Massachusetts Audubon: Birding in Belize

Birding in Belize

Bill Gette and David Larson from the Joppa Flats Education Center are currently mid-way through the third year of teaching the Certificate Program in Bird Ecology to naturalist-guides, educators, and other interested parties in Belize. Developed in cooperation with Mass Audubon’s conservation partner, Programme for Belize, this course aims to build sustainable ecotourism capacity in Belize through instruction in bird biology and leadership skills.

After two years of teaching in the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area in northern Belize, this year’s course is taking place in Punta Gorda in the south in cooperation with the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, another of Mass Audubon’s Belizean conservation partners. To see this training in action, watch this video of a Belizean guide, one of 39 who already earned the certificate, now teaching local Belizean kids how to bird.

Mass Audubon has been active in Belize conservation since the 1980s. To learn more about this conservation work, email Karen O’Neill or take a look at this comprehensive Sanctuary magazine article. And if you’d like your own look at a White-collared Manakin, consider joining Mass Audubon’s annual trip to Belize. This year’s tour is full – but will run again in 2011.

 

What is the best description of “biodiversity” you have heard or read?

On Facebook yesterday, the International Year of Biodiversity asked this question and it intrigued me – do you have an answer or answers?

International Year of Biodiversity 2010 Question: What is the best description of “biodiversity” that you’ve heard/read? One that effectively encapsulates the organisms, players and processes involved. One that highlights a sense of duty of preservation and one that recognizes so much benefits we derive from it…

Please comment and tell us your answers.

Ruth

 

February is Lobster Month at TIDE

TIDE has selected themes for each of the twelve months of the year. February focuses on Lobster and the following article is authored by our Senior Marine Biologist. We invite you to comment and share your thoughts. The closed season begins 15 February 2010 and continues through 14 June 2010 – the same dates and interval each year – so no recipes, please.

photo taken by N. Foster

The Caribbean Spiny Lobster.

Dr. Nicola Foster, Senior Marine Biologist

The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, is a common inhabitant of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR) but in recent years numbers have declined. Spiny lobsters get their name from the small spines that cover their shell and protect them from predators, such as octopus, turtles, nassau grouper and sharks. Unlike their European and American relatives, spiny lobsters lack the large pinching claws used for catching prey. Instead, they use chemical sensors and a complex nervous system to detect prey. Spiny lobsters inhabit coral reef areas and hide in protective holes, crevices and recesses during the day. At night they come out into the open to forage, where they feed upon slow moving animals such as snails, clams, mussels, small sea urchins, small crabs, shrimps and worms.

Spiny lobsters are an important commercial species in Belize and to help protect the population numbers there is a closed season from February 15^th to June 14^th, every year. During this time, it is illegal to catch spiny lobsters throughout Belize. Spiny lobsters mate between March and June and the closed season is in place to ensure that mating occurs. Females typically lay approximately 200,000 to 300,000 eggs (but on average only 1 or 2 will survive to adulthood) which are bright orange in colour and attach to hook-like hairs on the small legs beneath her tail. Eggs hatch after approximately 3 weeks into larvae which live in the water column and are transported by oceanic currents. During this phase they can grow from 2mm to 34mm in length and after 6 to 12 months they begin their migration back to near shore areas where they settle in algae and seagrass beds. Spiny lobsters reach maturity at around 3 years of age when they migrate to the reef where they will spend their adult life and begin to reproduce.

If you are snorkelling or diving in PHMR in the next few months keep your eyes open for spiny lobsters, you may see a female carrying her bright orange eggs or if you are really lucky you may spot a small juvenile lobster in the seagrass. In order to help protect the population of spiny lobsters in PHMR there are a few rules we can follow. Please remember: don’t take lobsters during the closed season, don’t take undersized lobsters (less than 3inch cape length) and don’t take females bearing eggs. If you would like more information about spiny lobsters please call into the TIDE offices or contact us by email or phone.

Nicola Foster

 

The bird at the end of the dock

Working at TIDE has some special benefits and the natural resources and beauty of Belize is definately a part of this special organization. A heron on the TIDE dock and a camera captures this one example, but we have daily reminders that the work we do in conservation is needed and necessary.

Ruth Anne

Development Director, TIDE

 

US Ambassador to Belize visits TIDE

Vinai Thummalapally, Ambassador to Belize, visited Punta Gorda and spent several hours with Celia Mahung, Executive Director of TIDE and staff members. It was a great pleasure to be able to share the work of TIDE with Ambassador Thummalapally. His schedule included visits to other nongovernmental organizations.

Mr. Thummalapally, from Colorado, is the President of MAM-A Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of recordable optical discs.  Prior to his role at MAM-A Inc., he served as the plant manager for Mitsui Advanced Media Inc., which also manufactures recordable optical discs.  He has served in several other similar roles in his 31-year career, including as General Manager for WEA Manufacturing, as a Managing Partner of Clines Office Products, and as Manufacturing Manager of Disc Manufacturing, Inc.  He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from California State University and completed post graduate courses in Business Administration.

 

Updates on the TIDE website

There are several great updates on the TIDE website – you can visit the website and link from there or the direct links have been included below. Enjoy these great resources. In the near future you can be looking forward to a “new and updated” TIDE website and our 2009 Annual report.

Link to a video that presents our birdwatching class

Review the PHMR Monitoring Research Report for 2009

Information about a Master of Marine Mangement program accepting applications.

December 2009 Coral Bleaching Report

And don’t forget to check out our 2009/2010 Wish List on the main page of the website and available for download as a pdf document.

 

TIDE Rangers rescue threatened Crocodile

Threatened Croc Saved in Punta Gorda
contributed by Marine Biologist Cherie Chenot-Rose, ACES/American Crocodile Education Sanctuary

On December 23rd, while monitoring the biodiversity of the Rio Grande River, three TIDE Rangers, Santiago, Luis and Nelson, rescued an injured and starving American Crocodile. Knowing only one place that could save the small sick animal, the rangers dropped it off at ACES / American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (click here to link to ACES). Permitted by the Belize Forest Department, ACES is a licensed facility allowed to deal with all crocodilian in the country. ACES’s Biologist Cherie and Croc Expert, Vince Rose, applied antibiotics to the croc’s injured eye and force fed it small fish and shrimp. The malnourished animal is now feeding on its own and has gained over 10 ounces. Totally blind in its right eye which sustained a one inch cut deflating the eyeball, the croc is unable to catch prey in the wild due to this injury and will remain in captivity. The croc may be exported to the Wildlife Discovery Center near Chicago where it will be used to teach students about Belize’s wildlife and raise funds for Crocodile Conservation in Belize.

ACES is a non-profit organization committed to conserving Belize’s critical habitats and protected species, specifically Crocodilians, through scientific research and education to prevent further extinction of species Worldwide and to preserve Belize’s wildlife for future generations. To date, Cherie and Vince have rescued 36 crocodiles, both American and Morelet’s, and have been able to re-release 10 into uninhabited areas of the Sibun Nation Forest. And, one rescued croc now resides at the Belize Zoo.

ACES most recent croc rescues involved three large American Crocs that were going to be shot on Ambergris Caye. Having been fed for years by locals as a tourist attraction, these large Apex Predators now associate man with food. Protected under the Belize Wildlife Protection ACT (Chapter 220), it is illegal to feed or catch a crocodile and a person can be fined up to $500 BZ. Because the crocs were illegally fed, they now have no fear of humans making them extremely dangerous. Almost 12 ft in length, these ambush predators were living underneath DFC homes looking for an easy meal. One of the crocs was known to have eaten over 5 dogs in the past few months.

ACES rescues these crocs because they are nearing extinction. With only 10,000 to 20,000 left World-wide they are as rare as the polar bears. The reason it seems to locals that there are so many, is because Belize’s pristine mangrove habitats are the last stronghold for these modern day dinosaurs. In laboratory studies, crocodile blood kills HIV and Herpes simplex.

To report croc-human conflicts contact ACES at 665-CROC (2762). ACES is open to the public by reservations for a donation of $12.50 US per person and half price for locals. Please respect the wildlife and help take a bite out of extinction!

 

Affected Communities of Toledo Reject Proposed Dam!

January 17, 2010 Meeting held in San Pedro Columbia, Toledo District, Belize

Information/narrative provided by Nicanor Requena

For the past couple months villagers of San Pedro Columbia and other communities in the Toledo District have been voicing their concerns regarding the propose Hydroelectric Development in Toledo. Of greatest concern to the community is the lack of information from the Government of Belize and Belize Hydroelectric Development and Management Company Limited (BHD) regarding a concession agreement signed between the Government of Belize and BHD on December 5, 2008. The community is opposing the concession particularly where it states that, “BHD proposes to continue and intensify its ongoing studies and develop, to its fullest potential, the hydroelectric resources of the Rio Grande River and its Tributaries including the Central River, all upstream of the Rio Grande Hydroelectric Project, to design, construct, own and operate hydroelectric generating facilities, all in the Toledo District, Belize, C.A”.

On November 28, 2009 when the villagers of San Pedro Columbia formed the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve committee they were tasked with seeking information regarding this proposed project and making the community’s concerns and opposition known to Government.  Community members would like to highlight the following concerns:

First, we categorically reject the proposed Hydro Electric Development and its related activities including research based on the fact that our Communities have for all our existence protected and depended on these resources for food, shelter, medicinal purposes, water, subsistence agriculture, cultural and spiritual purposes.

Second, the community would like to highlight that the Central River and all its tributaries are our primary Source of Water and hydro electric development would negatively affect our lives.

Third, our experience with Hydro Maya in San Miguel pioneered by the same developer found that such development threatens and destroys all our resources such as our forest, our Land and rivers. To this end we reject any further destruction to our resources.

Finally, we would like to state for the record that the communities affected by this development were never properly consulted nor did they give their consent. The communities will resist any form of development that does not first seek their consent.

On January 17, 2010 a public meeting was held in San Pedro Columbia to further discuss this proposed development.  Present on the part of the government were: the Chief Forest Officer Mr. Wilber Sabido, Mr. Franco from Department of Environment, and Hon. Juan Coy Toledo West Area. On the part of the communities were: Alcaldes and Village Council Chairmen of villages in the Toledo District, the Toledo Alcaldes Association and Maya Leaders Alliance, Ya’axché Conservation Trust, BELPO, TIDE, Human Rights Attorneys, Police Department among others.

The following were the main outcomes of the meeting:

• That Chief Forest Officer, Mr. Wilber Sabido, confirmed that he first became aware of the Concession agreement in June 2009, almost six months after it was signed by the Prime Minster and the Developer.
• Mr. Wilber Sabido confirmed that a “cease and desist” order was served by the Forestry Department to Belize Hydroelectric Development and Management Company Limited (BHD) on January 7, 2010.
• That the Cease and Desist is in effect until a full assessment of the activities being conducted by BHD in the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve is completed, reporting done and a decision made.
• Mr. Sabido confirmed that the Committee will form part of this entire process including conducting the assessment, reporting and making recommendations to arrive at a decision. Mr. Sabido confirmed that BHD has acknowledged receiving the Order issued by Forestry Department. Mr. Sabido confirmed that upon receiving permission he will deliver to the committee an official copy of the Cease and Desist order given to BHD.
• The community members and other participants present at the meeting reaffirmed disapproval of hydroelectric dams in Toledo before government representatives. It was very clear that the people present at the meeting are against this form of development and are hopeful that this message will reach the Prime Minster and his Cabinet.
• The Area Representative Juan Coy assured the community that he would support and take the position of the community and voice this position before the Cabinet.

As the committee continues to engage in an open process to resolve this issue in Toledo, we anticipate that the Government honors the position taken by the community. If our concerns are not adequately addressed, the committee will continue to advocate and stand against this injustice. We encourage Government of Belize to explore and consider other energy generating options that are less harmful to Belizeans ways of life and the Environment.

 

AMANDALA NEWS: Forest Dept. tells Belize Hydroelectric “cease and desist”

Forest Dept. tells Belize Hydroelectric “cease and desist”

Posted: 15/01/2010 – 10:47 AM by AMANDALA News (please use above title/link to access the original story)

Chief Forestry Officer Wilber Sabido has confirmed reports that the Forest Department had on Thursday, January 7, issued a cease and desist order to Belize Hydroelectric Development & Management Company Limited (BHD).

“It is in effect until the assessment is finalized, a report is submitted, and a decision made on the way forward. We estimate that this would be concluded by the end of January 2010. If there is a need to extend this cease and desist order, then we will,” said Sabido.

He told our newspaper that the department had expected to go into the area of Toledo on January 11, 2010; however, the security forces which were committed to the assessment exercise were recalled at the last minute. They plan to reschedule when the officers become available.

The Department plans to evaluate the impact of the company’s activities within the Bladen Nature Reserve. They intend to “…focus on evaluating whether there has been blatant disregard for the conditions of the research permit issued to the company, especially as it pertains to clearance of vegetation, tampering with naturally occurring features, helicopter landing, removal of vegetation from areas with slope greater than 20 percent, especially around waterways and areas of interest, camping, littering.”

While the Ya’axche Conservation Trust, which co-manages Bladen, claims that granting a permit under the concession agreement amounts to a violation of the National Parks Systems Act, and is contrary to the intended purpose of a nature reserve, Sabido said the Department has the authority to issue research permits to entities to conduct studies within any protected area, including nature reserves. “This issue was also addressed satisfactorily in the Supreme Court ruling of 2006 in the case of SATIIM vs. Forest Department,” he added.

Regarding the issuance of xate licenses, the Chief Forestry Officer informed our newspaper that they had issued three, but two of those have been suspended.

“Illegal harvesting of the forest’s resources is a problem which is pervasive in developing countries, and in Belize especially, given the shared border area with Guatemala. …There are few areas that are inaccessible by xateros,” commented Sabido.

He claimed that the companies that had gotten xate licenses were given them “to collect information to develop harvesting plans, which should clearly establish a cutting cycle based on the known ability of the xate plant to regenerate xate leaves.”

Friends for Conservation and Development’s executive director Rafael Manzanero had indicated last week that the Chiquibul Forest Reserve had no stock according to studies, and he fears that xatéros will target the stock inside the Chiquibul National Park as a result.

“A study of 2005 notes that given the illegal extraction, there was no way that a local concessionaire could do a sustainable harvest, and thus the product could get more depleted in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Thus it was recommended that a more serious look be given to the overall management,” Manzanero said.

“Since then, all of our analysis shows that illegal extraction has been ongoing, and thus the impetus over the years has been to move further away from the Chiquibul Forest Reserve into other areas further into the Maya Mountains, since the xate stock nearer the border is no longer viable,” he concluded.

 

Oceana Blog: Foreign Fleets Trespass in Belizean Waters

Foreign Fleets Trespass in Belizean Waters

Posted Fri, Jan 15, 2010 by andy to Oceana (please link to the original article above)

One day in December, the residents of the seaside village of Punta Gorda in Belize looked out to the horizon and saw something unexpected: Jamaican fishing boats. They had arrived, unannounced and without permits, to fish in Belize’s diverse waters. Many of Punta Gorda’s local fishermen still work the shallow waters inside the Belize Barrier Reef from individual canoes using age-old methods to provide lobster, shellfish and reef fish for Belizeans, as well as a small but thriving export business. The Jamaican boats, with more sophisticated commercial gear, offered no such promise for the local economy or the continued sustainability of Belize’s fisheries. A few unpermitted Jamaican fishing boats may seem like a local hurly-burly, and after an uproar the boats were turned away by Belizean authorities. But Oceana has discovered that the fight to protect Belize’s waters from exploitation has just begun. Other countries with larger fleets, namely Taiwan and Spain – Europe’s largest and most aggressive fishing nation – have already approached the government of Belize about moving into the deep waters beyond the Belize Barrier Reef. One of the ecological jewels of the Western Hemisphere is now clearly at risk. Belize has no policy in place to protect itself from foreign nations coming in and fishing out its waters, which are currently so untouched that we don’t really even know what kinds of seafood – or exotic wildlife or rare habitats – might be there. The same situation unfolded in the last half of the 20th century off the coast of West Africa when Asian and European fleets won agreements from local governments that allowed them to decimate both wildlife and local fishing economies. What was once a hotspot of marine diversity and a source of food for Africans was irreversibly damaged. You might not hear about the situation in Belize in the news because, for the most part, it hasn’t been made public. But since Oceana opened its Central American office in Belize City last year, we have become an ally for Belizeans who want to protect their patch of ocean. We’ve already gotten assurances from Dean Barrow, the prime minister, that no Jamaican deal will move forward, and we are pushing for a comprehensive policy to protect Belizean waters from foreign fleets. Our colleagues are working hard to get a policy in place that will protect the great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, ensuring a healthy future for the people and wildlife that depend on it. [Andy Sharpless is the CEO of Oceana.]