Caye Caulker residents lobbied for several years to get the northern end of Caye Caulker, a section of the turtle grass lagoon, and the length of the reef along the caye, declared by the government as a protected area. This dream became a reality when the Caye Caulker Forest and Marine Reserves were declared in May of 1998. The Caye Caulker community formed the Forest and Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker (FAMRACC) to co-manage the new Reserves along with the Government of Belize. FAMRACC is composed of representatives from all the organizations on the Caye, including the Village Council, CCBTIA, Tour Guide Association, Water Taxi Association, Northern Fishermen Cooperative, churches and schools. A management plan has been developed and the Marine Reserve is zoned to include areas that are completely preserved, as well as those in which fishing, snorkeling or diving are allowed within specific regulations. The photo shows the participants in a joint FAMRACC-CCBTIA expedition to the Caye Caulker Forest Reserve for the plant inventory project. The photo is by Mo Miller, who is not shown.

The CCBTIA maintains a two-acre Mini-Reserve just north of the Airstrip. A self-guided tour in this littoral forest habitat describes many of the native trees and plants of Belize, including the cocoplum, sea grape, poisonwood, and gumbolimbo trees. As development continues on Caye Caulker and elsewhere in Belize, it is important to protect the natural resources that contribute to the beauty and biodiversity of the area. Committed to this goal, the CCBTIA will continue to initiate and work on projects to protect our environment, and keep Caye Caulker the unique, ecologically-minded community that it is.

CCBTIA has undertaken an inventory of the native and introduced plants on Caye Caulker to help manage and protect the viable littoral and mangrove forests. The completed inventory will help our planning for sustainable development to insure future economic benefits of tourism and fishing for the Caye Caulker community. The work is being carried out by Dorothy Beveridge, CCBTIA Board Member and tour guide, and Dr. Jacob Rietsema, retired biologist of Massachusetts with the assistance of Dr. Daniel Atha, Project Manager of Plant Collections The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). CCBTIA and community volunteers, Lydia Vega, Aurora Perez, Petrona Joseph, Glenda Blease, Isela Marin, Claudia Reyes, Allie Ifield, Mo and Irene Miller, have helped in the process of collecting the plants. Traditional local names and uses for many of the species are also included to preserve part of Caye Caulker culture and heritage. Dr. Rietsema is shown below with Mrs. Petrona Joseph (left) and Mrs. Aurora Perez (right).

Caye Caulker, Belize, September 8.

Through the CCBTIA Plant Inventory Project, botanists have discovered two plants growing on Caye Caulker that until now have not been recorded for Belize. The one on the left below is the native poison cherry (Crossopetalum rhacom), and the other an introduced species, flamingo beak (Sesbania grandiflora).

A very popular tour takes visitors to see manatees. The protection of these beautiful and playful creatures is an ongoing project on Caye Caulker spearheaded by Chocolate Heredia. The Swallow Caye area, where they can almost always be seen, has been declared as a protected area. There tour guides turn off their motors and gently steer their boats with poles as the curious mantees are seen near the boats. Photo by James Beveridge.

A healthy population of saltwater crocodiles are found on Caye Caulker. They inhabit the mangrove lagoons feeding on fish and birds. They are even found in the garbage dump, which is a lagoon as well, where they feed on the scavengers that are attracted by the garbage. Crocodiles have been protected in Belize for nearly 30 years and they are recovering from the days when they were hunted for their skins and the population was decimated. Photo by Judy Lumb.

All birds on Caye Caulker are protected by the Belizean Wildlife Protection Act. Over a hundred species occur on the Caye which includes some birds not easily seen elsewhere, such as the black catbird, white-crowned pigeon and rufus-necked rail. Several pairs of osprey nest here and can commonly be seen flying over the Caye as shown here. Photo by James Beveridge