Barrier Reef Reserve System, Belize | Natural Treasure and a Seal of Pride and Conservation of the Country

Belize’s Barrier Reef Reserve System, a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of the small Central American country facing the Caribbean Sea, roughly 300 metres offshore in the north and 40 kilometres in the south within the nation limits, and encompassing three of the four existing atolls in the American continent, turning it into a biodiversity show  is a natural treasure and seal of pride and conservation of the country.

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System of almost 300 kilometres in extension, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, is comprised of seven protected areas such as Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.

The seven protected areas that constitute this unique ecosystem comprise 12% of the entire Reef Complex, is the largest in the Atlantic - Caribbean region and it represents the second largest reef system in the world.

Referred to “as the most remarkable reef in the West Indies" by Charles Darwin, famed British naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology, this reef complex is comprised of approximately 450 sand and mangrove groves and outside it contains three atolls such as Turneffe Islands, Lighthouse Reef and Glover’s reef.

Home to an important habitat for a number of species such as the West Indian manatee, green turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle, and the American crocodile as well as endemic and migratory birds which reproduce in the littoral forests of cayes, atolls and coastal areas among them the brown pelicans, in its bottoms there are 178 species of vascular plants, 247 of marine flora, 500 variety of fish, 65 of corals and 350 of molluscs.

In 2021 the Belizean authorities, together with international institutions such as World Wildlife Fund, inaugurated the Barrier Reef’s brand and identity manual, a decision that seeks to strengthen its value fof both tourism and Belizeans, placing the barrier as an icon of sustainability and protection and a seal of pride and conservation for the country.

This strategy not only promotes responsible tourism Belize’s main attraction, but also recognizes the economic and social value of the reef, essential for the lives of more than 190.000 people who enjoy its benefits.

Despite protective measures taken by local authorities and international bodies, Belize's reefs are threatened by ocean pollution, uncontrolled tourism, maritime traffic and fishing.

Other threats include hurricanes, global warming and rising ocean temperatures. These events are the cause of coral bleaching, which since 1998 has affected about 40% of the reef.

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is not just a tourist destination, but a living heritage that must be protected as a commitment to a sustainable future for humanity.

Link 
https://infoturlatam.com/la-barrera-de-coral-de-belice-sello-de-orgullo-y-conservacion/