Belize_Barrier_Reef_Reserve

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve Axia College, University of Phoenix Belize Barrier Reef is located one third to 50 miles off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean. Belize Barrier Reef extends 146 miles from the cost of Mexico to the cost of Guatemala. The Belize Barrier Reef consists of seven National Parks or Marine Reserves. The Belize Barrier Reef is approximately 237 acres(The Encyclopedia of Earth, 2009). The Belize Barrier Reef is home to several reefs, offshore atolls, large plots of sea grass, forests of mangroves, several hundred sand cays, and large numbers of fish species, marine turtles, American marine crocodile, and manatees. The Belize Barrier Reef was inscribed into the World Heritage List in 1996. The Belize Barrier Reef is in danger from sedimentation, agricultural run-off, costal development, over fishing, and tourism. Until recently the Belize Barrier Reef only had threats that were natural in nature. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve from 1993-1998 had a budget of $3 million in funding. This is why we are here today. The increase of recent activity has put the Belize Barrier Reef in danger and in need of funding. Coral reefs have the most diverse ecosystem; reefs are used by more species than any other marine ecosystem. Many species can be found on the reef at any given time; some species use the reef a different times of the day; some of the species feed on different life forms. There are over a 1,000 different living species that call the Barrier Reef home. All the species on the reef have a unique relationship. Each of the species that live or visit the reef needs each other to survive. The reef needs the vegetation to survive; the vegetation needs the reef to survive; the animals that live on or visit the reef need the vegetation and the reef to survive. Two types of vegetation are critical to the growth and maintenance of the reefs ecosystem (Casado Internet Group, 2009). The first type of vegetation is a single cell organisms know as algae. Algae are the most important types of vegetation. Algae grow on the hard surfaces of the coral. Algae, through photosynthesis provide the coral with oxygen. The coral is able to produce calcium carbonate (limestone), which helps the coral grow. The second type of vegetation that is critical to the growth and stability of the reef are multi-cell organisms. These multi-cell organisms are coralline and calcareous. Coralline is a fine thread like filament that spreads over the reef. Coralline traps sediments of sand; the sediments of sand are banded together with these strands of filament. The banded together sediment strands protect the reef. Coralline also produces calcium carbonate. Calcareous are multi-celled organisms that grow up-right (seaweed). Calcareous produces calcium carbonate. Calcareous provides the fish that live on the reef with food and a place for female fish to build nests to lay eggs. Dying calcareous produces sand from the built up calcium carbonate (limestone). Fifty percent of all beaches are made by dying calcareous. Reefs with a lack of algae will result in the coral starving and dying. Reefs with too much algae will result in the reefs dying due to the coral suffocating. Sea grass beds are another type of vegetation that helps the reef with stability, food, and a nursery to raise young. Sea grass roots stabilize the sediment; the sediment is trapped in the sea grass. Sediment that is trapped in the sea grass will not cover up and damage the reef. In Belize the most common type of sea grass is called Turtle grass. Turtle grass has broad leaves that provide the reef with a high filtration system. The turtle grass removes particles from the water; particles turn into sediment; the sediment falls to the ocean floor. The sediment contains organic material that helps with producing a healthy habitat. The sea grass beds attract fish, conch, lobster, turtles, and manatees. The sea grass beds are used by many species for feeding and breeding. Mangroves are trees that need more respect. Mangroves do not provide nut, fruits, or any edible product for humans; how ever they do provide habitats for bats, lobsters, manatees, and birds. Mangroves usually run parallel to coral reefs. Mangroves like to grow in brackish nutrient- rich waters. Coral thrive in clear nutrient poor waters. The mangroves act as a filter to purify the water from human waste and human and factory pollution. The mangroves roots and branches help prevent the shore lines from erosion by trapping sediment and keeping it from reaching the reef. Mangroves are used by sea life and land mammals for feeding, mating, and giving birth. Over 500 different species of fish, 65 different species of coral, 45 hydroids, and 350 mollusks, 300 plus West Indian Manatee’s, several bird species, three separate species of sea turtles, and American Crocodiles that call the reef home. Other animals that call the reef home cover a different species for every letter of the alphabet (Casado Internet Group, 2009). The ecosystem of the Belize Barrier Reef can take care of its self without outside interference. Outside interference consists of pollution, costal development, tourism, and over fishing. 200,000 plus residents call Belize home; of the 200,000 plus residents 2,000 plus call the town of San Pedro home. Since 1981 the population in Belize has grown by 30,000 people (Naturalight, 1999). The town of San Pedro consists of 20 lodging establishments, five restaurants, three other businesses, and 13 tourist attractions (Naturalight, 1999). The sedimentation run-off and coastal development is a result of tourism numbers growing. Agricultural run-off from banana and citrus farms has been a problem. The pesticides and fertilizer used by the farms is running in to lakes and streams that flow into the ocean; once in the ocean the pesticides and the fertilizer are destroying the reef. Tourism is a big part of the income for Belize. In 2008 there were 204,219 overnight tourists; there were 274 cruise ships carrying 465,325 passengers(Naturalight,1999). The district of Belize has 59 hotels there are 591 hotels in the region of the Belize Barrier Reef. Studies have shown that 75 to 80% of the costal land in Belize has been purchased by foreigners (Tropical Conservation Science, 2008). Over fishing in the reef is the second major problem caused by humans. There are 554 marine fish species in the Belize area; 237 of these fish live on or are associated with the reef; 21 of these fish are threatened and 14 are protected by other treaties or laws. Several of the sites that fish use as spawning areas; these areas are seeing less action due to over fishing. Another reason for the reef and spawning area being over fished is because of illegal fishing. Humans are causing problems with the Belize Barrier Reef; humans need to find solutions to saving the Belize Barrier Reef; other problems that the being dealt within the reef area are deforestation, solid waste management, oil development, weak institutional & legal framework, and high poverty rates. All residents, contractors, and visitors to the area of Belize Barrier Reef need to be held accountable for their actions and need to do what they can to follow the regulation to preserve the reef and its tributaries. There are protections in place for the Belize Barrier Reef. In 1990 the Belize government along with several other conservation groups came together to create the Costal Zone Management Unit. The Costal Zone Management Unit created the Costal Zone Management Plan. Within this plan is several departments; these departments take care of watching over all activities. The Fisheries Department, the Forestry Department, and the Department of Tourism and Environment were formed to regulate and protect the environment. All activities with-in these department or zones go through the Costal Zone Management Unit. Since the development of the Fisheries department and the creation of marine reserves; over fishing has been reduced on the reef. No take zones have been established on the reef and within the protected territories. The exporting of finfish with-in some of the regions still remains an over-exploitation problem. Day-to-Day operations and site management is the responsibility of the Fisheries Department and the Forestry Department. In 1996 the Belize Barrier Reef was put on The World Heritage List ( United Nations Environmental Programmer World Conservation Monitoring Center, 2008). Today, 20 other environmental agencies throughout the world have an interest in keeping the Belize Barrier Reef thriving. We need to save and protect the Belize Barrier Reef. The reef enhances the beauty of the Belize Cost line. The Barrier Reef is the main attraction for visitors who wish to vacation in Belize. The reef provides the residential people with food. The reef provides the jobs for the local residents. The Barrier Reef is the second biodiversity ecosystem in the world; second only to the rain forest. Biodiversity provides the world with clean air and water. Our oceans and forests are capable of absorbing green house gases (Casado Internet Group, 2009). By continually destroying the oceans and forests through out the world; we are actually destroying and killing ourselves. Please help to keep the Belize Barrier Reef and all other ecosystems in the world beautiful. References Casado Internet Group, (2009), Animals on the Reef, Retrieved December 19, 2009, from http://ambergriscaye.com/animalsofthereef/ Naturalight, (1999), About Belize, Retrieved December, 20, 2009, from http://www.belizenet.com/pact/where.html Naturalight, (1999), Belize It, Retrieved December 20, 2009, from http://www.belizeit.com/sp.htm#history Naturalight, (1999), Belize Tourism.Org, Retrieved December 20, 2009, from http://www.belizetourism.org/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,170/func,select/id,99/ The Encyclopedia of Earth, (2009), Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Retrieved December 19, 2009, from http://www.eoearth.org/article/Belize_Barrier_Reef_Reserve_System,_Belize Tropical Conservation Science, (2008), Belize Ecosystems: Threats and Challenges to Conservation in Belize, Retrieved December 20, 2009, from http://tropicalconservationscience.mongabay.com/content/v1/08-03-03-Young.htm United Nations Environment Programmer World Conservation Monitoring Center, (2008) Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Retrieved December 19, 2009, from http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/pdf/Belize.pdf