http://www.mbrs.org.bz/english/news.htm

MBRS Supports construction of Nature Trail in Bacalar Chico

The Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve and National Park (BCMRNP), located in the northern half of Ambergris Caye, is a unique geographic formation, as is evidenced by its reefs, fossil remains and the combination of marine and terrestrial species which inhabit it, many of which are of great ecological and economic value. It comprises the most northern part of the Belize Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site, and is one of the priority protected areas of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems Project. Bacalar Chico's Canal de la Boca, built by the Mayas, forms the border between Belize and Mexico.

Bacalar Chico boasts a surface area of 11,487 hectares (marine and terrestrial) and is administered by the Fisheries Department and the Forest Department of Belize. Its staff includes a Manager, a Marine Biologist and Park Rangers. The MBRS Project has provided for the strengthening of the BCMRNP with the construction of a Multiple Use Center as well as supplying equipment including boats, marine motors, furniture and computers. It has also supported staff exchanges and delivered training courses and training manuals.

The MBRS Project is now supporting the construction of a nature trail, that will allow local residents as well as tourists to appreciate the natural beauty and riches of this important area which is a home for internationally recognized (IUCN, CITES) endangered species, such as the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), the jaguar or American tiger (Panthera onca), the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), among others. At the same time, along with the Multiple Use Center, the trail is an important means of generating income for the area.

The trail is approximately 16 kilometers long and has a series of palapas at strategic points to allow visitors to rest or spend the night. The financial support provided by the MBRS Project complements initiatives by the Belize Fisheries Department, the local NGO Green Reef, and the British organization Trekforce Expeditions, who contributed by clearing the trail and constructing the palapas.

The MBRS Project is committed to continuing support for infrastructure which enables environmental education, ecologically sustainable tourism and income generation for protected areas, for the benefit of the people of Belize and the international community.


links:

//www.ambergriscaye.com/greenreef/
(most links broken)


http://www.coastalzonebelize.org/maps/map_coastalreserves.gif

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/reef.htm

http://www.wri.org/biodiv/project_description2.cfm?pid=212

http://www.icran.org/icranmar/mar_home.html

http://coralreefalliance.org/

http://www.mbrs.org.bz/

http://www.nature.org/

http://www.coastalzonebelize.org/

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