The Gulf of Honduras
29
1985, although there has been little management and agricultural and tourism development is increasing.
In Belize, coastal and marine reserves include the Sapodilla Cays Marine Reserve (1996), and Port Honduras Marine Reserve (2000), and National Parks at Laughing Bird Cay and Payne's Creek (1994) (Fig. 1.1). The
Sapodilla Cays Marine Reserve forms part of the Belize Barrier ReefWorld
Heritage Site, and yet no management structure is in place. The reefs were
exemplary in the region but are now suffering from freshwater inputs and
high seawater temperatures. Nonetheless, the five inhabitable cays within
the reserve attract tens of thousands of visitors each year to experience the
exemplary fishing, diving, snorkeling, and camping resources available in
the Sapodillas. The possibility of sustainable management is real, given the
existing tourism traffic and regional desire for the conservation of this
reserve. Payne's Creek National Park contains freshwater lakes, savanna
grasslands, and the Ycacos Lagoon, which is world-famous for its permit
fishing. In spite of a lack of management, limited use of the area has left it
relatively pristine. The Port Honduras Marine Reserve encompasses
415 km 2 of the coastal waters in southern Belize and straddles a gradient
from freshwater-dominated estuaries inshore to marine-dominated waters
and coral reefs to the east. The embayment contains more than 130 mangrove-lined cays and protection and management should ensure protection for manatee and contribute to high regional fisheries productivity.
Marine reserves are administered by the Fisheries Department, and are
designated as multiple use areas with limited fishing. National Parks, on
the other hand, are administered by the Forestry Department and do not
allow any extraction. In all cases, the national government is working in
close collaboration with local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop co-management agreements to capitalize on
local talents, and to overcome a lack of national resources for management.
1.6 Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Integrated coastal management efforts at the national levels in Central
America have been limited by lack of information, restricted technical and
financial resources, and sectoralism (Windevoxhel et al. 1999). The Coastal
Zone Management Authority and Institute in Belize represents one of the
more advanced national programs in Central America. Coastal planning in
Guatemala and Honduras lags behind. Due to a lack of political will and
organizational structure, there is so far only limited success in integrated
coastal management on the multinational scale.
29
1985, although there has been little management and agricultural and tourism development is increasing.
In Belize, coastal and marine reserves include the Sapodilla Cays Marine Reserve (1996), and Port Honduras Marine Reserve (2000), and National Parks at Laughing Bird Cay and Payne's Creek (1994) (Fig. 1.1). The
Sapodilla Cays Marine Reserve forms part of the Belize Barrier ReefWorld
Heritage Site, and yet no management structure is in place. The reefs were
exemplary in the region but are now suffering from freshwater inputs and
high seawater temperatures. Nonetheless, the five inhabitable cays within
the reserve attract tens of thousands of visitors each year to experience the
exemplary fishing, diving, snorkeling, and camping resources available in
the Sapodillas. The possibility of sustainable management is real, given the
existing tourism traffic and regional desire for the conservation of this
reserve. Payne's Creek National Park contains freshwater lakes, savanna
grasslands, and the Ycacos Lagoon, which is world-famous for its permit
fishing. In spite of a lack of management, limited use of the area has left it
relatively pristine. The Port Honduras Marine Reserve encompasses
415 km 2 of the coastal waters in southern Belize and straddles a gradient
from freshwater-dominated estuaries inshore to marine-dominated waters
and coral reefs to the east. The embayment contains more than 130 mangrove-lined cays and protection and management should ensure protection for manatee and contribute to high regional fisheries productivity.
Marine reserves are administered by the Fisheries Department, and are
designated as multiple use areas with limited fishing. National Parks, on
the other hand, are administered by the Forestry Department and do not
allow any extraction. In all cases, the national government is working in
close collaboration with local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop co-management agreements to capitalize on
local talents, and to overcome a lack of national resources for management.
1.6 Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Integrated coastal management efforts at the national levels in Central
America have been limited by lack of information, restricted technical and
financial resources, and sectoralism (Windevoxhel et al. 1999). The Coastal
Zone Management Authority and Institute in Belize represents one of the
more advanced national programs in Central America. Coastal planning in
Guatemala and Honduras lags behind. Due to a lack of political will and
organizational structure, there is so far only limited success in integrated
coastal management on the multinational scale.