Krismus deh rite rung di kaana!

Christmas is right around the corner. A few updates about what I've been doing lately. I went of a field trip to Half Moon Caye and Blue Hole Natural Monuments last Saturday. The Red-footed Boobies are nesting now and I went snorkeling around the edge of the Blue Hole. On Sunday, I participated in the Belize City area Christmas Bird Count. My group recorded 101 species. Highlights for me were Yucatan Jays (endemic), a great view of an Aplomado Falcon, and a Red-breasted Merganser (listed as an accidental species; I'm not sure how accurate this is but I believe it was the 3rd or 4th record for Belize). After Boxing Day is the Christmas Bird Count for the Belmopan area.

This week I took a trip to Maya Centre. I led a two-day computer training workshop for the Maya Centre Women's Group, teaching the basics of Microsoft Word and Excel. Mr. Genus and I had dinner with Paul (researcher from the U.K.) who arrived to Cockscomb recently; he will continue camera trap research on jaguars and try to collect hair samples for DNA analysis to better understand population density and dispersal patterns outside the park. The research cabin has no electricity, so we had a candlelight dinner of rice, beans, johnny cakes, and eggs. I spent the night in Cockscomb (it was dark by 6pm felt like much later), listening to crickets and howler monkeys (a nice change from the noise and traffic I hear in the city). Early in the morning I went birding and hiked two trails in Cockscomb. Along the Tiger Fern Trail I encountered this beautiful heliconia (the flower pictured above), I also encountered some peccaries, and fresh Ocelot tracks in the mud. Had a few rain showers, but the canopy serves as pretty good cover. Went back to Maya Centre in the afternoon and completed the computer training workshop. Back in Belize City now and looking forward to the long weekend. Merry Christmas!

Belize Audubon Society Receives Grant From Jaguar Conservation Trust

Five grant recipients were recognized at the Belize Ford Grants - jaguar Conservation Trust Awards Ceremony, held in Belize City. Opening remarks were given by Bill Bowman, General Manager of the Belize Estate Company, the Ford dealership in Belize. This year's recipients of Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants were the Belize Creole Museum & Gallery, Community Baboon Sanctuary Women's Conservation Group, and a community group from Benque Viejo del Carmen. Each project was awarded (US)$2,500.

Protecting their namesake, Jaguar Cars (North America) established the Jaguar Conservation Trust to promote the preservation of the jaguar and its habitat. Actress, conservationist, and Jaguar Conservation Trust's lead consultant, Stefanie Powers presented grants to the Belize Audubon Society and Jaguar Shield. Jaguar Shield was awarded (US)$8,000, which will address problem jaguars in Belize. Accepting the award for the Belize Audubon Society was Executive Director Anna Dominguez-Hoare. The (US)$13,100 grant will be applied towards jaguar conservation and education at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Youth and AIDS in the 21st Century

Heavy rains in Belize City did not stop bus-loads of youth from attending a World AIDS Day event. HIV/AIDS is an epidemic in Belize; the 2004 World Population Data Sheet indicates that outside of Africa, Belize has the sixth highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world.

I heard about the event from a Peace Corps Volunteer who works with the Belize Red Cross. The Belize Red Cross was involved in the first national response and continues to participate in advocacy, providing information, training, technical assistance, food and clothing.

The Belize Red Cross, XChange/UNICEF, Ministry of Education, Youth for the Future, and National Art Development Foundation partnered with many other organizations organized a Youth Fest in Memorial Park. This year's theme:"Youth and AIDS in the 21st Century. Move On…". The Youth Fest featured performances from young people in the schools, youth organizations, and local musicians. All of the performances focused around the theme, to present positive messages, combat stigma and discrimination and disseminate accurate information about HIV and AIDS.

Blogger meets YouTube

I'm introducing a new feature to my blog to bring Belize to life, embedded videos from YouTube. I can upload Quicktime movies from my digital camera. This first video clip is an experiment to see how well YouTube works with blogging. If all goes well, I'll share longer and better quality videos in the future. The original isn't as dark and pixelated, so there's plenty of room for improvement. This clip is a group of punta dancers from Dangriga. Enjoy.

Maya Centre Women's Group

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1984 as a result of jaguar studies conducted in the area by Alan Rabinowitz. The boundaries were expanded in 1990 and again in 1997. Residents of Quam Bank, a Maya village within the boundaries of Cockscomb, were relocated to an new village (Maya Centre), but have preserved their traditional lifestyle. Maya Centre is located south of Dangriga on the Southern Highway and is the gateway to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, seven miles down a red dirt road.

The Belize Audubon Society's advocacy program works with guardian communities, such as Maya Centre, to create a balance between the people and the environment. One result of community outreach is the Maya Centre Women's Group. If you visit Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary you will surely meet the friendly Women's Group, which sells entrance tickets. Through an agreement with the Belize Audubon Society, 10% of the sales go directly to the group. They also have colorful gift shop filled with traditional arts and crafts, such as slate carvings, wood carvings, jipijapa baskets, calabash, Mopan Maya clothing, and jewelry. Their website is really great and goes into more detail about the group and how crafts are made. In December I'm planning a computer training workshop for the Maya Centre Women's Group.

Garifuna Settlement Day

My weekend began with a three hour bus ride to Dangriga, with the same punta rock CD played over and over. In a weekend filled with the fast drum beating pulse of punta music, I heard everything from traditional Garifuna cadences to a rendition of The Farmer in the Dell blaring out of someone's balcony. Dangriga, the cultural center of the Garifuna people, is were I celebrated Garifuna Settlement Day on the 19th.

Also known as the Garinagu (plural) or Black Caribs, the people trace their history back to a group of African slaves who escaped two ship-wrecked Spanish slave ships near St. Vincent in 1635. St. Vincent was invaded by the British and the Garifuna were deported to Roata¡n in 1796 (an island off the coast of Honduras). The Garifuna fled Honduras in 1832 after a failed attempt to overthrow the Republican government. This mass migration to Belize is what the Garinfuna now celebrate on November19.

The party began early on Saturday with live music in the street and people all around. At night I went to PuntaFest with the group of Volunteers, too early apparently. The crowd was small and it sounded like the action outside the tent was much more exciting. Later that night we returned to a full crowd and danced the night away. To punta dance all you have to do is shake your hips profusely. I got a few hours of sleep, but the music and dancing never stopped.

At six in the morning we gathered around the bridge to watch a re-enactment. Three boats, decorated with palm leaves, appeared on the horizon of the sea and the drum beats grew louder as they paddled closer to shore. The Garifuna, in traditional dress carried cassava, plaintains, and other greens as they danced to drums. Once the boats landed the Garifuna started a procession to the Catholic church. The Garifuna practice of Catholocism is fused with their African beliefs, most evident to me was the lively music. The entire service was spoken in Garifuna. After mass I re-connected with the Volunteers enjoying more punta rock from a jukebox, where we also met a Garifuna woman with albino rats ( Jack and Jill) clinging to her shoulders as she danced.

In typical Belize fashion the parade started a few hours later than scheduled and at the end everyone started dancing behind the last float. After burning so much energy I found some traditional food being served under a tent. The conch soup with ground food was good. Again the festivities were as lively as the night before. Garifuna Settlement Day was a great time for me and I can still hear the rythm ringing in my ears. But what I really noticed was the cultural pride in the Garifuna and wanting to share that happiness with visitors.

Conch-fiscated

As we neared Half Moon Caye someone noticed a small doary within the protected area. When our boat approached, a young kid surfaced wearing snorkel gear and flippers. He had been diving for conch within the boundaries of the Natural Monument, which includes an extensive area of the surrounding atoll, fringing reef and lagoon, in addition to the island (about 9,700 acres). A sack of conch meat and their shells were confiscated by one of the BAS wardens. I couldn't understand their conversation in Spanish. Next, we motored over to the mainboat named Bob Marley. There was another cexchange in Spanish with that fisherman before we continued to Half Moon Caye. While the BAS wardens are responsible for patrolling the area, the Fisheries Department will follow-up with legal actions. I'm not sure how widespread poaching is in Belize. My impression, based on conversations with various Belizeans, is that fishermen are willing to accept the risk because effective patrolling is difficult for managers and the fines are not harsh enough. Further proof, this was not Bob Marley and the sailors' first appearance at Half Moon.

Traditional fishermen travel by sailboat to their destination. Then the fleet of doaries stacked in the mainboat are then taken out by the fishermen. Fishing is the 4th largest industry in Belize and conch is one of the most important products. The Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) is a large marine snail with a spiral-shaped shell and a beautiful pink lining. The meat is exported for commercial purposes (most to the U.S.) and the shells are crafted into art and jewelry. While overfishing is a concern, marine protected areas and management have sustained Belize's Queen Conch population so far. Through adaptive management, conch regulations have changed to include an off-season (which coincides with neighboring countries) and the Fisheries Department and management agencies can look at conch data to determine acceptable catch regulations.

Conch ceviche is a popular appetizer served with tortilla chips. Conch was out of season when I picked up the recipe, I had shrimp instead. Ceviche has many variations, but is basically a simple blending of fresh seafood and citrus juice, with the addition of vegetables and spices.

Ceviche

1 pound medium-small shrimp

2 Tbsp salt

3/4 cup lime juice (juice from 4-6 limes)

3/4 cup lemon juice (juice from 2-3 lemons)

1 sm-med. finely chopped red onion

1 lg. chopped tomato

1 cup chopped cilantro

1 cucumber, peeled diced into 1/2-inch pieces

1 habenero pepper minced (optional)

1. Shell and devain shrimp (fresh seafood is a must).
2. In a large pot, bring to a boil 4 quarts of water, salted
   with 2 Tbsp salt. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 minute to 2 minutes max, depending on size of shrimp. (Over-cooking the shrimp will turn it rubbery.) Remove shrimp with a slotted spoon and place into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
3. Drain the shrimp. Cut each piece of shrimp in half, or into inch-long pieces. Place shrimp in a glass or ceramic bowl. Mix in the lime and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate for a half hour. Basically what's happening is the shrimp is "cooking" in the acidity.
4. Strain and repeat washing, whis time adding in onions.
5. Mix chopped vegetables in right before serving, salt and
   pepper to taste.

(P.S. -You can find more pictures of the recent trip to Half Moon Caye on my Flickr album)

World Bird Festival

Many Belizeans awoke to the sounds of rain and thunder in Belize City, but not the early birds that joined the Belize Audubon Society in celebrating the World Bird Festival. October marks the beginning of a month-long event, initiated by BirdLife International, that connects people with nature. The Belize Audubon Society is a BirdLife Partner.

It wasn't easy for me to get up at 4:30 AM, but I am grateful that I did. In the darkness before sunrise I saw a Yellow-crowned Night-heron perched on a small vessel as we crossed the Swing Bridge. It was calm before the storm and the clouds shielded the suns rays; perfect conditions for birdwatching. A group of about 20 explored the birding hotspots in Belize City. Around the BAS office neighborhood we saw the typical city residents such as, Great-tailed Grackle, Clay-colored Robin, Tropical Mockingbird, and Great Kiskadee. Looking out upon the beautiful sunrise on the Caribbean Sea we saw the Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, and Sandwich Tern. At the next two stops we picked up a few shorebirds, including the Semi-palmated Plover and Sanderling (pictured). In a vacant overgrown lot we saw orioles, warblers, flycatchers, and other passerines. We discovered many small niche communities throughout Belize City.

The last stop for the caravan of birdwatchers was a place called Birds Isle. By then the storm clouds had creeped all the way in from the sea. Even under the shelter we were able to see birds weathering the heavy rains outside. The streets were flooded when we drove back to our starting point and the rain continued throughout the rest of the afternoon. We tallied almost 60 species for the day.

Birding at Cockscomb

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the 9 protected areas that is managed by Belize Audubon Society, is well known as the world's first jaguar preserve. But instead of searching the trails for tracks of the elusive jaguar I was looking up for birds.

Israel Manzanero, the best kept secret of St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park, is an expert birder who works as a park warden for BAS. While I have a lot of past birding experiences to share, identifying the birds of Belize is new to me. I assisted Mr. Manza in teaching the warden's at Cockscomb how to improve their birding skills for monitoring and showing visitors around. There are a handful of common birds that can be identified easily, but 290 species have been recorded within the boundaries of the 128,000 acre wildlife sanctuary.

At around 5:15 AM we heard a Tropical Peewee while we enjoyed a hot cup of coffee on the verandah of our cabin; shortly afterwards, the call of a Spectacled Owl. At 5:30 AM the group met at the visitor center and by then the dawn chorus was at full volume. In the first hour I had a list of about 35 species. We hiked a trail to the riverside and looped back through the lowland jungle, covering a distance of about five miles. Before lunch, the list had grown to 82 species. I was so amazed by the quality of birding.

In the afternoon we hiked the Waterfall Trail to seek out some birds that live at higher elevation. My goal was to break 100 before the end of the day, but the afternoon was slower than the morning's activity. We returned to the visitor center and I continued gazing into the canopy, looking for the next new species. I located Black-faced Grosbeak and Yellow-winged Tanager among the many birds we had seen earlier. My list was now at 96 but it was too dark for my binoculars to gather enough light.

While chatting on the verandah after the sun had set, I heard an owl calling in the distance, identified by Mr. Manza as the Black and White Owl (97). We tried to relocate the Common Paraque we had seen the previous night but had no such luck. Then a heavy rain came down and persuaded me not to go on a night walk. It was difficult to sleep that night because one of the cabin mates was snoring as loud as a howler monkey. So I listened to the crickets calling, hoping to hear another owl in the forest, and waiting to do it all over again the next morning.


I don't know if we reached 100 as a group that day. Mr. Manza had at least one and maybe more birds that I had not seen or heard, so it's possible. However, I was not disappointed, never before I have I recorded so many bird species in such a short time. It was also pleasant to see a few visitor from home on their winter vacation, such as the Eastern Woodpeewee, Ovenbird, American Redstart, and Red-eyed Vireo. During my visit at Cockscomb I became familiar with a lot of new birds and their vocalizations so that when I'm on my own they won't give me much trouble.

Tapir Crossing

I have been waiting for a chance to see a wild tapir. While seeing a specimen at the Belize Zoo was exciting, it’s just not the same. However, my first encounter with a wild tapir came under sad circumstances. The other day Belize Audubon Society received a call about a tapir that had been hit by a vehicle at mile 9 of Belize’s Western Highway. While BAS has no jurisdiction over such wildlife issues, they are always willing to lend a hand to the Law Enforcement and Wildlife division of the Forest Dept. or the Belize Zoo. I went along with a staff member to the scene to help document what had happened. The large male tapir was dead on arrival and had a broken leg from the collision. We recorded an interview of a Belizean who had reported seeing the dead tapir on his way to Belize City in the morning. Other reports suggest that the tapir was alive earlier and that the animal suffered from heat stroke later. Residents from the nearby village of Hattieville knew that tapirs where present in this area. In fact, about three weeks ago another female tapir was hit on the road, but before any officials arrived to the scene it was gone. Apparently it was picked up and sold to villagers in the market.

Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii), known as the mountain cow, is Belize’s national animal. The herbivorous animal is found where there is an abundance of successional flood-plain vegetation, which is a preferred food source of Baird's tapir. They are mostly solitary and are not very active during the day. Weighing in at 300-500 lbs, Baird’s tapir is the largest of the 3 American tapir species and the largest land mammal in Central America. Tapirs belong to the Order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates), which includes horses and rhinoceroses. I surveyed the area and discovered a lot of tapir tracks and well worn trails. Obviously, this was not the first time the tapir had crossed the road.

Although Baird's tapir is categorized as Vulnerable, the species is considered endangered with extinction in most countries where it occurs. The main threats to tapir survival vary among different regions and different countries. Dominant forces affecting their populations are habitat loss and hunting. Tapirs are very susceptible to extinction because of their low reproductive rate. After a 13 month gestation period, the single young usually spends up to two years with its mother. This low recruitment rate coupled with hunting threats and habitat loss, is a serious factor contributing to Baird's tapir population decreases.

-IUCN Tapir Specialist Group

The story of this tapir may have been different if the driver had reported the accident. Fear may have been the reason why, because of the tapir’s protected status in Belize. When the story reaches the country on Channel 5 News, it is hopeful that drivers will be more cautious on the busy Western Highway.

St. George's Caye Day

St. George's Caye, nine miles offshore from Belize City, was the first capital city for the early British colonists (Baymen). On the 10th day of Spetember, 1798, the Baymen and their slaves defeated a Spanish invasion in the Battle of St. George's Caye. Today, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language.

Today's event was celebrated with a parade and other festivities. More September Celebrations are on the way.

The Tenth Day of September (Song)

It was the 10th day of September

In ninety-eight Anno Domini

when our fore-fathers

won the glorious fight

at Old St. George's Caye

Hip! Hip! Hurrah. Hip! Hip! Hurrah.

Then hail them - cheer them.

Let our grateful loyal hearts not fail them,

as we march and sing and shout in merry glee

The Battle of St. George's Caye.

Hip! Hip! Hurrah. Hip! Hip! Hurrah.

Half Moon Caye

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Half Moon Caye National Monument, which in 1928 became Belize's first protected area. I was on a boat with a few of the BAS staff members for about two hours before we reached Half Moon Caye of Lighthouse Reef. This was my first escape from the mainland. I saw a flyingfish gliding out of the beautiful waters of the Caribbean. Half Moon Caye is managed by Belize Audubon Society, along with the nearby Great Blue Hole. The shores are lined with coral rubble and white sand. On the eastern end of the island is an old lighthouse and coconut palms. The western end is a much more diverse in vegetation.



The Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) colony is one of the main reasons the natural monument was created. Half Moon's colony is unusual in the Caribbean context because of the almost complete dominance (98%) of the white, gold, and black adult color phase. An observation deck was built for visitors to view the colony in the canopy. The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), which nest in the same Orange-flowered Ziricote thicket at the western end of the caye are also common.

Boobies and Frigatebids have an intersting realtionship on the island. Boobies frequently destroy the Frigatebird nests, while Frigatebirds feed on Booby eggs. The Red-footed Booby feeds by diving into the water for fish, while the Frigatebird, a poor diver, steals fish from the Booby. This behavior is depicted in the logo of the Belize Audubon Society.

Half Moon Caye a great place to bird watch because you don’t know what to expect. Nearly 100 species have been recorded here, 77 of these are migrants. I saw an osprey perched on a coconut palm and what I suspect was a yellow warbler.

The purpose of my visit to Half Moon was to introduce myself to the staff members and to look at how the small visitor center could be enhanced with exhibit signs. I can’t wait to return with some free time so I can explore more of the beautiful island diversity and the reef.

A Few Pictures From Belize

I spent the past week doing technical training with Environmental Education trainees in Armenia, a village south of Belmopan on the Hummingbird Highway. A women's group has established a program called Hummingbird Homestays, and so we each stayed with a host family. Part of our trainging included planning an environmental camp with a youth group for the younger children in the village. Armenia is a guardian community of St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park, which is comanaged by Belize Audubon Society. A guardian community refers to a commmunity that buffers a protected area.

My tech training group also visited various workers in the environmental field, such as park managers, tour guides, Belize Tourism Board, Belize Audubon Society, and Protected Areas Conservation Trust. We had some time for adventures such as hiking, birdwatching, and caving. Here are a few photos I shot this week. Plus I want to mention that I added a link to my flickr photo album where I have posted more pictures from Belize.

Site Assignment

The long awaited site assignments were revealed today. I am going to be in Belize City and will be working with the Belize Audubon Society (BAS) as a Programme Development Officer.

Belize Audubon Society is the oldest and largest conservation NGO in Belize. Through their mission BAS is "dedicated to the sustainable management of our natural resources through leadership and strategic partnerships with stakeholders in order to create a balance between people and the environment. " In collaboration with the Forest Department, BAS manages nine protected areas throughout Belize.

While Belize Audubon Society has worked with Peace Corps before, I will be their first Peace Corps Volunteer. The primary opportunities outlined for this project are to provide environmental education and community outreach support to BAS programs, parks, and communities through development of activities for kids' corner, developing education materials, implementing outreach activities to communities, the general public, schools, and BAS members. BAS also needs assistance with the development and writing of proposals for grants to support their work. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work Belize Audubon Society to say the least.

Cassava Bread

The Peace Corps group took a bus ride on the Hummingbird Highway to the Stann Creek District of Belize. Our destination was the district capital Dangriga, located on the Caribbean Sea. First, we visited Gulisi Garifuna Museum to learn about the history and culture of the Garifuna people.

Garinagu (plural of Garifuna) or Black Caribs, are descendants of two ethnic groups, Carib Indians and Black Africans, that lived on the island of St. Vincent.
-National Garifuna Council

Next we visited a Naomi Noralez, who operates a cassava bread making business in Dangriga. Cassava bread is flat, round, biscuit-like, and very dry, so it has a long storage live if stored properly. We learned the traditional method and helped Miss Naomi make some cassava bread. It is a long process so I'll try to sum it up as best as possible. First, the tubers from the cassava plant are harvested, peeled and cleaned. The white tubers are then grated or mortared into a mash that is stuffed into a long woven snake-like basket called a ruguma, which is hung so the water can be strained out. Next the cassava is sifted into a flour through a round woven basket. The cassava flour is then spread onto a large griddle. It is packed down, more flour is sifted on and brushed. Then the whole piece is flipped over. If you think flipping a large pancake is difficult, try this. The edges are trimmed and the the bread is cut into sections, and there you have it, cassava bread!

Chaa Creek

Today the Environmental Education Trainees attended part of the Summer Teacher Institute workshop, which was put on with the help of two current Volunteers. Belizean and American teachers attended. The purpose of the project was to help teachers incorporate environmental education into primary schools of Belize. The major themes presented were ecology, archeology, and tourism in Belize. The program, which was a week long, was held at Chaa Creek, a private preserve and jungle lodge. It is an amazing place and has received numerous Ecotourism Awards.

We began the afternoon with a tour of the rainforest medicinal trail. Beautiful scenery, situated next to the Mopan River. Our naturalist guide Geovanni was an encyclopedia of knowledge, but I was easily distracted by the sight of a Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides). I had no luck photographing the butterfly, however it is the same as the animated one on my blog. A Mayan healer, Don Elijio Panti from the nearby village of San Antonio, was renowned for his knowledge of plants and herbs used in traditional medicine practice. The knowledge of Don Elijio was preserved when an American doctor, Rosita Arvigo began studying with him. Today Dr. Rosita continues traditional medicine and has her business close to my home in San Ignacio. In talking with my host family, natural medicine is still used and probably more so among the older generation. One relative in the family prefers traditional medicine over what his doctor prescribed for diabetes.

In addition to medicinals, the trees and plants have many other uses. I learned much about the Cohune Palm (Orbignya cohune) in an activity building session with the other teachers. We were asked to prepare something that could be used in the classroom after reading a short background article about the palm tree. My group performed a drama scene in which we transformed into a cohune palm and each presented a short dialogue about the different tree parts and their uses. The leaves are used for thatched roofs, the heart of the palm and the nuts are edible, the trunk is used in drum making, and etc. The cohune palm is probably the most important tree to the Mayans. Pictured here is the Mayan ruin Xunantunich, notice the large cohune palms on the right side.

Mengo Time

There are two mango trees in my host family's backyard and they're delicious. This Kriol song is the un-official national anthem for Peace Corps Belize...

Mengo Time

Mi noh kyaa weh dehn seh, Mengo time
Mi noh kyaa weh dehn seh, Mengo time
Ah geh mi baaskit ahn krokas beg
Ahn tie mi hed wid eny ole reg
Mengo time, mengo time, mengo time

Mango Time

I don't care what they say, Mango time
I don't care what they say, Mango time
I get my basket and crocus bag
And tie my head with any old rag
Mango time, mango time, mango time

Iguana Project

I recently visited a project in my host town of San Ignacio, in the Cayo District, that is helping to educate and conserve Belize's largest lizard the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Behind the San Ignacio Hotel is a small screened building filled with tropical plants and iguanas. The project incubates iguana eggs that have come from disturbed nests, raises them to maturity, and releases them into the wild. Sex determination is dependent on temperature; if the temp is below 82 they will be females and above 95 will be males. The incubation period is about 3 months and they reach maturity at about 2 years. When they are released, a few of the soft spines on the back are clipped so they can be easily identified during surveys.

I saw a wild iguana basking on a log in the Mopan River, on July 4th, when our training group visited a Mayan ruin called Xunantunich. But their population has declined because of hunting. Iguana meat is a delicacy, also known as bamboo chicken. The iguana's eggs are also a delicacy. Although the iguana is now a protected species, I was told they may be seen in the Belize City market and are available in the black market. Enforcement can be difficult because the bush meat comes from rural areas of Belize. Large females with eggs are the most sought after. Smaller iguanas may be captured for the pet trade.

While a green iguana, as large as 7 feet head to tail, may seem scary to some people, it is nothing to be feared. They have sharp teeth and claws but adults are strictly herbivorous. For defense they can display their dewlap, which has sub-tympanic discs that mimic large eyes in order to fool predators. Iguanas are also capable of loosing their tail (autotomy) for defense and it will regenerate. Another interesting tidbit, which I did not know about iguanas, is that they have a third eye on the top of their head that can detect light and dark.

New Staging Date

The new staging event is scheduled for June 24-25 in Washington D.C. I pray this will be the last delay in what has become a very testing experience to begin Peace Corps.

Staging Delayed

I received a call from Peace Corps yesterday and was informed that my program departure is being moved back a few weeks due to a logistical problem.

Blog Makeover

A lot has changed since my adventures in Madagascar ended and now I would like to introduce you to the new style of my blog.

The new title still seems a bit odd and I haven't got used to it yet. Tata Duhendeh is a mythical short man who lives in the bush, his feet are backwards and he has no thumbs. In folklore, the Belizeans say he is a forest guardian and trickster. He will punish people for over-hunting, taking Mayan artifacts, or causing mischief in the bush. However, Tata Duhendeh is not portrayed as an evil character, he will rescue people in the forest or teach you to play guitar as a reward.

For frequent visitors or anyone interested about updates on this page, I have added a tracking feature called Blogarithm. By clicking on the Blogarithm button, located in the right column you will be directed to a new page. Enter your email address and click. After a simple, two-step process to confirm your email address and select a password, the subscription is complete. You will receive an email when a new post is published. Much easier than bookmarks and you won't have to waste time checking the page to find nothing new.

Finally, I have added web-links to great sites with information related to Belize. Enjoy the new site and feel free to leave comments or suggestions.

One Small Step for Man...

The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This year The Convention on Biodiversity is promoting the protection of biodiversity in drylands.

In addition to an official celebration of International Biodiversity Day in Belize, organizations within Belize are putting on the 2nd Annual Natural Resources and Environment Week, May 21st to 27th. This year's theme is "Environmental Education- A Step Towards Friendly Development".

And that's where I come in, serving as an Environmental Educator. I will be helping Belizeans to manage natural resources and protect biodiversity in sustainable ways that accrue benefits to community members and improve their quality of life. It sound like a lot of responsibility, but I will take small steps and at the same time learn about the environment from Belizeans. Together we will make the world a better place.

Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!

Some facts and information about Belize...

Capital: Belmopan
Population: 273,700
Land Area: 8,876 sq mi

National Bird: Keel-billed Toucan
National Animal: Baird's Tapir
National Flower: Black Orchid
National Tree: Mahogeny

Belize is located in Central America; bound by Mexico in the north, Guatemala on the west and south, and 174 miles of Carribean coastline on the east. The land area of the mainland and cayes is 8,867 square miles; roughly the size of Massachusetts. The population is estimated to be 273,700; comparable to the population of St. Paul, Minnesota. Massachusetts has about 6.5 million people. The ethnic groups include Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Spanish, Maya, English, Mennonite, Lebanese, Chinese, and East Indian. Belize was a British colony, formerly known as British Honduras. English is the official language; Creole and Spanish are also commonly spoken. Agriculture (sugar, citrus, and bananas), tourism, fisheries, and forestry play a major role in the economy of Belize.



With 40% of it's territory designated as protected areas, Belize has the highest percentage in the world. Belize has a wealth of natural resources, icluding pristine forests, coral reefs, natural monuments, archaeological reserves, private and public land and a diversity of fauna and flora. The are 51 parks and forest reserves, 8 recognized private protected areas and 9 archaeological reserves, 11 marine reserves, and 12 marine spawning agregations.

"From the soft adventure novice to the hard adventure enthusiast, Belize is a paradise on earth. Hike through exotic jungle trails... tube along an underground river... explore the brilliant depths of a magnificent barrier reef... Belize can satisfy the adventurer in all of us. Adventure into a land rich in natural beauty and steeped in the magic of its Maya past. Renowned for pristine waters, exotic marine and wildlife, lush, unspoiled landscapes, and superb diving, Belize is Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret. Natural and unspoiled, Belize is a haven for some of the planet's most exotic and endangered species. It has become a recognized leader in preservation and conservation, where nature reserves abound, and a fascinating population of birds, beasts, and marine life reside."
-BELIZE TOURIST BOARD (www.travelbelize.org)

Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret!

Here's a brief description of the new assignment I received from Peace Corps.

Country: Belize
Program: Community Conservation
Job Title: Environmental Educator
Dates of Service: Aug. 4, 2006- Aug. 3, 2008

The goal of this project is to promote initiatives of Belizean community members and organizations for the conservation of land and natural resources. The project works with community members to find opportunities where conservation can be partnered with income-generating activities. The project also provides support in increasing environmental awareness through the development and implementation of environmental education, both formal and non-formal.

The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by John F. Kennedy and is guided by three goals:

*To help the people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women.

*To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.

*To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of all Americans.

To the Otherside of the World and Back

Not long after I arrived to the training post in Madagascar I received a notice of medical seperation. If you want a longer explanation and did not receive my email let me know. Before leaving Madagascar I captured some great photos, although it is simply a representation of everyday life in Madagascar. Time was so short that I did not have an opportunity to explore protected areas, to see lemurs, or anything of really wild nature. Now I am waiting patiently for a new volunteer assignment from the Peace Corps, hopefully close enough to make a return visit to Madagascar possible in my future.


View from PC Training Center


Malagasy woman doing laundry


Terraced agricultural landscape.


Comet orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale)

Staging

Staging in Phili is done. Shortly I will be going to the airport and flying to Africa. I am one of 21 new Volunteers who will be working on the Environment Project in Madagascar. During the 3 month training session I will have no Internet access, so it will be a while before I will be able to provide any updates.

Makira Protected Area

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recently announced the establishment of a new protected area in Madagascar. To read the full article and for more information visit the following sites:

www.wcs.org/353624/madagascarsnewprotectedarea
www.wcs.org/international/Africa/madagascar/makira

For me this new found information has provided a better understanding of my duties as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Until now my assignment as a Protected Areas Management Volunteer seemed a little vague. The idea of working on natural resource management activities in rural communities near protected areas has left me wondering about the innumerable possibilities I could face in the future. It is encouraging to see a concrete example of protected area management in Madagascar that is in line with my assignment and how it will benefit both the community and natural resources. The site will be co-managed by WCS and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests (MINEF). As a PCV my primary duty is to meet the needs of MINEF and other partner organizations. The new Protected Areas System was designed to involve local communities in natural resource management.

Whether or not I will be assigned to work in this particular area of Madagascar, I don't know. Makira Protected Area is one of five newly established protected areas, with more sure to follow. President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana has committed to increasing the total area protected from 1.7 million to six million hectares by 2008.