15
Punta Herrero: Ecotourism
Punta Xkanae Halton: Ecotourism
Punta Mosquitero: Ecotourism
El Uvero: BeachFishing
Punta El Placer north: BeachGolf
Punta El Placer south: Beach
Punta Changuay: MarinaFishing
Mahahual: MarinaGolfBeach
Rio Indio: BeachGolf
Punta Kanecaxhsouth: GolfBeach
Punta Heradura: Beach
Punta Kanecaxhnorth: Golf
Laguna Huach: Beach
SantaRosa: Marina
Xcalak: WatersportsFishing
Punta SanLorenzo: Ecotourism
Punta Pulticub: BeachGolf
Punta Gruesa: Golf Fishing
Mexico
Caribbean Sea Belize
N
10 10
20 30
40 Kilometers
3.2 Mangroves
Mangroves can be seen as far back as 20 km inland, though the majority of mangroves begin 50 m inland and range back approximately several hundred meters.
There are four distinct species of mangroves: rojored Rhizophora mangle, blanco
white Laguncularia racemosa, botoncillolittle button Conocarpus erectus, and negroblack Avicennia germinans. An interesting observation was that the
mangroves rarely extend to the waterline. When questioned about this, several key informants that have been there for up to 25 years mentioned that there have never
been mangroves that extend to the waterline. Informants suggested that mangroves were cleared for the coconut plantations that dominated the coast before Hurricane
Janet damaged the coconut industry in 1955.
Currently, local residents use mangrove wood for firewood, dye, construction of houses roofs, posts, and walls, construction of fences, and mangrove swamps for
land reclamation, sewage disposal, and as a dumping ground for garbage. The wood from mangroves is considered soft and many residents do not like to use it for
construction. Activities that affect the mangroves include; dumping of trash, burning typically for agriculture or development, development including residential,
tourism, and road construction, utilization for wood, disposal of sewage, and hurricanes.
Mangrove areas are commonly regarded as places of mosquitoes and horseflies and because of the wood’s soft characteristics considered of little use. There is some
16
understanding among community members that mangroves are legally protected, though observation and confirmation by several respondents indicate that harvesting,
though minimal, continues despite legal protection. The only historical use of the mangroves that is not currently being practiced is hunting, the reasons for which will
be discussed in section 3.4. Respondents claim that barriers to utilization of the mangrove resources stem mainly from their protected status, and the potential expense
of violation. However, residents do not perceive access restrictions to the resource as a pressing issue because the use of mangroves is minimal and enforcement of
environmental regulations is poor.
Perceptions about the mangroves are such that some residents do not believe there have been, will, or even can be profound changes in the mangroves. These
beliefs will be important if trying to implement a more comprehensive protection strategy, because they indicate that some residents may not see the need or importance
of protecting the mangroves, and sensitization about the importance of mangrove ecosystems may be a necessary step during implementation of an ICM program.
3.3 Seagrass and Coral Reefs
