Bocas del Polochic
Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Refuge, RVSBP (for its initials in Spanish) is a wetland formed by the outlet of Polochic River at Izabal Lake. This ecosystem formed by a forest, floodplains and rivers provides shelter to more than 250 species of birds and important mammal, reptile, amphibians and fish populations. The wildlife Refuge covers an area of 20,760 hectares (207.6 km²) that includes terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and which is managed by Defensores de la Naturaleza since 1997.
The Wetland that Protects the Guatemalan Caribbean
Bocas del Polochic, recognized as a RAMSAR wetland of international importance, works as a “filter” that catches the nutrients, sediments, contaminants and pathogens that reach Izabal lake coming from the Cahabón and Polochic basins. These basins have about one million inhabitants who carry out domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial activities, and that thanks to Bocas del Polochic the impact of these activities are significantly reduced before they reach Izabal lake, Río Dulce and the Caribbean sea.
The nest of life. Besides its large variety and density of birds, Bocas del Polochic has important populations of other groups of fauna. The Refuge has the largest population of manatee (Trichechus manatus) in Guatemala, important populations of howler monkeys (Alouata pigra) and of otters (Lutra longicaudis). Studies have determined that in this wildlife Refuge there are at least 250 species of resident and migrant birds, 39 mammal species (including the five felines of Guatemala), 138 reptile species, and more than 53 fish species.
Bocas del Polochic and its people. About 5,500 people live in the eight communities located in the area of the Refuge. These people, mainly from the ethnic group Q’eqchi’, receive benefits directly from the Refuge such as the quality of the environment in which they live, fertile land to cultivate, firewood, raw materials and fishing.
It is expected that these persons take part in the management of the protected area through spreading programs and alternative techniques for the production and commercialization.