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lies some 45 kilometers off the coast of Mahahual. In a government effort to promote the sustainable use of the islands, Banco Chinchorro received protected area status in
1998. However, the enforcement of protected area status is negligible.. In the local fishing boats, the ride is 2-2 ½ hours and is extremely rough, even on a seemingly
calm day. Based on observations and the reports of key informants, the reefs and fish populations around Chinchorro are in much better condition than nearer the mainland.
The seaward sides of the atolls have a connected fringing reef that spans the entire length north to south. There are numerous shipwrecks around the atolls, which have
immense tourismdiving potential, but if practices such as pillaging the wrecks for pottery and other material continue the potential will quickly diminish.
3.4 Inland Environment
The inland environment is also an important source of resources for the community of Mahahual. Informants identified a variety of resource uses in the forest,
including: timber collection caoba, cedro, geanadillo, zapote, chacte viga, and other hardwoods, guano collection material used to make thatched roof constructions
called palapas, hunting animals wild turkey, peccary, white tailed deer, peacock, jaguar, ocelot, crocodiles, turtles, cattle ranching, agriculture maize, cucumber,
bananas, watermelon, and other fruit, collection of construction materials residential and tourist, collection of vines for art and palapa construction, clearing for residential
expansion, and creation of fire lines to prevent and control wildfires. Resources from the inland environment have traditionally been the basis of productive activities for
many of the residents that live inland.
4
While no permits are required for subsistence hunting personal communication, Head Biologist, Uyumil Ceh Biological Reserve, permits are
required to carry guns. Hunting is somewhat limited by the presence of soldiers and marines in the area that routinely patrol for drug trafficking and guns. It was
mentioned that since many residents do not have official permits for their arms, they were less likely to go hunting because the soldiers and marines would confiscate their
arms and fine them for lacking gun permits.
According to respondents, there are a number of issues that affect their ability to utilize inland resources. Problems include: resource degradation, restrictions on
logging and burning, permit requirements, land ownershiptenure, lack of organizations and institutional support, and outdated laws that are not considered
locally applicable. However, it was also mentioned that there are typically no problems accessing forest resources for subsistence uses.
4
According to key informants and respondents, coconut farms called “copra,” exploitation of chicle from zapote trees, and harvesting hardwoods used to be the predominant economic activities in the
region before the 1950s. Over-exploitation of hardwoods led to the early demise of that industry. Blights and Hurricane Janet created difficulties with the coconut farming industry, minimizing its
economic importance in the region.
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CHAPTER 4 POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
