Belize Audubon Society's Research Program
Understanding the big picture through research- like a photograph, scientific research captures many details of a place and time and allows us to examine a subject from different perspectives. For example, studying frogs in Belize provides a better understanding of issues that affect us directly such as water quality and global climate change. Researchers in Belize have detected agricultural chemicals in pristine environments of the Cockscomb Mountain Range. Because amphibians are connected to an aquatic environment, the quality of the water in which they live can affect their growth, development, and survival. What affects amphibians today may affect other wildlife and people in the future unless specific land management strategies and actions are put into practice.
The Belize Audubon Society's research program is designed to provide current and pertinent information to its management team while building institutional capacity and Belize's scientific knowledge base. The Belize Audubon Society has adopted an integrated resource management (IRM) approach to managing protected areas in order to build and maintain the capacity to carry out research. As the Society adapts its management activities to meet increasing user demands, sustained threats to biodiversity, and constricting resources, the generation of data is key in prioritization of management activities.
Institutional support for research include coordinating technical personnel and a complement of field staff stationed at the protected areas trained to provide support in field research. The research program is equipped with a GIS system and basic field equipment to carry out a variety of field activities. One of the Society's strengths is the support it receives through its volunteer program and frequent opportunities for volunteers to participate in research by matching skills with research needs.
Through collaborative efforts with local academic institutions and international conservation and research organizations, the Society continues to promote research on critical species such as the Jaguar (Panthera onca), Black Howler Monkey (Aloutta pigra), and Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) among others. Researchers also monitor vulnerable marine spawning aggregations of Groupers (Serranidae) and Snapper (Lutjanidae) as well as Queen Conch and Spiny Lobster populations of Half Moon Caye Natural Monument.
The Society maintains facilities to accommodate researchers at Half Moon Caye Natural Monument (marine), Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (terrestrial), and the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve (designated solely for scientific research), which houses modest facilities. For more information contact research(at)belizeaudubon.org.