Using Geodesign to Balance Tourism and Conservation in Belize

The Conflict of Tourism and Conservation

From log cabin and spa-type accommodations settled in lush green rainforests to fun-in-the-sun alongside sparkling waters, Belize is a popular tourist destination.  As such, Belize thrives on the tourism industry, one that the COVID-19 pandemic has recently decimated.  In non-pandemic times, Belize’s tourist industry is one of its top income earners. Additionally, Belize is also known for its commitment to protecting natural resources. Over 30% of its ecosystems are under various forms of protected status, as they are one of the many reasons tourists visit Belize. However, the exponential growth of the tourist industry has led to significant development and conservation conflicts – this is where the story of Caye Caulker begins.

Caye Caulker is off the north-eastern coast of Belize.  The island is divided into two by a relatively narrow inlet, known as the “Split.”  South Caye Caulker is where most of its permanent population resides and attracts foreign investors eager to exploit tourism in Belize.  However, the diverse littoral and mangrove forests in the north appear as another world in contrast to the more developed south.  The low-lying forests on North Caye Caulker provide an ideal habitat for reptiles and serve as a seasonal home to many migrating birds.  The Caye Caulker Forest and Marine Reserve, which encompass the northern tip and a portion of the Belize Barrier Reef System, were established in 1998 with the assistance of environmentally motivated Caye Caulker residents.  It was essential to protect the biodiversity that provides critical ecosystem services and livelihoods, including the barrier reef, associated inland lagoon, littoral forests, and mangrove vegetation.

Since 2018 and with the boom of the tourism industry, North Caye Caulker has been under increasing development stresses with clearing spans of littoral and mangrove vegetation for prime real estate.  However, no cumulative assessment or land use planning is being conducted to evaluate development impacts on the surrounding terrestrial and marine environments or carrying capacity.  Increasing tourism projects will generate much-needed additional revenue for owners and the government by creating jobs and economic opportunities.  However, the unregulated developments on privately-owned lands place a strain on natural resources.  Collectively, these pressures threaten the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry and the habitats on which they depend.  As such, a geodesign study was conducted to investigate alternative scenarios that strike a balance between tourism development and environmental protection on North Caye Caulker.  By utilizing the geodesign methodology, this project will resolve conflict among developers, fisherfolk, and environmentalists, maintain ecosystem services and protection of the fisheries industry, and reduce threats to the protected area.

First-time Application of Geodesign in Belize

Geodesign is a planning and design process that develops multiple alternative design scenarios and assesses their impacts within their geographic context.  The geodesign process leverages systems thinking and digital technology.  Readers interested in additional information on the geodesign process should refer to  A Framework for Geodesign: Changing Geography by Design by Carl Steinitz.

Figure 1- Project-specific tasks aligned with the Geodesign Framework

Within the geodesign framework, process models were developed based on the best available data at the time to classify land use for North Caye Caulker and evaluate existing conditions and development trends.  In 2010, pristine natural vegetation accounted for 92% of the landmass of North Caye Caulker.  There was a low amount of development since residential parcels were greater than commercial parcels but still at 1%, with only a single commercial parcel identified.  Eight years later, 89% of the landmass was natural vegetation.  Commercial parcels increased slightly, while some wetlands were deforested.  Two years later, natural vegetation was further reduced to 72%.  In this short two-year period, wetlands decreased by 11%, while littoral vegetation decreased by 6%.  These changes suggest that wetlands are twice as likely to be cleared as littoral forests, even though there is only one-third more coverage of mangroves than littoral forests.  Rapid development occurred with a tremendous amount of land cleared and filled for future land development.

During the Geodesign process, a survey collected stakeholders’ values and needs.  Many stakeholders reminisced of what Caye Caulker was like in the past with less population, more community-mindedness without property boundaries where children played and learned in the outdoors, and various family-centered activities.  Respondents indicated these values are slowly changing because of population growth and broadband technology; however, they would like them to return.  Stakeholders identified four key features they would like protected: mangrove wetlands, littoral forests, and seagrass ecosystems.  Additionally, they preferred developments with single-storeys and eco-friendly type structures.  Based on the results, a list of requirements was developed and ranked by stakeholders; including green designs, incorporation of family and recreational activities, protection of mangroves and seagrass ecosystems, proper waste treatment, power facilities, designated areas for shops and recreational services, a network of boardwalks through the forest, and establishment of an educational center for the Reserves and a forest office.

Based on the above information, future scenarios were created. Geodesign calls these change models. In organizing future land use, ecologically important areas of most significant risk to environmental damage and change were protected. Areas were then identified as attractive for particular uses and development types. Suitable locations for land use were based on the above-mentioned requirements and geographical (surveyed lands), environmental (proximity to features to protect), social values, and legal factors (buffer reserves).

Figure 1 – Business-as-usual model

Three change models were created for the year 2040 for North Caye Caulker with varying environmental protection and economic growth levels.  A business-as-usual model shows land use if the rate of unregulated development continues unabated. Stakeholders did not select this model because it lacked environmental protection measures; hence it did not match their values. A high-protection model offers a high degree of environmental protection and a low rate of economic development.  This model was also not selected, even though it met all the stakeholders’ requirements and had stringent environmental protection measures, including a no-dredging policy.

Figure 2 –   High -protection model An in-between model met all stakeholders’ requirements and was selected.  In this model, a central area was designated for recreational activities that incorporated family activities, including windsurfing, sailing, cultural clubs, and the like.  There were also designated areas near residential subdivisions for stores, restaurants, and a strip for nighttime recreational activities.  A large industrial site was selected for sewage treatment, a transfer station for solid waste collection, and a solar farm to power the entirety of Caye Caulker.  An educational center was designated near the Forest Reserve, while a central area was selected for a forest office to regulate mangrove protection.

Figure 3-  In-between model In this model, pristine natural vegetation will make up 75% of the landmass of North Caye Caulker.  Commercial land use will increase moderately, while Residential and Recreational will both increase slightly.   Unlike the high-protection model, there will only be a no-dredging policy on the windward side.  On the leeward side, dense seagrass ecosystems have a 500 m buffer around them to designate protection as an at-risk species.  Anywhere outside the buffer can potentially be dredged.  A policy to regulate using up to 50% of the parcel size to construct structures will be promoted with incentives, such as membership to the sailing club, etc.  Visitor carrying capacity will be below the threshold for North Caye Caulker.  This model still has a medium degree of environmental protection but adds more economic activity.

Figure 4 – In-between model

For the In-Between change model to express a “natural feel” to North Caye Caulker, commercial and residential developments will need to utilize nature-friendly, “green” designs.  The idea is to integrate structures into the surrounding ecology and native vegetation with as minimal impact as possible.  New building design guidelines and codes are recommended, specifically for Caribbean-style architecture instead of the existing generic large concrete structures.  Setback distances for building construction will help maintain shoreline and beach integrity.  A network of boardwalks will preserve the integrity of beach ridges and reduce the impacts of human activities on littoral and mangrove forests.  Several routes were identified through the mangrove forests to connect tourism, residential and recreational developments.  Boardwalks should be constructed for pedestrian and golf cart use.

Factors Affecting Decisions

The change models proposed different scenarios that enabled stakeholders to select a preferred future state of the study area.  Stakeholders’ backgrounds included the tourism industry, government authority, non-government organizations, and residents.  Caye Caulker residents have a historical interest in being informed and participating in marine management.  Stakeholders largely factor in environmental and public health issues in their decision-making process and rely on scientific data and local knowledge.  Thus, any change model developed needed to be accompanied by scientific information that provides relevant and reliable data on the environment.

The process, while beneficial, had a few limitations. First, stakeholders were skeptical of the implementation of policies and monitoring by regulatory agencies. Skepticism arose due to the authorities inconsistently implementing past policies and monitoring efforts. As such, stakeholders disagreed with the inclusion of a public beach.  A public beach was viewed as an opportunity for individuals to purchase the land eventually, thus rendering it a private beach.  Second, stakeholders were firmly against dredging activities due to the adverse environmental impacts generated, such as turbid water conditions and transportation of sediments to at-risk habitats.

Despite the limitations listed above, Geodesign provided a way to reach a compromise between environmental protection and building the economy for Caye Caulker.  By including stakeholders’ values and needs, Geodesign allowed for the beneficiaries to have a say in the future scenario.  The protection of littoral and mangrove forests will allow these ecosystems to continue providing their ecological services for the caye and indirectly economic livelihoods.  Commercial activities do not necessarily require them to be tourism-based but can be diversified to include other forms of low-impact commerce.  This is one of the strongpoints of Geodesign, stakeholders can tailor the environment to their values and needs.

References

Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMAI).  (2004).  “Caye Caulker Forest and Marine Reserve-Integrated Management Plan.”  Retrieved March 15, 2020 (http://fisheries.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CCIMP.pdf).

Ministry of Tourism.  (2015).  “Caye Caulker Tourism Development Plan (2016‐2020).”  Retrieved March 29, 2020 (https://tourism.gov.bz/cayecaulkertourismdestinationdevelopmentplan.pdf).

This entry was posted on Monday, August 2nd, 2021 at 12:23 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.