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(Stop 12 of 21)
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BLADEN NATURE RESERVE (Stop 12 of 21) |
| The Bladen Nature Reserve is the largest protected area in Belize. It also has the strictest legal designation of "Nature Reserve". A "nature reserve" in Belize is a protected area that has been set aside for scientific research and little else. Permits are required to even visit the site. | |||
| The Bladen Nature Reserve contains a wealth of large, healthy, pristine ecosystems which has experienced only minor disturbance in the past. The scenery is breathtaking and supports a variety of fascinating intact flora and fauna. |
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| On all sides of the reserve lie other protected areas. The reserve lies in the Toledo District, with the Columbia Forest reserve to the southwest, the Maya Mountains and Deep River Forest Reserves to the south, the Chiquibul National Park to the north and the Trio Reserve to the east. These other reserves provide a natural buffer for the Bladen Nature Reserve forests. | |||
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There are two main geologic areas in the Bladen. A granitic and volcanic ridge runs parallel along the northern half of the reserve and a limestone karst section lies along the southern half. The volcanic block, a remnant of volcanic activity as the tectonic plate that Belize sits on passed over an active fault. This is the only evidence of volcanic activity in the geologic history of Belize. | ||
| The limestone karst area is a very rugged region pitted by conical limestone hills and ledges. Sinkholes, underground streams and intricate caves are characteristic of the southern half of Bladen. In-between these two geologic formations snakes the Bladen river fed by hundreds of small tributaries coming out of the hills. | |||
| Of great value to the Belizean people is the wealth of healthy populations of large mammals. Large mammals are often used as indicator species to gauge the health of forest ecosystems. All five species of wildcat, as well as tapir, pecarry and paca are abundant within the reserve. |
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| The number of bird species within the reserve is very high, ranking among the top birding locations in Belize. This count includes many migrants from North America. As increasing amounts of primary forest is lost in Central America, the need for providing habitat for these migrants will become significant. Birds that are relatively rare in surrounding areas but with healthy populations in the Bladen include the Crested Guan and Great Curassow. | |||
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The Bladen Nature Reserve has been found to support the richest herptofauna(reptiles and amphibians) in Belize. At least one endemic (found only in Belize) frog has been recorded here. Studies conducted within the reserve have found the number of species recorded directly related to the amount of time spent looking. In other words, the number of species continues to grow linearly with each scientific collecting expedition. | ||
| The flora of the Bladen Nature Reserve is becoming more significant as other similar vegetation types around the country are impacted by agriculture or logging. The wide variety of geologic and climatic characteristics of the Balden have given rise to a wide diversity of plant communities, some of which are very inaccessible and therefore in their original state. Each new study in the Bladen turns up new species. The latest scientific foray into the Bladen turned up three new species. | |||
| Despite the remoteness of the Bladen Nature Reserve and its natural barriers to human access, the area is experiencing some usage. Hunters from nearby villages and adventurous ecotourists are starting to show up in the reserve. With the increase of population in all of Central America as well as Belize, the pristineness of this part of the country could come under attack. The Belizean Government and conservation groups are working hard to ensure that this wilderness area remains as pristine as it is today. |
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