List of protected areas of Belize

This is a list of protected areas in Belize.

National parks

St. Herman's Cave in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park.

In Belize, national parks are areas designed for the protection and preservation of natural and aesthetic features of national significance for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Therefore, they are areas of recreatitourism, as well as environmental protection. National parks are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981.^[1] They are administered by the Forest Department and managed through partnership agreements with community-based non-governmental organisations.

List of national parks

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Co-management	Est.	Description
Aguas Turbias	Orange Walk	3,541	8,750	II	— [note 1]	1994	[2]
Bacalar Chico	Belize	4,510	11,100	V	Green Reef Environmental Institute [note 2]	1996	Excludes adjacent marine reserve.[3][4]
Billy Barquedier	Stann Creek	663	1,640	II	Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association	2001	[5]
Chiquibul	Cayo	106,839	264,000	II	Friends for Conservation and Development	1995	Excludes adjacent forest reserve.[6][7]
Five Blues Lake	Cayo	1,643	4,060	II	Friends of Five Blues Lake National Park	1994	[8]
Gra Gra Lagoon	Stann Creek	534	1,320	II	Friends of Gra Gra Lagoon	2002	[9]
Guanacaste	Cayo	23	57	II	Belize Audubon Society	1994	[10][11]
Honey Camp	Corozal / Orange Walk	3,145	7,770	II	Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative [note 3]	2001	[12]
Laughing Bird Caye	Stann Creek	4,095	10,120	II	Southern Environmental Association	1996	[13][14]
Mayflower Bocawina	Stann Creek	2,868	7,090	II	Friends of Mayflower Bocawina National Park	2001	[15][16]
Monkey Bay	Belize	859	2,120	II	Guardians of the Jewel [note 2]	1994	[17][18]
Nojkaaxmeen Elijio Panti	Cayo	5,130	12,700	II	Belize Development Foundation [note 4]	2001	[19][20][21]
Payne's Creek	Toledo	14,739	36,420	II	Toledo Institute for Development and Environment	1994	[22][23]
Peccary Hills	Belize	4,260	10,500	II	Gracie Rock Reserve for Adventure, Culture and Ecotourism	2007	[24][25]
Río Blanco	Toledo	38	94	II	Río Blanco Mayan Association	1994	[26]
Sarstoon-Temash	Toledo	16,938	41,850	II	Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management	1994	Ramsar site.[27][28]
St. Herman's Blue Hole	Cayo	269	660	II	Belize Audubon Society	1986	[29][30]

Natural monuments

The Great Blue Hole is one of the most recognisable natural features in Belize.

A natural monument is designated for the preservation of unique geographic features of the landscape. The designation is primarily based on a feature's high scenic value, but may also be regarded as a cultural landmark that represents or contributes to a national identity.

Natural monuments are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981;^[1] marine-based monuments additionally come under the Fisheries Act. Of the five natural monuments in the country, three are terrestrial, administered by the Forest Department, while the remaining two are marine-based and come under the authority of the Fisheries Department.

List of natural monuments

Image	Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Co-management	Est.	Description
	Actun Tunichil Muknal	Cayo	185	460	Ia	Belize Audubon Society; Institute of Archaeology	2004	Terrestrial.[31][32]
	Blue Hole	Belize	414	1,020	III	Belize Audubon Society	1996	Marine.[33][34][35]
	Half Moon Caye	Belize	3,954	9,770	II	Belize Audubon Society	1982	Marine.[36][37]
	Thousand Foot Falls	Cayo	522	1,290	III	Belize Karst Habitat Conservation	2004	Terrestrial.[38]
	Victoria Peak	Stann Creek	1,959	4,840	III	Belize Audubon Society	1998	Terrestrial.[39][40]

Nature reserves

Wilderness scene in the Bladen Nature Reserve.

The country's three nature reserves enjoy the highest level of protection within the National Protected Areas System Plan. The designation was created for the strict protection of biological communities or ecosystems, and the maintenance of natural processes in an undisturbed state. They are typically pristine, wilderness ecosystems.

Nature reserves are legislated under the National Parks System Act of 1981.^[1] It is the strictest designation of all categories within the country's national protected areas system, with no extractive use or tourism access permitted. Permits are required to enter the area and are restricted to researchers only. The nature reserves are under the authority of the Forest Department.

The oldest of these, Bladen Nature Reserve, forms the centrepiece of the Maya Mountains biological corridor, and is considered one of the most biodiversity-rich, and topographically unique areas within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot.

List of nature reserves

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Co-management	Est.	Description
Bladen	Toledo	40,411	99,860	Ia	Ya’axché Conservation Trust; Bladen Management Consortium	1990	[41][42]
Burdon Canal	Belize	2,126	5,250	Ia	— [note 5]	1992	[43]
Tapir Mountain	Cayo	2,543.85	6,286.0	Ia	Belize Karst Habitat Conservation	1994	Formerly known as Society Hall Nature Reserve.[44][45]

Wildlife sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries are created for the preservation of an important keystone species in the ecosystem. By preserving enough area for them to live in, many other species receive the protection they need as well.

Wildlife sanctuaries are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981, and are the responsibility of the Forest Department.^[1] There are currently seven wildlife sanctuaries, three of which are being managed under co-management partnerships, whilst the other four are managed under informal arrangements. Two of the following wildlife sanctuaries are considered to be marine protected areas, and may also have collaborative agreements with the Fisheries Department in place.

List of wildlife sanctuaries

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Co-management	Est.	Description
Aguacaliente	Toledo	2,213	5,470	IV	Aguacaliente Management Team [note 2]	1998	Terrestrial.[46][47]
Cockscomb Basin	Stann Creek / Toledo	49,477	122,260	IV	Belize Audubon Society	1997	Terrestrial.[48]
Corozal Bay	Belize / Corozal	73,049	180,510	IV	Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development [note 2]	1998	Marine.[49][50]
Crooked Tree	Belize / Orange Walk	15,372	37,990	IV	Belize Audubon Society	1984	Ramsar site. Boundaries ill-defined. Terrestrial.[51]
Gales Point	Belize	3,681	9,100	IV	Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary Community Management Committee [note 2]	1998	Terrestrial.[52][53]
Spanish Creek	Belize / Orange Walk	2,428	6,000	IV	Rancho Dolores Development Group [note 2]	2002	Terrestrial.[54]
Swallow Caye	Belize	3,631	8,970	IV	Friends of Swallow Caye	2002	Marine.[55][56]

Forest reserves

Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.

Forest reserves, overseen by the Forest Department, are designed for the sustainable extraction of timber without destroying the biodiversity of the location. These are gazetted under the Forests Act of 1927,^[57] which allows the department to grant permits to logging companies after extensive review. There are currently 16 forest reserves with a combined acreage of 380,328 hectares (939,810 acres), making up 9.3% of total national territory.^[58]

List of forest reserves

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Est.	Description
Caye Caulker	Belize	38	94	VI	1998	Excludes adjacent marine reserve.[59]
Chiquibul	Cayo	59,822	147,820	VI	1995	Excludes adjacent national park.[60]
Columbia River	Cayo / Toledo	60,016	148,300	VI	1997	[61]
Deep River	Toledo	27,232	67,290	VI		[62]
Fresh Water Creek	Corozal / Orange Walk	13,513	33,390	VI	1926	[63]
Grants Work	Stann Creek	3,199	7,900	VI	1989	[64]
Machaca	Toledo	1,253	3,100	VI	1998	[65]
Manatee	Belize / Stann Creek	36,621	90,490	VI	1959	[66]
Mango Creek	Stann Creek / Toledo	12,090	29,900	VI	1989	Comprises two separate segments.[67][68]
Monkey Caye	Toledo	669	1,650	VI	1996	[69]
Mountain Pine Ridge	Cayo	43,372	107,170	VI	1944	[70][71]
Maya Mountain	Stann Creek	16,887	41,730	VI	1997	[72]
Sibun	Cayo	32,849	81,170	VI	1959	[73][71]
Sittee River	Stann Creek	37,360	92,300	VI		[74]
Swasey Bladen	Toledo	5,980	14,800	VI	1989	[75]
Vaca	Cayo	14,118	34,890	VI	1991	[76]

Marine reserves

Coral patch in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Marine reserves are designed for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, including marine wildlife and its environment. The majority of these reserves contribute to the conservation of Belize's Barrier Reef, which provides a protective shelter for pristine atolls, seagrass meadows and rich marine life. The preservation of the Barrier Reef system has been recognised as a global interest through the collective designation of seven protected areas, including four of the following marine reserves, as a World Heritage Site.

Marine reserves are legislated under the Fisheries Act, and are administered by the Fisheries Department. One of the department's key responsibilities is to ensure the sustainable extraction of marine resources. There are currently eight marine reserves, management of which is either direct, by the department, or in partnership with non-governmental agencies.

List of marine reserves

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Co-management	Est.	Description
Bacalar Chico	Belize	6,391	15,790	IV	Green Reef Environmental Institute [note 2]	1996	Excludes adjacent national park. Divided into two zones: a conservation zone,[77] and a general use zone.[78][4]
Caye Caulker	Belize	3,913	9,670	VI	Forest & Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker	1998	Excludes adjacent forest reserve.[79]
Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes	Stann Creek	10,514	25,980	IV	Southern Environmental Association	2000	Divided into two zones: a general use zone,[80] and a conservation zone.[81][82][83]
Glover's Reef	Belize	86,653	214,120	IV	—	1993	In 2001, the reserve was divided into four zones: a general use zone,[84] a conservation zone,[85] a seasonal closure zone,[86] and a wilderness zone.[87] A spawning aggregation zone was broken off in 2003 and comes under separate management (see below).
Hol Chan	Belize	1,444	3,570	II	Hol Chan Trust Fund	1987	Divided into four zones: Mangrove,[88] Seagrass,[89] Shark Ray Alley,[90] and Coral Reef.[91][92]
Port Honduras	Toledo	40,470	100,000	IV	Toledo Institute for Development and Environment	2000	Divided into two zones: a general use zone,[93] and a conservation zone.[94]
Sapodilla Cayes	Toledo	15,618	38,590	IV	Southern Environmental Association	1996	[95]
South Water Caye	Stann Creek	47,702	117,870	IV	—	1996	[96][97]

Spawning aggregation sites

List of spawning aggregation zones

Aggregation zone	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Est.	Description
Dog Flea	Belize	576	1,420	IV	2003	[98]
Emily or Glory Caye	Belize	0	0	IV	2003	[99]
Gladden Spit	Belize	1,617	4,000	IV	2003	Managed as part of Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve.[100]
Nicholas Caye	Belize	673	1,660	IV	2003	Managed as part of Sapodilla Marine Reserve.[101]
Northern Glover's Reef	Belize	621	1,530	IV	2003	Managed as part of Glover's Reef Marine Reserve.[102]
Rise and Fall Bank	Belize	1,721	4,250	IV	2003	[103]
Rocky Point	Belize	570	1,400	IV	2003	Managed as part of Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.[104]
Sandbore	Belize	521	1,290	IV	2003	[105]
Seal Caye	Toledo	648	1,600	IV	2003	[106]
South Point Lighthouse	Belize	533	1,320	IV	2003	[107]
South Point Turneffe	Belize	558	1,380	IV	2003	[108]

Bird sanctuaries

Little Guana Caye plays host to the largest colony of reddish egrets in the Caribbean.

Further information: List of birds of Belize

The seven bird sanctuaries are some of the country's oldest protected areas established for the purpose of biodiversity conservation. They were gazetted in 1977 as crown reserves for the protection of waterfowl nesting and roosting colonies.^[58] They were later reorganised under the National Parks System Act in 1981.^[1] They are under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. All of them are tiny islands with a combined surface area of 6 hectares (15 acres).^[58]

All the sanctuaries are nesting and roosting sites for wading birds, though the species vary.

List of bird sanctuaries

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Est.	Description
Bird Caye	Belize	0.5	1.2	IV	1977	[109]
Doubloon Bank	Orange Walk	1.5	3.7	IV	1977	[110]
Little Guana Caye	Belize	1	2.5	IV	1977	[111]
Los Salones	Belize	1	2.5	IV	1977	[112]
Monkey Caye	Toledo	0.5	1.2	IV	1977	[113]
Man of War Caye	Stann Creek	1	2.5	IV	1977	[114]
Unnamed Caye	Belize	0.5	1.2	IV	1977	[115]

Archaeological reserves

Overlooking the Caracol ruins, the most extensive archaeological site in the country.^[116]

Further information: Maya ruins of Belize

Before the arrival of Europeans in America, Belize lay in the heartland of the Maya civilisation, and consequently contains some of the earliest and most important Maya ruins.^[117] Archaeological findings at Caracol, in the southern end of the country, have suggested that it formed the centre of political struggles in the southern Maya lowlands.^[117] The complex covered an area much larger than present-day Belize City and supported more than twice the modern city's population.^[116] Meanwhile, Lamanai, in the north, is known for being the longest continually-occupied site in Mesoamerica, settled during the early Preclassic era and continuously occupied up to and during the area's colonisation.^[117]

While the majority of reserves under this category are related to the pre-colonial era, Serpon Sugar Mill and Yarborough Cemetery, both designated in 2009, only date from the 19th century and are alternatively described as historical reserves.^[118]

The country's 15 archaeological sites are managed by the Institute of Archaeology, a branch of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH),^[58] which comes under the authority of the Ministry of Culture.^[119] This type of protected area was gazetted under the Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act, 1 May 1972.^[58][120] All of the following reserves are open to the public. Many other sites, such as Cuello and Uxbenka, are located on private land and can only be visited if prior permission is obtained from the landowner.^[117]

List of archaeological reserves

Image	Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Est.	Description
	Altun Ha	Belize	15.5	38	II	1995	[121][122]
	Barton Creek	Belize	2.0	4.9	II	2003	[123][124]
	Cahal Pech	Cayo	9.0	22	II	1995	[125][126]
	Caracol	Cayo	10,339	25,550	II	1995	[127][128]
	Cerro Maya	Corozal	10	25	II	1976	[129][130]
	El Pilar	Cayo	771	1,910	II	1998	[131][132]
	Lamanai	Orange Walk	396	980	II	1985	[133][134]
	Lubaantun	Toledo	16	40	II	1995	[135][136]
	Marco Gonzalez	Belize	3.1	7.7	II	2011	[117][137]
	Nim Li Punit	Toledo	24	59	II	1985	[138][139]
	Nohoch Che'en	Cayo	7	17	II	2010	Also known as Caves Branch. Formerly a private reserve owned by Jaguar Paw.[140][141]
	Santa Rita	Corozal	0.1	0.25	II	1995	[142][143]
	Serpon Sugar Mill	Stann Creek	13	32	II	2009	[118][144]
	Xunantunich	Cayo	3	7.4	II	1995	[145][146]
	Yarborough Cemetery	Belize	0.5	1.2	II	2009	[147]

Private reserves

Private reserves are owned and operated by non-governmental conservation initiatives, and enjoy various levels of protection. Most of them are essentially multiple-use reserves, and include managed extraction of resources.^[58]

In 2003, the Belize Association of Private Protected Areas (BAPPA) was formed to assist in the co-ordinatation of private conservation initiatives as a cohesive group, and to represent and assist landowners in attaining recognition from the Belizean government and integration into the national protected areas system.^[148] It maintains a directory of landowners that are attempting to manage their land holdings for conservation purposes.^[58]

A total of eight private reserves have so far been officially recognised as national protected areas.^[148] While most of these recognised reserves have no formal or legal commitment to remain under conservation management, there are additional private landholdings which are considered to be very effective in biodiversity conservation and critical to the national protected areas system, but which are not yet recognised within the system. Formal adoption and implementation of proposed legislation to manage and regulate such areas is required to attain such recognition.

Official

As of January 2005, a total of eight private reserves were officially recognised as being part of the country's national protected areas system.^[148] Two have a standing agreement with the government, while the remaining six have their own management system in place.^[58] Of the following, Aguacate Lagoon is the only non-participatory reserve, its management expressing little interest in being part of the system.

They cover a combined total area of approximately 131,663 hectares (325,350 acres).^[58]

List of officially recognised private reserves

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Management	Est.	Description
Aguacate Lagoon	Cayo	115	280	IV	Aguacate Park	1987	[149]
Block 127	Toledo	3,736	9,230	IV	Toledo Institute for Development and Environment	2001	Forms one block of the TIDE Private Protected Lands, which total 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres).[150][151]
Community Baboon Sanctuary	Belize	5,253	12,980	IV	Women's Conservation Group	1985	[152][153]
Golden Stream	Toledo	6,085	15,040	IV	Ya’axché Conservation Trust; Fauna & Flora International	1998	Formally known as Golden Stream Corridor Preserve.[154][155]
Monkey Bay	Belize	465	1,150	IV	Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary	1987	Formally known as Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.[156][157]
Río Bravo	Orange Walk	104,897	259,210	IV	Programme for Belize	1988	Formally known as Río Bravo Conservation and Management Area.[158][159][160]
Runaway Creek	Belize	2,431	6,010	IV	Foundation for Wildlife Conservation; Birds Without Borders	1998	[161][162]
Shipstern	Corozal	8,228	20,330	IV	International Tropical Conservation Foundation; Papiliorama-Nocturama Foundation	1987	Formally known as Shipstern Nature Reserve.[163][164]

Proposed

List of unofficial private reserves

Reserve	District	Size (ha)	Size (acres)	IUCN	Management	Est.	Description
Balam Na	Corozal	166	410	IV	Wildtracks; Tropical Rainforest Coalition	2000	[165][166]
Belize Maya Forest	Orange Walk	95,500	236,000		Belize Maya Forest Trust	2021	Adjacent to Rio Bravo Reserve[167][168]
BFREE	Toledo	572	1,410	IV	Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education	1995	[169][170]
Boden Creek	Toledo	5,447	13,460	IV	Belize Lodge and Excursions	1998	Formally known as Boden Creek Ecological Preserve.[171][172]
Fireburn	Corozal	745	1,840	IV	Wildtracks; Fireburn Community		[173][174]
Gallon Jug	Orange Walk	54,154	133,820	IV	Gallon Jug Estate		[175][176]
Green Hills	Cayo	43	110	IV	Meerman, Jan	1996	Formally known as Green Hills Private Conservation Management Area.[177][178]
Hidden Valley	Cayo	2,925	7,230	IV	Hidden Valley Institute		[179][180]

Others

• St. Georges Caye Mangrove Reserve^[181]
• Commerce Bight Forest Reserve (1986), 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres)
• Dolphin Park National Public Reserve^[182]
• Krooman Reserve^[183]
• Mexico Rocks

See also

• Conservation in Belize
• Flora and fauna of Belize
• North American jaguar
• Tourism in Belize

Footnotes

1. There is no current co-management partner, nor on-site presence, though the area has been included in past conservation planning under Programme for Belize.
2. Prospective co-management organisation. No formal co-management agreements are currently being made, but these organisations have informal co-management authority.
3. active.
4. Until 2010, co-management was held by the Itzamna Society.
5. Currently has no co-management partner and is managed directly by the Forest Department, though with no on-site presence. It is considered a paper park.