Presentation for 6th Belize Esri User Conference, May 25, 2016, focusing on the Boundaries of Belize.

2. The Constitution of
Belize defines the
national territory
Section 1, Schedule 1, Chapter 4 of
the Laws of Belize
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 2

3. Reference to 1859
Treaty
“the frontier with Guatemala
is the line prescribed by the
Treaty between the United
Kingdom and Guatemala
signed on 30 April 1859”
• LAND
• SEA
BELIZE’S BORDERS
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 3

4. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 4

5. PRE-20TH CENTURY
1787 1855
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 5
Does not reflect the 1786
concession from Spain to Britain
extending to the Sibun River
Does not properly reflect the fact
that Belize’s border had spanned
Hondo to Sarstoon even prior to
1850, according to 1859 Treaty

6. THE 1859 TREATY
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 6
Photo: Louis Diaz
TODAY
1859

7. THE 1859 TREATY
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 7
Sarstoon Island on the Belize side
TODAY
1859

8. Source: Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• 1783: Treaty of Versailles
• 1786: Second Concession
• 1859: No reference to
1859 Treaty, which covers
the portion shaded in blue
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 8

9. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 9

10. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 10
ArcScene
App
Click the image below to navigate the map

11. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 11

12. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 12
Know where we have the RIGHT to exploit
resources and where our national laws apply
OFFSHORE/EEZ
2011 Map
Petroleum concessions:
Coastal zone planning
Legal versus IUU fishing

13. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 13
“Borders frame states, and states are the constituents
of the international system and order. Borders
bound sovereignty. Their recognition implies
acceptance of power within boundaries:” Foreign
Policy Research Institute (US)
Source: http://www.fpri.org/2015/07/why-borders-matter/

14.  Helps us to know where we are.
Is the BDF patrol in Belize, or is it in Guatemala?
 Enables verification of border incidents.
These exercises use GPS locations to determine where an incident
occurs.
 Empowers surveillance within national parks and other protected areas.
GIS or GPS locations help to determine areas covered by patrols to
check illegal activities.
 Builds public awareness about Belize’s geography and scope of sovereignty.
We can use maps and apps to show site locations or places
where incidences of interest occur.
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 14

15. In preparing this presentation, I found out that Sarstoon Island is within
the Sarstoon-Temash National Park – something that even members
of Belize’s Conservation Community did not realize.
I spent a day checking this out and used the Statutory Instruments of
1994 and 2000 and the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator)
readings to verify information displayed on an official protected areas
shape file I uploaded to ArcGIS Online.
B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 15

16. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 16

17. B E U C 2 0 1 6 / A D E L E R A M O S 17