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Land Use in Belize. Open Land Without, or With Insignificant Vegetation Cover Water. Presented By: Marvin Moody/Christian Windsor/Rafael Lima April 7, 2014. Overview.
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Land Use in Belize Open Land Without, or With Insignificant Vegetation CoverWater Presented By: Marvin Moody/Christian Windsor/Rafael Lima April 7, 2014
Overview • The Department of the Environment, the Land Information Centre, the Statistical Institute of Belize, as well as other governmental and non-governmental agencies within Belize collect data in various environmental sectors/issues on a daily basis. • However, the updates, compilation and presentation of these data are lacking. (Land Use). • The Land Use of Belize 1989/1992 was published by the Lands Information Centre in 1992. • The latest statistical report ‘Ecosystems Classification for Belize, 1996/98 was published in 2001.
Definitions • “(Bare) Land”: Is identified as lands that cannot be used for productive purpose. Refers to land which is either or not covered at all by any form of vegetation. Land having no agricultural/ development potential such as steep slopes, mountains • “Water ”: relates to the part of the national territory which is covered by surface water, such as Lagoons, rivers, dams and reservoirs.
Review of Data The Land Use of Belize 1989/1992 publication in 1992 reported the following: • A total of 1,889.35 acres (.035 %) was identified as Bare land. • A total of 96,817.61 acres (1.79%) was identified as land under water systems. Ecosystems Classification for Belize, 1996/98 , reported: • A total of 119,104 acres (2.1%) was identified as land under water.
Indicators Open Land without, or with insignificant vegetation cover land indicators: • Percent of barren farm lands • Percent of Steep Slopes • Percent of Mountainous Terrain • Percent of 66ft reserves land surrounding all water bodies
Indicators Water indicators: • Acreage of Dam Reservoirs • Identification and Acreage of shoals/bajos • Acreage of Seasonal Creeks/ water bodies • Length, width, and depth of rivers • Acreage of basins, watersheds and marshlands
Sources of Data • Government Agencies • Non- Government Organizations • Private Stakeholders • Academia • Research by international agencies
Method of Data Collection • Satellite Images • Aerial Photographs • Field work/ground truthing • Existing studies • The use of Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS allows us to analyze data drawn from a variety of sources, such as maps, satellite images, aerial photographs and field surveys.
Conclusion • Belize must formulate methodologies for the collection of physical data. Ground work assessment is important in the collection of data for identification of unproductive (Bare) land and Surface water. • Data must be continuously updated. • Data must be easily available to agencies. • Resources should be made available to purchase new satellite images, aerial photographs etc. • Communication with international organization is important to conduct research/studies of this magnitude. • Land Classifications should be standardise.