Boundaries of the Park

One might ask why this picture of an archaeological and natural preserve shows felled trees? This is the El Pilar boundary "brecha". This brecha or breach, exists for two reasons. The first is the situational difficulties associated with undertaking survey in the dense vegetation of the Maya forest. One simply cannot see through the trees with the mapping instrument. It was necessary to conduct a cadastral survey of the Reserve boundaries in order to write up the legal location of the park which was approved by the government of Belize. The second reason for the destruction is ironically, the prevention of more destruction. The physical presence of an obvious open border to the park leaves no room to doubt when one enters the park. This physical limit prevents illegal loggers, hunters, and farmers from conducting their various activities inside the park boundaries, and then claiming ignorance.

This photo courtesy of Vanessa Bunton.