Latin America

GatoGordo

(2,412 posts) Wed Jun 27, 2018, 12:18 PM Jun 2018

Belize praised for 'visionary' steps to save coral reef

Belize praised for 'visionary' steps to save coral reef

World heritage body Unesco has removed the Belize Barrier Reef from its list of endangered World Heritage Sites after nine years.

It said the government of the Central American country had taken "visionary" steps to preserve it.

The reef is the second largest in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

It is home to many threatened species including marine turtles, manatees and the American marine crocodile.

-snip-

Some good news for a change!

4 replies

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Belize praised for 'visionary' steps to save coral reef (Original Post) GatoGordo Jun 2018 OP

That's a pic of the Blue Hole Phoenix61 Jun 2018 #1

We stayed at an eco-resort* (Blackbird Caye) on Turneffe Atoll GatoGordo Jun 2018 #3

I wouldn't go back to Ambergris Caye, it's gotten very unsafe. Phoenix61 Jun 2018 #4

Just got back from a trip MontanaMama Jun 2018 #2

Phoenix61

(17,028 posts)

1. That's a pic of the Blue Hole

Reply to GatoGordo (Original post)

Wed Jun 27, 2018, 12:25 PM

Jun 2018

I've been to Belize twice and stayed in San Pedro, the only town on Ambergris Caye. The reef runs along the island. I wouldn't want to swim out to it but it's close to shore. It's amazing snorkeling! There's a local paper on-line, The San Pedro Sun.

GatoGordo

(2,412 posts)

3. We stayed at an eco-resort* (Blackbird Caye) on Turneffe Atoll

Reply to Phoenix61 (Reply #1)

Wed Jun 27, 2018, 06:59 PM

Jun 2018

Wonderful stay. We are divers, and it was well worth it. About an hour out from the mainland,

Dove the Blue Hole. Meh. I was warned it was just a deep dive with nothing to see and they were right. The best came our second dive to this shallow dive called The Aquarium. I have been all over the world diving, and never have I been absolutely surrounded by fish and coral. A must dive if I am ever going there again.

*More eco than some. Not as much as others...

Phoenix61

(17,028 posts)

4. I wouldn't go back to Ambergris Caye, it's gotten very unsafe.

Reply to GatoGordo (Reply #3)

Wed Jun 27, 2018, 07:03 PM

Jun 2018

But would love to snorkel the reef again.

MontanaMama

(23,369 posts)

2. Just got back from a trip

Reply to GatoGordo (Original post)

Wed Jun 27, 2018, 12:38 PM

Jun 2018

to San Pedro with my 13 year old son who snorkeled and snuba'd on the reef in Belize with a group of 30 or so young teenagers touring together. He had a ball and we both were impressed with the effort to preserve the reef. I couldn't go with them - the water was to rough for me but my kiddo told me the reef was packed with wildlife from sharks to turtles to eels and every fish you could imagine. Good on Belize for saving this treasure.

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