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(Stop 03 of 21)
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RIO BRAVO CONSERVATION AREA (Stop 03 of 21) |
| The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area is an innovative forest conservation project. Three hundred thousand acres of subtropical moist forest are being managed to maintain the healthy forests and its abundant wildlife. Other goals include the production of commercial scale hardwood lumber, chicle, and other forest products on a sustainable basis. Forest and archaeological research as well as tourism are other uses of the area. | |||
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Rio Bravo is private land being held in trust for the people of Belize. It is managed by the Programme for Belize, a non-govenmental organization. Today, the area remains covered in dense forest, primarily mahogany, cedar and other valuable hardwoods. These rich hardwood forests support an abundance of wildlife. The population of jaguars at Rio Bravo is thought to be the most dense in Belize, and perhaps all of Central America. |
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| The Rio Bravo lands are generally flat or rolling lands. A series of terraces have developed over geologic time resulting in several distinct escarpments which run through these lands. The Rio Bravo is the only major river in the area. | |||
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The forests of Rio Bravo are interesting for the great diversity in tree species and types of forest. Two-thirds of the forests are classified as upland broadleaf forest. This type of forest has been an important source of mahogany, cedar and many other hardwood species. In fact, most of Rio Bravo was once cleared or selectively logged during the presence of the Maya or during logging earlier this century. | ||
| Other types of forest include: cohune palm forest which grows on very rich, well drained soils; swamp and marsh vegetation; and savanna. | |||
| Wildlife is abundant in Rio Bravo, due in part to the remoteness of the region. Hunting has been actively discouraged or completely eliminated in the last few years. All five cat species found in Belize live here: jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, and the jaguarundi. Other mammals frequently sighted include the tapir, tayra, anteaters and grey fox. |
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| In the relatively short period of time that studies have been conducted, more then 200 species of birds have been recorded, with some habitat types still to be studied. Many big game birds are very abundant including ocellated turkey, great curassow, and the guan. Hawks and other raptors are abundant along the forest edges and escarpments. | |||
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The major activites undertaken by the Programme for Belize have concentrated on scientific research, archaeology, forestry and tourism. The Rio Bravo research center supports many different types of studies ranging from taxonomy to ecology. There is a major, multi-year project underway, excavating the major Maya ruins of Las Milpas. Research continues into exploring new ways of sustainably exploiting forest products, including harvesting of chicle, selective logging and manufacture of charcoal. | ||
| Finally, tourism has become a major focus of the Rio Bravo area. Dormatories as well as cabanas are available with prior reservations. New ecotourism lodges are in the planning stages on both the northern and southern sections of the protected area. | |||
 
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