Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve
"Located in the foothills of the Maya Mountains about eighteen kilometers (11miles) southeast of Belize’s capital, Belmopan, TMNR has an area of 6750 acres. Its hilly karst topography is covered with subtropical moist forest, largely intact. The reserve also contains cave systems, sinkholes and Maya Ruins.

Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve serves both to conserve biodiversity and to provide a wide variety of research and educational opportunities. The first biological research to collect baseline data on flora and fauna was conducted by Bruce and Carolyn Miller and Jan Meerman and Tineke Boomsma. This Nature Reserve is NOT open to the public.

Tapir Mountain Reserve History
TMNR, Formally known as Society Hall Nature Reserve, was donated to the Government of Belize in 1975, then leased back to its former owners, Svea and Thomas Dietrich who managed TMNR on behalf of the government of Belize. Svea Ditrich-Ward devoted much of her own time and money in a virtual single handed effort to keep TMNR viable. Boundary lines were demarcated, warning signs were posted and incursions kept to a minimum. Some interest on the part of international donors was generated. Largely due to the lobbing efforts of Svea Dietrich Ward, TMNR was officially declared a Nature Reserve under the National Park System Act (NPSA) in 1986.

In August of 1990, at the request of Svea Dietrich-Ward, GOB leased TMNR to the Belize Audubon Society, the present manager. This lease is for 99 years (back dated to 1975)

The goals of the Reserve are:
• To retain in perpetuity a portion of the northern Maya Mountain
foot-hills ecosystem.
• To provide opportunities for scientific studies.
• To protect the area’s biodiversity through community development program.

Tapir Mountrain Reserve Geology and Soil
The northern half of Belize which includes TMNR, rests on the Yucatan platform, a tectonically stable limestone shelf of chalk, marl and other sedimentary layers. The limestone of Belize range in age from 135 million to less than 2 million years old. TMNR has principally cetaceous and dolomitic limestone geology. In the upland sections of TMNR, soils are shallow and poor. There are some deposition of alluvial soil along Barton and Roaring Creeks.

Tapir Mountrain Reserve Wildlife
TMNR undoubtedly sustains a diverse resident and transient wildlife population. During the 1994 baseline survey the mammals reported in TMNR included the Baird’s tapir and white lipped peccary, anteater, paca (Gibnut), coati, gray fox, gray squirrel, four eyed opossum, white tail and brocket deer, puma, kinkajou, bats and armadillo. The northeast portion of TMNR was found to have relatively high biological integrity and is an important habitat for many wildlife especially migratory birds and Baird’s Tapir. The survey identified 129 species of migratory and resident birds, including the blue crown Motmot, a pair of spectacle owl and a great carrasow. Reptiles includes the iguana, gree snake, blacktail indigo, a large increase in fer-de-lance, coral snakes and boa constrictors." The Belize Audubon Society.

Belize Protected Areas
Belize protected areas include Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Blue Hole National Park, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Guanacaste National Park, Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve and Victoria Peak Natural Monument, etc.

"The Government of Belize has fixed entrance fees for the parks. These fees are collected by the Belize Audubon Society, and are used towards the costs of maintaining and protecting these areas. The fees are discounted for Belizeans to encourage local people to visit the parks." http://www.belizeaudubon.org

To become a member of the Belize Audubon Society and pledge your support, fill out the Membership Form and email membership@belizeaudubon.org or fax the Audubon at: 501.223.4985, or send it to: Belize Audubon Society, P.O. Box 1001, Belize City, BELIZE, along with a check or money order payable to: Belize Audubon Society.