Saving the Belize Barrier Reef - 1525 Words

Off the Caribbean coast of Belize, between Mexico and Guatemala, lies the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest reef in the northern and western hemispheres. The reef is home to many species of coral reefs, coastal lagoons, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests. It provides a habitat for a large number of fish species and many endangered animals. With global warming issues, local activities, and mass tourism threatening the very existence of the reef, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) has made the Belize Barrier Reef part of the World Heritage list, which preserves and protects the cultural and natural heritage around the world. Diversity of Life Forms The Belize Barrier Reef is habitat to a†¦show more content†¦Place a permanent prohibition on the sale /lease of lands within the WHS 3. Prohibit dredging and alterations of mangroves within and in close proximity to the WHS 4. Complete, adopt and implement the Coastal Zone Management Plan 5. Adopt and implement the revisions aimed at strengthening the Mangrove Protection Regulations 6. Fill gaps in marine protected areas, including an increase in the amount of marine territory under full protection (now less than 4%) 7. Revise the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and process to include stronger consideration for the cumulative impacts of developments 8. Adopt and implement the National Protected Areas Co-Management Framework for Belize We urge the government to keep collaborating with non-governmental partners. Unfortunately, reversing the trend of reef decline is increasingly more difficult† (Gonzalez, 2009, p 1). Individual Support Each individual has the power to contribute to the preservation of endangered areas such as the Belize Barrier Reef. The easiest and most common form of contribution is a monetary donation to an organization that supports this cause. Preservation efforts cost the government large sums of money every year. Donations will help to offset the costs of these projects. A couple of organizations that support the preservation of the Belize Barrier Reef are the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, and the United Nations Foundation.Show MoreRelatedManatees, The Gentle Giant Is Going Extinct Essays1110 Words   |  5 PagesThe West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a marine mammal that lives in the coastal waters and around the offshore reefs of Belize. Manatees have large gray bodies covered with algae or barnacles. They are herbivores that consume marine vegetation such as sea grass and surface regularly to breathe. They reside in sea grass beds and in mangroves that provide them with shelter. The West Indian Manatee is listed as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and may eventually beRead MoreHuman Overpopulation And Its Effects On Coral Reefs1540 Words   |  7 Pages coral reefs have died off due to a chemical process known as bleaching. 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