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Carolyn and Bruce Miller Experts on wildlife of Belize |
To: NEAC We have just reviewed the Natural History Museum (NHM) "Preliminary Report on the Scientific and Biodiversity Value of the Macal and Raspaculo Catchment, Belize: A Wildlife Impact Assessment for the proposed Macal River Upper Storage Facility." It is apparent that a good effort was expended by the NHM under the limitations imposed by a constrained TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR), to evaluate ecological aspects in the proposed Chalillo dam area. However, from an ecological perspective, problems with this survey include:
Even given the above shortcomings, the NHM report further strengthens the premise that the proposed Chalillo dam area harbors a rich and important biodiversity not duplicated elsewhere. We believe that long term and more exhaustive local and landscape level studies need to be conducted in the Chalillo area. However, none of us can ignore the fact that the NHM report supports the notion that the ecological importance of this area is critical to Belize and indeed, to all of northern Central America. Sincerely, Carolyn Miller, M.Sc., Associate Conservation Zoologist, Wildlife Conservation Society, Tropical Forest and Reserve Planning Project, Belize; specialist in tropical mammals and birds, regional expert on jaguar, and co-manager of the Belize Biodiversity Information System. Belize. Bruce Miller, Associate Conservation Zoologist, Wildlife Conservation Society, Tropical Forest and Reserve Planning Project, Belize; specialist in tropical mammals and birds, regional expert on bats and co-manager of the Belize Biodiversity Information System. Belize. Return to the StopFortis.org home page... |