Search

Heritage is defined and maintained through complex and changing processes. In what ways might heritage scholars and practitioners understand dynamic complexities theoretically, methodologically and ethically? Through reflections on involvement in environmental and cultural heritage initiatives with Maya communities in southern Belize, this paper argues for an explicit forefronting of community aims and goals in heritage-focused project design and implementation. It demonstrates how cultural anthropologists involved in collaborative projects with archaeologists, non-governmental and/or community organisations may use ethnographic approaches to push collectively towards decolonial, community archaeologies. The challenges of ethnographers and archaeologists working together to document heritage past and present are critically and reflexively analysed, using frameworks rooted in environmental anthropology to capture the fluid and negotiated nature of heritage constructions by exploring what it means to live a 'good life' in Maya communities in Belize. The insights generated for developing a decolonising approach for future work of this type are also considered. By challenging what constitutes project 'success', and discussing the questions simultaneously posed and revealed by the long-term community projects detailed here, the paper argues for a more collaborative, nuanced and fluid conceptualisation of what constitutes heritage, and who is served by its documentation and dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning can offer an efficient method to identify and map caves, sinkholes, and other cave-like features (i.e. sinkholes, rockshelters, voids) using remotely sensed imagery. While there exists a body of work applying machine learning for sinkhole identification, little work exists for caves. In the densely forested and rugged Maya Lowlands, developing such a methodology can help archaeologists to identify previously unknown caves that may contain important archaeological materials. Here, we introduce a proof-of-concept project that uses random forest and lidar-derived landscape morphometrics to map caves and other cave-like features in northwest Belize. Several undocumented caves and cave-like features were identified in our study area based on model results. Next steps towards making a more robust version of this model include the addition of more training data and integration of a larger number of morphologic parameters. Based on the results described here as well as those in cited works focused on caves, we proposed machine learning as a first step in cave and cave-like feature identification, followed then by fieldwork and ground-truthing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies focusing on Belize reveal that clientelism is the glue that makes the party system stick. We explore whether ideology and ethnicity account for partisanship within that deeply clientelist setting. We use four AmericasBarometer survey waves by the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) to study the individual-level correlates of partisan attachments with the People’s United Party (PUP) and United Democratic Party (UDP). Using binary and multinomial probit maximum likelihood estimators, we find that ethnicity correlates to partisanship with the PUP, and ideology correlates to partisanship with the UDP. The robustness checks, which focus on declared vote choices in previous national elections, corroborate our findings. The Belizean case shows how clientelist parties can develop alternative support sources and that these can vary substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of ancient Maya exploitation of salt, other marine resources, settlement, and sea trade is hidden in flooded mangrove landscapes on the cays, mainland, and in shallow offshore locations on the south coast of Belize. This article includes a discussion of the coastal economy from the Middle Preclassic through the Postclassic periods (600 B.C.–A.D. 1500). Data from sites discovered and excavated since 1982 in the coastal area of the Port Honduras and Paynes Creek National Park support a model of coastal reliance on marine resources and tree crops. The need for a regular supply of coastal salt to inland cities may have expanded the market for other marine resources. Obsidian imported from volcanic highlands documents long-distance trade throughout prehistory in the area. The island of Wild Cane Cay expanded its role in long-distance coastal trade after the abandonment of inland cities in southern Belize at the end of the Classic period. Inundation of the region documented from the depths of radiocarbon-dated archaeological deposits below the water table and from a sediment core indicates sea-level rise of at least 1 m that submerged the coastal sites. The waterlogged deposits provided an ideal matrix for preservation of vertebrate material at Wild Cane Cay. The red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) peat below the sea floor in a shallow lagoon preserved wooden buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation and analysis of the distribution of the negative health impacts of certain commodities subject to excise taxes in Belize and the distribution of the burdens of the excise taxes across households of different income levels are the focus of this article. Particular attention is given to the taxation of soft drinks and cosmetics. We examine the income distribution and tax revenue impacts using the commodity data from the household expenditure survey by and the effective tax rates expressed as a percentage of the value of the final consumption of each item. As in many developing countries, taxes on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are found to be regressive. The most regressive excise taxes are on soft drinks and cosmetics. Households across the economy pay more in excise taxes on cosmetics than they do on either alcoholic beverages or tobacco products. Relative to the level of household expenditures, the burden of the excise taxes on cosmetics is highest for households in the lowest quintile of total expenditures. The impact of soft drinks in creating obesity is likely to be much greater for high income households whose total consumption per household is twice that of low-income households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economies and livelihoods in the Caribbean strongly depend on the terrestrial and marine natural resource base. There are critical gaps in quantitative data and the contextual and compositional factors affecting perceptions of changes in ecosystems and natural resources. This paper used interview data from 441 households in Belize, Dominican Republic, and Suriname to explore the contextual and compositional determinants of perceptions of change in the quality of the terrestrial, coastal/marine environment and natural resources as a composite variable. The outcome variable comprised changes in fishing effort, marine and coastal environment, forest cover, agricultural land area, and soil fertility, and relationships with predictor variables were explored using univariate, bivariate, and three multivariate models. At the univariate level, most respondents in Belize and Suriname reported perceiving a significant increase in fishing effort (i.e. days and fuel spent at sea) and a decrease in forest cover, quality of the coastal/marine environment, area of agricultural land, and fertility and productivity of soils. Sex, marital status, household size, and years of experience were not significantly associated with the terrestrial variables and fishing effort. Sex was only significantly associated with the quality of the marine environment. At the multivariate level, the elderly, high school education, and household incomes were associated with a lower perception of the outcome variable. It is concluded that policy and interventions should strongly consider ethnicity and community, and improve education and household incomes to enhance perceptions of changes in the quality of the terrestrial and coastal/marine environment in the studied countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the historical trajectory of the women’s movement in Belize, focusing on a critical period (1975–1993). We draw upon original sources from archival research coupled with interviews with Belizean women to interpret the rise and decline of the women’s movement. The movement in Belize emerged in the late 1970s and peaked during the 1980s. At the height of the movement, female-led NGOs organized women across Belize with the goal of empowering women to better their communities and living conditions. Yet the outcomes of the movement dissipated in the 1990s. We interpret the vicissitudes of the movement against the backdrop of divisions generated during the years surrounding political independence (achieved in 1981). As Belize’s struggle for independence from British colonialism reached its denouement in 1979–1981, the concerns of Belizean women came into public consciousness shaped by the U.N. Decade for Women, Cold War politics, and the politics of decolonization. These sparked a women’s movement in the 1980s, albeit in a fashion that could not be sustained into the 1990s, an era of NGOs, neoliberalism, and clientelism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colostrum provides newborns with nutrients and immunoglobulins that play a major role in the immune system. In this survey, the immunoglobulin G (IgG) content, gross composition, mineral content, and fatty acid composition were determined in the colostrum of Valle del Belice ewes with the aim of evaluating the effect of lambing of season. In total, we analysed 60 bulk tank colostrum samples taken after lambing during two seasons (summer and winter). The IgG content and Brix mean values were 40.35 g/L and 21.02%, respectively. The colostrum fat, protein, casein, and lactose percentages were 8.01, 12.10, 8.51, and 3.13%, respectively. The lambing season significantly influenced the pH and somatic cell count, with higher values observed in winter than in summer. The most common fatty acids were palmitic (27.75 vs. 24.84 g/100 g), oleic (24.57 vs. 18.15 g/100 g), myristic (12.55 vs. 12.16 g/100 g) and stearic (7.02 vs. 6.16 g/100 g) detected in the summer and winter seasons, respectively. The winter season significantly increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid values (11.18 vs. 6.41). Additionally, the lambing season determined different mineral composition levels in the colostrum, particularly copper (8.50 vs. 5.35 µmol L−1) and manganese (3.35 vs. 0.80 µmol L−1), which were higher in the summer. Based on IgG content, the quality of the colostrum was excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the spatial distribution of the built environment in the 10th and 11th centuries a.d. in the periphery of Lamanai, a Precolumbian Maya site in northern Belize. Analysis of structures, labor investments, and ceramic distributions indicates that the periphery was characterized by a small, monumental core between Lamanai and Ka'kabish, known as Coco Chan, which radiated outwards, with smaller structures in the periphery. Ceramic assemblages and their distributions show that artifacts are concentrated near Coco Chan, which may indicate differences in access to materials in the periphery of Lamanai. The Gini Index, a method used to measure dispersion, shows that the settlement (i.e., area per structure) has a relatively high degree of economic equality as compared to other areas in the Maya world. The structures and ceramic assemblages in the periphery of Lamanai may help to explain its uninterrupted occupation history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental and agrarian changes are proceeding rapidly in southern Belize. Despite common recognition of these changes, little research has attempted to examine the class processes involved in social and environmental change. We trace how capitalism has transformed household reproduction over the past four decades, focusing on two key pathways by which these changes unfold: the commercialization of land use and the education of the labour force. Emerging class processes in the Maya communities undermine subsistence agriculture, generate inequality between households and genders, and magnify conflicts over land. These effects complicate struggles for communal land rights and class solidarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, however, state-sponsored industrial logging, mining, and agribusiness activities have increasingly threatened Maya land rights as the government has granted concessions to multinational corporations without consulting Maya villages. At present, the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA), consisting of 78 leaders from 41 Maya communities in Toledo District, is the main representative body of the Maya people. Citing the MLA and TAA's claim that the alcaldes represent a form of customary communal governance sanctioned by Maya communities collectively, the government asserted: "We do not believe that there is such "collective governance system" of the Maya people.". [Extracted from the article]

Sometimes the policy and material discourses around climate change may feel far removed from the daily realities of people, whose experiences are intensely local and whose time horizons are immediate. Perhaps there are more creative ways to bring policy closer to the homestead, so that people better understand the implications of public policy and are better equipped to hold governments responsible to stated commitments. Climate Change Gender Action Plans may present both an opportunity and effective entry point for collective understandings and movement building – because 'gender' has become the catch-all word that embraces a non-patriarchal, pro-feminist approach to fundamental change, and a creative avenue to innovative solutions to the multiple risks associated with the changing climate. In Belize, the National Climate Change Office (NCCO) is the Government's secretariat for climate change, acting as the operational arm of the Belize National Climate Change Committee, and tasked with developing the National Climate Change Gender Action Plan in 2021. This focus shares some perspectives on the opportunity such official documents offer grassroots climate change activists and movements for change; and the importance of civil society 'activating and enlivening' these plans towards their collective visions. Taking Belize's recently outlined Gender Action Plan as the backdrop, I highlight important aspects of the plan that are relevant to African nation states and consider how local climate change activists may breathe life into a public document that so far exists only on paper. I also took the liberty to invite Destiny Wagner, Miss. Earth (Belize 2021-22), to offer additional perspectives as an appointed ambassador for the environment, one of whose roles is to raise awareness of climate change and ecological issues in Belize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is causing rapid environmental deterioration in the Caribbean. Therefore, empowering citizens to become environmentally literate is crucial. This study examined environmental awareness (EA) and practice (EP) among a sample (n=207) of Belizean undergraduate students. An Environmental Knowledge Indicator (High = 18-20; Moderate = 14-17; Low = 10-13; Poor = 7-9; Very Poor= < 6) and an Environmentally Responsible Behaviour scale (High = 72-80; Moderate = 56-71; Low = 40-55; Poor = 26-39; Very Poor= < 25) were used to collect data. Results revealed low levels of environmental awareness (M=13.5), and poor environmentally responsible practice (M=33.4). There was no statistically significant relationship between EA and EP. Males had statistically higher EA scores (M =14.06) than females (M= 12.49), t (205) = 3.53, p =.001. They also had statistically higher EP scores (M=35.11) than females (M = 32.15), t (203) = 2.07, p<.05). Natural Science students had statistically higher EA scores (M = 13.93) than Social Science students (M= 12.41), t (205) = -3.51, p=.001. They also had statistically higher EP scores (M = 34.97) than Social Science students (M= 31.82), t (203) = -2.23, p<.05. These results may suggest inadequate exposure to Education for Sustainable Development models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of diversity and diversity education is becoming increasingly clear among businesses and in society. Colleges and universities are recognizing the necessity of expanding student outcomes to include intercultural competence to meet this requirement. Because of this increased importance, this study sought to examine the impact of a study abroad marketing course on students' intercultural competency. Students enrolled in an upper-level marketing course completed a nine-day study abroad trip in Belize, where they were able to interact with diverse cultures. They also completed the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as part of the class assessment at the beginning and end of the semester. To improve their IDI score, they received instruction, individual coaching, and completed individual assignments to increase their intercultural competency. Results show a significant positive increase in terms of developmental orientation toward other cultures at the end of the semester as compared to the beginning. These results provide insight and suggest best practices on how to increase intercultural competency in students in marketing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The former British colony of Belize faces serious economic problems today, reflecting a collapse in tourism following COVID-19. To account for this fragility, a return to economic history is needed. We focus on two critical periods. First, we examine why the Belizean state was unable to form a developmental state in the period of the anticolonial movement and self-government (the 1950s–1960s). Particular attention is given to George Price, leader of the anti-colonial People's United Party (PUP) and 'father of the country'. Second, turning to the post-colonial period, we examine one experimental chapter that lasted roughly a decade (1998–2007) when a coherent state-led economic strategy was pursued. During both periods the PUP-led state sought to reorganize development strategy along progressive lines, but failed to deliver. Because capital was almost completely foreign dominated, the fledgling Belizean developmental state could not discipline capital toward developmental alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new 1:25,000-scale geological map of the lower Belice River valley, the area struck by the M > 5.0 devastating 1968 seismic sequence, whose seismic source and seismotectonic framework are still controversial. The map, utilizing dating methods and traditional field survey approaches integrated by high-resolution topography, provides an unprecedented detail and precision on the spatial distribution and on the compressional growth geometries of the prominent sedimentary sequence. This map, supported by the first recognition of an on-shore Chibanian-Calabrian deposition and by identifying a flight of marine terraces, offers new insights on the long-lasting syn-depositional tectonic forces up to late-Pleistocene-Holocene times. Such tectonic forces may take part in the regional ongoing deformational phase, prompting detailed studies on the potential seismic sources affecting the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires are serious threats to Belize’s protected areas and ecosystems. In Belize the spatial variability of wildfire susceptibility and influencing factors at a national scale are poorly understood which hinders wildfire management interventions. Hence, in this research we conducted a joint application and performance comparison of AHP (Analytical Hierarchical Process), RF (Random Forest) and FAHP (Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process). The analysis revealed that RF (AUC = 83.1%) is the model with better predictive accuracy followed by FAHP (AUC = 71.2) and AHP (AUC = 66.8). The RF, AHP and FAHP models classified 22%, 32% and 37% of the country as having high and very high wildfire susceptibility, respectively. These susceptible areas are located mainly in lowland savanna and lowland broad-leaved moist forest; especially, in areas that are unprotected, the outer boundaries of protected areas and small and isolated protected areas. The main factors that are influencing wildfire susceptibility in Belize are distance to agriculture, landcover and temperature. The comparison of these methods provides a better understanding of the implementation and performance of knowledge-based methods (AHP and FAHP) in comparison with a well-established machine learning method (RF) in a country where local data availability, accessibility and reliability are an issue. Our study also provides new wildfire susceptibility information to Belize’s wildfire managers and demonstrates the need to improve wildfire management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transboundary conservation is a strategy developed by international conservation organizations to safeguard biodiversity along and across borders and to enhance peace-building among nation-states and border communities. Currently, there are over 200 transboundary conservation cases worldwide, suggesting that the strategy is a significant yet under-researched area in International Relations. Based on empirical research and mapping, this article examines the relationship between transboundary conservation and international relations in the case of the Maya Forest, which refers to the tropical rainforest borderlands between Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. By analyzing transboundary conservation and its international relations, the article reveals how the strategy reinforces nature states. As a strategic complex composed of heritage sites and biosphere reserves, the Maya Forest is constructed as a shared biocultural landscape. However, national borders are simultaneously fostered by internationally adjoining protected areas to maintain the status quo. In conclusion, this strategy assists in building complex and subtle environmental international relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding predator–prey relationships is critical in ecology, but relatively challenging when investigating elusive marine megafauna. In this study, we document the presence of shark-inflicted injuries on coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mesoamerican Reef System using photo-identification methods. We analyzed data from a total of 533 photo-identified bottlenose dolphins in Mexico (Ascención Bay, Espíritu Santo Bay, and Chetumal Bay), Belize (Turneffe Atoll, Drowned Cayes, Barrier Reef, and Placencia), and Honduras (Utila). We identified 16 individuals with shark-inflicted injury scars consistent with attacks by large sharks of the Family Carcharhinidae. Additionally, two bottlenose dolphins were encountered with round-shaped crater wounds, likely inflicted by a cookiecutter shark (Isistius spp.). The prevalence of shark-inflicted wounds in bottlenose dolphins varied markedly between sites, with the highest prevalence in Placencia and Ascención Bay (Mexico), and lowest in Turneffe Atoll and Drowned Cayes (Belize). Further research is required to evaluate how predation risk shapes the ecology of bottlenose dolphins in the Mesoamerican Reef region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like indigenous peoples across the hemisphere, the Maya of southern Belize have long struggled to decolonize their ancestral lands. For over four decades, the 'Maya movement' has clashed with the state, yielding mixed results. After a series of favorable court decisions, the Maya communities have won legal claim to their lands. However, the government of Belize has not substantively addressed this decision, and the rural Maya communities of Toledo remain the poorest in the country. This paper analyses one exceptional period, 1997–2004, when the Maya movement aligned itself with progressive state leaders to advance a set of goals, including but not limited to land rights. I argue that a combination of factors made the 1997–2004 conjuncture decisive for shaping present conditions in Toledo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Q'eqchi' women's health is the product of inherent, acquired, and induced vulnerabilities that inform an idiom of "weakness" characteristic of women compared to men, reflecting both biological difference and gender-specific demands placed upon them within the context of village life. While women are understood to be uniquely vulnerable to sickness – their "weakness" – they demonstrate great strength and vigor to perform culturally prescribed roles, such as "backing" heavy loads. A framework grounded in Indigenous culture and ideology interprets Q'eqchi' understandings of women's health and broader position within society, arguing the need to take seriously Indigenous explanatory frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Selva Maya represents the largest expanse of tropical forest in Mesoamerica, encompassing parts of Belize, northern Guatemala, and south-eastern Mexico. Patterns and processes of forest loss in Belize are less comprehensively studied than other regions in the Selva Maya. Hence, this research tracks twenty years of forest loss in relation to Protected Areas (PAs) and transborder activity in the country. Results show that since 2000, Belize lost 11% of its forest cover. In that same period, 39.7% of this loss has seen forest recovery, predominantly in southern portion of the country, and within PAs. Ongoing forest loss in the north has expanded towards central and southern Belize. Forest loss in PAs account for 14.3% of overall loss nationwide, with fires and agricultural expansion playing a prominent role in the encroachment on forestland. A better understanding of forest loss in Belize reinforces distinctions between forest loss in the north and the south of the country and demonstrates the need for enhanced forest protection. This research provides new information to conservation planners to better understand the dynamics and drivers of forest loss and regrowth in the Selva Maya region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, scholars have studied the complex social and economic transformations of Belizean Maya livelihoods resulting from the historical legacies of British and Spanish colonization and the consolidation of capitalist social relations. However, little research has considered how the pathways through which indigenous Maya households procure food are being transformed. This paper examines changes in indigenous livelihoods over time, drawing upon results of household food surveys in Aguacate, Belize, from 1979 and 2019, and interviews with villagers about changes in the food system. We hypothesized that the principal changes would be an increased consumption of purchased food, a decrease in the percentage of maize in the diet, an increase in the consumption of meat, and an increase in food produced in agricultural monocultures (or outside of the milpa). Fieldwork supported these hypotheses. We found a decrease in the frequency of the household daily consumption of corn, and an increase in the frequency of daily wheat flour, rice, and chicken consumption. Interviewees tended to emphasize the last of these changes, blaming the growing consumption of store-bought chicken for perceived negative changes in village health. Several community members tied these changes to other broader transformations of the political economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition indicators suggest that Belize faces broad food challenges; however, there are little data on factors influencing perceived food access. This study, based in the Cayo District, Belize, explores socio-demographic factors related to perceived food access. Individuals (n = 299) completed a 32-item survey based on the FIES-SM and USDA Food Security Module Survey, with five items included to measure perceived food access. Results show that education level and number of children in a household are significant predictors of perceived difficulty accessing food. Implications and suggestions for future research related to the four dimensions of food security are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggressive, violent, and disruptive behaviour among Belize youth is disproportionately high. The present study evaluated a school-based positive youth development program (Positive Action) using a clustered RCT. The aim of the study sought to examine post-treatment positive youth development competencies (i.e. social-emotional character development, peer affiliation, substance abuse and violence tendencies, moral beliefs, pro-social behaviour, and school self-esteem) in comparison to students in a randomly assigned control group of schools. Participants (n = 4575) were from 24 schools drawn at random in the Belize District with outcomes assessed for two cohorts (Standard 1−3, and Standard 4−6) of children. The intervention addressed different ecologies through teacher, counsellor, and family training along with activities to promote school-wide implementation. Positive main effects for engagement in positive behaviour were observed across primary school Standards 1−6 (ages 7–12 years), indicated by substantial explained slope and intercept variance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a series of letters the authors exchanged while conducting ethnographic research in Belize and Ghana. The letters reveal an affinity between feminist ethnographic praxis and a politically attuned epistemology of the senses, what the authors call a sensory feminist orientation to scholarship. Expanding on criticism of the way sensory hierarchies inform Western knowledge-building, the authors reevaluate their own epistolary exchange as a methodological provocation. As stories, the letters detail what the authors orient themselves toward in the field, as well as embodied moments of disorientation: danger, violence and estrangement. Untidy and raw, they offer readers an opportunity to "listen to sense" and, in the process, consider the consequences when ethnographers are encouraged to excise certain field encounters from scholarship. The article includes paintings that Beth Uzwiak created while in the field as a component of the authors' sensory experiment in epistolary ethnography. Their focus on the affective registers of storytelling contributes to broader efforts to disrupt the androcentric tendencies of ethnographic voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the obstacles that Gibraltar's current status entails for the territory's future. It could prevent Gibraltarians from achieving the full development of their identity or satisfactory representation of their interests vis-à-vis third parties. The four main obstacles are: the continued conflict between Spain, the United Kingdom (UK) and Gibraltar; Europe's relationship with Gibraltar after Brexit; the UK's and Gibraltar's international reputations; and Gibraltar's relationship with the UK. This paper argues that the Commonwealth can play a significant role in providing a secure future for Gibraltar. One option is for Gibraltar to become a Free Associated State (FAS) of the UK, in the form of a UK realm within the Commonwealth. Useful precedents would be the Cook Islands and Niue, two FASs under New Zealand. The second option is to become a sovereign state in the form of a UK realm within the Commonwealth. A useful precedent could be Belize. Both status options would assure Gibraltar international security by a double linkage – as a British realm and as a Commonwealth member – through the Queen as guarantor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service-learning and interprofessional education are forms of experiential learning that instill confidence in students. This pilot study used a post-service learning survey to explore the benefits of interprofessional education in a service-learning experience with students. Findings indicated that this service-learning experience contributed to the development of cultural awareness, and professional skills, as well as increased team attitudes and perceptions related to the respective roles of occupational and physical therapy students. The following report describes students' perspectives and satisfaction concerning professional development, interprofessional education, and cultural awareness utilizing quantitative and qualitative descriptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article was to propose a model of transformative learning for short-term study abroad programs. The proposed study abroad program has been developed and implemented by faculty for the past 5 years on study abroad programs to Belize and includes high-impact practices, cultural integration, and experiential reflection for students. This article provides application for other human services' professionals and students for promoting transformative learning through study abroad education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several methods have been proposed for using satellite imagery to model poverty. These include poverty mapping using convolutional neural networks applied either directly or using transfer learning to high resolution satellite images, or combinations of methods that combine satellite imagery with standard methods. However, these methods require proprietary imagery which, given their cost and infrequent acquisition, may render these advances impractical for most applications. The authors investigate how satellite-derived poverty maps may improve when incorporating features derived from Sentinel-2 and MODIS imagery, which are both open-source and freely and readily available. The authors estimate a poverty map for Belize which incorporates spatial and time series features derived from these sensors, with and without survey derived variables. They document an 8% percent improvement in model performance when including these satellite features and conclude by arguing that Open Data for Development should include open data pipelines where possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though violence in schools is a highly topical issue, very few studies have examined the issue in early years classrooms in the Caribbean. Using Jamaica and Belize as case studies, four teachers were interviewed to ascertain how they respond to children from harsh ecological environments in which they teach. Using thematic analysis, the findings suggest teachers' limited knowledge in helping children. Teachers acknowledge fears for themselves and students. They also depend on intuitive knowledge from their years in the school system to help children. The findings also support the need for ongoing professional development for which will enable them to better meet the needs of young children. The implications of the findings on early childhood teacher education are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) and hybrid crocodiles (C. moreletii × acutus) are mound-nesting crocodilians found in the lowlands of northern and southern Belize, respectively. Nests of both crocodilians consist of large mounds of soil, vegetation, leaf litter, and in some cases sand. We here report on the fauna associated with nest mounds of C. moreletii and C. moreletii × acutus, and describe the associations between crocodiles and commensal fauna. Our data were collected during various ecological studies conducted from 1992 through 2000, and we examined 138 active (containing eggs) nests of C. moreletii and 11 active nests of C. moreletii × acutus. We noted the occurrence of at least 14 species of fauna associated with 45 (32.6%) C. moreletii and three (27.2%) C. moreletii × acutus nests. Nest-associated fauna included ants, bees, termites, turtles, squamates, birds, and mammals. Associations included five species dwelling within crocodile nest mounds, four species that deposited eggs in crocodile nest mounds, and five species nesting in close proximity to crocodile nests. Nest-associated fauna presumably benefit from the protection afforded by nest attendance and aggressive defence behaviour of female crocodiles, although these benefits have yet to be empirically established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the se' komonil concept of living in respectful togetherness and reciprocal dignity and human-environment interdependence and sahil ch'oolej concept of holistic joy, mutual flourishing and shared upliftment for the Maya of Southern Belize amid efforts to safeguard and renew Indigenous ways of knowing, living and being. Topics discussed include the land rights movement of the Maya, threats to the culture of the group, and the meaning of joy for Maya youth.

This paper sets out to better understand the role of ethnic boundary dynamics in immigrant entrepreneurship, in particular in terms of intersections at the boundaries between 'ethnic' and 'mainstream' economies, internal differentiation within ethnic community boundaries, and the socially constructed nature of ethnic boundaries more broadly. To better account for these dynamics, we develop a Barthian perspective on immigrant entrepreneurship, building on and integrating Fredrik Barth's work on entrepreneurship, ethnic boundaries, and spheres of value. A Barthian perspective shifts the analytic focus from the ethnic group to entrepreneurial activities and, by implication, to the ethnic boundary dynamics that these activities generate. We draw on ethnographic research conducted among immigrant Mennonite entrepreneurs in Belize, and identify three boundary dynamics among the Mennonites: bridging the boundary between Mennonite ethnicity and the wider Belizean society, stretching the boundaries of individual Mennonite communities, and allying across the boundaries between Mennonite communities. In developing a Barthian perspective, the contribution of our paper lies in developing a comprehensive framework for understanding the role of ethnic boundary dynamics in immigrant entrepreneurship, thereby also responding to calls for more micro-processual approaches to understanding the 'mixed embeddedness' of immigrant entrepreneurs in their ethnic community and the wider society contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to use Photovoice to examine meaningful experiences and learning for Education and Health and Community Wellness students (n = 9) on the short-term study abroad trip to Belize. The study used Photovoice and journal reflections as a way to learn about the perceptions of the participants and gain deeper understanding of their experiences while on a short-term study abroad trip. Seven main themes emerged from the photographs chosen by participants and corresponding reflections: (1) teaching; (2) gratitude; (3) poverty; (4) community; (5) education; (6) cultural pride; and (7) environment. Conclusions: The results are consistent with previous Photovoice research and quantitative research with short- and long-term study abroad trips. Overall, this study provides insight into perceptions of learning experiences from the perspective of rural, undergraduate college students studying abroad in a novel country and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavations in northeastern Belize have generated one of the more detailed regional databases of Middle Preclassic (1000–350 b.c.) settlement in the Maya Lowlands, providing the basis for developmental models of later Maya civilization. Modest Classic period architecture permitted extensive exposures of early occupations at several sites, but contemporaneous settlements at large, later centers remain poorly understood, despite the insights they may offer into emergent social complexity and political hierarchy. We review extant and unpublished data from Lamanai and Altun Ha, two large centers in northeastern Belize during Classic times, to compare aspects of Middle Preclassic settlement, architecture, and burial practices and to evaluate how this evidence relates to existing models of early Maya community development. Comparisons between these sites and among other Middle Preclassic settlements beyond northeastern Belize suggest a more nuanced approach to understanding developing social complexity in the Maya Lowlands, which acknowledges regional similarities and variability, is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how Caribbean small-scale fishers can adapt to climate change is critical to sustaining coastal communities and livelihoods in the region. Fishers continuously adapt their practices to climate variability and recurring extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. However, it remains unclear how their "everyday" responses contribute to building their adaptive capacity for future changes and unpredictable extreme climate events. This paper identifies and analyzes strategies used by fishers in the Dominican Republic and Belize to deal with extreme weather events and climate variability. We draw on two separate case studies to identify their current autonomous adaptive strategies and explore how these align with broader dimensions of adaptive capacity. We find that fishers in both countries respond to changes and climate variability by relying on three strategies: (1) storing, saving and borrowing resources, (2) using experiential knowledge, flexibility and mobility, and (3) diversifying livelihoods and intensifying fishing. We show that fishers build their adaptive capacity on flexibility to sustain their livelihoods and on local knowledge to mitigate risk and damage from extreme weather events. The paper argues that the adaptive responses used by fishers in the Dominican Republic and in Belize can sustain their livelihoods but cannot enable a long term and transformative adaptation to ongoing and cumulative climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cirolana westbyi n. sp., a novel species in the 'Cirolana parva-group' is described from the Turneffe Atoll, Belize using an integrated molecular and morphological approach. The 18S ribosomal RNA gene for C. westbyi n. sp. and also for Cirolana parva Hansen, 1890 are provided, in addition to new primers, developed for the Cirolanidae 18S gene. The key morphological character for separating C. westbyi n. sp. from other Cirolana is the shape of the uropodal rami: the uropodal endopod is convex on the lateral side while the mesial side is straight. Comparison of the 18S gene shows that C. parva is 95.96% identical to C. westbyi n. sp. across 68% coverage, but due to two unique insertions ('INS-1' and 'INS-2') into the 18S gene of C westbyi n. sp., which may function as loop regions, they appear to be genetically distinct and different species. This is also supported by phylogenetic analysis, which also highlights some potential paraphyly between the three families, Cirolanidae, Aegidae and Corallanidae. Our morphological description of a new species of cirolanid along with a phylogenetic support using 18S sequence data for species within and around the Cirolanidae, provides greater context for the 'Cirolana parva-group'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines a case study of creating a system of quality assurance in Belize while also building the capacity of teaching staff in order to support the process of establishing quality standards in tertiary education. This case study outlines the process of establishing the first quality assurance system in the nation's history as well as the instruction, mentoring and coaching provided to support capacity building as the implementation of standards were rolled out. The culmination of the initial two years of the pilot resulted in the first external review of an institution in the nation's history. Challenges and limitations of the programme are addressed as well as the successes each institution experienced in the initial two years of implementation. The pilot programme has yielded great interest in data collection and analysis as well as professional development to facilitate a culture shift from oral interpretation to data-driven decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most scholars working on resistance and decolonisation in Latin America and the Caribbean are familiar with the Zapatistas, far fewer have afforded committed attention to the parallel Maya land rights struggle and autonomous social movement in the region. Notably, a movement that is currently advancing in both Central America and the Caribbean, namely, Belize—a former colony of the British Crown. Accordingly, this piece offers a summary of the struggle of the Qʼeqchiʼ and Mopan Maya communities of Toledo District, Southern Belize. More specifically, it introduces readers to the Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA)—an ever-evolving grassroots coalition of Maya organisations, land defenders, and human rights activists that comprise the movement. We start by illustrating the current context of heightened tension that exists between the Maya and the state, and then share an overview of the movement's political aims and programme of activities in the face of the historical, structural, and ongoing colonial forces the Maya are up against. Ultimately, this profile will demonstrate how Maya communities in Belize are practising 'non-metaphorical decolonisation' and engendering 'Indigenous resurgence' whilst mobilising for land, dignity, and a peaceful future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consolidation of archaeology as a scientific discipline reinforced the power of the nation-state as archaeologists produced material and intellectual data that was used to bolster state identities at the expense of the history and heritage of Indigenous peoples. Accordingly, there are inherent structural inequalities within the discipline that favour researchers from Western nation-states in knowledge creation about the past. In this paper I explore the political implications of advocating for an equitable archaeological practice in Belize, Central America. Though archaeological research has incorporated grassroots engagement and community-based approaches, there is a gap in the discussion about negotiations with government officials. Among the issues surrounding grassroots advocacy is walking a 'middle ground' between negotiating with government officials for excavation permits and working closely with disenfranchised communities. Building relationships between registers of power supports the practice of a socially just archaeology abroad and could mitigate the structural inequalities inherent in our discipline. I illustrate this 'middle ground' with the Aguacate Community Archaeology Project, which I conducted in collaboration with Aguacate village, Toledo district, from 2012 to 2015. I explore the role of the archaeologist as an advocate for local communities' control over knowledge produced on their community land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing scientific literature on the risks linked to the loss of coral, the article highlights the importance of protecting coral reefs from a legal perspective, implementing international environmental law instruments. This study analyses the provisions of the relevant international environmental treaties to highlight the obligations addressed to national governments, in order to ensure the protection of coral reefs and the preservation of the marine ecosystem. For this purpose, the article includes a case study of the successful experience of the Belizean national legislation, supported by a model of shared governance, to promote the conservation of the marine biodiversity and its sustainable use for healthy and protected oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical consideration when remotely sensing forest structure is how data resolution impacts signal interpretation. Grain size and spacing between signals affect the discrimination and convolution of canopy components whose spatial distribution results from micro- to macro-scale ecological processes. Remote sensing provides methods to assess scaling patterns of canopy measurements which are expected to vary with tree architecture and the physical environment. For the complex, broad-leaved moist forests of western Belize, standard canopy metrics, i.e. mean height, maximum height, rugosity, vertical diversity, and openness, obtained from airborne laser scanning were highly correlated at scales between 10 m and 100 m and autocorrelation patterns were similar for grain sizes from 10 m to 250 m across a range of lag distances to >1000 m. However, scaling behaviours were metric dependent. Values for mean height and canopy openness were stable, maximum height and rugosity increased, and vertical diversity exhibited a concave, parabolic response as grain size coarsened from 10 m to 1000 m. Because the differences may have implications for ecosystem classification and biophysical modelling, researchers need to quantify these patterns for different forested systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores possibilities for recognizing and analytically using culturally-specific understandings of artefacts and spaces at an ancient Maya archaeological site. In the case study that we present, we use Classic Maya material categories – derived from hieroglyphic texts – to re-envision our representations of artefactual distributions and accompanying interpretations. We take inspiration from countermapping as an approach that recognizes the positionality of spatial representations and makes space for multiple/alternative spatial perspectives. We present spatial analyses based on our work at the Classic Maya archaeological site of Say Kah, Belize, juxtaposing modern modes of visualizing the results of multiple seasons of excavations with visualizations that instead draw upon reconstructed elements of ancient inhabitants' perspectives on the site, its spaces, and usages (based on information drawn from Classic Maya textual 'property qualifiers'). We argue that even incomplete information, such as that available for archaeological contexts, allows us to reimagine past spatial perspectives and experiences. Furthermore, doing so represents a move towards inclusion that changes our understanding of sites in terms of ancient experience and usage. The outcome is a shifted perspective on the spaces of the site that decentres the modern, archaeological vision, accompanied by a more reflexive awareness of the processes we use to construct our interpretations. We end with larger reflections useful for archaeologists curious about translating these ideas to other cultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faecal isotopic analysis may complement other non-invasive wildlife survey tools for monitoring landscape use by carnivores, such as motion-detecting cameras and non-invasive genetic sampling. We analysed carbon, nitrogen, and strontium isotopes in faecal matter produced by jaguars (Panthera onca) as well as bones from consumed prey at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (MPR) in Belize, Central America. The MPR is ideally suited for a spatial isotope study as vegetation and geology both vary considerably. The isotopic composition of faecal matter should reflect the habitat and geology where consumed prey lived. We used bone from consumed prey recovered from jaguar scats as a proxy for diet. Faecal matter and bone showed comparable spatial isotopic trends, suggesting that the isotopic composition of jaguar faeces can be used to detect foraging in different habitats (pine forest versus broadleaf forest) or on different geologies (Mesozoic carbonates; Palaeozoic granite, contact metamorphics, and metasediments). This result is reassuring as bones are not always present in carnivore scats. Studying landscape use by cryptic and wide-ranging carnivore species like jaguars remains challenging. Isotopic analysis of faecal matter complements the existing array of non-invasive spatial monitoring tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents technological and iconographic analyses of a Late Classic (a.d. 600–830) lithics cache recovered from the ancient Maya site of Blue Creek, Belize. The cache consisted of 21 obsidian prismatic blades and a number of chert artifacts, including 21 stemmed bifaces, a large laurel leaf biface, and a tridentate eccentric. The technological analysis of the stemmed bifaces identified three distinct stem production techniques that may be attributable to a combination of idiosyncratic knapping gestures and laterality, or handedness. A survey of Maya iconography demonstrated that large laurel-leaf bifaces and tridentate eccentrics occur in scenes depicting sacrifice and the burning of human remains, often by ritual specialists titled ch'ajoom, or "person of incense." It is suggested that the presence of a large laurel-leaf biface and tridentate eccentric in the cache may indicate that Blue Creek was the residence of ch'ajoom at some point during the Late Classic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to incorporate local stakeholder attitudes and values into management plans to ensure their longevity and success. Belize represents an important case study because of its identification of key biodiversity areas and commitment to sustainably manage these areas through co-management strategies. This article examined farmers' attitudes towards wildlife and wildlife value orientations in the Vaca Forest Reserve, Belize. Our target population only included farmers in the reserve, as one purpose was to determine if farmer attitudes were conducive to serving as partners in wildlife conservation efforts in the reserve. Farmers had positive attitudes towards native wildlife and primarily expressed mutualist or pluralist wildlife value orientations, suggesting that they will be more likely to support future wildlife conservation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes has become a leading cause of death in Belize, making this Central American country emblematic of challenges amplified by a growing global diabetes epidemic. The struggles people face as they seek care for chronic conditions like diabetes (and its complications such as kidney failure) are bringing citizens and institutions alike to revisit longstanding norms about the terms through which healthcare is accessed. Ethnographically tracing Belize's first patient-driven healthcare protests and activism – an ad hoc movement for public dialysis that began over a decade ago – this paper examines patients' and caregivers' struggles to probe and shape a legacy of social justice health activism, drawing on perspectives from an often-overlooked part of Central America where basic healthcare access has not historically been framed as a right of citizens. It considers these dilemmas in relation to much larger chronic struggles 'to maintain' and repair bodies, medical technologies, and health systems in the aftermath of colonial legacies – with special attention to the challenges posed for small countries now facing rising issues of diabetes injuries and chronic complications – and the role of civic media and citizen activism in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]