Ecovillage Preserve

We think it is time to create an EcoVillage around the protection of the Howler Monkeys, in protective homesteads, of 49 acres each all around a One Thousand acre Core Preserve, for the protection of the Howler Monkeys in a whole new way which is as a part of an EcoVillage settlement project for homesteaders who want to put their time and energies into the fine country of Belize.

In this way, we will be saving as much land as possible, within the larger preserve area, because that is going to make a huge difference, for the howlers, and some of the other wildlife in the area, who will be better protected, because we will be out there, to protect them, from poachers, and squatters, and jaguars, and illegal logging, or other destructive activities, which could threaten the howlers, and these things are taking place all over the world, even in protected world wildlife and forest preserves.

Protective Homesteads is a whole new concept of protecting endangered species, like the Howlers, within the confines of a Sustainable EcoVillage Community settlement.

Towards that end, we will each need at least 20 Hectares a piece,  to homestead on, and for a road to be built up alongside Indian Creek, and up and over to the larger preserve, so that we may do the rest, and so that we can begin to lay out about as many full sized Homesteads as we can fit, all in a circle around the One thousand acre Core Preserve. That road could start halfway in between the points, where Indian Creek and Warrie Creek, cross under the main highway, which is called the Southern Highway.

More Latitude

Each Homestead will need to be a deep 49.42 acres, or 20 Hectares, of wildly forested, and almost completely untouched mountain lands, on rugged terrain.

The latitude of the Core Preserve is about 16 degrees and 29 minutes, and the longitude is about 88 degrees and 56 minutes, and so people can look that up on Google Earth, which is highly recommended and I think it is a free download.

The elevation probably averages about 1300 feet above sea level. This is remote land which has probably been reserved for something that really is important, and we do think this could be one of the best ways, to further redefining what the future of this part of Belize might look like, which should be much more ecological, and economically self sufficient.

Each homestead will actually be about 656 feet wide, at the center point, and 3,280 feet deep, and there will eventually be over 50 homesteads, and it may take us some time to fill them all up.

The Larger Preserve Area

We are creating a place for the concept, of a Larger Proposed Howler Monkey Preserve Area, which does extend a protective boundary around the entire 4,000 Hectares, as shown on the maps, that will contain the Ecovillage, and frame the Watershed, in focus as an integrated whole, that needs to be identified before it can be protected, and we have now done that.

The larger preserve area, extends all around the Homesteads and the Core Preserve, and that includes the homestead and the Core Preserve within it, which will be exactly 7.7 kilometers long, and 5.2 kilometers wide, which is the equivalent of about 4.75 miles long by 3.25 miles wide.

That will contain just about exactly 9,884 acres within the larger preserve, which is over 15 square miles. That is very easily to be defined as starting at a high point, that is marked on the topographical map, as point number 663, which is a magical number for us, and which is a lookout point, that is down on the maps as being 663 meters high, that boldly stands guard, on the southern most point, of the larger preserve area.

From 663 we just follow the basic 30 degree, and 60 degree lines exactly, from true north, and south, and east, and west, to get the general parameters, of the larger protected Howler Preserve area, as proposed, and as shown on the maps.

The Core Preserve

The main road is to be built by the Belize Government, at their own expense, to support our work.

We will be building the rest of the road, that could be called the old mountain road, from the edge of the larger preserve, and almost all the way around the Core Preserve, but only crossing the river once, so that each Homestead will have access to all of their Homesteads, which will all be facing right across the road, and down into the Core Preserve, to make a clear distinction, so we all know, where the core preserve begins.

We will then be able to promote the idea, of saving the Howlers, and bring people up to the Howler Preserve, to see the EcoVillage, by creating nature appreciation events, and wildlife habitat preservation, and watershed restoration activities, and the country of Belize, will probably benefit from all this positive human activity, that will be a self generating, and economically viable project, that would be a welcome addition, to the Belize Economy.

Most of those 50 - 70 Homesteads, will be shaped like wedges that, will probably be more like only 300 feet wide, along the inside part of the tightest part of the curve, along the outside of the road, which does vary in curvature, so that is what the spacing will be like, at its tightest.

Our nearest neighbors, will be at least about 300 feet away, in either direction, and our presence will be ecologically restorative, with the emphasis on natural building, and on site energy independence, that comes straight down to us from the Sun almost every day.

World Service

This way we may be able to be of some real service, to the country of Belize and to the Earth, by creating the first real demonstration in Belize, of a truly Sustainable way of life, in EcoVillage Community, that doesn't have to cost that much, to the country of Belize, because we will be doing most of it, with our own financial resources, coming mostly from the USA, and Canada, and some of the other more highly developed economies around the world.

Our presence in Belize will stimulate positive change, within the local community, as we are service oriented folks, who want to help people learn, how to live in Belize, and a whole lot of other places, all around the world, on locally available resources, like solar energy, in a way which minimizes our environmental impact, and our carbon footprints.

We will be showing the way, towards a whole new kind of Self Sustainable Future, that all the people in Belize, and a whole lot of other places, could learn from, as neighbors who we can only hope to include, as part of our larger resource base, of mutual friendship and support.

And then the dream could spread, throughout Central America, and around the world, and a whole network of these new EcoVillage communities, could be created out of all these new sustainable communities, that will be springing up all around the world, as a result of our efforts to start the ball rolling and to show the people how it can be done.

We like to try to ask the people to begin to start seeing life and energy, and food and water, and community and society, all in terms of flows, from now on, that need to be protected, and kept alive, instead of as things, which need to be bought, and kept away from others.

To Go with the Flow

A Gallon of Water in a jug is a thing, and that can be squandered, and wasted and contaminated. A River is a flow, and that needs to be protected, and all life is a part of an ongoing flow, that is to be protected and handed on down to the next generations intact, as a living and breathing process that is healthy and alive, and not at all stressed.

We will become a living demonstration, on the uses of renewable on-site energy flows, of energy and food and water flows, and low impact ecological lifestyle flows, and natural housing, and integrated EcoVillage design flows, and with a great deal of care, we will always work together, with the Belize Government, and local agencies, towards always minimizing, our Eco-Logical Footprints.

We might even like to think that in this small way, and by sending out beautiful ripples of positive vision flows of a possible future, for the howlers and for the people of Belize, that we might even be of some service, to the good people, in the local community, of energy and resources, shared and renewed, and it is the flow of life, that always needs to be protected, and restored, as an integral part of the natural world, and not as a separate thing.

Economic Re-Localization

We ask for your permission and support. We think that Belize might be interested in this kind of Economic Re-Localization, and related efforts towards a self sufficient economy, that will allow Belize to retain its natural resources, by bringing ecologically progressive people, in to Belize from all around the world.

This might be the best way, to further the ecological development of Belize, and the protection of its resources, and we plan to help the country of Belize to do just that, which we suggest might be more easily done, for them, by using existing plans like our own, that will cost them very little.

This will give constructively minded and creative people, the opportunities that they need, to be able to go right to work, at their own risk, and who want to create something beautiful, with their own resources, and with their own money, and their own hard work, and within the most highly honored nation of Belize.

This is an area where you have deep layers of limestone, that are full of caves, and sink holes, and underground waterways, where whole entire creeks, like snake creek, which drains a huge watershed, disappears right into the ground, and then takes an underground passage, all the way to the sea.

Wild Mountains

Just getting through the Maya Mountains, without a compass, on a cloudy day, could be a very problematic undertaking, due to the extremely complex nature of the landscape, and you could easily get lost, in these constantly changing land forms, which are just constantly twisting and turning in every direction, in a magical way, with sinks and caves and disappearing creeks, and obstacles at every turn, to the point where you might never find your way out again, which is what makes this a very unusual project.

The road we are asking for, should go right up to the edge of the preserve, and it is fairly straight forward, considering the terrain, and it is all very well laid out, and is a likely addition to Belize, because of obvious topological reasons, that this is the perfect place for the road, that will help to provide some road access up to a plateau of sorts that passes near Palmer Camp and Central.

Educational Purposes

That road will help many others, who may have their own contributions to make, towards the ecological integrity of Belize, and the economic sustainability of Belize, like folks who may wish to take people up into this uniquely formed area, for educational purposes.

There is much to be studied here, including the possibility of discovering many previous unknown sites with Maya ruins, which we intend to show the highest respect for, and nothing is to be touched by any person, and all is to be reported to the community who will report back to the Belize Government.

The Howler Monkeys

The Belize Government, probably does not stand to lose anything, no matter what happens, because this very well positioned road, will be a very useful road, and this will make a very useful addition, for the nation of Belize, to have some access of their own, as they will own that road, and they will still have that, even if the eco-village were to fail, which must have occurred to a few people, because this is a very big undertaking, but we don't mind taking the risk.

This well chosen road, would probably be needed anyway, because this will allow them, to use this road, for their own purposes, and to be able to exert some protective control, over this vast area, that is a very resilient area, that might otherwise be used for illegal logging, and wildlife poaching, and illegal slash and burn type clearings, and wrongful settlements.

We have seen what the lack of ecological guidelines have done, in so many other under developed parts of the world, where you have the same situation, that no one can get in, to effectively stop the poaching of wild animals, like the Howler Monkeys, who could be threatened, and a host of others, the Forests, by those who may be living outside the law, and may feel they may have a right  to live off the land, which could threaten the wildlife, and the natural resources of the area.

The Larger Ecoregion

We would like to think that we can offer, an effective alternative to this chaotic and lawless scenario. By putting progressive people in there, who want to show the world, how we can all live sustainably, and by setting up an Eco Village, around a Howler Monkey Preserve.