Forest cover and forest cover change for Belize are not really known. Approximations are made as in the case of Neil Bird in 1995. There is a need to obtain the information that we do not really know or have. Figures are being repeated that are not verified.
The latest satellite cover obtained by the Ministry of Natural Resources is for 1994-1996. But that for 1996 was not clear and there was a need to extrapolate from the 1994 cover when the White and Raney Report came out, which is the latest on the whole country.
Is forest cover and forest cover change really a change in land use as it is being interpreted? Classification, interpretations and differentiations are a problem. Secondary forest comes in after some land use changes and it is difficult to differentiate between secondary forest and thicket when making interpretations. The University of Texas is assisting with interpretation from the satellite imagery and the technology is improving, so information is improving.
Classifications differ between studies as in the case of the Neil Bird study and the White and Raney study, so the difficulties can be appreciated.
What is the answer? New technologies such as digital aerial photography, which ties digital cover to GPS reference points, will help. There is also remote sensing using radar and more frequent satellite imagery coverage available. Not having a national forest inventory does not help and this is something that is still needed.
Also, there is need for regional and national forest classifications, which need to complement each other. In the case of Belize, regionally it would need to blend into both the Caribbean and the Central American regions.
Institutional capacity building is also needed, both nationally and regionally. The country cannot continue to depend on outside assistance. As was mentioned, we have the technology. There are people who know GIS and mapping, and there are those with computer skills, but cannot tie in with the actual situation. Foresters need GIS expertise and computer skills because they are more in tune with the actual situation on the ground.
There is one ray of hope in that people are becoming more aware of the forest cover and change and how it relates to or can affect their daily life.
Forest cover change is primarily occurring through agricultural expansion and housing development. It is also occurring from increased aquaculture and rice growing. However, change goes both ways, increases and decreases. Increase of forest cover takes place through the practice of agroforestry and from mahogany plantations as both are taking place in Belize. The Agriculture Department has initiated an agroforestry programme and there are private initiatives to plant mahogany.
Not much attention is being paid to erosion in forest cover change, but it is a factor, as is fire and milpa farming, especially in the hills. Change occurs not only on national lands but also in other land classifications ranging from Forest Reserves to Protected Areas and private lands.
Land use change from forestry to agriculture is also the biggest cause of green house gas emissions. Development calls for change – how can this be sustainable? Seeking a better quality of life to reduce poverty has usually been linked with land use change. But it is the large developments that have the greatest impact. So there is a need for a comprehensive land use policy and plan as well as a fire management plan.
