Location

South America, south of Mexico and East of Guatemala Lonely Planet - Belize Mapand Belize--factbook

National websites

Coastal Treasures of Belize

Embassy / Chancery in U.S.

Agencies responsible for biological inventory and conservation

Ministry of Tourism and the Environment

Non-governmental organizations concerned with conservation

Belize Audubon Society

Major Natural Resources

Belize is home to at least 110 species of coral, and four main species of mangroves.Other ecosystems include Littoral Forests and Seagrass Beds (see Coastal Treasures of Belize).The coastal areas are very rich in biodiversity, especially invertebrates and marine plants (see Inhabitants of the Coastal Zones and Marine Plants).Belize is best known for itfs great barrier reef and richness in rare speacies (see CSA Belize: Natural History and Cultural Ecology). Fortunately, much of the natural land in Belize has been retained (see Belize PACT - Conservation in Belize)--the country is known for itfs ecological protection.Belizefs natural resources include fish and timber, but itfs greatest resource is its land.

Major Environmental and Conservation Issues

Bill and Claire Gray, authors of Belize Retirement Guide, write that Belize is gas pollution-free as any place can be, in this day and ageh (BELIZE FIRST: VOLUME II, NUMBER 2 Page 1).Furthermore, the population of Belize isnft threatening?itfs too small.By far, Belize is one of the most advanced countries in the world when it comes to environmental protection and conservation.Another source claims that a problem in Belize is gpollution from poor agricultural practicesh and ga small but growing population that is poor.hHowever, it is still agreed that the countryfs conservation record is gokay,h given Belizefs ggeneral lack of funds.h(Les Beletsky/Brief Eco-history of Belize and Northern Guatemala).Also, most of the actual citizens of Belize are not as enthusiastic about conservation and the environment as the government is?although the government is the key factor, it is necessary that a nationfs people also understand the worth of conservation.One group that does value the environment is the Mayan civilization of Belize, with strong spiritual ties to the forest.However, development and economic growth do threaten the environment (see Environment: BELIZE and GUYANA and Building Dam).Fortunately, there also exist a number of private, non-governmental organizations that are very dedicated to saving the environment.

Statistics

Information Sources

Land area

22,800 sq km

Index of country profiles (click on Belize.pdf, need Adobe Acrobat to view)

Area of forest

1998 ha

Area of wetlands

Area of territorial waters

160 sq. km

Population:

221,000 

Density:

~9.7 persons/ sq. km

Area protected (ha) (only areas >1000ha) at all IUCN levels:

Fraction of land area protected (%):

Major Protected Areas

See Coastal Treasures of Belize--Protected Areas for a partial list of protected Areas in Brazil.

Information Center for the Environment

Endemic Species

Endangered, Threatened and Vulnerable Species

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal 

Extinct Species

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal 

Species listed on CITES Appendices

CITES-listed Species Database

Legislation

Laws protecting endangered or threatened species

Laws protecting endangered ecosystems

Signatory to CITES

August 19, 1986 CITES Parties

Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands Convention

April 22, 1998.See Belize becomes 108th contracting party

Signatory to Convention on Biological Diversity 

June 13, 1992

Signatory to Migratory Bird Treaty

Member of International Whaling Commission

Not a member: International Whaling Commission

Signatory to other international treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources

Multilateral Treaties Status Matrix for Belize

Natural Resource Use

Information Sources

Fisheries

See Commercial Species and Activities on Coasts of Belize

Forestry / deforestation

Click here for an interesting article about logging and Mayan spiritual attachment to the rainforest: The Conflict between economic intersests and spiritual value of forests

Ecotourism

See Belize Ecotourism Association - Ecotourism and tourism in Belize

Desire for Pristine Environment and Adventure Boost Eco-Tourism in Belize

Trade in wildlife products

Police recently arrestes four men for trying to take Belize cattle into Guatemala: Police arrest cattle traders near border

Hunting

Other uses of natural resources

For more information on this subject, see Commercial Species and Activities on Coasts of Belize

Human Impacts on Natural Resources

Information Sources

Air pollution

Water pollution

Development activities

Introduced species

See Database on Introductions of Aquatic Species - Search Form

Legislation addressing these issues

Restoration and Reintroduction

Information Sources

Programs for restoration of damaged habitat 

See Management Activities in Coastal Belize

Programs for ex situ conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species