Belize
Belize is a fascinating country for a multitude of reasons, with its distinct combination of cultural diversity and ecological richness. Nestled on the eastern coast of Central America, Belize boasts a remarkable blend of Caribbean and Latin American influences, reflected in its languages, cuisine, and traditions. What truly sets Belize apart, however, is its unparalleled natural environment. The country is home to the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system globally, offering breathtaking underwater ecosystems and diverse marine life. Beyond the coastal wonders, Belize is adorned with lush rainforests, ancient Mayan ruins like those at Caracol and Xunantunich, and the sprawling Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's first jaguar preserve. This small nation also takes pride in preserving its natural treasures, with a significant portion of its land dedicated to national parks and reserves. Belize's commitment to environmental conservation and its harmonious coexistence of diverse ecosystems make it a standout destination for those seeking both cultural richness and unparalleled biodiversity.
From 2017 to 2019, Norman Greenhawk joined Dr. Nick Brokaw and Dr. Sheila Ward in their yearly trip to the Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area. Drs. Brokaw and Ward are forest ecologists, and are studying forest succession, plant community composition, and mahogany recruitment. They take students from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus (UPRRP) with them every summer to conduct field work. During summer field work sessions, Norman began taking the UPRRP students on herpetological surveys. The RBCMA is the largest terrestrial reserve in Belize (934.32 km2), comprising 4% of the country’s land surface; it contains 11 different forest types, 70 mammal species, and nearly 400 bird species. However, aside from a single turtle survey conducted in the 1980s, there have been no herpetological surveys undertaken at the preserve. As the RBCMA is also an active archeological site, we also allowed and encouraged US undergraduate students- at the preserve to study ancient Mayan civilization- to join us in the field as well.
HCI will continue continue our herpetological field surveys at the Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area (RBCMA). Thus far, at RBCMA we have identified 37 of the 106 species of reptiles and amphibians of Belize. Considering that we have surveyed less than1% of the total land area of the RBCMA, it is likely that the preserve has a significantly higher biodiversity of herpetofauna, and further surveys are warranted. The surveys have been paused temporarily, due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing travel. Our surveys also have the possibility to open new avenues of research, potentially for undergraduate and graduate students.
We will restart the surveys in 2024. Additionally, HCI is working with Celso Poot, the Director of Belize Zoo to establish an ex-situ amphibian and reptile center at the zoo. Unlike our other ex-situ centers at other projects, this project will focus on “head starting” amphibians and reptiles. The Belize Zoo has just been bequeathed the Sharon Matola Wildlife Sanctuary by the Belize government. The sanctuary- named after the founder of Belize Zoo- consists of 2,600 acres of land directly adjacent to the zoo. HCI will be assisting the Belize Zoo in developing long-term population monitoring strategies for the native reptiles and amphibians at the sanctuary.