 History of Botany in Belize 3.3.2 Floral Diversity and Bioqeography 3.3.3 Vegetation Formations and Communities 3.3.4 Timber and Forest Reserves Page 3.4 Fauna and Conservation 41 3.4.1 Mammals 3.4.2 Birds 3.4.3 Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish 3.4.4 Commercial Fisheries 3.4.5 Wildlife Protection Legislation 3.4.6 Reserves and Protected Areas 3.4.7 Tourism and Other Related Uses of the Environment 4.0 Environmental Problems 53 4.1 Rural Land Use Problems 53 4.1.1 Historical and Cultural Uniqueness of Land Use 4.1.2 Forestry Management Problems 4.1.3 Pollution and Agricultural Pesticides 4.1.4 National Land Use Policy 4.2 Urban and Rural Development Problems 57 4.2.1 Resettlement 4.2.2 Immigration Literature Cited 59 Appendix I. U.S. AID Programs to Belize 63 Appendix II. Proposed Activity of U.S. National Park Service in Belize 69 Appendix III. List of Mammals 72 Appendix IV. Bibliography 79 List of Figures Page Figure 1. Relief 4 Figure 2. Rainfall 6 Figure 3. Population Density 12 Figure 4. Geology of the Southern Two-thirds of Belize 20 Figure 5. Generalized North-South Geological Cross-section of the Western Flank of the Maya Mountains 21 Figure 6. Geological Map of the Maya Mountains 23 Figure 7. Stratigraphic Correlation of the Maya Mountains 23 Figure S. Provisional Soil Map 25 Figure 9. Vjetation Map of Belize 31 iii List of Tables Page Table 1. Land Use, 1964-76 14 Table 2. Municipal Water Supply Systems 28 Table 3. Common Trees of Tropical Dry Forest in Northern Belize 33 Table 4. Common Trees of Tropical Moist Forest and Tropical Wet Forest in Southern Belize 34 Table 5. Total Sawn Lumber Production, Mountain Pine Ridge, 1955-1970 39 Table 6. Total Pine Lumber Production From Thinnings, Mountain Pine Ridge, 1967-1970 39 Table 7. Total Sawn Lumber Production, 1967-71 40 Table 8. Forest Reserves managed by the Belize Forestry Service, 197' 40 Table 9. Vertebrates Listed by the U.S. Dept. Interior and the IUCN Red Data Look as Endangered or Threatened 42 Table 10. rhirty-two Subspecies of Birds Endemic to Northern Belize and th Yucatan Peninsula 44 Table 11. Species of Birds occuring in the Pinelands 46 Table 12. Species of Birds known to have Bred on the Cays Offshore 46 Table 13. Designated Protected Areas 49 V SU*,NARY The remarkable growth of the- timber ,n1stry and the corresoonding failure of agriculture o expand until relatively recently are vital to an understanding of che environmental opoblems in Belize. Further, these factors have caused problemsonvionmental in Belize that are less acute than in neighboring Lacin nmerican -ountries. For over 200 years exploitation of forests in Belize was the only reason for the existence of a Brit.s. settlement -n Centr, Aim,,erica, Timber was the basis of the economy, and withcut ii the reg;icn would have held little attraction to colonists. The strong economic base of sir.tber provided little incentive for people zo become involved in agriculu,-e. Ultimately, the timber industry executed a social as ,,ell as an economic influence on the attitudes of laborers, further contributing to a lack of interest in agriculture. 2-y t'.e early part ci the twenti.eth century accessible stands of forest with valuable trees wer e nearly exhausted and the timber indutry began a sharp aeciine. Cnsequentlv, 2lelze found itself without a viable economic base, f.nsuf ficient agricultural production to feed its population, and a very small ab)or for'-a. Additionally, participation in agrizlilture wa. discouraged by t'he excessive land speculation of a few wealthy landowners. Finally, in an effort to encourage development of the agriculture sector, and in order to keep land prices affordable to small landholders, a Rural Land 7Utiliza.ion tax was introduced in 1966, and followed by the Ai-ens Landholai:.g Ocinance in 1973. This landmark legislation was designed ro attract greater participation in agriculture, and if successful, it will have a significant impact on land use and the env ironment. The chief environmental concerns in Belize are: Derorestation - Reforestation. r ogging of the most commercially valuable trees--mahogany, logwood, and pine--has been extensive. In most areas that are accessible :o the looging industry nearly all of the large, har,-atable specimens of these trees have disappeared. Progress in reforestation has been limited, and hampered by the loss of extensive area of coastal forest to destructive hurricanes. Associated envifonnoental oroblems of the pine logging industry include disease protection and fire protection. Resei:j:lenea. The relocation of the country's capital seat from Belize to Belmopan, and the subsequent population sjrge in newly founded Belmopan :.ii:i eezte an enviz:onmenta. impact thac should be monitored. Likewise, the driv,. cy sbe government to encourage greater participation in the agricultural sector, and the government's effc -ts to stimulate i.mOmigraticr. to auc-nent the small labor force could cause serious problems to zne environment uless thes_, phenomena are *onitored closely. On the contrary, :he small labor fcrce in agriculture has encouraged adoption of modern 2,odJcti.on methods, and use of the n.ost productive lands. The introduc->.n of newer tecnnolgios is not likely to put exrloitational pressure on margirnal or unsuitable agricultural lands. Chemical pest control in agriculture already may be a proolem, or could become one in the futue. vii Lack of Parks and/or Preserves. Although not an environmental problem per se, the absence of any officially protected parks or preserves is of concern. Thirteen designated sanctuaries currently (October 1979) have not received protection. viii 1.C I:%oDuct;.on This draft environmental profile summarizes information available in the United Sates on the natural resources and environment of Belize. The reoort reviews the major env.ironenral problems of Belize and the impact of the development process upon resources and the environment. This reortraft represents thu first step in developing an environmental profile for ise by tne U.S.