IUCN Management Category VIII (Multiple Use Management Area)

Biogeographical Province 8.01.01 (Campechean)

Geographical Location Within Columbia Forest Reserve, Toledo District. Approximately 16°33'N, 89°7'W

Date and History of Establishment No information

Area Approximately 1,300ha. Within Columbia Forest Reserve (44,030ha)

Land Tenure National forest land

Altitude 700-1,100m

Physical Features Paleozoic quartzites of Macal Series forms ridge feature.

Climate Annual precipitation averages 2032-2540mm.

Vegetation Endemic orchids and forest

Fauna Slate-coloured solitaire Myadestes unicolor occurs, indicating presence of montane species. Smaller ocelot Felis pardales is especially common. Jaguar Panthera onca present and tapir Tapirus bairdii is abundant. Monkeys are rarely seen, and peccaries Tayassu sp. rare.

Cultural Heritage Not applicable

Local Human Population Permanent adjacent resident population at Union Camp (population less than 50), Rito Bonillo (population less than 50) and San Jose (population 599) are situated 12km to the south.

Visitors and Visitor Facilities & VISITOR FACILITIES None

Scientific Research and Facilities & FACILITIES None

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Management is responsibility of Forest Department.

Designation to conserve some of best forest in Belize. No management plan or management applied .

Management Constraints Forest clearance and hunting of jaguar.

Staff None. Forestry staff, Southern Division, oversee Columbia Forest Reserve.

Budget None

Local Addresses

BAS, PO Box 1001, Belize City, Belize District

Southern Forestry Division, Melinda Forest Station, Stann Creek District

Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Belmopan, Cayo District

REFERENCES

Anon. (n.d.). An inventory of the Columbia River and Maya Mountain Forest Reserves. Management Division Report. Belize Forestry Department.

Hartshorn, G. et al. (1984). Belize: Country Environmental Profile.

Sheet No. 37 Series E755 (DOS 4499) Scale 1: 50 000, Department of Overseas Surveys, UK.

References No information

Date & HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT Columbia Forest Reserve (44,030ha) was established in 1954 under Section 3, Forest Ordinance, Chapter 115 Laws of Belize (revised 1958). Union Camp/Little Quartz Ridge proposed as nature reserve by Harthshorn et al. (1984) under National Parks System Act (No. 5 1981). No action on proposal.

November 1990