Shipstern Nature Reserve, Belize National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Monuments, Natural Reserves

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Shipstern Natural Reserve

The site was established as a private Nature Reserve in 1987, initially owned by two British businessmen, and operated as a butterfly farm. Following the sub-division of the land in 2 (2000 acres and 20000 acres), the International Tropical Conservation Foundation, based in Neuchatel, Switzerland bought the latter section in 1989 and took over the management The protective value of the area was increased in April 1990, by the designation of a 32000 acre no hunting zone around Sarteneja which included Shipstern Nature Reserve (SI 47). The reserve was expanded in 1994 with the acquisition of a further block of land to the west of the maw reserve. A management agreement has been negotiated in 1995 between ITCF and the BAS, so that the latter organization now operates the reserve.

Using the small scale National Property Map, the GIS figure for the main reserve is 18841 acres. The size of the new acquisition is not known. The site is scattered with relic Mayan house mounds. The site protects the more seasonal northern hardwood forests of Belize, and is also of importance for waterfowl conservation (IUCN 1986).

Information on the reserve's wildlife has expanded considerably, for a number of species groups following 5 years study by reserve managers, compiled in the Occasional Papers of the Belize Natural History Society Volume 2 (1993), detailing inventories of flora, butterflies, hawkmoths, silk moths, odonata, miscellaneous invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, birds and mammals. Its vegetation have been categorized into 5 main types. Its sub-tropical moist forest covers approximately 2400 acres, is heterogeneous and in a state of regeneration after the devastation wrought by the 1955 Hurricane Janes and subsequent fire. Essentially, the forest is now in a state of mature second growth. Abandoned milpas form the second type of habitat, whose regeneration towards forest is generally less advanced. Shipstern lagoon itself, along with its associated bays and creeks is the third habitat, particularly important for waterfowl. Its crocodile population has been investigated and found to hold a relatively low density, tentatively attributable to low prey populations resulting from the harsh conditions of the lagoon. The coastal savanna (also referred to as mangrove savanna), forms wide belts around the Lagoon and reserve border. When these flood, they attract many wading birds. The final habitat is coastal mangroves. The site contains a good breeding population of White-winged Doves, the main population in Belize. Nesting on 2 small cayes in the lagoon are more than 54 pairs of Great Egrets and 12 pairs of Neotropical Cormorants. There has been the re-establishment of a Wood Stork colony in the lagoon. Other birds that may be found include the Clapper rail, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Catbird, Yellow lored Parrot, Red vented Woodpecker and Yucatan Jay. There is also the biggest Reddish Egret population in Belize. Both American and Morelet's crocodile are present, whilst the lagoons are not considered good habitat for Manatee, because of the absence of suitable aquatic vegetation. The freshwater fish of the reserve have been surveyed by Bijleveld (1990) during a 8 month study. Cyprindon vanegatus was a new record for Belize, and Rivulus ocellatus was recorded for the first: time on the mainland, previously only noted on Twin. Cayes.

Shipstern Lagoon is a saline coastal lagoon surrounded by mangrove, subtropical moist forest and semi- deciduous forest Shipstern Caye (locally called Isla de Conejos) is adjacent to the reserve, and is an important waterfowl nesting site for Wood Stork, Reddish Egret and other species.

Average rainfall is approximately 50 inches a year, although there is considerable fluctuation. The dry, season generally begins in January and ends in May. August is also usually a dry month, and September the wettest. The elevation of the reserve is between approximately 0- 10 ft. Shipstern Lagoon and its peripheral bays, comprises about 20% of the reserve. It is shallow (1.5 ft) with deeper interlinking channels, although water depth varies with the seasons, and with the direction and strength of winds. Northern winds in the winter can lower its water level significantly. It has a silty bottom overlying limestone, with occasional mangrove islets. Its salinity fluctuates widely, and varies from 0.5% in the rainy season to 3.3% in the dry.