Located
on the bank of the New River Lagoon, the Hill Bank
Field Station was established in 1996 as a research
base for sustainable forest management and specialized
tourism which incorporates research activities into
the visitor's forest experience. The Hill Bank site
is an important historical site, having served as
logging camp as far back as the 1700s. Established
by British buccaneers and African slaves, the camp
served as a center for Mahogany harvesting for over
300 years. Trees were extracted and then pulled from
the forest, initially by oxen and later by train,
to the lagoon where they were off loaded, chained
together and floated downstream to Belize City for
processing. The industry was labor intensive and it
is estimated that during the 1950's over 400 men,
women and children lived at Hill Bank. Records suggest
that by the end of the 1970's over 7,000 trees were
extracted annually, compared to 400 in the early days.
By 1982,the Mahogany supply was depleted; and, Hill
Bank was abandoned.
Today
Hill Bank functions as a working conservation field station,
established to ensure the protection and wise management
of the Rio Bravo. During your stay at Hill Bank, you will
learn more about the forested ecosystems of the Rio Bravo
and Programme for Belize's innovative conservation management
practices. You will become a part of the field station community
and participate in a variety of forest conservation activities.
The Hill Bank experience also brings to life the architecture
and artifacts of this historic logging camp such as quaint,
wooden buildings, antique steam engines and railroad tracks.
Hill
Bank's Caza Balanza dormitory sleeps 30 visitors and features:
100% solar powered energy
composting
toilets
a
rain water collection system
a
gray water recycling program
Unwind
every evening on your veranda overlooking the calm and peaceful
New River Lagoon.
Situated
at the Head of the New River Lagoon, Hill Bank offers visitor
some of the most spectacular and varied ecosystems in Belize.
By exploring our developing system of trails, you will experience
the tropical forests at firsthand, and find out about the
fascinating relationships between forest species. Your PfB
guide will describe to you the different ways in which people
from the surrounding villages use the rainforest, including
natural bush medicines. A trail through an exotic palm forest
will lead you through an orchid-rich ecosystem and then
to a spring where there have been numerous wildlife sightings
during the dry season.
The New River Lagoon provides abundant opportunities for
study and relaxation. Take a boat ride to remote points
of interest along the lagoon-side, paddle the Ramgoat Creek
in a canoe or simply cool off after a long day by taking
a swim in the largest inland body of water.
There
are crocodiles in the lagoon and you might just get lucky
and see one of them if you take a night time boat ride with
a spotlight. This activity is not for the faint hearted.
You can participate in a regional study of frogs and toads,
by accompanying the PfB guide on their frogging outings
during the rainy season.
There is an opportunity to visit ecological and silvicultural
research plots on the Rio Bravo.
Learn about the work of the forestry research team at firsthand
and assist them with their data collection.
Become a part of PfB's conservation effort by participating
in our reforestation project. We need help to replant trees
in degraded areas on the property in order to provide tree
cover and valuable habitat for animals. Tree planting helps
us to increase forest biomass for the Rio Bravo Pilot Carbon
Sequestration Project.
Out on patrol with the Rangers, you will learn about the
challenges and rewards associated with protecting approximately
4% of Belize's total land area, i.e. the Rio Bravo; and
the importance of developing strong relationships with buffer-zone
communities.
Spend an enjoyable day learning about the culture of the
Creole living in the Belize River Valley area. You will
also see, at firsthand, the PfB-supported community projects
which aim to generate much needed income for the villagers.
ation,
established to ensure the protection and wise management
of the Rio Bravo. During your stay at Hill Bank, you will
learn more about the forested ecosystems of the Rio Bravo
and Programme for Belize's innovative conservation management
practices. You will become a part of the field station community
and participate in a variety of forest conservation activities.
The Hill Bank experience also brings to life the architecture
and artifacts of this historic logging camp such as quaint,
wooden buildings, antique steam engines and railroad tracks.
Situated
at the Head of the New River Lagoon, Hill Bank offers visitor
some of the most spectacular and varied ecosystems in Belize.
By exploring our developing system of trails, you will experience
the tropical forests at firsthand, and find out about the
fascinating relationships between forest species. Your PfB
guide will describe to you the different ways in which people
from the surrounding villages use the rainforest, including
natural bush medicines. A trail through an exotic palm forest
will lead you through an orchid-rich ecosystem and then
to a spring where there have been numerous wildlife sightings
during the dry season.
