Belize Barrier-Reef Reserve System, World Heritage Site in Belize

The coast of Belize has the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, covering an area of 963 square kilometers, from which you can see the process of their evolution. It is also famous for its blue hole with a diameter of 313 meters. The protected area is also a paradise for endangered species such as sea turtles, American manatees, and American crocodiles.

Here, the World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Belize Barrier-Reef Reserve System is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. If you read this, you will definitely learn more about the Belize Barrier-Reef Reserve System!

What is Belize Barrier-Reef Reserve System?

The coast of Belize, at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula, has a barrier reef formed by 150 coral islands. This barrier reef includes Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Half Moon Cay Natural Monument, South Water Cay Marine Reserve, Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. The park consists of seven reserves and parks.

It is the second largest barrier reef in the world, comprising 12% of all barrier reefs in the world. It was called “the most remarkable coral reef in the West Indies” by Charles Darwin, the author of “The Theory of Evolution,” and is one of the most pristine coral ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea.The protected area also consists of sandbars and mangrove forests.

The registered area is also home to many endangered species such as sea turtles, hawksbill turtles, loggerhead turtles, and American manatees. American crocodiles and other species can also be seen along the coast, as well as many endemic species of marine life.

Heritage in danger

Due to excessive tourism development, mangrove logging, and oil exploration projects, the site was listed as a Crisis Heritage Site from 2009-2017. Efforts by the Belizean government to stop oil exploration and enact laws regulating against mangrove logging resulted in the Belize Coral Reef Reserve being removed from the Critically Endangered Heritage List in 2018.

For what reason is the Belize Barrier-Reef Reserve System on World Heritage Site?

Belize Coral Reef Reserve was recognized for

Registration Criteria (vii)
It is the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, which means you can see unique landforms such as blue holes.

Registration Criteria (ix)
The barrier reef in the Belize Coral Reef Reserve is the oldest part of the world in terms of diverse ecosystems.

Registration Criteria (x)
The protected area is home to 178 species of terrestrial plants and 246 species of marine plants, more than 500 species of fish, 350 species of mollusks, and other diverse ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Impressions

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is vast, but the barrier reef here is second only to it in size, and that scale alone conveys its value. The diversity of ecosystems here is also impressive, with many endangered species such as sea turtles and the American manatee living here.

Incidentally, manatees and dugongs, which are marine mammals, are very similar animals and are thought to have the same ancestors. The way to tell them apart is by the shape of their tail fins: manatees have a tail like a fan, while dugongs have two separate tail fins. Well, manatees and dugongs are rarely seen together except in zoos.

*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by a World Heritage enthusiast.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.