BELIZE AUDUBON SOCIETY REOPENS PROTECTED AREAS

November 05, 2008

The Belize Audubon Society is re-opening four co-managed protected areas. Dirk Francisco is the Publicity Coordinator at the Belize Audubon Society.

Dirk Francisco; Publicity Coordinator Belize Audubon Society

“The Protected Areas that are open includes Guanacaste National Park, Saint Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, Actun Tunuchil Muknal Natural Monument and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Crooked Tree because it is still under a lot of water it is still not open to the public. The Protected Areas were closed because most of them were inundated with water. Example when ever the roaring creek flood, Guanacaste National Park floods as well; at the ATM caves the access roads were under water and some of the caves also had water. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary at the moment is open although the road is in a bad state. Visitors are asked to take extra precaution when driving to Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary.”

Francisco said that although these areas are open visitors need to take extra precaution as some activities are still restricted.

Dirk Francisco; Publicity Coordinator Belize Audubon Society

“We have patrolled most of these protected areas to see whether or not they are accessible to the public because we take into consideration the safety of people. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary although its open one of the most toured activity there is river tubing, but right now river tubing is not being done because the water is still slowing pretty face but the trails are in a very good condition. Cockscomb does not usually hold water. At Guanacaste Park again swimming is not allowed there because the Belize River is still high and the Roaring Creek is still high. Saint Herman’s Blue Hole National Park on the Hummingbird Highway the trails are in very good condition so tour operators feel free to go there and the Blue Hole is open for swimming so people could go there and enjoy.”

Francisco also said that the Belize Audubon Society is working with the Ministry of Works to ensure that the roads to the newly re-opened sites are fixed.

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