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GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEM IN BELIZE
Land Information Center (LIC) - Belize
Prepared by P. Noreen Fairwather
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| Background |
| The
last 10 -15 years have seen tremendous advancements
in enabling technologies, having the capability to
improve our effectiveness and efficiency through modeling
and analysis one such technology is Geographic Information
Systems. |
| Belize’s
first introduction to Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) was in the Sugar Cane Industry. The Belize Sugar
Industries (BSI) used GIS/Remote Sensing during the
mid to late eighties to monitor crop potential and
harvesting among other things. The second such
venture came from government, when in 1992 the Ministry
of Natural Resources established the Land Information
Centre (LIC) with GIS capability. Digitization of
our baseline database (roads, rivers, administrative
boundaries etc.) started immediately using 1:50,000
maps as base. Our settlement/community data was derived
from our 1990 Census data which had geo-referenced
data for all locations derived from GPS. |
| GIS
Organizations (LIC): The Land Information Centres
primary objective is to develop and use its data resources
to improve all aspects of land management, protection
and conservation in Belize. The LIC actively promotes
data sharing to the mutual benefit of all parties,
and by the nature of its activities, the LIC transcends
sectoral boundaries and integrates not only information
but also organizations. The Centre comprises of four
components, the Land Administration System (LAS),
the Conservation and Environmental Data System (CEDS)
and the Geographic Information System (GIS) and more
recently the Information Technology Unit (ITU). |
| The
Information Technology Unit supports Wide Area
Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) of the
LAS/GIS/CEDS, as well as respond to any technological
requirements in regards to recommendations, procurement,
acceptance testing of equipment, maintenance and repairs
of all the ministry computers both on and off the
Network. |
| The
LAS component was designed to improve the handling
of the legal and fiscal aspects of land titling; manual
procedures are being replaced by a computerized system.
Leading to improved efficiency and accountability
and more regulated land allocation practices. Over
100,000 parcels are currently in our LAS. In July
of this year the MNREI will enter into a loan contract
with the IADB for the implementation of a Land Management
Project. A part of this project will focus on advancing
the national cadastre through survey and mapping,
land registration, policy formulation and land use
planning. The project will assist the MNREI to link
its LAS to the GIS for improved planning and analysis. |
| The
CEDS is intended to formalize the relationship
between data gathering organization both within government
and without. The basis of this relationship is data
sharing, so often a weakness in other countries. The
CEDS concept acknowledges that government cannot hope
to gather all the data required for informed planning
and policymaking. Subsequently the CEDS constitutes
a network of sixteen members, whose data holdings
are currently being compiled. Members can access the
system remotely through the use of modems. |
| Membership
to the CEDS is opened to National Agencies, Departments
of the Government of Belize, registered Non-government
organizations, National Foreign-assisted Projects
and National Education/ Research Organizations involved
in Natural Resources and Environmental activities.
The CEDS Network has been designated as the National
Network for Belize and Node for the Sistema Mesoamericano
de Informacion sobre La Biodiversidad (SIMEBIO). |
| The
GIS component supports activities of physical
planning, forestry, agriculture, fisheries, health,
national security, education and many others. Significant
links have been made with a number of national foreign-assisted
projects and research/educational institutions both
at home and abroad. |
| We
have used GIS to complete a number of projects in
areas such as; |
- Regional
Development - the upgrading of the Southern
Highway project where it was recognized that a
series of development programmes was needed to
compliment the civil works. Some of the products
included land use plans, zoning plans, transport
infrastructure, distribution of health facilities
and amenities.
- Forest
License Mapping - this information is used
to monitor the extent of the various type of logging
and timber extraction in association with forest
management plans.
- Electoral
Boundaries - recently some redistricting has
been approved in the South of the country.
- Zoning
Plans - we refer to these as Special Development
Plans (SDA), which basically outlines and assist
in guiding land use development.
- Conservation
Management - protected areas of Belize and
the establishment of biological corridors mapping.
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| The
LIC databases consist of a number of national coverages.
These include, Lands Systems, Agricultural Potential,
Land Use, Natural Vegetation, Forest Cover and Protected
Areas. There are also other complementary datasets
such as surveys, development zoning plans and satellite
imagery. |
| Data
Request: Our processing of request for GIS assistance
is by completion of a simple form, which has check
boxes for all our major coverages. Any more intricate
request is explained in more detail on the reverse
of the form. |
| Data
Release: With regards to release of digital data.
Our policy is that baseline data has a direct over
the counter sale. All other release has to be under
a standard MOU. This limit release to AOI only, no
third party release, and citation for data used in
publications, and digital exchange of non-confidential
data derived from the use of our data or other digital
data. This is normally reflected in any cost. A history/source
data sheet normally accompanies data submitted. |
| Future
of GIS (Potential Negative Impacts) |
| Even
though Belize has a number of organizations involved
with GIS applications, there exists a need to build
knowledge and capacity within these organizations.
Some areas that have been identified are indicated
in summary below. |
| Spatial
Analysis, some organizations are using GIS strictly
for map outputs (single themes only), which cause
the absence of important information being fed into
the planning process. |
| Technical
Assistance and Training is needed for existing
users and for marginal users to become more operational
and capable of managing information. |
| Increased
awareness (particularly in the natural resource
and environmental disciplines) of the power and capabilities
of a GIS. A national body to promote the use of GIS
would help in this area. We try to do our part by
supporting work experience programmes from the colleges
and the University of Belize. |
| The
Legal and Policy Framework needs to be further
developed, in order to ensure standardization and
quality of GIS products. The establishment of a national
body to guide GIS development in the country. As well
as, to support a plan of action and direction for
GIS users in an effort to eliminate duplication and
increase efficiency, as well as, incorporation into
the copyright law. |
| With
particular reference to the LIC, as previously mentioned
we have three other components. Our response to GIS
request would become secondary if there is a need
to give additional attention to the LAS. The reality
of this situation is the LAS is a large revenue earner
(millions/annum), while the GIS averages about US$
50,000 per annum. |
| Conclusion |
| The
LAS is critical for the successful management and
allocation of the country’s land and other natural
resources and particularly for revenue collection.
The merger of the LAS and the GIS will significant
improve the current system e.g. an immediate benefit
will be the possibility of mass land valuation. |
| The
introduction of GIS in Belize is facilitating the
development of integrated resource management through
strengthened planning, environmental management and
monitoring. However simply viewing this in terms of
the adaptation of computer hardware and software denies
the vital importance of accompanying technical implementation
with the institutional structure capable of supporting
and ensuring that the integrative abilities of the
technology are maximized. If these changes are made,
GIS technology can continue to play a central roll
in encouraging inter-sectoral cooperation and increased
information exchange and ultimately balanced and sustainable
development. |
| In
addition to the forgoing, it is absolutely important
that experienced and qualified professionals be brought
on stream as soon as possible to man the technical
unit and adequately staff the Land Information Centre.
If government efforts to introduce a legislative and
policy-making framework to land resource and environmental
management are to succeed, a reliable and dynamic
information base must underpin them with support staff
committed to improvement and quality service. The
success of these like many other initiatives will
rely heavily on the political will to make it work
by ensuring the allocation of appropriate human and
financial resources. |
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Chiquibul
Forest Reserve Management Map
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Cayo
District Dorest Licenses Map - 1999
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Protected Areas Belize Map - 2001
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Natural
Vegetation 1994/95 Stan Creek & Toledo
Districts Map
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