The World of C. Hummel

by Nick Voss

             The Forests in Belize, along with their precious Mahogany and Logwood have been long sought after items in the history of Belize. As the quest for these resources stretch back to the 1700s, it continued until the 20^th century. The social and political structures from the start of the logging exhibitions shaped the environment of Belize and would later result in the actions taken in consequence almost two hundred years later.  The actions of course, are conservation measures. From the 1700s, the land was viewed solely for its production, while English settlers continued to stretch their logging operations, they also gained economic and political power over British Honduras. While the Spanish also had their own logging operations, private ownership of the English eventually overpowered the Spanish, and took measures to hold their social status, as well as the land that they logged. The environmental consequences of the growth of this political system later on, in the 20^th century, led to near exhaustion of forest resources.1    

With the remnants of English private landowners now being major corporations, they owned half the lands in the colony in the early 20^th century. These were also the best forestlands in Mahogany, Logwood, and Sapodilla trees.1 The Government had to persuade the private companies to establish new logging methods in order to conserve the forest resources, as well as their source of economic stability, which is stretched overseas. Here, C. Hummel was appointed the first conservator of forests. He had experience in foresting from Britain, and now must interact with private companies developing new ways to go about their business to prevent the exhaustion and destruction of the resources altogether.2    

These new methods were based on scientific research, in knowing the nature of the forest, when and where to cut, instead of simply stripping the trees and shipping them away. Rather than continually expanding and invading new forests for Mahogany, which was the most expensive and valuable wood, loggers now had to remain within their land and manage it in a way that trees could also grow back, keeping a healthy ecosystem that will sustain trees that could continue to be used for logging in later years. One important question that was asked was, which trees absolutely needed to be taken from Belize, and what could instead be taken from within Britain, saving valuable resources and energy.3  

This aided the economic conservation as well as forest conservation. The biggest aspect was that of control. Control over destructive and limitless logging and tapping methods. Mr. Hummel later went from working for the forest department of British Honduras to being manager of the BEC. The BEC was the first company to actively make changes in their foresting, pioneering the way for many other private organizations. They also showed that its possible to maintain commercial interest while practicing sustainable forestry.  

The land of British Honduras was first perceived forests heavily in modes of production, ignoring the natural environment’s history, and ignoring all other values of the land, except for profit. The conservation efforts of Mr. Hummel led a change in these perceptions of the forest, including the history and values of the forest, but still retaining the mode of production as the main source of motivation. The forest industry and people of the English colony British Honduras still saw their production and profit most important, but with conservation efforts they applied it in a new way, creating an ideology that sustained the forest’s ecosystem, not for its own sake, but for future production possibilities and continued economic growth. However, This could also be seen as steps towards other conservation measures today, which conserve forests without logging intentions.

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1 Boland, Nigel and Shoman, Assad. Land in Belize 1765-1851

2 Oliphant, J.N. Development of Forestry in British Honduras.

3 Oliver, J.W. The Indian Forester: Forestry, Agriculture, Shikar & Travel. Vol 23, 6.

1. Forests in Belize today are cut for logging, as well as cattle grazing (Pictured center) and agriculture. Forest conservation today serves economic and intrinsic value purposes through ecotourism.

2. Logs on the Belize River show how logging shipped Mahogany from forest to seaport in the 18^th century by English settlers.1. Foreign and Privately owned logging industries still exist today in Belize.

 

3. Foreign and Privately owned logging industries still exist today in Belize.