Environmental Impact Assessment Of The Mountain Pine Ridge ...

Environmental Impact Assessment 

Of 

The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve 

Granite Quarry 

Cayo District, Belize Central America 

To Be Undertaken By: 

Caribbean Investors, LLC. 

July 2008 

Prepared By: 

Ecoworks – Belize C.A. 

Environmental Consultants 

i

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEAM 1 

THOM GRIMSHAW 

PROJECT COORDINATOR, EDITOR, AQUATIC RESOURCE & REMOTE SENSING 

SPECIALIST, ECOWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES 

ARLENE MAHEIA 

CO-EDITOR 

ECOWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES 

DR. COLIN YOUNG 

ECOYSYSTEM SPECIALIST, 

GALEN UNIVERSITY 

DAVID TZUL 

BIRD SPECIALIST, 

CHA CREEK RESORT 

SHERRY GIBBS 

ARCHAEOLOGISTS, 

INSTITUTE OF ARCHAELOGY 

1 Team References Are Shown In Addendum 1. 

ii

CONTENTS 

TITLE PAGE 

COVER PAGE II 

EIA TEAM II 

CONTENTS III 

LIST OF TABLES VIII 

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IX 

LIST OF TEXT BOXES XI 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS XII 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 

DEVELOPMENT PROFILE 1 

WILDLIFE PROFILE AND CONSERVATION PLAN 6 

LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 6 

International Conventions and Treaties 6 

National Development Guidelines 8 

Laws of Belize 8 

IMPACTS AND MITIGATION 11 

1 THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION 13 

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS 13 

Project Objectives, Ownership, Location & Land Tenure 13 

The Mining Process 18 

Material Transport and Processing 20 

Air & Noise Pollution Management 20 

Site Decommissioning & Rehabilitation Plan 24 

Staff Requirements 24 

Water Supply & Treatment 25 

Solid Waste Management Plan 25 

Power Requirements 25 

Management Structure For The Overall Development 26 

2 THE PROJECT ENVIRONMENT 28 

METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 28 

Hurricanes 30 

Rainfall Volume 30 

Groundwater Volume 30 

Surface Water Quality 33 

Conclusions & Recommendations 33 

GEOLOGY 34 

Geologic Setting 34 

Geomorphology & Topography 34 

Tectonics 36 

Stratigraphy 36 

Soil Structure & Classification 36 

Soil Percolation 39 

Test Boring of Granite Basement Rock 42 

iii 

Continue…

TITLE 

CONTENTS 

(Continued…) 

Conclusions & Recommendations 42 

FLORA AND FAUNA 43 

Aquatic Habitat and Wildlife 43 

Conclusions 43 

Terrestrial Habitats 45 

Assessment Methodology 45 

Land Use History 46 

Results 46 

Woodland and Pine Ridge 46 

Oak Thicket 46 

Tiger Fern Thicket 49 

Results & Recommendations 49 

Terrestrial Wildlife 52 

Flora 52 

Avian Fauna 52 

Assessment Methodology 52 

Results 52 

Terrestrial Fauna 52 

HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY LAND USE 60 

Cultural History of Mountain Pine Ridge 60 

Archaeological Survey of the Mining Site 60 

Methodology 60 

Results 61 

Conclusion & Recommendations 61 

Contemporary Land Use 69 

3 MINING OPERATIONS AND SITE REHABILITATION 72 

MATERIAL SUPPLY OPTIONS 73 

Area Stratigraphy And Material Supply Options 73 

Material Yield, Quarry Waste And Final Grade 75 

SOIL AND OVERBURDEN REMOVAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 76 

Physical Impacts 76 

Biological Impacts 76 

Water Resource Impacts 78 

Monitoring Requirements 78 

GRANITE MINING AND EXTRACTION IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 79 





MINING WASTE TREATMENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 83 



iv 

PAGE 

Continued…

CONTENTS 

(Continued) 

TITLE PAGE 



SITE DECOMISSIONING AND REHABILITATION IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 86 





4 AIR & NOISE POLLUTION 90 

SOURCES OF AND INFLUENCES ON AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION 90 

AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 91 

Air Pollution 91 

Noise Pollution 93 


5 TRANSPORTATION 95 

MATERIAL-BASED TRANSPORTATION PLAN 95 

MATERIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 98 





6 LIQUID WASTE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT 102 

EFFLUENT CLASSIFICATION AND VOLUME ESTIMATE 102 

TREATMENT OPTION AND SITE REMEDIATION CAPACITY 103 

Treatment Options 103 

Leach Field Site Selection and Design Plan 103 

Settling Pond Runoffs 103 

DOMESTIC EFFLUENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 104 





7 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 108 

COMPOSITION, VOLUME, AND TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR SOLID WASTE GENERATION 108 

SOLID WASTE TREATMENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 110 





8 ENERGY USE 113 

ENERGY REQUIRMENTS AND SUPPLY OPTIONS 113 

ENERGY USE IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 114 

v 

Continued…

CONTENTS 

(Continued) 

TITLE PAGE 

Fuel Impacts 

Health and Safety Impacts 114 

Pollution Impacts 116 


9 WILDLIFE 118 

SITE HABITAT AND WILDLIFFE SPECIES 118 

WILDLIFE IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 118 

Terrestrial Habitat Impacts 118 

Species-Specific Impacts 121 


10 CULTURE, CUSTOMS, AND SOCIAL FACTORS 124 

CULTURAL IMPACT RISKS 124 

CUSTOM AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS 124 

Employment Characteristics 124 

Customs and Culture 125 

Health Care Provision 125 

Climate Change 125 

Concerns of Residential Tourism Establishments 125 

Concerns of Relevant Governmental Departments 126 

BENEFITS, IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 127 

Cultural Impacts 127 

Social Impacts 127 

Human Health Impacts 127 

Human Safety Impacts 127 


11.1 DISASTER MANAGEMENT-Specific to Personal Injury, Operational Safety & Security 132 

HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN 132 

EXPLOSION MANAGEMENT PLAN 133 

FIRE PREPAREDNESS PLAN 134 

11.2 DISASTER MANAGEMENT -Specific to Equip. Malfunction, Shutdown & Traffic Incident 135 

PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION AND SHUTDOWN EVENTS 135 

ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT PREPAREDNESS PLAN 136 

11.3 DISASTER MANAGEMENT-Specific to Hurricanes & Related Natural Disasters 137 

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ACTION PLAN 137 

Hurricane Characteristics 137 

Stage I: Preliminary Alert 138 

Stage II: Red I-Watch 138 

Stage III: Red II-Warning 144 

Stage IV: All Clear 144 

12 ALTERNATIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT 145 

EXAMINATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO DEVELOPMENT 145 

Siting Options 145 

vi 

Continued…

CONTENTS 

(Continued) 

TITLE PAGE 

Material Supply Options 145 

Material-Based Transportation Options 147 

Liquid Waste Treatment Options 

Solid Waste Treatment Options 147 

Energy Use Options 148 

13 MITIGATION MEASURES AND MONITORING PLANS 149 

MITIGATION MEASURES FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 149 

Construction and Habitat Impacts 149 

Soil and Overburden Removal Impacts 149 

Granite Mining and Extraction Impacts 155 

Mining Waste Treatment Impacts 156 

Site Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Impacts 156 

Air & Noise Pollution Impacts 156 

Material-Based Transportation Impacts 157 

Liquid Waste Discharge Impacts 158 

Solid Waste Storage Impacts 159 

Energy Use Impacts 159 

Wildlife Impacts 160 

Culture, Customs & Social Impacts 160 

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 161 

MONITORING PLANS FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 163 

Soil & Overburden Removal Monitoring Requirements 163 

Granite Mining and Extraction Monitoring Requirements 163 

Mining Waste Treatment Monitoring Requirements 163 

Site Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Monitoring Requirements 163 

Air & Noise Pollution Monitoring Requirements 163 

Material-Based Transportation Monitoring Requirements 163 

Liquid Waste Monitoring Requirements 163 

Solid Waste Monitoring Requirements 167 

Energy Monitoring Requirements 167 

Wildlife Monitoring Requirements 167 

Culture, Customs & Social Monitoring Requirements 167 

REPORT ADDENDA NUMBER 

PREPARER’S RESUMES 1 

CARIBBEAN INVESTORS INCORPORATION CERTIFICATE 2 

CARIBBEAN MARBLE INCORPORATION CERTIFICATE 3 

DOE COMMUNICATIONS 4 

FORESTRY CAMPING PERMIT 5 

MINING LICENSE 6 

LAWS OF BELIZE 7 

WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS 8 

vii 

147 

Continued…

CONTENTS 

(Continued) 

TITLE NUMBER 

ADDENDA 

CHAN KEE KWON REPORT 9 

BLASTER’S LICENSE 10 

STAKEHOLDER SURVEY 11 

NGO SURVEY 12 

BLASTING SAFETY GUIDELINES 13 

LITERATURE CITED 14 

viii 

…End

LIST OF TABLES PRESENTED 

NUMBER TITLE PAGE 

CONTENTS lll 

LIST OF TABLES PRESENTED Vll 

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PRESENTED lX 

LIST OF TEXT BOXES Xl 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Xll 

1 PRIMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GRANITE MINING PROJECT 5 

2 LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT 9 

3 KEY DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 12 

4 WATER QUALITY PARAMATERS FOR PINOL CREEK 33 

5 PLANT SPECIES OF THE 40-ACRE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE PROPERTY 50 

6 PLANTS THAT PROVIDE FOOD FOR BIRDS 54 

7 BIRDS THAT NESTS IN PINE SAVANNAS 54 

8 BIRD SPECIES ENCOUNTERED IN OR NEAR THE 40-ACRE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE PROPERTY 55 

9 TERRESTRIAL FAUNA OF THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE 58 

10 SPECIES OF CONSERVATION VALUE IN MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE 59 

11 BOREHOLE SURVEY RESULTS FOR THE PROPOSED MINING SITE ON OAK BURN LINE ROAD 74 

12 MITIGATION MATRIX OF SOIL AND OVERBURDEN REMOVAL IMPACTS 77 

13 MITIGATION MATRIX OF GRANITE MINING AND EXTRACTION IMPACTS 80 

14 MITIGATION MATRIX OF MINING WASTE TREATMENT IMPACTS 84 

15 MITIGATION MATRIX OF SITE DECOMISSIONING AND REHABILITATION IMPACTS 87 

16 MITIGATION MATRIX OF AIR & NOISE POLLUTION IMPACTS 92 

17 MITIGATION MATRIX OF MATERIAL-BASED TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS 99 

18 EFFLUENT DISCHARGE ESTIMATES FOR THE MINING SITE 102 

19 MITIGATION MATRIX OF LIQUID WASTE TREATMENT IMPACTS 105 

20 MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE PRODUCTION ESTIMATES FOR THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT 109 

21 MITIGATION MATRIX OF SOLID WASTE TREATMENT IMPACTS 111 

22 ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT 113 

23 MITIGATION MATRIX OF ENERGY SUPPLY/USAGE IMPACTS 115 

24 SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE PROFILE FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SITE 119 

25 MITIGATION MATRIX OF WILDLIFE IMPACTS 120 

26 MITIGATION MATRIX OF CULTURAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 128 

27 PROCEDURES WHICH SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1 EACH YEAR 141 

28 WORK PLAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED DURING HURRICANE WARNING PHASES l AND ll 142 

29 COMPONENT-SPECIFIC HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR THE MINING SITE 143 

30 SUMMARY OF DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES AND IMPACTS 146 

31 SUMMARY MITIGATION MATRIX OF DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS 150 

32 MONITORING PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT 164 

ix 

…End

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PRESENTED 


1 LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SITE 2 

2 2000 LANDSAT 7 SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE MINING SITE 3 

3 1:50,000 SCALE TOPOGRAPHIC LOCATION MAP OF THE MINING SITE 4 

4 WILDLIFE OF THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SITE 7 

5 1:50,000 SCALE TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF THE PROJECT SITE 14 

6 LOCATION MAP OF THE QUARRY SITE WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE REGION OF BELIZE 15 

7 AERIAL VIEW OF THE 40-ACRE MINING SITE LOOKING NORTHEAST ALONG PINOL TRACK 16 

8 GROUND VIEW OF THE MINING SITE 17 

9 GROUND VIEW OF THE MINING SITE AND MATERIAL SAMPLES 19 

10 RELATIVE ELEVATION MODEL OF THE 40-ACRE MINING SITE 21 

11 TRANSVERSE CUT-AWAY THROUGH RIDGELINE AT MINING SITE 22 

12 THE FACTORY FLOOR AND FINISHED QUARRY PRODUCTS 23 

13 MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OF CARIBBEAN MARBLE AND CONCRETE MANUFACTURING LTD 27 

14 HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS CROSSING INTO WEST-CENTRAL BELIZE 29 

15 ANNUAL PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORMS: 1944-1999 31 

16 MEAN MONTHLY RAINFALL AT AUGUSTINE, MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE 30 

17 ANNUAL RAINFALL ISOPLETHS FOR BELIZE 32 

18 GEOLOGICAL MAP FOR THE PROJECT AREA 35 

19 PRINCIPLE FAULT SYSTEMS IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROJECT SITE 37 

20 GROUNDWATER FLOW & WEATHERING ALONG SIDESLOPES 36 

21 AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROJECT SITE TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY ALIGNMENT 38 

22 LOCATION OF PERCOLATION TEST SITES AND BOREHOLE SURVEY SITES 40 

23 SOIL PERCOLATION TEST SITES EXAMINED IN MAY 2008 AT THE DEVELOPMENT SITE 41 

24 AQUATIC WILDLIFE AT THE PINOL CREEK BRIDGE CROSSING 43 

25 AERIAL VIEW OF THE 40-ACRE MINING SITE ROAD 47 

26 HABITAT TYPES OF THE DEVELOPMENT SITE 48 

27 IMPORTANT FLORA TYPICAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT SITE 53 

28 TERRESTRIAL FAUNA OF THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE 57 

29 CULTURAL SITES IN THE VICINITY OF THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE 62 

30 HPA SITE 4 NORTH VIEW(ABOVE), WEST VIEW(BELOW) 63 

31 HPA SITE 4 FEATURES(ABOVE) AND CONTEXT(BELOW) 64 

32 HPA SITE 4 LITHIC, SIDE A (ABOVE), AND SIDE B (BELOW) 65 

33 HPA SITE 6 CONTEXT (ABOVE), GRANITE FRAGMENTS (BELOW) 66 

34 HPA SITE 6 CLOSEUP OF GRANITE FRAGMENTS (ABOVE), CONTEXT (BELOW) 67 

35 HPA SITE 8 GRANITE FRAGMENTS POSITION IN RESPECT OF WEATHERING 68 

36 TOURISM FACILITIES IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROJECT SITE 70 

37 ZONE OF FRACTURING AND DEFORM-ATION AROUND AN EXPLOSION IN ROCK 79 

38 SOUND ATTENUATION OF EQUIPMENT NOISE 91 

39 PROPOSED TRUCKING ROUTE FOR MINNED GRANITE BLOCKS 96 

40 TOURISM DESTINATIONS ALONG THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION ROUTE 97 

41 LEACH FIELD DESIGN 103 

42 THE FOUR FLAGS OF HURRICANE STATUS IN BELIZE 139 

x 

Continued…

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PRESENTED 

(Continued…) 


43 HURRICANE TRACKING CHART FOR THE BELIZE REGION 140 

44 MONITORING PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT 166 

LIST OF TEXT BOXES PRESENTED 

xi 

… End 


1 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 71 

2 KEY SITE DECOMISSIONING & REHABILITATION IMPACTS & MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 88 

3 KEY AIR/NOISE POLLUTION IMPACTS & MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 94 

4 KEY MATERIAL-BASED TRANSPORT IMPACTS & MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 101 

5 KEY LIQUID WASTE DISCHARGE IMPACTS & MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 107 

6 KEY SOLID WASTE TREATMENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 112 

7 KEY ENERGY SUPPLY/USE IMPACTS AND MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 117 

8 KEY WILDLIFE IMPACTS AND MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 123 

9 SUMMARY OF CULTURAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS 131

Ac Acres (area) 

AIA Archaeological Impact Assessment 

BEL Belize Electricity Limited 

BERT Belize Emergency Response Team 

BNMS Belize National Meteorological Service 

BP Before Present 

BRL Barrier Reef Lagoon 

BTU British Thermal Units 

COD Chemical Oxygen Demand 

CG Confluent growth 

DOE Department of the Environment 

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment 

ft Feet, Foot 

gal Gallon(s) 

GPM Gallons per Minute 

ha Hectares (area) 

HPA High Probability Area 

hr, hrs Hour(s) (time) 

in Inches 

kg Kilograms 

km Kilometers 

kW Kilowatt 

lb Pound (weight) 

M Millions, Meters 

mg Milligram 

min Minute (time) 

mm Millimeters 

mph Miles per Hour 

MSW Municipal Solid Waste 

mt Metric Ton 

mW Megawatts 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 

NEMO National Emergency Management Organization 

NICH National Institute of Culture and History 

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

PFR Preliminary Field Reconnaissance 

ppm parts per million 

RBA Rapid Biological Assessment 

RWS Rudimentary (Rural) Water System 

TNTC Too Numerous To Count 

TSS Total Suspended Solids 

xii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

DEVELOPMENT PROFILE 

The project planned for development is being proposed by Caribbean Marble and Concrete 

Manufacturing Limited (CMCML), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caribbean Investors Limited, both of 

which are limited liability companies duly registered in Belize (see Addenda 2 - 3). The company is 

proposing to extract granite boulders and blocks from a 40-acre (16-Ha) parcel of land measuring 

200 x 810 meters that is located in the northwest quadrant of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest 

Reserve, approximately 12.5 miles (20 Km) southeast of San Antonio Village in the Cayo District of 

Belize. The site extends southwest from Oak Burn Line Road, along an unnamed track between 

two upper branches of Pinol Creek, which discharges directly into the Macal River, upstream and 

across the divide from Vaqueros Creek, which supplies nearby San Antonio Village (see 

Illustrations 1-3). Tenure of the site is effected by a license to occupy the site from the Belize 

Forestry Department (pending environmental review), and Mining License No 20 dated 5 October, 

2007 (see Addendum 4), the latter of which conveys the right to enter, occupy and mine the 

subject property for a period of 5 years. 

The overall mining plan will entail removal of soil and overburden from the quarry zone using heavy 

machinery to push off the soil fraction and weathered overburden that has been cut away from the 

underlying fresh granite. Fresh, solid and/or fracture free granite blocks averaging 12 cubic meters 

(15 tons) each will subsequently be cut and blasted from the basement granite batholith to a mean 

depth of < 55 meters below the surface of the southwestern half of the mining site and thereafter 

transported to the factory in Belmopan for cutting and polishing into export grade product. 

Extracted, 15 ton granite blocks will be transported from the mining site to a milling factory located 

at Mile 46.2 on the Western Highway (Belmopan City), cut & polish the boulders and blocks into 

finished floor tiles, bricks, counter-tops and other building products, and subsequently export them 

for sale in the US and other international markets. 

Block-laden tractor-trailers will travel along the unsurfaced Oak Burn Line and Chiquibul Roads for 

a distance of approximately 20 miles (30 Kms) to Georgeville, and thereafter for a distance of 

approximately 15 miles (25 Km) to Mile 46.2 on the Western Highway at the entrance onto George 

Price Boulevard, and a short distance along the Boulevard to CMCML’s factory site. Transportation 

load at maximum development is estimated on the basis of an assumed mining yield of 300 cubic 

meters per day, which at a specific gravity for granite of 2.69 would translate to 807 tons per day, 5 

days a week, 52 weeks per year, for an overall annual extraction rate of approximately 210,000 

tons per annum. Given a mean depth to fresh granite in the area of 12 meters, the total soil and 

overburden volume likely to be removed from the fresh granite surface of the mining site would be 

expected to be on the order of: 200 x 405 x 12, or approximately 1 million cubic meters; while the 

total fresh granite yield is expected to be on the order of 200 x 405 x 43, or 3.5 million cubic meters. 

Approximately 75% of the quarried block is lost to handling and processing waste (which is recycled 

into concrete mix and chip stone), indicating the export grade yield from half the mining site is on 

the order of 875,000 tons. Hence, the mining life of half of this area is on the order of 4. 2 years. 

The Mountain Pine Ridge Granite Quarry EIA / Ecoworks Page 1 of 167

ILLUSTRATION 1: 

LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 



2000 LANDSAT-7 SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE MINING SITE POSITION WITHIN THE 

MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE REGION OF BELIZE 



1:50,000 SCALE TOPOGRAPHIC LOCATION MAP OF THE MINING SITE AND 

TOURISM AMMENITIES WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE REGION OF BELIZE 


TABLE 1 

PRIMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GRAINTE MINING PROJECT 

FEATURE PARAMETER 

Subject Request: Environmental Clearance for Development 

Type of Development: Granite Mining Operation 

Total Capital Investment: > US $ 25 m 

Labor and Management: Local, with limited expatriate management support 

Land Characteristics 

Total Property Area 40 Acres 

Workable Land Unit 35 Acres 

Development Plan 35 Acres 

Development Plan as Percent of Workable Land Unit 100% 

Design Capacity 

Maximum Human Occupation (Management & Staff) < 120 

Employment 

Construction Phase > 120 

Operating Phase > 120 

Wildlife 

Number of Dependent Species: 

Endangered, Threatened or Vulnerable Species 

> 89 

Ecosystems / Plants: Pine Savanna / ~60 Sp. 

Reptiles: Inland, Non-Specific 

Birds: Inland, Non-Specific / ~40 Sp. 

Mammals: 

~30 Sp./ 11 of which are listed by IUCN To Range From Vulnerable to 

Endangered 


The total number of staff to be engaged in mining, processing and export will be approximately 120 

persons who will be divided approximately equally between the mining and factory site. Potable 

water supply for the development will be obtained from a combination of rainwater capture in 

cisterns, direct supply from Pinol Creek, and direct supply from the Belmopan municipal water 

supply system. Effluent discharge from the development will be treated by septic tank and leach 

field facilities. Solid waste management will rely on partial source separation, with combustible and 

bio-degradable waste being treated onsite, and all other solid waste being stored at the regional 

solid waste storage facility closest to either Cayo or Belmopan, in keeping with the national solid 

waste management plan. 

WILDLIFE PROFILE AND CONSERVATION PLAN 

A rapid biological assessment (RBA) of the proposed development site established that three 

habitat types common to the Mountain Pine Ridge region of Belize were extent at the mining site, 

which included Woodland and Pine Ridge; Oak Thicket; and Tiger Fern Thicket. The overall 

taxonomic diversity of plants on the 40-acre property was low but typical for the ecosystem type(s) 

represented, with a combined total of 59 plant species representing 49 genera and 35 families 

found to be extent on the property. Wildlife diversity of the project site was equally low but typical 

for the ecosystem types represented, with the most important transient species of conservation 

interest including a range of Mammals (e.g. Tailed Deer, Baird’s Tapir, Jaguar, Ocelot, and etc.), 

along with the year round or seasonal occurrence of some 38 species of birds common to the 

Mountain Pine Ridge region of Belize (see Illustration 4). Consequently, development of the 

mining site as a granite quarry is not anticipated to create any direct or unmitigated impacts on 

wildlife species of particular conservation interest. 

LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 

The legal, policy and administrative framework relevant to the proposed development delineate the 

obligations and responsibilities of the project proponent as well as those of the Government of 

Belize with respect to conservation practice. This framework is loosely embodied by international 

conventions and treaties, the laws of Belize (Revised 2000), and policy guidelines developed by 

national institutions from time to time. 

International Conventions and Treaties 

There are a number of international conventions and treaties that Belize has enjoined which are 

principally concerned with conservation practices and compliance at the national level (see Table 

2). The key conventions of particular relevance to the proposed development concern the 

International Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Central American Biodiversity 

Convention, which specifically address conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use and sharing 

the benefits of biodiversity. 


ILLUSTRATION 4: WILDLIFE OF THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SITE 

Left Column, top to bottom: Pine, Savanna and Riverine forests (respectively) of the project site. Center Column, top to bottom: An 

unidentified passion flower, Chamedoria sp. seed cluster, and unidentified hedge flower. Right Column, top to bottom: White-Tailed Deer 

(Odocoileus virginianus), Puma (Puma concolor), and Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii). 


The proposed development does not materially contravene these conventions as a result of its 

nominal footprint within the greater protected area of Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and 

the fully reversible, short term duration of any impact it may impose on area wildlife. CITES 

(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) guidelines for conservation of rare, 

threatened and endangered species will also be adhered to by the proposed development as no 

ranked or protected species will be captured, traded or eliminated by the proposed development. 

Consequently none of the proposed development’s activities are anticipated to present any 

unmitigated conflict(s) with Belize’s existing framework of conservation conventions and treaties. 

National Development Guidelines 

No development guidelines have been formally drafted for the Mountain Pine Ridge area of Belize 

outside of those enshrined in the Forests and Mining Acts (Chapters 213 and 226, respectively in 

the Laws of Belize, Revised 2000). Rather, tacit policy has been to require a designated permitting 

procedure be followed as dictated by both the above-referenced Acts, and the Environmental 

Protection Act (Chapter 328, in the Laws of Belize, Revised 2000), which together cause the 

proponent to mitigate any significant environmental impacts posed by the proposed development; 

thereby creating an enabling mechanism for procurement of the economic opportunity and hence, 

positive social impact that environmentally responsible mining of Belize’s mineral resources for 

export can provide to the nation of Belize. 

Laws of Belize 

The governing component of the legal framework is provided by the Substantive Laws of Belize, 

revised in 2000, the principle acts of which that are likely to be relevant to the proposed 

development being itemized in Table 2. Key points of contact between Belize’s national legislation 

and the proposed development include the following: 

The Forestry Act (Chapter 213) provides for the collection of fees for the removal of timber 

species such as the few pine stems located within the mining site. There is also a camping 

permit requirement for the over-night occupation of any area within the Reserve. A temporary 

camping permit has been issued to the project proponent for a period of 6 months to afford 

production of the required environmental impact assessment of the proposed development, 

which expires on 6 October, 2008 (see Addendum 5) The Act includes mineral resources under 

the category of forest products but defers the right to collect a royalty for the removal of such 

materials to the Geology and Petroleum Department. 

The Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 226) has issued and prospecting license to the proposed 

development, under which authority the mining site was identified; and has subsequently issued 

a mining license to the proposed development for the extraction of granite (see Addendum 6), 

subject to the payment of processing fees, an environmental bond, and royalties to the 

Government of Belize. 


TABLE 2 

LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT 

(For a complete listing of the substantive laws of Belize, revised 2000, see Addendum 7) 

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES: 

Convention on Biological Diversity 

Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife 

Land-Based Sources of Pollution Protocol 

Convention for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Protection of Priority Areas in Central 

America 

Central American Biodiversity Convention 

Agreement on Co-Operation for the Protection and the Improvement of the Environment and 

the Conservation of Natural Resources in the Border Zone 

CITES 

LAWS OF BELIZE: 

TITLE V Social Services, Health and Education: 

The Social Security Act Chapter 44 

TITLE VI Revenue and Currency: 

The Customs Regulation Act Chapter 49 

The Income and Business Tax Act Chapter 55 

The Land Tax Act Chapter 58 

The Sales Tax Act Chapter 63 

TITLE XIII National Status: 

The Aliens Registration Act Chapter 160 

TITLE XVI Property and Land Law: 

The Aliens Landholding Act Chapter 179 

The Belize Land Development Authority Act Chapter 181 

The Lands Utilization Act Chapter 188 

The Landlord and Tenant Act Chapter 189 

The Law of Property Act Chapter 190 

The Strata Titles Act Chapter 196 

Continued… 


TABLE 2 

LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT 

(Continued) 

TITLE XVIII Forests, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries: 

The Forest Act, Chapter 213 

The Pesticides Control Act Chapter 216 

The Wildlife Protection Act Chapter 220 

TITLE XIX Resources and Utilities: 

The Water and Sewerage Act Chapter 222 

The Solid Waste Management Authority Act Chapter 224 

The Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 226 

TITLE XXIII Commercial Law: 

The Companies Act Chapter 250 

The Limited Liability Partnerships Act Chapter 258 

TITLE XXVIII Labor and Trade Unions: 

The Labor Act Chapter 297 

The Wages Council Act Chapter 302 

The Workmen’s Compensation Act Chapter 303 

TITLE XXXII Environmental Regulation and Control, Culture and History: 

The Environmental Protection Act Chapter 328 

Statutory Instrument No. 94 of 1995 (Effluent Limitations) 

Statutory Instrument No. 107 of 1995 (Environmental Impact Assessments) 

Statutory Instrument No. 56 of 1996 (Pollution Regulations) 

…End 


The Environmental Protection Act (Chapter 328) confers authority to the Department of the 

Environment for the regulation of pollution, effluent discharge limitations and environmental 

impact assessments. In particular, effluent regulations under this act define select parametric 

limits for effluent discharge as being < 50 ppm BOD5 (at 20 °C), < 100 ppm COD, < 100 ppm 

total suspended solids (TSS), < 2,000 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS), < 3 ppm for nitrates 

(NO3 - ), < 1 ppm for total ammonium (NH4 + ), < 5 ppm for phosphate (PO4 3- ), and 0-10 MPN/100 

ml for total Coloform and total fecal Coloform bacteria. 

Background (pre-existing) values for these parameters were 5 - 6 ppm for Total Suspended 

Solids (TSS); 1 ppm for total nitrogen; and 0.14 – 0.08 for phosphate (see Addendum 8), 

suggesting that background levels were below regulatory standards, and therefore should be 

supplanted as standards for the proposed development site. The batchplant planned for use 

will have ex-plant effluent below COD and TSS regulatory standards. 

IMPACTS AND MITIGATION 

The primary unavoidable impacts of the proposed development concern short term modification of 

existing soil equilibrium, reduction of 3 habitat types common to the Mountain Pine Ridge region of 

Belize, and human and acoustic perturbation of area wildlife. 

The degradation of the Mountain Pine Ridge and Western Highway road surfaces; reduction in 

highway safety from airborne road dust suspension and reduced traffic visibility on Mountain Pine 

Ridge roads; aggravated liberation of erosion products into Mountain Pine Ridge creeks and 

streams; and perturbation of area wildlife by air and noise pollution emanating from the 

transportation corridor, constitute potentially important direct impacts that can be brought about by 

the proposed mining and material-based transportation activities and in turn reduce area tourism 

quality, but which may also be partially or wholly mitigated by a number of proposed measures. 

The positive social impacts of the project include the creation of jobs and foreign exchange for 

Belize (see Table 3). The initial phase of this development is anticipated to create 120 mining, 

mechanic, trucking, processing and administrative jobs and return in excess of US $ 25 M in net 

foreign exchange per year at full-scale development. The company is presently seeking 

environmental clearance for the proposed development, which is the subject of the environmental 

impact assessment presented herein. The project is scheduled to commence full-scale operations 

immediately on notification of clearance. 


POSITIVE IMPACT 

OPPORTUNITIES 

Jobs and Foreign Exchange 

Revenues 

TABLE 3 

KEY DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 

NEGATIVE IMPACT 

RISKS 

Reduction of 3 common forest 

types and area tourism quality 

MITIGATING COUNTER IMPACT 

MEASURES 

Provide assistance with area road 

maintenance and rehabilitation of the 

mining site following use 


1. THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

Maps at appropriate scales must be provided with proper labels and legends to illustrate the general settings of the 

project related development sites as well as surrounding areas likely to be affected. These maps shall include 

topographic contours, where available, as well as location of major surface waters, roads, parks or reserves, political 

boundaries, protected areas and existing adjacent land uses (tourism, agricultural, industrial). Additionally the 

following should be provided: 

1. Give the general project location and coordinates of the proposed site for the extraction process and overburden 

storage and or disposal site. 

2. Provide the following plans: 

a. Illustrate clearly on a 1:25,000 scaled map, with legible legend, the project location and siting of the 

development, storage site(s), land ownership, and a description of the land tenure of the project area; 

b. Identify existing and proposed access road(s), and transportation routes. 

3. Describe the activities/facilities provided in the plans above. 

4. Describe the processes involved in the development of this project including; site preparation, Granite rock 

prospecting, open cast mining/quarrying operations (including machinery and equipments to be used), extraction 

and production operations. 

5. Provide outline of the overall management structure anticipated for the proposed activities; and 

6. Describe the overall development plan and present the rational/justification behind the identification and selection 

of project location (project justification). 

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS 

Project Objectives, Ownership, Location & Land Tenure 

The project objectives are to extract granite boulders and blocks from a mining site located in the 

northwestern section of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve; transport the blocks to a milling 

factory located at Mile 46.2 on the Western Highway (Belmopan City); cut & polish the boulders and 

blocks into finished floor tiles, bricks, counter-tops and other building products; and subsequently 

export them for sale in the US and other international markets. The project developer is Caribbean 

Marble and Concrete Manufacturing Limited (CMCML), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caribbean 

Investors Limited, both of which are limited liability companies duly registered in Belize (see 

Addenda 2 - 3). 

The project site lies approximately 12.5 miles (20 Km) southeast of San Antonio Village by road, or 

approximately half the distance by air, in the Cayo District of Belize (see Illustrations 5 - 8). More 

specifically, the project site is located on a 40-acre (16-Ha) parcel of the Reserve extending 

southwest from Oak Burn Line Road, along an unnamed trail and between two upper branches of 

Pinol Creek, which discharges directly into the Macal River, upstream and across the divide from 

Vaqueros Creek, which supplies nearby San Antonio Village. 


ILLUSTRATION 5: 1:50,000 SCALE TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF THE PROJECT SITE 



LOCATION MAPS OF THE QUARRY SITE WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE REGION OF BELIZE 


ILLUSTRATION 7: AERIAL VIEW OF THE 40-ACRE MINING SITE LOOKING NORTHEAST ALONG PINOL TRACK 

Quarry 

Site 


ILLUSTRATION 8: GROUND VIEW OF THE MINING SITE 

Note: Upper Left, Workers Facilities Site. Lower Left, Hillslope across Pinol Creek. Upper Right, Pinol Track. Lower Right, Pinol Creek flow through concrete bridge. 


The area in general is comprised of massive round hills with an underground of a massive 

formation of hard, salt & pepper, yellow to pink, coarse orthoclase-biotitic granite (see Illustration 

9). In May of 2005, CMCML was awarded a prospecting license and undertook bore-hole testing of 

the San Luis and Pinol Line region of the Mountain Pine Ridge, the results from which are shown in 

Addendum 9. The test results established the mineral composition of the granite to be 50% 

feldspar, 20-40% quartz, and 1-10% mica, with good, fresh granite found at 3-15 meters depth and 

showing thin quartz veining (see Illustration 9). In general, granite tends to be easily weathered 

leaving quarts crystal into sand and otherwise forming round, smooth mountaintops or ridges as are 

typical of the Mountain Pine Ridge. Mountaintops of Cretaceous Limestone on the other hand, 

which surround the Mountain Pine Ridge, form more sharpened peaks. 

Topographic and bore-hole survey of the 200 x 810 meter, 40-acre parcel elected for mining has a 

maximum local relief of approximately 70 meters, such that if the topsoil and weathered overburden 

are removed, there would remain a vertical (granite) height on the order of 43 meters down to the 

level of Pinol Creek, and hence mineable granite volume after soil and overburden removal on the 

order of 200 x 405 x 43, or 3.5 million cubic meters from the southeastern half of the property, and 

before losses to processing. 

Tenure of the site is effected by CMCML’s provisional license to occupy the site from the Belize 

Forestry Department the continuance of which is subject to the proponent receiving environmental 

clearance for the proposed mining initiative, and a 5-year Mining License No 20 dated 5 October, 

2007 (see Addenda 5 - 6). 

The Mining Process 

The mining process commences with the removal of an average of 11.8 meters of topsoil and 

overburden from the curved margin of the granite formation with a bulldozer and/or excavator (see 

Illustration 9). The covering materials are pushed into a retention birme formed along the up-slope 

side of the excavation, which is then reseeded with locally available (Cardi) rice to prevent rainfall 

runoffs from eroding topsoils into the adjacent branches of Pinol Creek. The exposed underlying 

granite is then power-washed and examined for veins and general condition. Non-potable water for 

power washing and related activities will be supplied from either or both branches of Pinol Creek. 

If the exposed granite is not deemed suitable for extraction, the excavation is simply reburied and 

reseeded with rice to assist with natural vegetation recovery, and the excavations are then 

reconvened at another location within the mining site. 

If the exposed granite is deemed suitable for extraction, a line of 5 - 10 cm holes perhaps 2 -3 

meters apart and positioned at right angles (back & bottom) are bored into the granite to a depth of 

3-5 meters for placement of dynamite charges, which are subsequently detonated to fracture off the 

rounded ‘shoulder-block’. Block integrity is further promoted by the placement of cut lines between 

holes, which are designed to facilitate and control block fracture during detonation. The 

acquisition, handling and detonation of dynamite will be managed by a licensed Belizean explosives 

specialist having experience with hard stone extraction (see Addendum 10). 


ILLUSTRATION 9: GROUND VIEW OF THE MINING SITE & MATERIAL SAMPLES 

Note: Upper Left, Shoulder slope at quarry site. Lower Left, Exposed shoulder stone. Upper Right, Mottled yellow granite. Lower Right, Mottled pink granite. 


The initial shoulder-block is removed with a 15+ ton capacity hydraulic hoist, placed onto a transport 

carrier, and then delivered to the factory for further processing. The process is then repeated, 

proceeding transversely across the crown of the granite ridge and perpendicular to the long axis of 

the ridgeline in which it located. Removal of each successive transverse cross-section is then 

repeated in a similar fashion along the length of the ridgeline to the extent of the designated mining 

area and to the forecast depth above the mean elevation of the Pinol Creek tributaries bounding the 

granite ridgeline to the northeast and southwest (see Illustrations 10 - 11). 

Material Transport & Processing 

Block-laden tractor-trailers will travel along the unsurfaced Oak Burn Line and Chiquibul Roads for 

a distance of approximately 20 miles (30 Kms) to Georgeville, and thereafter for a distance of 

approximately 15 miles (25 Km) to Mile 46.2 on the Western Highway at the entrance onto George 

Price Boulevard, and a short distance along the Boulevard to CMCML’s factory site. Transportation 

load at maximum development is estimated on the basis of an assumed mining yield of 300 cubic 

meters per day, a specific gravity for granite of 2.69 would be equal to 807 tons per day, 5 days a 

week, 52 weeks per year, for an overall annual extraction rate of approximately 210,000 tons per 

annum. 

Processing the quarried stone blocks will largely entail their cutting into 12-Inch square floor & wall 

tiles, bricks and custom kitchen counter tops (see Illustration 12). Approximately 75% of the 

quarry load will be lost to processing waste (which is recycled into concrete mix) resulting in an 

equivalent reduction in transport distance to the Belize City Port, and hence bringing the total 

transportation distance to 75 miles per trip (i.e. quarry to port) x 20 trips per day x 260 days per 

year, or approximately 390,000 miles per annum; 45% of which will be on the unsurfaced Oak Burn 

Line and Chiquibul Roads, and 55% will be on the surfaced Western Highway. 

Air & Noise Pollution Management 

Air pollution from mining activities is not anticipated to significantly extend beyond the immediate 

cutting and boring environment at the stone surface, owing principally to the high specific gravity of 

the material being mined, which limits its capacity for airborne travel. Workers working directly in 

the vicinity of the cutting and boring operations however will be issued breathing masks for regular 

use during such operations to prevent inhalation of granite dust particles. Air pollution in the form of 

dust clouds may be likely to form, particularly in dry weather, from tractor-trailer travel on 

unsurfaced roads within the Mountain Pine Ridge. Consequently, trucks will be required to be fully 

lighted, and be equipped with mud flaps and cargo covers at all times, and will be further be 

required to limit travel speeds under dry weather conditions to < 30 miles per hour in order to 

reduce safety risks associated with passing tractor-trailers by area residents, tourists and tourist 

operators traveling in lighter duty vehicles. 


The Mountain Pine Ridge Granite Quarry EIA / Ecoworks Page 21 of 167 

ILLUSTRATION 10:


ILLUSTRATION 11:

ILLUSTRATION 12: THE FACTORY FLOOR & FINISHED QUARRY PRODUCTS 

Note: Upper Left, One of several block-cutting machines. Lower Left, Trimming Units. Upper Right, One of several polishing machines. Lower Right Finished tile product.. 


Noise pollution will result from cutting, boring and blasting activities and routine machine operating 

activities taking place at the mining site; and from tractor-trailer operating activities along road 

alignments. Noise resulting from cutting, boring and blasting activities is anticipated to be 

intermittent, occurring on a weekly or bi-weekly basis only, and otherwise are not anticipated to 

travel extensively beyond the mining site owing to the dampening effect of the granite material itself, 

as well as its sub-grade extraction. Routine machine operation and tractor-trailer transport are not 

anticipated to produce noise levels significantly in excess or routine highway noise levels, or 

approximately 60 db, however, workers in either case will be issued protective gear during working 

hours to offset any risk of hearing loss. In all cases, noise travel will be least during daylight hours 

when air density is least, and therefore all of the above-referenced noise producing activities will be 

kept to daylight hours of operation. 

Site Decommissioning & Rehabilitation Plan 

All stone dust, rubble and fragments not suited to processing for export will either be passed 

through a crusher for the production and sale of graded chip stone, or will be mixed with previously 

removed overburden and topsoil to prevent the formation of eroding, subterranean, high-velocity 

groundwater travel zones. Overburden and topsoils will be bladed over the exposed granite 

basement rock in their pre-removal orientation, graded into a low-erosion profile, and then 

compacted into place prior to being re-seeded with milpa rice to further reduce erosion and to 

promote natural re-colonization of the area by local vegetation. The transverse section mined 

previously to the section being actively mined will be used for heavy equipment access; and the 

transverse section mined prior to those two sections will be decommissioned and rehabilitated with 

spoil from the two subsequent sections. 

Assuming then that each transverse section might span as much as 150 meters width (i.e. between 

the branches of Pinol Creek) by 100 meters length (i.e. along the long axis of the ridgeline), then 

not more than approximately 3.75 acres of land surface would be expected to be actively mined at 

any given time, and not more than 10 acres (i.e. three adjoining transverse sections), would be 

expected to be in the process of being mined, filled or rehabilitated at any given time. 

Staff Requirements 

A total of 65 mining staff are estimated to be engaged by CMCML at full scale operation, and 

another 55 personnel will be engaged in administration, sales, machine and transport operations 

between the mining site and the factory floor. No staff are anticipated to reside at the mining site. 

A total of 4 watchmen will occupy 3 shifts / day, 7 days per week, but also will not be present for 

more than 12 hours during any single shift at the mining site. 


Water Supply & Treatment 

Total potable water-demand estimate at capacity occupancy, based on an assumed usage rate of 

0.57 M 3 (15 gal) per staff per day x 120 staff, or approximately 68.4 M 3 /Day, or 17,784 M 3 per year 

approximately half of which will occupy the mining site, and half the factory site, before 

consideration of water needs for rock surface washing. Rock surface wash-water requirements 

are presently estimated to be on the order of 10 M 3 per day, or 2,600 M 3 per year. Therefore, the 

combined freshwater requirement for the mining site is estimated to be on the order of 44.2 

M 3 /Day (11,500 M 3 /Yr), while that of the factory site is estimated to be on the order of 34.2 M 3 /Day 

(8,892 M 3 /Yr). 

Water requirements will be supplied to the mining site by extraction from one or more of the upper 

branches of Pinol Creek which border the project site to the north and south; and to the factory site 

by the Belmopan municipal water supply system. The branch north of the mining site flows year 

round, expressing a dry weather flow in excess of 1-2 M 3 per minute from ground water seepage 

alone. As such, the proposed rate of extraction represents < 1% of the Creeks overall daily flow 

through its northern branch along the margin of the project site in dry weather. 

Solid Waste Management Plan 

The proposed development will be responsible for the handling and transport of its entire production 

of municipal solid waste. All domestic solid waste (i.e. trash and garbage) will be source separated 

into organic, paper and non-biodegradable fractions. Organic waste originating from food and 

beverages will be buried for composting with leaf litter and tree trash. Paper trash will be 

incinerated in a closed incinerator to prevent lighted ash from presenting a fire risk to the wider 

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. 

Non-toxic non-biodegradable waste, including glass, plastic and metal cans, bottle tops, foil wraps, 

etc. will be bundled and transported to the nearest designated Municipal Solid Waste Storage sites 

specified by the National Solid Waste Management Program. Toxic, non-biodegradable waste 

such as spent machine oil and batteries will be stored in sealed 55 gallon drums, which in turn will 

be stored within a bund having 110% storage capacity volume, until they can be removed for safe 

long term storage at the nearest designated Municipal Solid Waste Storage sites specified by the 

National Solid Waste Management Program. 

Power Requirements 

Routine electrical power requirements for operation of food processing equipment and security 

lighting at the kitchen camp will be met with a simple 10 KVA diesel-electric plan which will be 

maintained within a bund having 110% volume capacity of the fuel supply tank and engine oil 

reserve. Electrical needs for power tools used in block sawing and boring operations, as well as 

spot maintenance of heavy machinery, will be met with self-contained, portable generators. 


Chemical energy requirements in the form of diesel fuel for operation of heavy equipment engaged 

in land clearing, boulder extraction, and boulder transport between the mining site and the 

processing factor in Belmopan; as well as petroleum-based lubricants will be stored within a fuel 

bund having 110% storage volume capacity. 

Management Structure For The Overall Development 

The management entity responsible for the entire development will be Caribbean Marble and 

Concrete Manufacturing Limited. The in-country project manager responsible for the day to day 

mining operation is Mr. Daniel Kim. The project will be likely to engage some 120 staff at capacity 

operation, the majority of which will be comprised of Belizean-born residents living in the vicinity of 

the mining and factory sites. The organizational plan for the entire operation is shown in 

Illustration 13, with inset numbers representing the approximate number of subordinate staff 

working within each section of the projects operations. 



MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OF CARIBBEAN MARBLE AND CONCRETE MANUFACTURING LIMITED 


2. THE PROJECT ENVIRONMENT 

Provide details of the basic physical environment of the project site and zone of influence. This should include: 

1. Topography: including degree of slopes, drainage patterns around project site, and flood hazard; 

2. Include a map outlining the boundaries of zone of influence in relation to protected areas, surrounding villages 

and communities etc. 

3. Climate, hydrology and meteorology: including rainfall average per year, prevailing wind patterns; 

4. Geology: description of the characteristics of landform, land surface including exposed rock types, types of 

unconsolidated materials exposed (sediments), watershed, rivers, tributaries, if they can be determined by field 

mapping. 

5. Provide physical description of surrounding receiving water bodies including creeks and rivers and provide a 

baseline on the current water quality, both surface and ground water, of the project area. Parameters to be 

tested should include, but not limited to the following: 

• pH 

• Temperature 

• Dissolved Oxygen 

• Nitrates 

• Sulfates & Phosphates 

• Phosphates 

• Total Suspended Solids 

• Hardness 

6. Provide information on soils: soil fertility, agricultural value; 

7. Assess the current land use of project site and adjacent properties including existing road infrastructure. 

8. Assess the potential effect that the developmental activities will have on any local wells and springs, aquifer or 

nearby water bodies, particularly as it relates to disposal of waste and overburden. 

9. Provide a description of the existing socio-economic conditions, giving a brief overview of the socio-economic 

background to the study area. 

METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 

Hurricanes 

Review of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data for hurricane and tropical 

storm landfalls in Belize has established that at least 4 hurricanes traveled across western Belize in 

the vicinity of the Mountain Pine Ridge area, and subsequently on to one or more neighboring 

countries between 1960 and present. These cyclones included Hurricanes Abby (1960), Hattie 

(1961), Fifi (1974) and Greta (1978), which in general passed through western Belize as Category 2 

Storms (96 - 110 mph), and therefore undoubtedly imposed rainfall-borne impacts on the Mountain 

Pine Ridge area of Belize (see Illustration 14). 


ILLUSTRATION 14: HURRICANES & TROPICAL STORMS CROSSING INTO WEST-CENTRAL BELIZE 


NOAA forecasts for the region are based on the historical occurrence of tropical storms and 

hurricanes from 1944-1999 and these analyses indicate that named tropical storm and hurricane 

occurrence in Belize peaks in September of each year; and the maximum probability of a named 

tropical storm occurring in Belize is < 10 % for the month of September and < 4 % for the month of 

September for a tropical cyclone (see Illustration 15). 

Rainfall Volume 

Belize National Meteorological Service 

(BNMS) weather station located at 

Augustine is the nearest BNMS rainfall 

monitoring station to the mining site. Mean 

monthly rainfall rates for Augustine 

(Mountain Pine Ridge) for a 10 year 

average were reported by King et al 1992 

to range between 50 mm (2 In) and 210 mm 

(8 In) per month as shown in Illustration 

16. 

mm / Month 


MEAN MONTHLY RAINFALL AT AUGSTINE, 

MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE 

250 


200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

Jan 

Feb 

Mar 

Apr 

May 

Jun 

Jul 

Month 

Aug 

Sep 

Oct 

Nov 

Dec 

Annual rainfall for the Mountain Pine Ridge at Augustine varied between the total reported by King 

et al 1992 for the 10-year period of review of 1,376 mm or 54 inches to approximately 1,778 mm or 

70 inches over a 30 year period averaged by the National Meteorological Service (see Illustration 

17). 

Groundwater Volume 

Kwon (2005) noted that weathering zone depth above the granite batholith of the Mountain Pine 

Ridge area of Belize was likely to be closely linked to rainwater penetration and groundwater runoff 

into creek flows, such that dry creeks in dry weather should provide good indication of low 

groundwater flows and shallow weathering, while flowing creeks in dry weather should provide good 

indication of high groundwater flows and more deeply developed weathering; while noting the 

ample water flows through Pinol Creek in dry weather. 

Buckalew et al (1995) reported that groundwater yields in the vicinity of the mining site at 60 ft 

depth would be expected to range from < 0.004 cubic meters per minute, to > 0.04 cubic meters per 

minute. Although specifically unchallenged in the vicinity of the mining site, the observed surface 

flow of Pinol Creek at approximately 2 M 3 per minute during field inspection in May is in keeping 

with both Kwon and Buckalew et al’s reporting on surface water yield in the area, the latter of whom 

forecast surface flows to range from < 0.04 to > 400 cubic meters per minute annually. Taken 

together, the reported and observed findings indicated that annual rainfall, acting in conjunction with 

groundwater seepage into Pinol Creek are likely to be more than sufficient to meet the potable and 

wash water requirements identified for the proposed development (see Page X).


ANNUAL PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL 

STORMS: 1944 – 1999: 

Above: Annual probability of named storm 

occurrence by geographic region. 

Center: Annual Probability of hurricane 

occurrence by geographic region. 

Below: Annual probability of intense 

hurricane occurrence by geographic region. 

Source: (US) National Weather Service, 2007 




Surface Water Quality 

Two water quality samples were collected 

from Pinol Creek, which in turn we assayed 

at the Bowen & Bowen Water Quality 

Laboratory in Ladyville (see Addenda 8 & 

Table 4). These assays established the 

water in Pinol Creek to be pristine, with few 

suspended solids, slightly acidic pH (in 

keeping with area soils), and relatively low 

alkalinity, total nitrogen and phosphorus. 

Conclusions & Recommendations 

TABLE 4: 

WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS FOR PINOL CREEK 

Parameter 7-Apr-08 7-May-08 

Total Suspended Solids 5 6 

pH 6.56 6.53 

Alkalinity 7.8 0 

Total Nitrogen 1 1 

Phosphorus 0.14 0.08 

Given these above-described meteorological and hydrological characteristics of the mining site, the 

project proponent will need to: 

1. Ensure that vertical structures are designed to withstand Cat-2 hurricane wind speeds up 

to 100 knots; 

2. Ensure disturbed soils are either covered with well established vegetation or synthetic 

cover to prevent their erosion during each hurricane season; 

3. Ensure a hurricane preparedness plan, as presented herein (see Page 137) is adopted & 

implemented by staff to minimize risk to property and life during these seasonal events; 

and 

4. Ensure that exposed sediments are quickly stabilized with either natural vegetation or 

artificial (synthetic) land-cover to limit sediment travel into Pinol Creek, particularly 

during the hurricane season each year. 


GEOLOGY 

Geologic Setting 

The mining site is located on approximately 40 acres of land within the 73,000+ acre Mountain Pine 

Ridge area of the Maya Mountains in Belize (see Illustration 18). The Mountain Pine Ridge (MPR) 

area is predominantly composed of Pennsylvanian to Middle Permian, variably metamorphosed 

sediments and at least two mineralogically similar granitic bodies (Dawe 1984), now believed to 

have been formed in the late Silurian, some 400 MYA (Cornic 2003). The MPR region is flanked by 

late Cretaceous limestones and early Tertiary sediments of the Vaca plateau approximately 6.4 Km 

to the west, and the late Pennsylvania to Permian Santa Rosa Group sediments 11.2 Km to the 

east. The material of interest consists of hard, salt & pepper, yellow to pink, coarse orthoclasebiotitic 

granite, which in the western region of the Maya Mountains is comprised of 50% feldspar, 

20-40% quartz, and 1-10% mica. 

Geomorphology & Topography 

The landscape of the mining site and prospecting area in general is comprised of low rounded hills 

and rolling plains, which contrast the jagged peaks of limestone that flank the granite formation of 

the MPR region. The rolling plains, which persist at 505 meters above MSL at the junction of Oak 

Burn Line and Pinol Creek Roads, are variously bisected by deeply scoured creeks that often 

present the adjoining plains as distinct ridges. 

Surface soils on these plains chiefly consist of low agricultural value sandy loams derived from the 

weathering of granite to quartz sand, intermittent remnants of which persist as isolated 10-20 ton 

boulders of hard granite strewn across the soil surface, showing manganiferous staining from 

weathering (King et al 1992). Dawe (1984), and more recently Kwon (2005) suggested that existing 

creeks in the vicinity of the mining site may be indicative of tectonic valleys owing to their overall 

alignment and tendency to co-occur with more heavily weathered granite faces produced by subsoil 

water-contact & leaching. Together, soils and weathered overburden at the mining site extend from 

3 to 15 meters depth over the hard fresh granite basement rock. 

Invert elevation determined by instrument survey at 1880826 N, 290752 E on Pinol Creek was 

measured at 435 meters above MSL, thereby indicating the immediate mining area to have a total 

vertical relief of 70 meters i.e. 505 - 435 = 70), and practical mining depth (to the surface water level 

of Pinol Creek) on the order of 55 meters, 11.8 meters depth of which consists of soil and 

weathered overburden to fresh granite. The balance to creek level would therefore be on the order 

of 43 meters (to 435 meters above MSL), and the 200 x 810 meter extent of the mining license area 

would then be expected to present a mineable granite yield on the order of 3.5 million cubic meters, 

before handling losses to blasting, handling and transport. 


ILLUSTRATION 18: GEOLOGICAL MAP FOR THE PROJECT AREA 

Key: 

Geologic maps of Belize (Cornec, 2003). Left, the Cooma-Cairn fault and other large faults in the mining region shown in the red frame. Note 

location of project site near to recorded earthquake epicenters shown as yellow points. Right: the red field within the yellow frame designates the late 

Silurian plutons, comprised of diorite-granodiorite, granodiorite, quartz monzonite, granite and muscovite granite, and Aplite & dolerite dikes of the 

mining region. 


Tectonics 

The granite batholith on which the mining site is located consists of an uplifted fault block of precretaceous 

basement, consisting of a synclinorium trending east-northeast and plunging to the west 

about 10 degrees (Bateson & Hall, 1977). The site lies some 5 Km southeast of the still-active 

Northern Boundary Fault, and is divided to the east by the 6-kilometer deep Cooma-Cairn dip-slip 

fault; to the north and south by at least two large perpendicular faults (the latter three most likely 

originating in the Paleozoic); and thereafter by numerous lesser faults and joints (of unknown, but 

probably more recent age). Displacements of some faults are shown by offset quartz veins, which 

indicate the area to have been tectonically affected after vein formation (Holland, 2002). The larger 

fault systems along with two earthquake epicenters recorded between 1900 and 1999 lying 

approximately 6 – 8 kilometers southwest and northwest (respectively) from the mining site were 

mapped by Cornic (2003). 

Illustration 19 shows the mining site itself to be positioned centrally among the latter three larger 

above-referenced faults, at approximately 2.5 Km distance. The coarse grained granite of the 

Mountain Pine Ridge exhibits microfractures and fault displacements that are likely the result of the 

granites position within a zone of abundant faulting, but mineral alteration within the infilled 

microfractures were taken by Dawe (1984) to be indicative of hydrothermal alteration. Inspections 

by other researchers (e.g. Holland 2002) indicate some fractures intermittently to be infilled with 

quartz at intervals ranging from a few centimeters to more than a meter, which also governs 

material suitability for mining and processing into finished products. 

Dawe (1984) and later Kwon (2005) surmised 

the mining site were probably tectonic valleys 

(owing to their alignments), comprised of 

structural joints, fractures or dislocation zones 

that have been secondarily influenced by 

groundwater weathering along the granite 

surface, causing soils and overburden to deepen 

on side slopes (see Illustration 20), and area 

creek flows to persist throughout the dry season 

that creek alignments immediately adjacent to. 

Stratigraphy 

Soil Structure & Classification 

ILLUSTRATION 20: GROUNDWATER FLOW & 

WEATHERING ALONG SIDESLOPES 

King et al 1992 report the soils of the project site to largely consist of Stopper suite Pinol subsuite 

soils, which consist of the colluvial and hillwash soils formed on the granites off the Mountain Pine 

Ridge. King et al further report there is considerable variation in the Pinol subsuite, with the main 

soils of slopes on the more melanocratic granites characterized by bright red and yellow colors and 

moderate depth with a very diffuse gradation to the underlying weathering granite; and the topsoil of 

stable sites being either shallow and moderately dark, or lacking melanized topsoil altogether (see 

Illustration 21: Upper left photo: deeper soils of the side slope at the mining site; Upper right photo: 

shallow soil of the top slope at the mining site). 



PRINCIPLE FAULT SYSTEMS IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROJECT SITE 


ILLUSTRATION 21: AERIAL VIEW OF PROJECT SITE TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY ALIGNMENT 


Topsoil textures in the Pinol subsuite vary from loamy coarse sand to clay loam, but mainly occur in 

the sandy loam-sandy clay loam range and are weak or moderate crumb or fine blocky with a 

tendency to break to single grain in the coarsest soils or to fine crumb in most of the others. 

Subsoil colors tend to get redder with depth, a common sequence being brownish yellow over 

yellowish red, with textures varying from sandy loam to clay, with sandy clay being predominant. 

Lower subsoil becomes more mottled with depth and grades into variegated red, white, yellow and 

brown weathering granite, but also may demonstrate manganiferous staining from weathering, 

particularly along joint planes. (see Illustration 21: Lower left photo: surface boulders with 

manganiferous staining from weathering; Lower right photo: weathering granite along Pinol Creek). 

In the western Mountain Pine Ridge, there is a discontinuous band of deeper and wetter granitic 

soils, apparently formed in hillwash or alluvium deposited by streams flowing westwards towards 

the Macal River. Beneath shallow darkened topsoil, the profile consists of pale colored loamy sandsandy 

clay. Matrix colors are yellow, light grey or white, often with yellow, brown and black mottles. 

The soil is moist in the upper horizons but quite wet at depth. Subsoil structures are weakly blocky 

and consistencies are friable-loose. The wet lower subsoil continues to well below 1.5 meters 

depth, sometimes taking on greenish tinges’ in the matrix colors. 

Pinol subsuite soils can be readily distinguished from related varieties by the presence of plentiful 

angular quartz grit in the solum and the presence of underlying weathering granite rather than 

medasediments. Further, Pinol subsuite soils demonstrate more pronounced subsoil compaction, 

are associated with pine savanna rather than broadleaf forest, and are generally restricted to the 

Mountain Pine Ridge at altitudes of 500 meters above MSL. There are also a number of limitations 

to their agricultural suitability, which include compaction and acidity, which make inhospitable root 

environments; as well as nutrient deficiencies and imbalances. These characteristics also impede 

soil suitability for timber production, as the logging return on pine is on the order of 50 to 70 years. 

King et al (1992) went on to recommend that soils of the Mountain Pine Ridge in general should be 

maintained under forest, with greater attention paid to their suitability for recreation and tourism. 

Moreover all systems of management should take note of erodibility of the soils, especially in view 

of the importance of the Mountain Pine Ridge as a major source of surface water for much of 

central Belize. 

Soil Percolation 

Two in situ soil percolation tests were conducted on the project site (see Illustrations 22 - 23), and 

returned findings that were consistent with the reported soil stratigraphy for the area. The first test 

was conducted near to the camp site at the northeastern corner of the mining site, which returned a 

percolation rate of approximately 25 meters per hour. compared with the findings of the remaining 

two test sites that were approximately equal at approximately 7 meters per day. The second test 

was conducted near to the material excavation site at the southwestern portion of the mining site, 

which returned a percolation rate of approximately 50 meters per hour, and was a likely result of the 

coarse-grained soil at the site. Both percolation rate returns are adequate for leachfield use; 

however the faster rate of the second site, which is consistent with the test site being located on the 

side slope rather than plain of the pine savanna, suggests percolation in this area may worsen area 

potential for subsoil erosion, and hence be unsuitable for locating sewage leachfields. 



LOCATION OF PERCOLATION TEST SITES AND BOREHOLE SURVEY SITES 


ILLUSTRATION 23: SOIL PERCOLATION TEST SITES EXAMINED IN MAY 2008 AT THE DEVELOPMENT SITE 

Left Column: Percolation Test Site 2 (top photo), and close-up of coarse soil grain produced from granite weathering (bottom photo). Right Column: Percolation 

results for Test Site 1 near to camp, and Test Site 2, near to extraction area. 


Test Boring Of Granite Basement Rock 

The key mining site selection parameters utilized by CMCML include depth of the weathering zone 

(i.e. depth to fresh, non-weathered, granite); thickness or depth of the fresh granite; lateral extent 

(length and width) of the fresh granite; and utility (i.e. venation density). Two sites were examined 

in respect of these parameters, the first of which was in the San Luis area (see Addenda 9), which 

was noted to display numerous outcrops of readily accessible gray coarse-grained granite, and the 

second of which was in the Oak Burn Line area (see Addenda 9), which was noted to display 

numerous surface boulders of weathering grey to pink, coarse-grained granite. Both sites were 

extensive surveyed by test boring to determine depth to weathering overburden and fresh granite, 

as well as fracture influence. The surveys ultimately led to the selection of the latter, Oak Burn site 

for its significantly higher overall utility (47% vs. 14%). 


Given the preceding considerations, the following recommendations should be observed by the 

project proponent. 

5. Intermittent surveys for blast-related noise, shockwave and/or fault travel should be 

conducted at various times of day and under various weather conditions and seasons in 

the vicinity of the three closest tourism destinations during the first year of operation to 

determine if activity adjustments need to be made to offset such impacts; and 

6. The coarse, friable nature of the subsoil in the vicinity of the mining site, while suitable 

for septic leach field development, are highly prone to erosion and therefore will need to 

be quickly stabilized with compaction, and artificial or natural landcover following their 

removal from underlying rock. 


FLORA AND FAIUNA 

Aquatic Habitat & Wildlife 

Pinol Creek was sampled for aquatic wildlife below the southwestern margin of the mining site 

boundary above a bridge crossing on Pinol Creek track. The understorey of the bridge crossing 

was established on local boulders, forming an upstream impoundment pond and spillway which 

was sampled with a 3/8 inch mesh cotton seine. 

Benthos in the impoundment pond above the bridge 

crossing consisted of numerous individuals of two 

unidentified species of clean, live and healthy aquatic 

plants, which overlay decaying individuals of the same 

species that were covered with a clumpy layer of brown 

detridus (rather than silt or sediment), lending further 

support to the clean water status of Pinol Creek (see 

continuation of Illustration 24 on the following page). 

Two species of unidentified aquatic plants were 

collected during this survey effort, along with 4 species 

of fish (represented by numerous individuals), and an 

unidentified tadpole hatch. The four species of fish 

included 2 Charicins, Astyanax aeneus and Brycon 

guatemalensis; and 2 Poeciliids, Xiphophorus helleri and 

Heterandria bimaculata (see continuation of Illustration 

24 on the following page). 

The four fish species collected are good indicator 

species of high environmental water quality, and further 

testify to the essentially continuous, clear-flowing water 

quality of Pinol Creek, which is sustained in dry weather 

from groundwater flows across the granite batholith (see 

Illustration 20, Page 36). 

Conclusions 


AQUATIC WILDLIFE AT THE PINOL 

CREEK BRIDGE CROSSING 

Continued… 

The survey findings lend further support to the water quality findings presented in Table 4 that Pinol 

Creek in the vicinity of the proposed development is pristine, and the proponent will therefore need 

to insure: 

7. Neither liquid waste nor eroded sediments are permitted to degrade the background 

water quality of Pinol Creek. 



AQUATIC WILDLIFE AT THE PINOL CREEK BRIDGE CROSSING (Continued) 

Above Left, Unidentified aquatic plant species (1) in Pinol Creek at track crossing, and Right, Unidentified 

aquatic plant species (2) from same location. Note background organic turbidity collected at bridge 

crossing. Center Left, the Characin, Astyanax aeneus, and Right, Brycon guatemalensis. Bottom Left, 

the Poeciliid Xiphophorus helleri, and Right, Heterandria bimaculata. 

…End 


Terrestrial Habitats 

Assessment Methodology 

A rapid vegetation and bird assessment of a 40-acre property located in the Mountain Pine Ridge 

area was conducted by Botanical Ecologist Dr. Colin Young in an effort to document species 

present. During the assessment, all ecosystem types with the exception of the grassy fields were 

surveyed for plants. Because of the small size of the property (ca. 40 acres) and the homogenous 

nature of the ecosystem types, the “walk in the woods” approach (Phillips and Gentry 1993; Young, 

2005) was employed rather than transects. The walk-in-the-woods approach involved crisscrossing 

the property, usually in a straight line while recording species as they were encountered. “Walk in 

the woods” was discontinued when no new species were being encountered in each of the 

ecosystem type identified. An effort was made to include all life forms (trees, shrubs, vines, lianas, 

herbs) present to the extent possible in order to accurately describe the vegetation found on the 

property. Because of the inherent complexity in identifying sedges, grasses and rushes, little 

attention was dedicated to identifying these life forms on the property beyond the familial 

classification. 

Land Use History 

The property is located in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and can be characterized as a 

typical Neotropical savanna. Up until recently, the property has received minimal anthropogenic 

impacts except for fires that may have been intentionally set by hunters and the occasional logging 

of Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribaea) in the past. Based on a through walk-through of the property, 

old pine stumps cut with chain saws were evident; these stumps numbered approximately 6-10 per 

hectare and appeared old. Thus, minimal logging did occur in the past. 

Of particular significance is the devastating effects that the Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctomus 

frontalis), had on the adult pine trees on the property; based on observations, mortality of large pine 

trees approached 80% or more. This was not surprising considering that the mortality rate of pine 

tress for the entire area was 80% (Walden, n. d.). Consequently, the number of dead logs was 

abundant of the property leading to a very high fire load. The vast majority of pines now occurring 

on the property are young trees that regenerated after the Pine Beetle was controlled. The high 

mortality of the dominant tree species definitely impacted and modified the ecosystem, including 

avian diversity. 

However, within the last few weeks, a portion of the southern segment of the property has been 

completed transformed as the owners search and extract the underlying granite. To obtain granite 

located below the surface, the complete removal of the top soil and vegetation was necessary. As a 

result, the vegetation of this area could not be ascertained; however, it is unlikely that removed 

vegetation differed significantly from the remainder of the property. 


Results 

Based on field visits to the property in April of 2008, three habitat types were identified on the 

project site (see Illustration 25 - 26). These ecosystem types are subtypes that occur within a 

savanna ecosystem and included: Woodland and Pine Ridge, Oak Thicket and Tiger Fern Thicket. 

A short description of these habitat types is presented below and is identified based on their 

species composition and relative abundance of plant species. Species ‘typical’ of the habitat types 

are used to identify the vegetation type. The descriptions of the habitat types discussed here are 

taken directly from Bridgewater et al. (2002) publication entitled “Vegetation of Savannas and 

Wetlands in Belize.” 

Woodland and Pine Ridge 

This subtype is Pinus caribaea-dominated with the larger trees attaining 15m forming a broken 

canopy (see Illustration 26). The woodland is conspicuously denser and has a far greater 

abundance of pine than pine–palmetto savanna, but is still considered a savanna subtype because 

of it’s typically savanna floristic composition. These denser pine areas usually show signs of 

burning. Quercus oleoides, Curatella americana and occasionally Guazuma ulmifolia are associates 

which, together with sparse shrubby Byrsonima crassifolia, Semialarium mexicanum, Calliandra 

houstoniana, Clidemia sericea, and clumps of Acoelorraphe wrightii, form an open understorey. The 

dry and very sandy soils support an open herbaceous layer. 

Oak Thicket 

Bridgewater et al (2002) description of this ecosystem sub-type is herein used with modifications 

reflecting the presence and or relative abundance of species on the property. Oak thicket is a 

“dense, sometimes impenetrable, thicket, the characteristic feature being dominance of the canopy 

by Live Oak (Quercus oleoides) reaching 15m (see Illustration 26). This type of vegetation 

appears to form over deeper drier soils. Other common associates, which form the understorey 

within this ecosystem are craboo (Byrsonima crassifolia), Myrica sp., yaha (Curatella americana), 

Pigeon grape (Parathesis cubana), hairy tom (Clidemia sericea), Miconia albicans, Palicourea 

triphylla, and poor man sand paper (Davilla kunthii). On the property, these understorey species, 

with the exception of D. kunthii and C. sericea were in extremely low abundance. 

Even though, Bridgewater et al (2002) report that “oak thickets have the greatest diversity of woody 

species amongst the savanna subtypes, due to the presence of elements from both the pine– 

palmetto savanna and forest floras,” the diversity within the oak thicket on the property was 

extremely low and may reflect the inherent differences between savannas in the Rio Bravo area 

and the savanna habitats of the Mountain Pine Ridge Area. 


ILLUSTRATION 25: AERIAL VIEW OF THE 40-ACRE MINING SITE LOOKING NORTHEAST ALONG PINOL CREEK ROAD 

Quarry 

Site 



HABITAT TYPES OF THE DEVELOPMENT SITE 

First Row: Woodland and Pine Ridge habitat. Second Row: Oak Thicket. Third Row: Tiger Fern 

Thicket. 


Tiger Fern Thicket 

This ecosystem is characterized by large monotypic stands of the tiger fern (Dicranopteris 

pectinata); this species dominated a significant portion of the property but is mostly restricted to the 

eastern side of the property where is dominated the slopes heading towards the creek (see 

Illustration 26). This species was in such abundance that it was difficult to walk through the thicket 

without a machete. Occasional Pinus caribaea and Davilla kunthiii species are found within these 

dense stands. 

Results & Recommendations 

The taxonomic diversity of plants located on the 40-acre property was low but typical for this 

ecosystem type. The plant species composition of the property consisted on 59 plant species 

representing 49 genera and 35 families (see Table 5). The high generic diversity, based on the 

number of families, indicate that many genera were presented by only one species, as is typical of 

this type of ecosystems. Although the species diversity was low, the relative abundance of certain 

the following species were extremely high: Pinus caribaea, Davilla kunthii, Brysonimia crassifolia, 

Dicranopteris pectinata, Miconia spp. The Melastomataceae had the highest species richness (9 

species), followed by the Myrtaceae (5 species) and Clausiaceae (4 species). On note, two 

endemic species (Dalechampia schippii and Schippia concolor) to Belize occurred on this site in 

relatively high abundance; these species are known to be common in this type of habitat. 

The property was very characteristic of this type of savanna found in the Mountain Pine Ridge area; 

however, the property was too small for the number of sub-forest types to occur. Two species, 

Dalechampia schippii and Schippia concolor are endemic to Belize and since both occur in healthy 

population on and around the property an extra effort should be made to minimize complete 

destruction of these species. 

Savanna habitats in Belize play an important ecological role despite their relatively low species 

richness when compared to broadleaf forests. Consequently, efforts should be made to minimize 

the destruction or conversion of this forest type. 

8. Ensure appropriate license, restrictions and fee schedules of the Belize Forestry 

Department concerning the clearing and/or removal of Pine and other forest products are 

adheared to. 


TABLE 5: 

PLANT SPECIES OF THE 40-ACRE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE PROPERTY 

Botanical Name Common Name Family 

Metopium brownei Black Poisonwood Anacardiaceae 

Xylopia frutescens Polewood Annonaceae 

Acoelorraphe wrightii Palmetto Arecaceae 

Schippia concolor Silver Thatch Palm Arecaceae 

Aster sp. Unknown Asteraceae 

Tillandsia balbisiana Bromeliad Bromeliaceae 

Tillandsia sp. Bromeliad Bromeliaceae 

Chrysobalanus icaco Coco Plum Chrysobalanaceae 

Clethra occidentalis Oak Clethraceae 

Clusia massoniana Clusia Clusiaceae 

Calophyllum brasiliense Santa Maria Clusiaceae 

Vismia baccifera Ring worm bush Clusiaceae 

Hypericum sp. Unknown Clusiaceae 

Cuscuta sp. Unknown Cucutaceae 

Cyathea sp. Tree Fern Cyatheaceae 

Zamia loddigesii Bull Rush Cycadaceae 

Sclera bracteata Cutting Grass Cyperaceae 

Eleocharis interstincta Sedge Cyperaceae 

Curatella americana Cow tongue Dilleniaceae 

Davilla kunthii Poor Mans Sandpaper Dilleniaceae 

Dalechampia schippii Unknown Euphorbiaceae 

Mimosa sp. Unknown Fabaceae 

Inga sp. Bri-bri Fabaceae 

Quercus oleoides Live oak Fabaceae 

Quercus insignis Oak Fabaceae 

Casearia sp. Unknown Flacourtiaceae 

Dicranopteris pectinata Tiger Fern Gleicheniaceae 

Scutellaria longifolia Wild Mint Lamiaceae 

Cassytha filiformis Jaundice Ti-tie Lauraceae 

Struthanthus cassythoides Scorn the Earth Loranthaceae 

Byrsonima crassifolia Craboo Malpighiaceae 

Bellucia pentamera Black Maya Melastomataceae 

Climedia sericea Hairy Tom Melastomataceae 

Climedia hirta Hairy tom Melastomataceae 

Henriettea sp. Wild guava Melastomataceae 

Miconia sp. Sugar Loaf Melastomataceae 

Miconia albicans Pine Ride Sirin Melastomataceae 

Miconia argentea White Maya Melastomataceae 

Miconia calvescens Unknown Melastomataceae 

Miconia prasina Serin Melastomataceae 

Parathesis cubana Unknown Myrsinaceae 

Stylogyne turbacensis Unknown Myrsinaceae 

Myrcia cerifera Tea Box Myrtaceae 

Myrica splendens Unknown Myrtaceae 

Eugenia sp.? Unknown Myrtaceae 

Continued… 


TABLE 5: 

PLANT SPECIES OF THE 40-ACRE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE PROPERTY 

(Continued) 

Botanical Name Common Name Family 

Eugenia sp. Unknown Myrtaceae 

Calyptranthes sp.? Unknown Myrtaceae 

Unknown Orchid Orchidaceae 

Pinus caribea Caribbean Pine Pinaceae 

Unknown Sour Grass Poaceae 

Paspulum sp. Grass Poaceae 

Tripsacum latifolium Grass Poaceae 

Roupala montana Unknown Proteaceae 

Cassipourea guianensis High Ride Waterwood Rhizophoraceae 

Spermacoce verticillata Unknown Rubiaceae 

Simarouba glauca Negrito Simaroubaceae 

Smilax sp. Unknown Smilacaceae 

Citharexylum crassifolium Citroxullum sp. Verbenaceae 

Vochysia hondurensis Yemeri Vochysiaceae 

…End 


Terrestrial Wildlife 

Flora 

Important flora of the project site is shown in Illustrations 27 - 28. These include Silver Thatch 

Palm; unknown, Dalechampia schippii; Caribbean Pine, Craboo, Live oak, and Palmetto. Additional 

flora of importance includes those that are used by birds for food since many migrant and resident 

birds are attracted to the fruits that grow on native plants (see Table 6). The Poor Man’s Sandpaper 

(Davilla kunthii) and Craboo tree (Byrsonima crassifolia) are two very common species on the 

project site that produces bright flowers and fruits that attracts a myriad of resident bird species. 

Additionally, Belize’s pine savanna ecosystems are very important to Belize’s resident birds during 

breeding season, when they nest and raise their young (see Table 7). Common plants that birds 

use for nest building in savannah habitats are Caribbean Pine, Live oak, Palmetto, and Craboo. 

Important plant species also include those that are endemic to Belize; two recognized species 

include Unknown; Dalechampia schippii and Silver Thatch Palm, Schippia concolor which both 

occurred in healthy population on and around the property. The Silver Thatch Palm is used by 

Belizeans for thatching baskets and other products. Furthermore, there are three species of plants 

present on the project site that is of conservation interest in Belize. Two species; Palmetto, 

Schippia concolor and Oak, Quercus spp. are listed as vulnerable by IUCN and Caribbean Pine 

(Pinus caribea) is protected under Belize Forest laws. 

Avian Fauna 

Assessment Methodology 

Bird species were recorded opportunistically as they were encountered or heard while on the 

property. However, to increase sightings, surveys were conducted from 3-6pm and from 5:30am- 

8:30 am so as to record crepuscular species present on the property. The 40-acre property was 

crisscrossed, usually in straight lines. At every 20 meters of so, point counts were counted. In 

addition to point counts, birds species encountered near the property were also recorded. 

Results 

In general, the avian richness was very low on the property; however, the habitats are known to 

inhabit a number of species. The taxonomic diversity of birds included 38 species representing 35 

genera and 20 families were recorded in or near the property (see Table 8). The large amount of 

noise generated from the heavy machinery may have accounted for reduced sightings of some 

species. The avian diversity recorded on the property is also very characteristics of the bird diversity 

normally found in the Mountain Pine Ridge area. 

Terrestrial Fauna 

Terrestrial fauna was not included in this assessment, but investigations by a number of 

researchers in recent years have been conducted and are compiled by Belize Biodiversity 

Information System and Meerman 2005. 



IMPORTANT FLORA TYPICAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT SITE 

Left Column (Top-Bottom), Craboo, 

Byrsonima crassifolia, Palmetto, 

Acoelorraphe wrightiii, and Live oak, 

Quercus oleoides. 

Right Column (Top-Bottom) Caribbean 

Pine, Pinus caribea, Unknown, Dalechampia 

schippii, and Silver Thatch Palm, Schippia 

concolor. 


TABLE 6: 

PLANTS THAT PROVIDE FOOD FOR BIRDS 

(Taken from Bird Without Borders Recommendations for Landowners) 

PLANT SPECIES (part of 

plant that birds feed on) 

Bri bri(fruit) 

Inga sp. 

Craboo(fruit) 

Brysonima crassifolia 

Palmetto(fruit) 

Acoelorraphe wrightii 

Polewood(fruit) 

Xylopia frutescens 

Sandpaper vine(fruit) 

Family Dilleniaceae 

White maya (fruit) 

Miconia argentea 

RESIDENT BIRD SEEN FEEDING ON 

PLANT 

Brown Jay (Cyanocorax morio, Piam-piam) 

Buff-throated Saltator(Saltator maximus) 

Yellow-tailed Oriole(Icterus mesomelas, 

Banana Bird) 

Black-cowled Oriole(Icterus prosthemelas, 

Banana Bird) 

Brown Jay (Cyanocorax morio, Piam-piam) 

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus, 

Nightingale) 

Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava, Pepper Bird) 

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes 

oleaginous) 

Blue-gray Tanager(Thraupis episcopus, 

Bluebird) 

Yellow-winged Tanager( Thraupis abbas) 

White-fronted Parrot(Amazona albifrons, 

Corn-eater) 

Yellow-throated Euphonia (Euphonia 

hirundinacea) 

Clay-colored Robin(Turdus grayi, Brown 

Cusco) 

TABLE 7: 

BIRDS THAT NESTS IN PINE SAVANNAS 

(Taken from Bird Without Borders Recommendations for Landowners) 

BIRDS 

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) 

White-collared Seedeater(Sporophilia torqueola) 

Green-backed Sparrow(Arremonops chloronotus) 

Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) 

Mangrove vireo(Vireo pallens semiflavus) 

PLANT SPECIES 

MIGRANT BIRD SEEN 

FEEDING ON PLANT 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella 

carolinensis) 

Nests in Craboo(Brysonima crassifolia), but mainly 

Caribbean Pine, (Pinus caribea) 

Nests mainly in Palmetto(Acoelorraphe wrightii) 

Builds nests on the ground 

Builds nests on the ground 

Nests in most trees 

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) Nests in Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribea) 


TABLE 8: 

BIRD SPECIES ENCOUNTERED IN OR NEAR THE 40-ACRE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE PROPERTY 

Scientific Name Common Name Family 

Ortalis vetula Plain Chachalaca Cracidae 

Amazona albifrons White-fronted Parrot Psittacidae 

Piculus rubiginosus Golden-olive Woodpecker Picidae 

Cyanocorax morio Brown Jay Corvidae 

Cyanocorax yncas Green Jay Corvidae 

Stelgidopteryx serripennis Northern Rough-Winged Swallow Hirundinidae 

Thryothorus maculipectus Spot-breasted Wren Troglodytidae 

Basileuterus rufifrons Rufous-capped Warbler Parulidae 

Geothlypis poliocephala Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Parulidae 

Aimophila rufescens Rusty Sparrow Emberizidae 

Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture Cathartidae 

Coragyps atratus Black Vulture Cathartidae 

Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk Accipitridae 

Elanoides forficatus Swallow-tailed Kite Accipitridae 

Tyto alba Barn Owl Strigidae 

Otus guatemalae Vermiculated Screech Owl Strigidae 

Amazilia candida Azure-crowned Hummingbird Trochilidae 

Melanerpes formicivorous Acorn Woodpecker Picidae 

Dryocopus lineatus Lineated Woodpecker Picidae 

Thamnophilus doliatus Barred Antshrike Thamnophilidae 

Camptostoma imberbe Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Tyrannidae 

Contopus pertinax Greater Pewee Tyrannidae 

Empidonax minimus Least Flycatcher Tyrannidae 

Contopus virens Eastern Wood-Pewee Tyrannidae 

Myiodynastes luteiventris Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Tyrannidae 

Myiarchus tuberculifer Dusky-capped Flycatcher Tyrannidae 

Tyrannus couchii Couch's Kingbird Tyrannidae 

Tyrannus savana Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannidae 

Vireo plumbeus Plumbeous Vireo Vireonidae 

Polioptila caerulea Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Turdidae 

Turdus grayi Clay-colored Robin Turdidae 

Dendroica graciae Grace's Warbler Parulidae 

Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart Parulidae 

Euphonia affinis Scrub Euphonia Thraupidae 

Sporophila torqueola White-collared Seedeater Emberizidae 

Arremonops rufivirgatus Olive Sparrow Emberizidae 

Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow Emberizidae 

Carduelis notata Black-headed Siskin Fringillidae 


The Mountain Pine Ridge area is richly inhabited with biologically diverse species of terrestrial 

fauna including a wide range of both small and large mammals, for example; several species of 

bats too numerous to mention, the five cats of the jungle, various opossums and squirrels, and 

several amphibians and reptiles (Wildlife Impact Assessment for the proposed Macal River Upper 

Storage Facility, Minty 20001). Several of these terrestrial species are protected under the Belize 

Wildlife Protection Act which includes the Yucatan Spider Monkey, Giant Anteater, Wooly 

Opossum, Striped Hog-nosed Skunk, Neotropical River Otter, Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Margay, and 

Jaguarundi (Belize Wildlife Protection Act). 

The five feline species that exist in Belize: Jaguar (Panthera onca), Puma (Puma concolor), Ocelot 

(Leopardus pardalis), Margay (Leopardus wiedii) and Jaguarundí (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) can 

be seen with relative frequency in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve; all of these species’ 

status are classified under CITES and IUCN (See Illustration 28 & Table 9).Other fauna 

distributed in the reserve includes two additional mammals, Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) which is 

active mostly at night foraging along river banks and forest clearings and white-lipped peccary 

(Tayassu pecari) which inhabits the scrub forests(Belize Biodiversity Information System). 

Interestingly, most of the amphibians and reptiles are usually found in humid premontane and 

lowland forests, but this eco-region, Mountain Pine Ridge is the home of the endemic frog, Rana 

juliani which can be expected to inhabit the fast-flowing streams that pass in the area; this species 

is near threatened in Belize and has an extremely limited range (see Illustration 28 & Table 10). A 

second endangered frog, Eleutherodactylus sandersoni is also reported to have been spotted 

several times in the Mountain Pine Ridge area (Meerman, 2005). 

During site visits in April and May of 2008, none of these species were observed, perhaps in 

response to the recent transformation of the southern part of the project site as the owners search 

and extract the underlying granite. Furthermore, the noise generated from the heavy machinery 

may have also accounted for lack of sighting of some species. Interestingly, during one site visit 

some unknown animal prints were observed along an old logwood trail heading away from the 

project site and towards the Pinol Creek Bridge. 

The poor representation of terrestrial vertebrate fauna at the project site and the conservation 

status of these important species establish that the project proponent should make every effort 

to: 

9. Advise staff of the ecological value of these species, as well as the importance of 

limiting any potentially negative human interactions with individual animals that might 

occasionally stray into the project site. These considerations have particular 

significance in regard to the feeding of wildlife, the unrestrictive use of rodenticides, 

the killing of snakes and/or the catching of any species for pets. 


ILLUSTRATION 28 

TERRESTRIAL FAUNA OF THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE 

Upper right, Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) 

Second, Jaguar (Panthera onca). Third, 

Puma (Puma concolor).Fourth, endemic 

Rana juliani. 

Upper left and center, unknown prints 

encountered on abandoned trail. Lower left, 

White-Tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus). 


TABLE 9: 

TERRESTRIAL FAUNA OF THE MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE 

(Belize Biodiversity Information System) 

Scientific Name Common Name 

MAMMALIA 

MAMMALS 

Primates Monkeys 

Ateles geoffroyi Yucatan Spider Monkey 

Didelphimorphia American Opossums 

Micoureus alstonia Alston’s Mouse Opossum 

Caluromys derbianus Wooly Opossum 

Didelphis marsupialis Common Opossum 

Xenarthra Edentates 

Myrmecophaga tridactyla Giant Anteater 

Cabassous centralis Northern Naked-Tailed Armadillo 

Dasypus novemcinctus Nine-banded Armadillo 

Rodentia Rodents 

Agouti paca Paca, Gibnut 

Sciurus deppei vivax Deppe's Squirrel 

Glaucomys volans Southern flying Squirrel 

Sciurus yucatanensis Yucatan Squirrel 

Coendou mexicanus Mexican Porcupine 

Carnivora Carnivores 

Urocyon cinereoargenteus Grey Fox 

Procyon lotor Northern Raccoon 

Bassariscus sumichrasti Cacomiste, Central American Ringtail 

Mustela frenata Long-Tailed Weasel 

Conepatus semistriatus Striped Hog-Nosed Skunk, Polecat 

Eira barbara Tayra, Bush dog 

Leopardus pardalis Ocelot, Tiger cat 

Leopardus wiedii Margay, Tiger cat 

Herpailurus yagouaroundi Jaguarundi, Halari 

Puma concolor Puma 

Panthera onca Jaguar, Tiger 

Perissodactyla Odd-Toed Ungulates 

Tapirus bairdii Baird’s Tapir, Mountain Cow 

Artiodactyla Even-Toed Ungulates 

Pecari tajacu Collared Peccary 

Dicotyles pecari White-Lipped Peccary 

Odocoileus virginianus White-Tailed Deer 

Mazama americana Red Brocket Deer 

AMPHIBIANS 

Rana juliani Unknown 

Eleutherodactylus sandersoni Unknown 


TABLE 10: 

SPECIES OF CONSERVATION VALUE IN MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE 

(Belize list of species of conservation concern, Meerman 2005) 

Scientific Name Common Name 

Status in 

Belize Conservation Characteristics 

MAMMALIA MAMMALS 

Primates Monkeys 

Ateles geoffroyi Central American Spider Monkey Vulnerable CITES l, IUCN: Vulnerable 

Didelphimorphia American Opossums 

Micoureus alstonia Alston’s Mouse Opossum Data Deficient CITES l 

Caluromys 

derbianus Wooly Opossum Data Deficient CITES l 

Xenarthra Edentates 

Myrmecophaga 

tridactyla Giant Anteater Data Deficient CITES ll 

Cabassous centralis Northern Naked-Tailed Armadillo Data Deficient CITES lll, IUCN: Data Deficient 

Rodentia Rodents 

Sciurus deppei vivax Deppe's Squirrel Data Deficient CITES lll 

Carnivora Carnivores 

Bassariscus 

Cacomiste, Central American 

sumichrasti 

Ringtail Data Deficient CITES l 

Eira barbara Tayra, Bush dog Data Deficient CITES lll 

Lutra longicaudis Neotropical River Otter Vulnerable CITES l 

Leopardus pardalis Ocelot, Tiger cat Vulnerable CITES l, IUCN: Vulnerable 

Leopardus wiedii 

Herpailurus 

Margay, Tiger cat Vulnerable CITES l, IUCN: Vulnerable 

yagouaroundi Jaguarundi, Halari LC CITES l, IUCN: Intermediate 

Puma concolor Puma Near Threatened CITES ll, IUCN: Near Threatened 

Panthera onca Jaguar, Tiger Near Threatened CITES l, IUCN: Near Threatened 

Perissodactyla Odd-Toed Ungulates 

Tapirus bairdii Baird’s Tapir, Mountain Cow Vulnerable CITES l, IUCN: Endangered 

Artiodactyla Even-Toed Ungulates 

Pecari tajacu Collared Peccary Data Deficient CITES ll 

Dicotyles pecari White-Lipped Peccary Vulnerable CITES ll, IUCN: Vulnerable 

Odocoileus 

virginianus White-Tailed Deer CITES lll 

Mazama americana Red Brocket Deer CITES lll 

AMPHIBIANS 

Rana juliani 

Eleutherodactylus 

Unknown 

Near 

Threatened IUCN: Near Threatened 

sandersoni Unknown Data Deficient IUCN: Endangered 


HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY LAND USE 

Culture History of the Mountain Pine Ridge 

The Mountain Pine Ridge Fore Reserve (MPRFR) consists primarily of a typical Neotropical 

savannah within the geologic region referred to as the Mountain Pine Ridge Region. While the soils 

within this geologic zone are not suited to arable farming, evidence for human visitation/occupation 

in the MPR has been documented from the Archaic period (2500 BC); and example of which 

includes a fragment of an Archaic Lowe point being recently found along the banks of Rio Frio, 

within 1 km from the Douglas D’Silva Forestry Station (Awe and Lohse, in press). 

It is believed that the ancient Maya would have utilized this area for hunting; the collection of pine 

(pinus caribaea), of which residue, collected from paleobotanical samples, and torch fragments 

have been collected from cave sites (Awe 2007); and the mining of slate for non-utilitarian artifacts 

and granite for manufacturing manos and metates. In addition to this ‘indirect’ evidence, a shrine 

site, consisting of a platform structure, 2 possible altars and scattered artifacts, has been reported 

near Rio On, roughly 4 kilometres from Douglas D’Silva Forestry Station (Bullard 1963). One of the 

altars was located in front of a granite outcrop, suggesting the natural outcrop may have had sacred 

representation (Bullard 1963). Other such cultural features include cairns, both prehistoric 

(Thompson 1938) and historic (Awe 2007), however, these features provide limited information 

unless accompanied by artifacts (figure). Historic cairns erected by Colonel Despard in 1780 are 

located mainly in the Baldy Beacon and Cooma areas of the MPRFR. These reportedly marked the 

British Honduras settlement’s southern boundary (Awe 2007). 

Within an extension of the limestone based Vaca Plateau into the granitic borders of the MPR, 

referred to as the ‘borderland zone’ (Pendergast 1970), are the Rio Frio caves which are recorded 

to have been utilized by the ancient Maya (Mason 1928, Pendergast 1970). Within other 

‘borderland zones’, house mounds and agricultural terraces have been recorded (Awe 2007). 

Archaeological Survey Of The Mining Site 

Methodology 

An archaeological assessment of a property in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (MPRFR), 

intended to be partially mined by Caribbean Investment Limited, was conducted during May 2008. 

This property consists of 40 acres of which an estimated 10 acres will be the immediate mining site 

for subsurface granite. Such an assessment is required prior to any development in order to 

inspect the property for potential cultural resources (prehistoric and historic). All cultural resources 

of Belize are protected under the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) Act, Chapter 331 

of the Revised Edition 2000. The property owner should make all provisions to protect and/or 

document any such resources prior to development. 


A map study (see Illustration 29) and overview assessment were conducted prior to field work to 

determine the potential location of any cultural resources within and around the property, and to 

identify any high probability areas (HPA). HPAs were determined to be granite outcrops that may 

have associated cairn features and artifact scatters. 

An archaeological impact assessment was conducted in the immediate mining site locating and 

investing HPAs. The area was easily traversed with transect lines walked parallel and 

perpendicular to the Pinol Line on either side. Visibility was excellent for the identification of 

HPAs/granite outcrops. Ground surface visibility was fair to good and around the HPAs some 

clearing of vegetation and scrapping of the surface was required. The HPAs were concentrated in 

the southern portion of the immediate mining site. GPS coordinates and photos were taken for all 

HPAs. In the remainder of the property a preliminary field reconnaissance (PFR) was conducted 

down the slopes. 

Results 

Within the 10 HPAs there were three interesting features. HPA 4 (16Q0291850; 1881400) is 

located roughly 15 metres (m) west of the current edge of the quarry. It consists of a large granitic 

outcrop with numerous boulders. On a low flat boulder, located to the south of the large outcrop, 4 

small rocks were located which showed signs of antiquity based on the homogenous weathering of 

the rocks and boulder, indicating they had not been recently placed nor had they been moved. In 

front of the large outcrop a possible lithic was located. It is a crudely shaped unidentified stone that 

gives the impression it might have served as a ‘mining’ tool used to pry apart shattered chunks of 

granite (see Illustration 30 - 32). 

HPA 6 (16Q0291935; 1881600) is a very large area consisting of various sized granite boulders 

with a slight depressing (less than 1 m in depth) within the centre of this 15-20 m area. There are 

hundreds of broken/shattered fragments of varying size around the boulders. Some of the 

fragments look to be the result of a recent event, based on the colour of the rock. Others, however, 

appear to be from antiquity because of the weathered appearance. It is possible this area may be 

the result of an ancient granite quarry (see Illustration 33 - 33). HPA 8 (16Q0291955; 1881665) is 

similar to HPA 4 in that there is a low flat boulder with 2 rocks sitting on the surface that had been 

recently moved based on the patterns on the boulder (see Illustration 35). 


Developers need to recognize that cultural resources are protected by law and thus, should 

continue mining with caution so as to not destroy any cultural resources. It is recommended that 

all three of the HPAs (HPA 4; HPA 6; HPA 8) with potential cultural significance be further 

investigated, which would include the complete clearing of vegetation around the granite outcrop 

and shovel testing or surface scrapping to identify any potential cultural resources. 





HPA SITE 4 NORTH VIEW (ABOVE), WEST VIEW (BELOW)

Environmental Impact Assessment Of The Mountain Pine Ridge ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?