Organization: ACES/American Crocodile Education Sanctuary
Presenter: Cherie Chenot-Rose, Biologist
Summary of Presentation:
Crocodilians Role as Apex Predators in Belize’s Ecosystems
And International Wildlife Viewing Guidelines
As Apex Predators in Belize’s Ecosystems, Crocodilians keep down small mammal populations, such as rats and raccoons; as nest builders, they dig holes aerating the soil and carefully construct nests from vegetation which over the years adds land to mangrove areas and when their nests break down, peat is formed, a moisture-absorbing plant matter that acts as a natural fire retardant; they control non-game-fish populations, such as catfish and eels, which otherwise would overpopulate and decimate resources for game-fish; when they travel from one place to the next over land, their heavy bodies make trails through the mangrove that are important for water flow; and they dig croc-holes to stay cool in during dry season which also provide refuge for crabs, fish and turtles. Perfectly adapted to their environment, these millions of years old modern day dinosaurs are truly happiest when they are just left alone to do those things crocodiles do.
Wildlife Viewing Code of Conduct
- Keep Your Distance. Avoid stressing the wildlife or exposing them to danger by keeping well back and limiting time spent observing the animal(s). Keep your groups small to reduce impact on the environment. Protected Species Regulations require you remain at least 100 yards from any protected species and limit your time spent observing any protected species to 30 minutes.
- Never Harass Wildlife. No animal(s) should be encircled or trapped, this includes between boats, or between a boat and shore. If approached by the animal(s), allow them to pass and do not obstruct their path of travel. Boaters are to put their engine in neutral.
- Hands Off. Do not touch or attempt to interact with the animal(s). Wildlife can behave unpredictably and may also transmit disease. The handling of any protected species without a scientific permit is illegal in Belize.
- Do Not Feed Wildlife. Attempting to attract wildlife with food disrupts normal feeding cycles and may cause sickness or death from unnatural or contaminated food items. Offering food, including discarded fish or fish waste or any other food item is prohibited.
- Help Keep Wildlife Habitats Clean. Please pick up trash. Garbage, particularly plastic, is one of the greatest threats to wildlife which may view the item as food or become entangled.
- Be Responsible. Be discrete when approaching wildlife and others. If operating a boat, reduce your speed in areas frequented by wildlife and encourage others to do the same. Speak up if you notice anyone behaving in a way that disturbs wildlife or impacts sensitive habitats. Violations should be reported to local authorities. And, always remember to respect the rights of landowners and do not enter private property without the owner’s explicit permission.
- Teach by Example. As Tour Guides you are role models. Acknowledge you are a professional and bear the responsibility to place the wildlife’s welfare first by teaching this code to others.
Remember: plants are wildlife too and deserve to be treated with like respect.
On September 21, 1981, Belize agreed to be bound by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) treaty. CITES is an international treaty drawn up in 1973 to protect wildlife against over-exploitation, and to prevent international trade from threatening species. For more information www.cites.org
Belize’s Wildlife Protection Act and other laws may be viewed at www.belizelaw.org
Be Kind Belize – Organization Information
Name of Organisation: Be Kind Belize
Main Contact: Colette Kase
Email/Phone: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 501-226-4366
Location: San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Mission: To provide effective humane education within primary schools on Ambergris Caye.
Goals: Short Term – To form relationships with local schools, acquire and train volunteer educators and provide one programme within each primary school on Ambergris Caye.
Long Term – To provide training to school faculty enabling primary schools to develop and run their own in house humane education programme and to make the programme available nationally.
Current Educational Outreach: Providing humane education workshops in two schools on Ambergris Caye on a regular basis as well as organising specific educational talks within schools when possible.
Volunteer Opportunities: Be Kind Belize offers training to volunteers who are willing to contribute 2 hours per week to become humane educators in local schools.
Organization: Be Kind Belize
Presenter: Colette Kase
Summary of Presentation:
Humane Education is based on the concept that all life is precious and is practised by teaching young people the value and importance of treating other living creatures with kindness. In Belize, probably more than most places in the world, the cycle of life is all around us. Belize is a country that treasures and values its natural resources and many Belizeans have worked hard to ensure that much of this beautiful country is kept as natural reserves. This means that some animals are now well protected and respected, but not all. Children in Belize may encounter many animals as they grow up, both domestic and wild.
Humane education helps children develop interpersonal skills such as speaking and listening while improving their attitudes towards caring for others. Humane Education promotes empathy and respect for all life.
The Be Kind Belize Humane Education programme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the Belize National Curriculum and is aimed at children between the ages of 8-10 years old. Lessons complement and enhance studies in math, science, social studies, art and health. Lesson plans can be adapted as needed to fit in with the principles of different schools and as all lessons are interactive, the children are more likely to learn effectively because they will be personally involved in the learning process.
The Be Kind Belize Programme has been running successfully through this school year on Ambergris Caye, Belize with immense support from the local community. Ambergris Caye is the most populated caye in Belize, with a population that ranges from 12,000 – 20,000 people depending on the season and is home to two national reserves, Bacalar Chico, which has a vast array of wildlife and Hol Chan, which is a marine reserve. Be Kind Belize visits participating schools and teaches within the classroom, not only educating children but also faculty, encouraging their participation. Relationships are being developed with schools to the extent that they not only welcome the programme but are now demanding further workshops.
This presentation will outline the programmes methodology and include examples of wildlife related workshop exercises from the Be Kind Belize Education programme. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the workshops and experience the programme from a child’s perspective. All workshop exercises will be made freely available to conference participants to be used as is or adapted to specific areas of study.
Organization: Belize Raptor Research Institute: a new non-profit organization dedicated to birds of prey
Presenter: Ryan Phillips
Summary of Organization:
The Belize Raptor Research Institute (BRRI) was started in 2008 in response to the lack of information on Neotropical raptors and to the high human population growth directly impacting these apex predators and their habitats. BRRI helps protect Neotropical raptors in the northern Central America region through the sound science approach. We strive to learn about raptors in the wild through extensive field research, while educating the local and international public about raptor conservation. Our goals are six-fold: better understand Neotropical raptors through sound science, so better management decisions can be made: provide education outreach throughout Belize and the region: train future conservationists and raptor biologists in field research techniques targeting the local peoples: provide volunteer and internship opportunities for national and international students: partner up with local and international conservation groups: and help protect raptors long term in the wild through education and research. Currently BRRI has two main projects, which include the Belize Hawk-Eagle Program and the Solitary Eagle Project. BRRI is also interested in raptor migration through Belize in particular movements of the Swallow-tailed Kite and Hook-billed Kite. In the future BRRI would like to set up migration count stations in five locations throughout Belize, which include Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Corozal, Ambergris Caye, and Punta Gorda.
Organization: Virginia Wildlife Center
Presenter: Ed Clark
Summary of Presentations:
Strategic Planning for Conservation – Too many organizations and programs are so consumed with what they do, they never stop to consider why they are doing it—i.e. what is there mission. As a result, people are busy, money is spent, and short-term objectives are achieved, but nothing changes in the big picture. Better planning is often the answer. This presentation emphasizes the definition of “mission, goals, and objectives, as stepping-stones to success.”
Taking the Mystery Out of Fundraising - Most organizations believe that because they are doing “good work” or have “important project” that someone should give them money with which to do this work or these projects. The most important principle of fundraising is: Nobody gives you money because you need money. They give you money because you are going to do something with it that will make the donor happy. The presentation addresses how to frame your projects or requests in a way to appeal to funders, individual, governmental and corporate. This can be a presentation or a longer workshop (up to six hours)
Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation- Conservation is less about field science than social science. Unless a conservation program impacts human behaviors and decision-making, it will not succeed in protecting either wildlife or habitat!
Successful Conservation Models – The conservation organizations and programs that succeed, and truly make a difference, generally are multi-dimensional.
Three components necessary for wildlife conservation success are:
1) Direct expertise or involvement with wildlife and habitat.
2) Active engagement with the public through education and public relations.
3) Active engagement with public policy, the government or the legal/political system.
Organization: Belize Raptor Research Institute: a new non-profit organization dedicated to birds of prey
Presenter: Ryan Phillips
Summary of Presentation:
Hawk-Eagles of Belize
Neotropical raptors are in dire need of study as basic natural history information on the breeding biology and ecology of over half are unknown (Cade 1989). Birds of prey, being apex predators, are very useful indicators of habitat degradation within areas with high human population growth and economic pressures (Bierregaard 1995). The three hawk-eagle species (Black, Ornate, and Black and White) found throughout Central and South America are no where common and lack baseline data to make proper management decisions.
From anecdotal record trends and dwindling habitat the hawk-eagles are considered “species with dangerously low populations” (Clinton-Eitniear 1986). All three hawk-eagle species are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but the Black and White Hawk-Eagle was listed as Near Threatened from 1988 to 2000 (IUCN 2008). With insufficient baseline data we can not properly assess present populations and make demographic predictions. The hawk-eagles could be more or less endangered than current estimations, so projects like this will better quantify populations.
To date, The Peregrine Fund’s Maya Project is one of the largest full scale studies conducted on Neotropical raptors, which took place in Tikal National Park, Guatemala during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Of the three hawk-eagle species the Ornate Hawk-Eagle has been studied extensively from nest surveys to radio telemetry (Lyon and Kuhnigk 1985, Klein et. al. 1988, Flatten et. al. 1989, J. Madrid et. al. 1991, H. Madrid et. al. 1992). During the Maya Project three Black Hawk-Eagle nests were studied, which gained valuable information on nesting, diet and movement patterns, but not enough to make any population estimates (Funes et. al. 1992). Other than the Maya Project only a few nests have been recorded throughout the Black Hawk-Eagle’s global range and only one study has been conducted on home range and movement patterns (Smith 1970, Rangel-Salazar and Enriquez-Rocha 1993, Canuto 2008). The Black and White Hawk-Eagle is the least known and basic natural history information is lacking, including identification of juveniles and incubation periods. It has never been studied extensively and only two nests have been described (Strauch 1975, Canuto 2008).
In 2009, the Belize Raptor Research Institute (BRRI) launched the Hawk-Eagle Program in Belize as an effort to better understand all three poorly known hawk-eagle species. This minimum ten year program will focus on locating active nests of all three species of Hawk-Eagle (Ornate, Black, and Black and White), gaining information on nesting biology, home range size, movement patterns, habitat utilization, foraging ecology and understanding intraspecific and interspecific competition through nest monitoring and radio telemetry. To date, BRRI with the help of local peoples and other organizations have located seven active nests throughout Belize; one Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus); four Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus); and two Black and White Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus melanoleucus). These nests will continue to be monitored along with locating new nests and radio telemetry studies will begin in 2010.
Organization: Nature Works
Presenter: Ed Bols
Summary of Presentation:
Importance of Riparian Forests as Wildlife Habitat and Corridors and Deforestation Threats
Riparian forests provide vital landscape-scale services, including bank stabilization, runoff filtration, organic matter production for aquatic systems and flood mediation. These forests, typically representing the larger forests within the landscape, are also very important as wildlife habitat matrices and corridors. Many wildlife species frequent riparian forests while some species, such as black howler monkeys, scarlet macaws and green iguanas, are primary users of these forests. Within Belize, riparian forests are afforded protection under the National Lands Act and the Lands Utilization Act to a width of about 20 meters (66 feet) from the high water mark. However, these laws are essentially not enforced, resulting in a current estimate of an annual loss of riparian forests ranging from 10 to 13% outside of protected areas. Riparian deforestation is largely due to cattle, crops, tourism development, residential development and general lack of public and political awareness.
Organization: Marisa Tellez-Research with American Crocodiles; UCLA
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Presenter: Marisa Tellez
Summary of PhD project:
1) Investigating hybridization between the Morelet's and American Crocodile and examining the parasitic fauna of hybrids. I’m interested in assessing if hybrids have parasites of both species, as well examining if hybrids are a source of host-switching to new populations. This can lead to pertinent information in understanding pathogen dispersal, as well as what measures need to be taken to ensure the genetic integrity of both crocodilian species.
2) Investigating how anthropogenic alterations of the environment are affecting the life-cycle of crocodilian parasite Proctocaecum. Parasites are key indicators for the health of the environment due to their dependent nature of hosts. By assessing the relationship of crocodiles (an organism claimed to have the strongest immune system in the world) and their parasites, information about the health of their environment may be revealed. In addition, if Proctocaecum is less abundant, new parasites can infest crocodiles which can have a disastrous impact for crocodiles that may have low fitness due to stress caused by environmental alterations. The loss of a keystone predator such as crocodilians can lead to an environment that is highly unstable.
Organization: Omar A. Figueroa
Presenter: Omar A. Figueroa
Summary of Presentation:
Spatial Ecology and Conservation of Jaguars and Pumas in Central Belize.
Effective long term management and conservation strategies for wide ranging carnivores must consider habitat requirements and conservation needs across entire landscapes but inherent difficulties in sampling at appropriate spatial and temporal scales makes these strategies difficult to elaborate. The Western highway in central Belize has presented a major challenge for national conservation efforts since it essentially dissects the country in half and thereby presents major challenges insofar as biological connectivity and natural continuity are concerned. Within this region the jaguar and the puma stand out for their ecological significance and cultural relevance. As the top predators in tropical systems they are ideal species upon which to focus research and conservation efforts. GPS tracking technology is currently being used to map movement patterns, estimate home range size and to determine the spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use. Spatially explicit models of habitat suitability will form the framework of large scale assessment of jaguar habitat.
Organization: Panthera
Presenter: Bart Harmsen, PhD, Jaguar Coordinator of Belize
Summary of Organization:
Panthera is an organization for the conservation of wild cats around the world, with an emphasis on the most threatened and endangered cats. Our tagline is partners in wild cat conservation: we seek local partners to achieve specific goals and objectives as recognized by Panthera personnel or local partners. The current emphasis is on the big cats around the world as they are the most threatened group of cats due to their large home ranges and competition with people for prey. The programs of Panthera are now expanding to some of the highly endangered smaller cats, including the Andean mountain cat, Pallas cat, Bornean Bay cat, Clouded leopards. In Latin America Panthera mainly focuses on jaguars, the largest Neotropical cat. We have recognized that fragmentation of habitat is one of the largest problems for jaguars across their range. Much of our efforts are therefore focused on ensuring connectivity between populations to assure long-term viability of populations. Here in Belize our activity has mainly revolved around three main activities: 1. The long-term research in the Cockscomb Basin 2. The implementation of corridors between protected forest blocks, particularly the Northern Rio Bravo block and the Southern Maya Mountains. 3. Reduction of human-jaguar conflict throughout the country
Organization: Runaway Creek Nature Reserve research and conservation
Presenter: Dr. Gilbert Boese, Foundation for Wildlife Conservation
Presenter: Wilbur Martinez, Birds Without Borders – Aves Sin Fronteras
Summary of Organization:
RCNR is the headquarters for FWC’s primary research, conservation, and education programs in Belize Central America. Birds Without Borders – Aves Sin Fronteras (BWB-ASF) ® an avian research project and manager of RCNR was launched in 1996 in response to the decline of bird populations in the Western Hemisphere. BWB-ASF set out to determine how human-induced change is affecting the survival of both resident and migratory birds in Wisconsin, USA and Belize, Central America. With the purchase of RCNR in 1999, BWB-ASF launched a program of daily Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), which focused on assessing the habitats and species within the reserve.
We have also conducted training programs in bird-banding, avitourism, and educational outreach facilitated information to landowners, and local school children about their country’s biological diversity. Now with BWB-ASF well established and the REA program at RCNR nearly 80% complete, we have developed new strategic goals for the growth and management of RCNP/BWB-ASF as an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) managed by Belizeans and embarked into three major wildlife research. RCNR rangers are actively involved with mist netting and bird banding/ mercury studies with Dr. David Evers from Biodiversity Research institute, the conservation ecology of Jaguar research with Omar Figueroa from University of Florida and a Spider monkey research project with Mary Pavelka from the University of Calgary.
Organization: Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, project conducted through University of Calgary
Presenters: Brittany Dean and Stevan Reneau
Summary of Presentation:
The Study of Ateles geoffroyi yucatanesis at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve
This study project is the first to be conducted on spider monkeys in Belize and is currently being conducted at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve. Two projects are currently being conducted simultaneously, one on diet and activity patterns and another on social relations, more specifically on the degree of sexual segregation and genetic relatedness. Study groups and their ranging patterns will be discussed as well as interesting finds, such as similarities and differences reported from other sub-species of spider monkeys.
The conservation status of this species will then be discussed as well as current threats to their survival such as habitat loss, hunting and the illegal pet trade. Spider monkeys have very slow maturation rates as well as long gestation rates so once their population starts to decline it is hard for them to build their numbers back. Spider monkeys also play an important role in seed dispersing as their predation on seeds they swallow is very low, this means that areas that spider monkeys inhabit tend to have more tree species and are healthier.
The presentation will conclude with the importance of preserving habitat in Belize and will touch on the importance of the proposed wildlife corridor.
This project is currently active and will continue as long as funding allows.
Organization: The Peregrine Fund
Presenter: Yeray Seminario
Summary of Presentation:
Current Status of the Orange-breasted Falcon in Belize
The Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) is one of the least known and possibly rarest falcons in the world. Though occurring from Guatemala and Belize to northern Argentina, this falcon is not known to be abundant anywhere. Its distribution is patchy and it is seemingly rare in most areas. For reasons still to be understood, this species appears to be absent from apparently suitable habitat in much of Central and South America.
In 1979, The Peregrine Fund began studying wild populations of the Orange-breasted Falcon (OBF) in Guatemala, Belize, and Ecuador. Field biologists located several pairs and made initial field observations. In 1991, as part of The Peregrine Fund’s Maya Project, an intensive effort began to find and study nesting pairs in Guatemala and Belize. These efforts resulted in a report on the species' population status and reproductive trends in these two countries. More recent searches have been conducted since, from Honduras and El Salvador south to Panama and encountered no OBFs except for a few pairs in southern Panama.
It’s prudent to consider the Guatemala/Belize enclave as a small, intrinsically vulnerable population, disjunct from the rest of the species' breeding range. Whether it is relatively common anywhere within its larger South American range is unknown, and no reliable estimate of the global population size can currently be made. Therefore, additional research on this species' distribution, population size, and population tendencies throughout the species' range is needed.
Currently, TPF’s Orange-breasted Falcon Project occurs in Panama, Guatemala and Belize, and consists of field studies to determine the status of the species. Due to the frequency of nesting failure that has been seen in both Panama and Belize in the last five years, one of the project’s goals is to determine the reasons for this apparent low productivity.
In this presentation we will focus on Belize population status and productivity trend as well as describing limiting factors that might be affecting the species, such as limited number of suitable nest sites in cliffs and emergent trees, availability of food or habitat loss due to logging and agriculture. There’s no evidence that chemical pollutants are affecting breeding success, but the possibility of such effects should perhaps not be ruled out.
Organization: Ya'axché Conservation Trust
Name of main contact: Nick Wicks
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 722 0108
Location: #2 Prince Street, Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize, Central. America
Website Address: www.yct.bz
Summary of Organization
Mission: The Ya'axché Conservation Trust is a community-oriented organization which advances integrated landscape management for equitable development in southern Belize through sustainable land use management, strategic advocacy and awareness, and by supporting socially innovative and economically viable enterprises.
Goals: (short term/long term):
1. Ensure that the Maya Golden Landscape (previously referred to as the Golden Stream Landscape/Watershed) is being managed in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable manner through the promotion of best practices.
2. Ensure that the protected areas of the Maya Golden Landscape are managed effectively with particular focus on the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve.
3. Ensure that communities and other entities are benefitting from improved land use through careful planning.
4. Increase food security and reduce poverty within the GSL through the development of viable economic enterprises.
5. Support communities in the implementation of development plans;
6. Increase environmental awareness and active participation in eco-friendly practices.
7. Influence policy and legal reform on sustainable development issues relevant to Ya'axché’s work.
8. Ensure the enforcement of selected policies through monitoring and advocacy; 9. Ensure that Ya'axché is effectively governed and managed.
Projects: At any one time, Ya'axché has a number of projects that are being implemented. However, we do not promote these projects as entities by themselves, but as part of our holistic landscape level approach to sustainable development.
Current Educational Outreach: Ya'axché conducts an extensive suite of educational outreach, primarily within its target communities within Toledo: Indian Creek, Golden Stream, Medina Bank, Trio and Bladen.
Volunteer opportunities: Ya'axché currently provides a range of volunteer opportunities within its work, for more information, contact us.
Organization: Ya’axché Conservation Trust
Presenter: Nick Wicks
Summary of Presentations:
Collaborative Landscape Approaches – the solution for Belize’s Wildlife?
As the Belizean population and economy continue to grow, ever increasing demands are being placed on the nation’s natural resources. To mitigate the impacts of these demands on wildlife and habitat, it is vital to understand that land/resource use issues cut across ecological, social, political and administrative boundaries. Therefore single-entity and/or conservation only solutions to address these are likely to be ineffective. Through the Golden Stream Landscape (GSL) Initiative, Ya'axché, TIDE and the Forest Department have adopted a holistic collaborative and landscape-level approach to tackling major and interrelated environmental, social and economic issues. This initiative is being guided by an Adaptive Management process which has included the development and initial implementation of landscape-level plans for the biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, research and business and marketing plans for the GSL. To date this has already resulted in a number of successes including increased Protected Area management effectiveness, decreased hunting and logging incidences within the GSL, enhanced capacity amongst staff through a joint training program, fostered exemplary private sector – NGO relationships and empowered communities in shaping their own development. It is envisaged that this initiative will continue to contribute towards the implementation of the National Protected Area Policy and System Plan as well as Belize’s overall development for many years to come, serving as a model for all wildlife stakeholders within Belize.
Developing a National Hicatee Conservation Strategy
The Central American River turtle (Dermatemys mawii), or Hicatee as it is known in Belize, has suffered drastic declines in most of its range in southern Mexico and northern Guatemala due to commercial and subsistence hunting. National legislation to protect the Hicatee turtle in Belize appears ineffective, with indicators suggesting populations have declined sharply in recent years. Efforts to halt and reverse this trend are hampered by a general lack of awareness of the conservation status of the Hicatee turtle, its current and recent population status, the scope and severity of the threats facing the species and the subsequent impact on both the local and national population. The Hicatee is a traditional Belizean delicacy and a very popular dish during the Catholic period of Lent. Hunting has thus been considered an important cultural right and there has been a marked reticence to implement the modest protective legislation that was enacted in the 1980’s. If adequate and realistic Hicatee conservation measures are to be adopted by Belize, and enforced by the Fisheries Department and its partners, there must be a drastic change in awareness in the government at all levels and the public at large. Moreover, whilst crucial to the overall conservation effort, localized initiatives alone are unlikely to sufficiently safeguard the species.
A national approach must therefore be adopted which engages many stakeholders throughout the country. This approach must be informed by a comprehensive report on the current status of Hicatee populations nationally, the threats facing them and viable strategies to safeguard the species. Ya'axché and Wildtracks are therefore currently actively fundraising, alongside the Fisheries and Forest Departments, to develop, and with stakeholder participation, and implement this assessment.
