Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Manatee and Primate Rehabilitation Centre
(see p.81), in Sarteneja, in northern Belize,
is run by the nonprofit Wildtracks (
W
wildtracksbelize.org). The centre engages in a broad range
of rehabilitation strategies, including habitat protection, raising public awareness and
rehabilitating orphaned, injured or confiscated wildlife. The centre accepts donations and
volunteers; for information, check
W
wildtracksbelize.org.
The Oceanic Society
(see p.114) has a field station on Blackbird Caye in the Turneffe Atoll;
here they host “volunteer vacations”, where you can work alongside researchers and scientists.
For information, contact
W
oceanicsociety.org.
The Programme for Belize (PFB)
, launched in Britain in 1989, manages over 260,000 acres in
the Río Bravo Conservation and Management Area. The programme has bought land to be
held in trust for the people of Belize, now managed entirely by Belizeans. For information on
visiting the sites in Belize contact the PFB in Belize City (
T
227 5616,
W
pfbelize.org).
The Smithsonian Institute
operates a marine research station on Carrie Bow Caye, in South
Water Caye Marine Reserve. It is primarily a base for marine scientists and supports the institute's
Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems (CCRE) programme. Contact
W
ccre.si.edu for information.
Southern Environmental Alliance
co-manages Laughing Bird Caye National Park and
Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, off Placencia (see p.203), and provides an
environmental education programme. Contact
W
seabelize.org
for volunteer opportunities.
The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)
was formed in 1997 to
focus resources and attention on the conservation of a network of protected areas in southern
Toledo District, linking the Maya Mountains to the Sapodilla Cayes. Visit
W
tidebelize.org for
more information and internship opportunities.
The Belize Wildlife Conservation Network (BWCN)
works in collaboration with the Belize
Forest Department to raise public awareness of Belize's wildlife protection laws and to
discourage the acquisition of wild animals. If you're interested in donating or volunteering,
contact
W
wildlifebelize.com.
The Wildlife Conservation Society
(WCS)
works with all the countries involved in the
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor to improve management of conservation lands, and to
restore degraded habitat for migratory wildlife. Instrumental in establishing marine reserves
throughout the barrier reef, it maintains a research station on Middle Caye, Glover's Reef,
working closely with the Belize government. Visit
W
wcsgloversreef.org for volunteer and
research opportunities.
The Ya'axché Conservation Trust (YCT)
, an NGO established in 1997 and based in Toledo
District, aims to promote biodiversity and sustainable economic opportunities for the Maya
communities in and around the Maya Golden Landscape in Toledo. For information, contact
W
yaaxche.org.
through the shallows adjacent to mangrove roots, accompanied by juvenile snappers,
bonefish and small barracudas; you'll see the adult versions on the reef and around the
cayes. The tallest mangrove forests in Belize are found along the Temash River, in
Sarstoon Temash National Park
, with black mangroves reaching heights of almost 100ft.
From a canoe among the mangrove cayes and lagoons you can easily spot the brown
pelican, white ibis or roseate spoonbill. American saltwater crocodiles are also here,
rarer and larger than the Morelet's crocodile.
The mangrove lagoons are also home to the West Indian manatee. Belize has the
largest manatee population in the Caribbean, estimated to be between three
hundred and seven hundred, and are protected at
Corozal Bay
,
Gales Point
and
Swallow Caye
wildlife sanctuaries. Manatees can grow up to 13ft in length and
seventy stone in weight, but are placid and shy, moving between freshwater lagoons
and the open sea. They were once hunted for their meat, but the places where they
congregate are now tourist attractions. In shallows offshore, “meadows” of seagrass
beds provide nurseries for many fish and invertebrates and pasture for conch,
manatees and turtles. The seagrass root system protects beaches from erosion by
holding together fragments of sand and coral.
