Belize Barrier Reef

Belize Barrier Reef
Amy Totman
UOP/Axia College

Belize is probably one of the most beautiful places on earth, which is why it is one of the top tourist attractions. This beautiful place is in danger due to the unrestricted tourism, developing, and fishing. On December 4th 1996, Belize Barrier Reef was adopted as a World Heritage Site under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). After being accepted into UNESCO Belize is now undertaking the very large task of preserving and reviving the lost resources. The Belize government and private groups are working together to ensure the project of preserving the coral reef and the surrounding land, continues and is successful.
The World Heritage Site accepted seven marine areas along the barrier reef along with the adjacent land to be protected. The seven areas are: Bacalar Chico, The Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Caye, Glovers Reef, South water Caye, Laughing Bird Caye, and Sapodilla Cayes. These areas were accepted because of their unique communities of marine plants and animals, along with the most significant natural habitats, for the conservation containing threaten species of the most universal value Wildlife Conservation Society (2010).
Humans pose the biggest threat to the barrier reed and the island. With an increasing population and tourism there is more and more improper waste disposal from the run off of fertilizers to the trash left behind from tourist. Add to this the problem of developers coming in and destroying acres of plants, trees and the homes of the wildlife by dredging the land for new developments like hotels and new homes and businesses Reef Brief. Humans have also brought a new problem to the area, when people bring in new species of animals or insects to the area it can cause many problems because of the delicate ecosystem the plants and in some cases the animals do not have a defense mechanism to deal with the new invader. The fisherman... [continues]

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