Forestry in belize
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Transcript of Forestry in belize
Promotes rainfall
Prevents soil erosion
Prevents flooding
Maintains the composition of the atmosphere
Reduces noise pollution
Wind protection
Medicinal remedies
Recreation
Logging
Belize is a sparsely populated enclave on
the Caribbean coast of Central America.
The northern half is low-lying swamp, the
south a high corrugated plateau, while
offshore lies the world’s second biggest
coral reef.
Tropical climate
Large forests – originally full of tropical
hardwoods but now including many faster
growing species
Port facilities to export tree products
Wood processing factories
Gallon Jug in Orange Walk District
Millionaria
Maya Mountains in Cayo District
Mountain Pine Ridge
NB: Most of Belize’s land mass is made up of forested
areas
The availability of transport has determined the
areas that could be exploited.
In Orange Walk District, for example, the trees
are felled in three main areas, transported by
trucks or tractors to the New River and then
floated to the mill near Orange Walk Town.
Formerly, rail, tractors, trucks, rafts and
bullocks were used to get the logs to the
sawmills in Belize.
Today the railway system has fallen into disuse
and most logs are moved by road. Several
feeder roads have been built to link areas of
operation, such as that between Millionario and
Augustine.
All logging is completed by late May - early
June. Even the special trucks, called ‘caminos’,
cannot operate in the muddy terrain once the
heavy rains start.
Traditional products using tropical
hardwoods, such as furniture, are
being replaced by woodfuel and
tree products used in the industry
from non-native, introduced
species.
The major problem is getting the cut trees t one of several sawmills operating in the country. The availability of transport has therefore determined the areas that could be exploited.
Changing tastes from Western buyers concerned about the use of traditional tropical hardwood species
Over-foresting of old species, almost to extinction –use of trees now needs to be sustainable
Competition from foreign countries, especially those in South-east Asia with large forests of tropical hardwoods, e.g. Indonesia
The Forestry Department in Belize has
taken steps to replant stands of pin and
mahogany following indiscriminate
harvesting in the last few decades.
Although the best timber was removed in
the 1950s and 1960s, reforestation in the
Cayo, Stan Creek and Toledo districts is
taking place, but Belize is still losing an
estimated 1 – 1.5% of its forest area
annually.
Since 1993, the Government of Belize
has granted 16 long-term logging
concessions in lands occupied by
native peoples (the Mayas), and
logging companies that are cutting
trees in prohibited areas, bulldozing in
prohibited areas to build roads, and
cutting during the rainy season.
Belize's economy depended on forestry until well into the 20th century. Logwood, used to make dye, was Belize's initial main export. However, the supply outstripped the demand, especially as Europeans developed man-made dyes which were less expensive. Loggers turned to mahogany, which grew in abundance in the country's forests. The wood was prized for use in cabinets, ships, and railroad carriers. While many merchants and traders became wealthy from the mahogany industry, ups and downs in the market had a large impact on the economy. In addition, new mahogany trees weren't being planted, because mahogany trees grow slowly; the rate of natural regrowth necessitated a large, long-term investment in tree farming, which was not made. As the 19th century progressed, loggers were forced to go deeper into the forests to find the trees, increasing labour costs.
The forestry is a multi-million-dollar activity in Belize. Lumber and resins are exported from Mountain Pine Ridge to the USA, although in recent years the chicle-producing industry has almost disappeared owing to the development of chemical substitutes.
Even with the new logging activities,
lumbering is in decline in Belize. In
2000, the country exported US$3.627
million or forest products, but it
imported US$4.166 million of
plywood, sawnwood and veneer
sheets.
Many governments have designated certain areas as forest reserves. In such areas logging is strictly prohibited.
Controlled cutting of trees (only mature trees)
A massive re-afforestation programme which necessitates replanting of trees in areas where forests once flourished.
An education programme to inform the public of the importance of forests
Strict and severe penalties for illegal logging.