Today a new fire observation tower was inaugurated at the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area. This management area is known as the largest private protected area and the best managed in Belize. That status is being maintained with the construction of a new fire observation tower at the management area. While its main purpose is to allow rangers to more effectively detect and control fires in the area –the Executive Director of Program for Belize says it's serves as more than just a fire watch tower. We traveled to the management area today to find out more.

Courtney Weatherburne Reporting…

This single column 40 foot cement structure was erected in 1990 and served as the fire tower at the East Gate post of the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management area.

But it has over served its purpose and now it has been replaced with a larger, sturdier more modern fire observation tower. The new stainless steel tower has a 20 foot wide base and stands 60 feet high.

This folding stick chair - mouldy and old – rests at the top of the tower overlooking the wide-open landscape of lush shrubs and pine Savannah. It's a breath taking view in the somber light of an overcast morning

But for the rangers who maintain this green terrain – it's more than just a scenic view.

Edilberto Romero - Executive Director, Program for Belize

"From 6 o'clock in the morning they come here, they look at the yellow headed parrot nests. They do their patrols in the pine savannah at our borders, check any signs of people entering or hunting or illegal logging - any illegal activities. The ones that are here take a look on the fire tower at least 2 time for the day. In the evening it it's during the dry season they also check for yellow headed parrots or we just patrol hot spots of illegal logging. They also control the access and the gates at night - if there is any signs because I have to be monitoring that. They do night patrols, sometimes we do area patrols at times. If there's anything going on during the night that needs our presence they are always there. Rangers live here in the property for 2 weeks then they take a little break and then they come back again - so we always have rangers presence here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

It's quite an extensive management plan but a necessary one and the fire tower will enhance the effectiveness of on site operations.

Edilberto Romero - Executive Director, Program for Belize

"We can have a good look of all the pine savannahs in this area and further in the broad leaves forests, all the way up to hill bank field station. Or we can just have a good bird's eye view of what's going on and any fires in the area can easily be detected - and then the rangers can respond to it. If it's a fire that's big enough then we call in our fire crew which involves rangers, our forestry crew and of course the management staff. To the east of the tower, which is the direction of the rod coming in here, you could see low land broad leaves forests which is where our property starts. To the south we see more low land broad leaves forests and it's basically like the foot of the Rio Bravo going all the way to labouring creek - which is a-tributary to the Belize river. Then west ward is basically the pine savannah which we have here - we call it Rancho Dolores pine savannah. It's one of the best kept and best managed pine savannah in Belize. Coastal savannahs we are talking about which is a great habit for yellow headed parrots."

The yellow headed parrots are just one of the many bird species protected in the management area. There are also about 150 species of mammals that are under constant threat by poachers.

So it's more than just a fire watch, it's an enhancement of the protection plan for these species and the entire area.

Vladimir Rodriguez - Manager, Hill Bank Field Station

"Well the Rio Bravo is a private protected area. It has existed for the past 26 years and it's one of the best protected areas we have in Belize. Within it we practice conservation, we protect over 300 species of birds. At least 150 species of mammals. There's lots of wildlife to see at the Rio Bravo."

Edilberto Romero -Executive Director, Program for Belize

"The fire observation tower will basically help us to detect fires. It's basic function is that - so our rangers during the dry season would climb up the tower 2 to 3 times during the day to observe; minimum of 2 times. To observe signs of smoke or fires and once it's detected then that is communicated down to the rangers and the rangers would - if it looks as a threat to Rio Bravo, or inside the property they would go take a look at it and assess the situation. If it's a fire that needs more work to control it and suppress it then the forestry crew comes in. So basically it helps us detect, control and suppress fires. But beyond that, it's also helping us to control poaching and hunting of wildlife, especially at night. The hunting that goes on at night will this new fire observation tower we can detect people coming in with their flash lights.

Apart from the new Fire Tower, a 5 year management plan has been devised outlining the financial sustainability and other key factors that can contribute to the enhanced protection of the area. The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management area spans about 250,000 acres and is managed by 10 site rangers. The Program for Belize received a grant from PACT for the fire tower.