Belize

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System Elizabeth Brown Axia College Living in the world today, there are many locations in danger of becoming extinct or taken over by population and industry. To name one of many is the Belize Barrier Reef. The Belize Barrier Reef system was put on the endanger list in 2009. “This barrier reef is the largest in the Northern Hemisphere.” (World Heritage UNESCO) This reef is a natural system with diversity of many plants and animals. Some physical features on this reef are sand cays, offshore atolls, forests, and coastal lagoons. When researching the reef, many at risk species are living in Belize. Some examples are marine turtles, manatees, and American crocodiles. Located on the Atlantic-Caribbean Coast, is Belize. The reef system flows from the border of northern Mexico, to the southern part of Guatemala. To this day seven known sites are in danger. Most are natural parks and monuments, which are “Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Glover's Reef Marine Reserve, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, and Sapodilla Cays Marine Reserve.” (Encyclopedia of Earth) These seven sites are protected. The Belize Barrier Reef is part of Central America. Dating back as far as 1928 is when the first site was given the name Part of Half Moon Caye for its Bird Sanctuary. The system has over 96,000 hectares that is a unit equal to 10,000 square meters which makes up the barrier reef. The altitude there ranges from zero to five meters. As stated earlier the diversity here of plants and animals is tremendous. Vegetation is a tool that is everywhere. At the reef there are “178 recorded species of vascular plants.” (Encyclopedia of Earth) On location of the Cayes’ sand, shrub, and coconut vegetation are available. On the Cayes’ there are many littoral forests with different plant life. Some examples are coco plum, gumbo limbo, and teabox. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that have fruit on them that germinate which is important for land building or forming an impenetrable mass. Located on some of the mangroves here are “Conocarpus erectus (buttonwood)-Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove)-Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove) association on land periodically inundated with seawater; (ii) permanently inundated R. mangle; and (iii) a R. mangle-L. racemosa association with occasional black mangrove Avicennia germinans where salt water infrequently intrudes.” (Encyclopedia of Earth) Many locations have different kinds of grass with a total of “247 taxa” (Encyclopedia of Earth), which are a group of more than one organism(s), located in the barrier reef. The different grass can be seagrass or turtle grass. A barrier reef system would not be complete without the fish, hydroids, corals, and mollusks. When people go scuba diving, these creatures make this all an exciting adventure! Many species, over 500 to be exact make up this beautiful underwater experience. Sponges, marine worms and crustaceans are a habitat here. This area is the largest home for West Indian Manatee. Several birds inhabit the area to. The warm waters of Lighthouse Reef which is part of the seven protected sites are “home to spotted groupers, nurse sharks, sea turtles, pink shelled conches, and multitudes of rainbow-hued fishes.” (National Geographic) Without all these different species, plant life and animal life would be different. By having the diversity, many animals and plants depend on each other to survive. Big fish eat small fish that in turn eat smaller living organisms in the ocean. Birds are eating fish and so goes the circle of life. By having protected areas, the control will limit what harm is being done to the area. When the Belize Barrier Reef became endangered, this was due to “mangrove cutting and excessive development.” (World Heritage) Development building is bringing in tourists and relocating families. Families whom already lived in Belize near the reef have access to the resources of the reef system. The population in Belize is 310,520 as stated in 2008. (Google) The area is so beautiful that North Americans and foreigners want to move there to live in the Caye’s. By having all the tourists and new families migrate to Belize it is hurting the natural life. Cruise ships bring in many tourists a year along with their garbage and pollution from the boats. By preserving an endangered land, limits need to be put on the country. Belize does bring in money to preserve ways of life if the money is used correctly. Local threats are climate change, over fishing and illegal fishing, development, and pollutants to name a few. Located in Belize is the reef complex. Major studying and preserving is done here. Limits on fishing of endangered animals will increase the life of those which are far and wide. One protection committee for the reef system is trying to reinstate the moratorium for mangrove cutting and development. This expired in 2008 so now it is fair game to try to protect the area. Reducing the amount of development and visitors will help majority of the environment. Development takes animals and plant life away from the natural habitat. One organization helping to preserve the barrier reef is the World Heritage Alliance. They believe that through responsible tourism, the preservation of endangered sites can be increased. Belize participates with this organization which includes area hotels and lodges with a group of members. Through education and support, the WHA would like to support local projects, support advocacy networks, and show Belize off as a sustainable destination. Training for employees will be available so that they can move up to be the ambassadors for the Belize Barrier System. More groups need to join together to make sure that Belize stays pure and full of life for as long as it can. If intrusion goes unchecked, the reef system will slowly start to deteriorate. The more building that is being done, the more mangroves being cut away will cause more animals to be without homes or food. Please take into consideration this beautiful location and help where help is needed. Reference: World Heritage UNESCO. Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Retrieved December 5th, 2009 from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/764/. The Encyclopedia of Earth. Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Retrieved December 5th, 2009 from http://www.eoearth.org/article/belize_barrier_reef_reserve_system,_belize. National Geographic. Expedition to Explore Belize’s Barrier Reefs. Retrieved December 5th, 2009 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1017_021017_belize_2.html World Heritage Site. Belize Barrier Reef. Retrieved December 5th, 2009 from http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/belizebarrierreef.html. Belize Tourism.org.World Heritage Alliance. Retrieved December 5th, 2009. http://www.belizetourism.org/content/view/247/294/