Land Use in Belize Open Land Without or

Land Use in Belize Open Land Without, or With Insignificant Vegetation Cover Water Presented By: Marvin Moody/Christian Windsor/Rafael Lima April 7, 2014

Overview The Department of the Environment, the Land Information Centre, the Statistical Institute of Belize, as well as other governmental and nongovernmental agencies within Belize collect data in various environmental sectors/issues on a daily basis. However, the updates, compilation and presentation of these data are lacking. (Land Use). The Land Use of Belize 1989/1992 was published by the Lands Information Centre in 1992. The latest statistical report ‘Ecosystems Classification for Belize, 1996/98 was published in 2001.

Definitions “(Bare) Land”: Is identified as lands that cannot be used for productive purpose. Refers to land which is either or not covered at all by any form of vegetation. Land having no agricultural/ development potential such as steep slopes, mountains “Water ”: relates to the part of the national territory which is covered by surface water, such as Lagoons, rivers, dams and reservoirs.

Review of Data The Land Use of Belize 1989/1992 publication in 1992 reported the following: A total of 1, 889. 35 acres (. 035 %) was identified as Bare land. A total of 96, 817. 61 acres (1. 79%) was identified as land under water systems. Ecosystems Classification for Belize, 1996/98 , reported: Ø A total of 119, 104 acres (2. 1%) was identified as land under water.

Indicators Open Land without, or with insignificant vegetation cover land indicators: Ø Percent of barren farm lands Ø Percent of Steep Slopes Ø Percent of Mountainous Terrain Ø Percent of 66 ft reserves land surrounding all water bodies

Indicators Water indicators: Ø Acreage of Dam Reservoirs Ø Identification and Acreage of shoals/bajos Ø Acreage of Seasonal Creeks/ water bodies Ø Length, width, and depth of rivers Ø Acreage of basins, watersheds and marshlands

Sources of Data Ø Government Agencies Ø Non- Government Organizations Ø Private Stakeholders Ø Academia Ø Research by international agencies

Method of Data Collection Ø Satellite Images Ø Aerial Photographs Ø Field work/ground truthing Ø Existing studies Ø The use of Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS allows us to analyze data drawn from a variety of sources, such as maps, satellite images, aerial photographs and field surveys.

Conclusion Ø Belize must formulate methodologies for the collection of physical data. Ground work assessment is important in the collection of data for identification of unproductive (Bare) land Surface water. Ø Data must be continuously updated. Ø Data must be easily available to agencies. Ø Resources should be made available to purchase new satellite images, aerial photographs etc. Ø Communication with international organization is important to conduct research/studies of this magnitude. Ø Land Classifications should be standardise.