Quick Facts on Belize
- Geographic Location Northern Central America
- Land Area 8,867 square miles (22,960 km²)
- Belize mainland is about 180 miles long and 68 miles wide
- Belize has the lowest population density in Central America, and the third lowest in the Americas
- Belize is apart of the Western Caribbean Zone
- Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM).
- Major sports in Belize are football, cricket, volleyball and cycling
- Belize's national animal is the Baird's Tapir, the largest land mammal of the American tropics
- The national flower of Belize is the black orchid
- The National Bird of Belize is Keel Billed Toucan
- Belize Population 333,2000
- Population Density 38 people per sq. mile
- Bird species 570
- Species of coral 110
Belize a Protected Area
Protected area in Belize have been recognized since the 1920’s, with the establishment of the forest Reserve under the Forest Act. However the areas established at that time were to serve as extractive reserves for their rich timber resources. In the Colonial days, protected areas were declared under the Crown lands ordinance. Silk Grass was the first to be establish as a forest Reserve in 1922.This site was declared for the protection and development of mahogany silviculture. This was followed by a number of other Reserves, all declared by 1930. These include Freshwater Creek, Sibun, Vaca and Columbia River. Other areas declared under the crown Lands Ordinance were Rio Grande 1972 Guanacaste 1973 and Bird Sanctuary in 1977.
The passing of two major laws after independence in 1981 namely the wildlife protection act(WPA) and the national park system act(NPSA). These acts facilitated the protection and conservation of ecologically important species such as the Jabaru Storks and the Jaguar. This aloud the strengthening of protected areas in Belize.
In 1984 the Belize Audubon Society was given the responsibility for six protected areas under the NPSA and the official management contract between the Government of Belize and BAS was signed in November 1995.Today there are
- 11 National Parks
- 5 Wildlife Sanctuaries
- 4 Nature Reserves
- 3 Natural Monuments
- 8 Archaeological Reserves
- 8 Marine Reserves
- 19 Forest Reserves
About 41% of the total area of Belize is under some form of protection status.
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- Belize natural environment harbours an incredible range of plants and animal species. Belize has at least 4,000 species of native flowering plants, 205 kinds of orchids, and 700 native trees. Our plants and trees are researched by international organizations looking for new cures to diseases
- Belize provides a relatively safe environment for many animals. There are more than 150 species of mammals, including 70 species of bats, as well as howler monkeys, brocket deer, otters, jaguars, ocelots, margays, jaguarondis, pumas and tapirs. In any other country these animals are endangered or extinct.
- Birds are also abundant. There are approximately 520 species, including ducks, snail kites, king fisher, jabaru stork, frigate birds, hawks, eagles, spoonbills, vultures, hummingbirds, owls, toucans, nine different parrot species and one species of macaw. Of this number, 370 are permanent resident of Belize.
- The Creole: In Belize the term Creole is defined as a person of both European and African ancestry. As the British Baymen of the 1700’s mixed with their African slaves, the combined influence formed the Creole culture. The slaves came from different parts of Africa and were forced to speak English to communicate with each other. However, they altered the English word to create a language of their own which allowed them to pass on African values and wisdom. Proverbs and stories of anansi the spider and bra Tiger. Almost all the people of Belize speak Creole today and until recently they were the largest ethnic group.
- Singing and dancing were two ways in whitch the African slaves expressed themselves, and the drum was their most important musical instrument. Today popular Creole music stiles include Bruckdown And Boom and Chime, which use gourd rattles, scrapers, guitar, the jaw bone of a donkey or cow as well as turtle shells for percussion.
- The diet of the Creole also has African roots. It consist of ground food, such as cassava, yam and sweet potatoes which are combine with other European dishes. Belize national dish is rice and beans cooked with coconut oil or coconut milk is typical Creole cooking
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