Billy Barquedier National Park

The Billy Barquedier National Park is located between 16.5–19 miles on the Hummingbird Highway in Stann Creek District, south of Belize. It is located between two watersheds which are the Mullins River watershed and Stann Creek watershed. The national park is approximately 1,500 acres of conserved tropic forest that is sitting on the Santa Rosa metasedimentary rock.^[1] Billy Barquedier was declared a national park in 2001 and at this point the park is still in its infancy. Since then the park has been managed by Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association (S.T.A.C.A) along with the Forestry Department.^[2] The park consists of different habitat and a hiking trail that lead to the Barquedier waterfall. BBNP waterfall is the main tourist attraction as well as the main supply of water to the three surrounding villages.

History

This park was named Barquedier in the early 1960s due to the fact that the Barquedier was located in the area where the creek exits the park. However, how Billy got into it is still unknown. Billy Barquedier was declared a national park in December 29, 2001; however, the attempt to conserve it began in 1994. Since then, it has been the main source of water for the communities of Steadfast, Alta Vista and Valley Community-a group of community leaders became interested in protecting its watershed and bio-diversity.^[3] In April 2001 STACA was included in chapter 206 of the laws of Belize. In December of that same year the Statutory Instrument no.176 of 2001 was signed which declared the forest as BBNP.

Bio-Diversity

BBNP is the home for many wild lives. It is said to be an amazing site for bird lover’s in Belize as they can view some of the various species of migratory birds and other endemics such as the Keel Billed mot-mot (Electron carinatum) and cerulean warbler that is available in Belize at one location.^[4] While walking on the trail of the park other wild lives that can be found are gibnuts, howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), jaguars (Panther onca) and even the tapir (Tapirus bairdii) which is the national animal of Belize.

Conflict in the Park

In October 2010, villagers of the three surrounding communities of BBNP protested against the upgrade of approximately 2.8 miles of road beginning just outside and leading into the BBNP. The upgrade was submitted by New River Enterprises Limited of Orange Walk Town which is located north of Belize. This upgrade was considered to be an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was to provide access for the logging concession owned by New River.^[5] However, the EIA would have negatively affected the park and members of the surrounding villages by increasing the possibility of landslides, mudslides, flooding and it would have likewise threatened the three villages’ water supply.

Water Supply

The park provides running water for the three surrounding villages- Steadfast Community, Valley Community and Alta Vista. It is used by the villagers primarily for drinking, cooking, washing, bathing and other daily activities-hence, the reason why the villagers wanted it to be established as a National Park.^[6] Additionally, the water is used by farmers for their crops and they live stocks. So, it is important for the park to be maintained in order to ensure long term health for the villagers or the consumers of the water it supply.

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