Hydrological and Oceanographic Considerations for Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Southern Belize |
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Authors: | William D Heyman Björn Kjerfve |
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Institution: | (1) The Nature Conservancy, 62 Front Street, Punta Gorda, Belize , BZ;(2) Marine Science Program and Department of Geological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA , US |
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Abstract: | 9 m3, a volume equal to the basin. During the rainy season, June–September, 84% of the annual discharge occurs, which causes the
bay to become brackish. Port Honduras serves as an important nursery ground for many species of commercially important fish
and shellfish. The removal of forest cover in the uplands, as a result of agriculture, aquaculture, and village development,
is likely to significantly accelerate erosion. Increased erosion would reduce soil fertility in the uplands and negatively
affect mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef productivity in the receiving coastal embayment. Alternatively, the conservation
of an existing protected areas corridor, linking the Maya Mountains to the Caribbean Sea, is likely to enhance regional sustainable
economic development. This study aims to support environmental management at the scale of the “ecoscape”—a sensible ecological
unit of linked watersheds and coastal and marine environments. |
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Keywords: | : Ecosystem management Coastal zone management Belize Hydrology |
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