Credit: R. Coleman/WCS.

Sea Turtles Thrive in Glover’s Reef

Good news has been reported from the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Belize Fisheries Department. According to a new study recently published in the journal Endangered Species Research, more than 1,000 young hawksbill sea turtles have been counted in the protected waters of Glover’s Reef Atoll on the Belize Barrier Reef.

Currently listed as an endangered species, the hawksbill turtle uses the sheltered inlets and shallow waters of Glover’s Reef Atoll for foraging and nesting. Thanks to a concentrated effort on behalf of the Belize government and non-profit wildlife organizations, the number of young hawksbill turtles in the area has risen since 2009 when in-water counting of the endangered species first began.

“Seeing an increasingly healthy and growing population of hawksbill turtles at Glover’s Reef is excellent news for other species throughout Belize and the greater Caribbean,” said Nicole Auil Gomez, the Belize country director for the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Glover’s Reef Atoll is a rare coral atoll located off the coast of Belize. As part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second-largest barrier reef on the planet, protected locations like Glover’s Reef Atoll are essential for maintaining the region’s marine biodiversity.

The Wildlife Conservation Society, in conjunction with the Belize Department of Fisheries, have been conducting field research on sea turtles living in the coral reefs in and around Glover’s Reef Atoll since 2007. The recent study published by the Wildlife Conservation Society listed more than 1,000 hawksbill turtles as well as loggerhead and green sea turtles in the area, determining that the population was thriving. According to the report, the robust population of juvenile sea turtles is a positive indicator of long-term health of the species as well as proof that a well-managed protected marine zone can produce positive results.

“On behalf of everyone at the resort,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar, “we heartily support the ongoing conservation efforts at Glover’s Reef. Preserving and protecting the environment, including sea turtles, is an important step in keeping Belize wild and beautiful for generations to come.”

Chabil Mar, an award-winning resort located on the Placencia Peninsula in Belize, offers guests the opportunity to snorkel and scuba dive at places like Glover’s Reef on the Belize Barrier Reef. Travelers wishing to see sea turtles in their natural environment and enjoy the rich abundance of natural wildlife should consider staying at Chabil Mar for their scuba diving and snorkeling vacation.

If you took a helicopter ride over Belize’s lush mainland and cayes, you might notice what looks like Hawaiian hula skirts fanned out into circles on the ground below. Upon closer inspection, you’ll discover that those circles are actually skillfully-woven roofs made of palm fronds that are so tightly wrapped, layered and interfaced, rains can pour down but anyone standing beneath this umbrella of vegetation will stay dry.

These thick umbrellas—known as a palapas—are part of the beauty and history that is Belize, and if you’d like to see some of the most beautiful ones, visit Chabil Mar Resort, an award-winning all-inclusive resort located in Placencia where the art of the palapa has been taken to new heights.

At the end of the resort’s long pier stands a serene palapa that invites guests to relax and de-stress (see pic above). Not far away is Chabil Mar’s other palapa: it tops a gathering place considered the epicenter of Chabil Mar Resort’s social scene. Finding a seat at the Kaleidoscope Bar & Lounge (see pic below) isn’t easy as the night moves on and stars come out, so get out from under the bar’s palapa if you want to see them!

Why are palapas frequently a part of Belize’s landscape? Because they represent history and the clever use of natural resources, pairing tropical charm with practicality: Mayan settlers built thatch-roofed huts thousands of years ago for shelter and to this day, their ancestors still craft them. If you’d like to follow in their footsteps, our instructions can help. Chances are, you’ll finish faster than they did since you’ve probably got some nice tools!

1. Acquire five bamboo poles—four poles of equal height that are tall enough for people to stand under, and one that’s at least 12-inches longer for the center. Use a table saw to trim one or more to make lengths uniform.

2. Decide where to build your palapa. Dig a post hole in the center of that area. Next, dig four post holes at equal distances from the center pole and from each other. They should be at least 6- to 8-feet apart.

3. Follow package instructions to mix cement with water so it resembles thin pudding. Fill each post hole half-way with cement mix. Use a large funnel to direct the liquid cement into the holes.

4. Put one pole into each hole and then verify all heights to be certain they’re uniform; make adjustments before the cement sets if necessary. Fill each hole to the top with the remaining cement mix.

5. Craft makeshift supports of scrap wood to brace the poles. You can nail or screw one to the bamboo if necessary. Use mounds of earth to brace other scrap wood so poles don’t budge while the cement hardens. Wait at least 24-hours before removing supports.

6. Make a frame. Measure the distances between the outer four poles. Cut lumber to size and attach them to form a square. Next, measure the distance from the four outer poles to the center. Cut wood to size and attach with screws. When you look up at the finished frame, you should see spokes radiating to the center.

7. Cover the frame with pre-cut sections of plywood so there’s a solid base for attaching palm fronds.

8. Use an industrial stapler to attach palm fronds, starting at the outer edges and moving into the center by fastening layer upon layer of fronds. Work in a circle. As space decreases, you may have to cross, weave or prune fronds for a good fit. The overlap should be so solid, you can’t see an inch of frame or plywood.

9. Hold a palapa-warming party. Invite friends and neighbors over for tropical drinks beneath your work of art.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information about Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.

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