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Payne's Creek nature reserve |
Payne's Creek Nature Reserve is a nature area of about 60,000 acres in southern Belize in Central America - this corresponds to about 250 km2. In 1997 an agreement had been made between the government of Belize and The Foundation for the Protection and Preservation of Payne's Creek Nature Reserve to protect and preserve this area as a nature reserve, with access for eco-tourists and with guarantee of authorized nature research. This foundation was to manage the project. The project, however, was not carried out as planned, because a change of government led to a cancellation of the contract, yet the idea of the project is worth while taking a look at. For a number of years mankind has witnessed the rainforests being destroyed, and we must today acknowledge that much harm has been done to this unique biotope. The tropical rainforests appear to be the losers, while the winners will be the modern agriculture, the enterprises logging the tropical timber species, and other companies, cutting through the tropical wetlands and forests with new road systems and communication lines. Most of the rainforests of Central America have already been destroyed, and only strong economic and environmental efforts can hinder further destruction. Belize is one of the most sparsely populated areas of Central America, and there is therefore still possibilities of protecting the environment, so that people can live in greater accordance with nature. The rainforest contains many values, which can not be recreated when it has been destroyed. Payne's Creek consists largely of a wetland with many crocodiles and a large number of wading birds, as well as a rainforest area with many kinds of birds, monkeys, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, tapirs, various species of deer and many other mammals. Added to this are many rare tree and plant species, insect and reptile species, some of which have not yet been categorized by botanists. The area, which has been designated as a nature reserve, has many rare trees, which could be sold at a good price. For decades a controlled logging has taken place on a small scale. This has meant that the ecosystem in the area is practically intact, which can also be seen from the large amount of different species found in the area. However, as it has become easier and easier to access the area, an uncontrolled logging has started. Thereby the way is soon cleared for more commercial forestry, which depends on easily negotiable transport routes. The tropical hardwood species are in high demand, and the timber companies are all alert to invest. The government of Belize has been aware of this, but at the same time there has been suggestions to use the area for many other purposes: an international airport, a marina, hotels, casinos - yes, even a suggestion for a deposition of waste from American oil companies. There was thus no doubt that action had to be taken now, if the area was to be secured against decline. The idea of the project was to make the area into a center for scientific investigations, combined with a possibility of a carefully organized eco-tourism. The Foundation had in 1996 received an application from The Foundation for the Protection and Preservation of Payne's Creek Nature Reserve and was interested in participating in this nature protection project, especially since Belize had formulated a task to become the leading country in Central America concerning the protection of the fauna and the environment. The Foundation granted 6,960,000 Dkr, as a one-off grant from which the interest was to be used for the project during the following years. Park rangers were to be employed, the area was to be marked out, special trails to be made for the eco-tourists, and rules were to be created ensuring access for natural scientists to field studies within the reserve. Besides this, a center was to be made inside the area, where tourists, scientists and students could stay while carrying out studies of the reserve. Two rangers and a manager were employed, who were busy marking out the area, when a new government in 1988 came to power in Belize and canceled the former government's cooperation agreement with The Foundation for the Protection and Preservation of Payne's Creek Nature Reserve. The approval of the project was withdrawn in January 1999, and the money which the Foundation had already paid out, was returned to the Foundation. |
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