This is a list of protected areas in Belize.

National parks

In Belize, national parks are areas designed for the protection and preservation of natural and aesthetic features of national significance for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Therefore, they are areas of recreatitourism, as well as environmental protection. National parks are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981. They are administered by the Forest Department and managed through partnership agreements with community-based non-governmental organisations.

+ List of national parks Reserve District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Co-management Est. Description Aguas Turbias Orange Walk II — 1994 Bacalar Chico Belize V Green Reef Environmental Institute 1996 Excludes adjacent marine reserve. Billy Barquedier Stann Creek II Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association 2001 Chiquibul Cayo II Friends for Conservation and Development 1995 Excludes adjacent forest reserve. Five Blues Lake Cayo II Friends of Five Blues Lake National Park 1994 Gra Gra Lagoon Stann Creek II Friends of Gra Gra Lagoon 2002 Guanacaste Cayo II Belize Audubon Society 1994 Honey Camp Corozal / Orange Walk II Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative 2001 Laughing Bird Caye Stann Creek II Southern Environmental Association 1996 Mayflower Bocawina Stann Creek II Friends of Mayflower Bocawina National Park 2001 Monkey Bay Belize II Guardians of the Jewel 1994 Nojkaaxmeen Elijio Panti Cayo II Belize Development Foundation 2001 Payne's Creek Toledo II Toledo Institute for Development and Environment 1994 Peccary Hills Belize II Gracie Rock Reserve for Adventure, Culture and Ecotourism 2007 Río Blanco Toledo II Río Blanco Mayan Association 1994 Sarstoon-Temash Toledo II Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management 1994 Ramsar site. St. Herman's Blue Hole Cayo II Belize Audubon Society 1986

Natural monuments

A natural monument is designated for the preservation of unique geographic features of the landscape. The designation is primarily based on a feature's high scenic value, but may also be regarded as a cultural landmark that represents or contributes to a national identity.

Natural monuments are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981; marine-based monuments additionally come under the Fisheries Act. Of the five natural monuments in the country, three are terrestrial, administered by the Forest Department, while the remaining two are marine-based and come under the authority of the Fisheries Department.

+ List of natural monuments Image Reserve District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Co-management Est. Description Actun Tunichil Muknal Cayo Ia Belize Audubon Society; Institute of Archaeology 2004 Terrestrial. Blue Hole Belize III Belize Audubon Society 1996 Marine. Half Moon Caye Belize II Belize Audubon Society 1982 Marine. Thousand Foot Falls Cayo III Belize Karst Habitat Conservation 2004 Terrestrial. Victoria Peak Stann Creek III Belize Audubon Society 1998 Terrestrial.

Nature reserves

The country's three nature reserves enjoy the highest level of protection within the National Protected Areas System Plan. The designation was created for the strict protection of biological communities or ecosystems, and the maintenance of natural processes in an undisturbed state. They are typically pristine, wilderness ecosystems.

Nature reserves are legislated under the National Parks System Act of 1981. It is the strictest designation of all categories within the country's national protected areas system, with no extractive use or tourism access permitted. Permits are required to enter the area and are restricted to researchers only. The nature reserves are under the authority of the Forest Department.

The oldest of these, Bladen Nature Reserve, forms the centrepiece of the Maya Mountains biological corridor, and is considered one of the most biodiversity-rich, and topographically unique areas within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot.

+ List of nature reserves Reserve District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Co-management Est. Description Bladen Toledo Ia Ya’axché Conservation Trust; Bladen Management Consortium 1990 Burdon Canal Belize Ia — 1992 Tapir Mountain Cayo Ia Belize Karst Habitat Conservation 1994 Formerly known as Society Hall Nature Reserve.

Wildlife sanctuaries Wildlife sanctuaries are created for the preservation of an important keystone species in the ecosystem. By preserving enough area for them to live in, many other species receive the protection they need as well.

Wildlife sanctuaries are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981, and are the responsibility of the Forest Department. There are currently seven wildlife sanctuaries, three of which are being managed under co-management partnerships, whilst the other four are managed under informal arrangements. Two of the following wildlife sanctuaries are considered to be marine protected areas, and may also have collaborative agreements with the Fisheries Department in place.

+ List of wildlife sanctuaries Reserve District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Co-management Est. Description Aguacaliente Toledo IV Aguacaliente Management Team 1998 Terrestrial. Cockscomb Basin Stann Creek / Toledo IV Belize Audubon Society 1997 Terrestrial. Corozal Bay Belize / Corozal IV Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development 1998 Marine. Crooked Tree Belize / Orange Walk IV Belize Audubon Society 1984 Ramsar site. Boundaries ill-defined. Terrestrial. Gales Point Belize IV Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary Community Management Committee 1998 Terrestrial. Spanish Creek Belize / Orange Walk IV Rancho Dolores Development Group 2002 Terrestrial. Swallow Caye Belize IV Friends of Swallow Caye 2002 Marine.

Forest reserves

Forest reserves, overseen by the Forest Department, are designed for the sustainable extraction of timber without destroying the biodiversity of the location. These are gazetted under the Forests Act of 1927, which allows the department to grant permits to logging companies after extensive review. There are currently 16 forest reserves with a combined acreage of , making up 9.3% of total national territory.

+ List of forest reserves Reserve District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Est. Description Caye Caulker Belize VI 1998 Excludes adjacent marine reserve. Chiquibul Cayo VI 1995 Excludes adjacent national park. Columbia River Cayo / Toledo VI 1997 Deep River Toledo VI Fresh Water Creek Corozal / Orange Walk VI 1926 Grants Work Stann Creek VI 1989 Machaca Toledo VI 1998 Manatee Belize / Stann Creek VI 1959 Mango Creek Stann Creek / Toledo VI 1989 Comprises two separate segments. Monkey Caye Toledo VI 1996 Mountain Pine Ridge Cayo VI 1944 Maya Mountain Stann Creek VI 1997 Sibun Cayo VI 1959 Sittee River Stann Creek VI Swasey Bladen Toledo VI 1989 Vaca Cayo VI 1991

Marine reserves

Marine reserves are designed for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, including marine wildlife and its environment. The majority of these reserves contribute to the conservation of Belize's Barrier Reef, which provides a protective shelter for pristine atolls, seagrass meadows and rich marine life. The preservation of the Barrier Reef system has been recognised as a global interest through the collective designation of seven protected areas, including four of the following marine reserves, as a World Heritage Site.

Marine reserves are legislated under the Fisheries Act, and are administered by the Fisheries Department. One of the department's key responsibilities is to ensure the sustainable extraction of marine resources. There are currently eight marine reserves, management of which is either direct, by the department, or in partnership with non-governmental agencies.

+ List of marine reserves Reserve District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Co-management Est. Description Bacalar Chico Belize IV Green Reef Environmental Institute 1996 Excludes adjacent national park. Divided into two zones: a conservation zone, and a general use zone. Caye Caulker Belize VI Forest & Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker 1998 Excludes adjacent forest reserve. Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Stann Creek IV Southern Environmental Association 2000 Divided into two zones: a general use zone, and a conservation zone. Glover's Reef Belize IV — 1993 In 2001, the reserve was divided into four zones: a general use zone, a conservation zone, a seasonal closure zone, and a wilderness zone. A spawning aggregation zone was broken off in 2003 and comes under separate management (see below). Hol Chan Belize II Hol Chan Trust Fund 1987 Divided into four zones: Mangrove, Seagrass, Shark Ray Alley, and Coral Reef. Port Honduras Toledo IV Toledo Institute for Development and Environment 2000 Divided into two zones: a general use zone, and a conservation zone. Sapodilla Cayes Toledo IV Southern Environmental Association 1996 South Water Caye Stann Creek IV — 1996

Spawning aggregation sites

+ List of spawning aggregation zones Aggregation zone District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Est. Description Dog Flea Belize IV 2003 Emily or Glory Caye Belize IV 2003 Gladden Spit Belize IV 2003 Managed as part of Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. Nicholas Caye Belize IV 2003 Managed as part of Sapodilla Marine Reserve. Northern Glover's Reef Belize IV 2003 Managed as part of Glover's Reef Marine Reserve. Rise and Fall Bank Belize IV 2003 Rocky Point Belize IV 2003 Managed as part of Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve. Sandbore Belize IV 2003 Seal Caye Toledo IV 2003 South Point Lighthouse Belize IV 2003 South Point Turneffe Belize IV 2003

Bird sanctuaries

The seven bird sanctuaries are some of the country's oldest protected areas established for the purpose of biodiversity conservation. They were gazetted in 1977 as crown reserves for the protection of waterfowl nesting and roosting colonies. They were later reorganised under the National Parks System Act in 1981. They are under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. All of them are tiny islands with a combined surface area of .

All the sanctuaries are nesting and roosting sites for wading birds, though the species vary.

+ List of bird sanctuaries Reserve District Size(ha) Size(acres) IUCN Est. Description Bird Caye Belize IV 1977 Doubloon Bank Orange Walk IV 1977 Little Guana Caye Belize IV 1977 Los Salones Belize IV 1977 Monkey Caye Toledo IV 1977 Man of War Caye Stann Creek IV 1977 Unnamed Caye Belize IV 1977

Archaeological reserves

Before the arrival of Europeans in America, Belize lay in the heartland of the Maya civilisation, and consequently contains some of the earliest and most important Maya ruins. Archaeological findings at Caracol, in the southern end of the country, have suggested that it formed the centre of political struggles in the southern Maya lowlands. The complex covered an area much larger than present-day Belize City and supported more than twice the modern city's population. Meanwhile, Lamanai, in the north, is known for being the longest continually-occupied site in Mesoamerica, settled during the early Preclassic era and continuously occupied up to and during the area's colonisation.

While the majority of reserves under this category are related to the pre-colonial era, Serpon Sugar Mill and Yarborough Cemetery, both designated in 2009, only date from the 19th century and are alternatively described as historical reserves.

The country's 15 archaeological sites are managed by the Institute of Archaeology, a branch of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), which comes under the authority of the Ministry of Culture. This type of protected area was gazetted under the Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act, 1 May 1972. All of the following reserves are open to the public. Many other sites, such as Cuello and Uxbenka, are located on private land and can only be visited if prior permission is obtained from the landowner.