Map of Belize Barrier Reef

Belize Barrier Reef is the light-blue shaded area.

Image 1: http://www.theoceanadventure.com/WSIE/WSBarrierReefmap.html

Image 2: http://www.islandtropicalproperties.com/location_belize.asp

Images of Ecosystem

Historic

Present

Image 1: (http://goodnature.nathab.com/5-reasons-to-make-your-next-trip-a-nature-vacation/)
Image 2: (http://toursholic.com/2011/belize-barrier-reef-the-second-largest-coral-island/amazing-belize-barrier-reef)
Image 3: (http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/07/the-canary-project/)
Image 4: (http://www.ecosystemdiscovery.com/2011/05/first-five-wonders-of-nature-that-could.html)

Historical State

The Belize Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the Northern Hemisphere, spanning 300 kilometers along the coast of Belize. This ecosystem was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 but only to be put on their list of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2009. Coral cover has declined to a low of 11% with the species Anthozoa and Hydrozoa listed as endangered. The deterioration of coral has put 55% of the reef system in critical or poor condition. This decrease in coral coverage has also affected the fish biomass and presence in the reef. There are hundreds of species of fish in this ecosystem, but many of them are threatened and listed on IUCN’s Red List.  Species of grouper endemic to Belize are at risk of extinction, but only exist due to conservation efforts. Besides groupers, Largetooth and Smalltooth Sawfish are also nearing extinction. Sightings of these fish are rare and research teams were unable to locate any of them during an assessment in 2010. The decrease in fish biomass is also due to the invasion of Indo-Pacific Lionfish in 2008. This specie has no natural predators in the reef, making its destruction of life in this ecosystem even more devastating. The reef is said to be between 40% to 60% dead, making it on average less than half of what it used to be. Much of Belize’s barrier reef has yet to be explored but its rapid decline in the last few decades may prevent any new knowledge to surface about one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world.

Human Impacts

Human contribution to global warming has been an issue for ecosystems around the world including the Belize Barrier Reef. This issue is causing world temperatures and sea levels to rise, which has adversely affected the reef system. The rise in sea temperatures causes a phenomenon known as coral bleaching which effectively kills species of coral. These corals have the ability to recover but with sea temperatures remaining at high levels, corals are unable to recuperate. The decline in coral life also affects animal life, leaving fish without a nursery and exposing them to threats from predators. Human activity in the form of contribution to global warming is only one of the minor issues concerning human impacts on the reef. One of the largest impacts which totals 63% of the damage to the reef is agricultural activity which leads to sediment and fertilizer runoff. The growing of citrus and banana plantations are one of the main sources of these runoffs, which promote the overgrowth of algae in the reef. The chemicals from these runoffs, however, can be toxic for life in the reef. Fish biomass has decreased due to impacts from agricultural activities on land but it has also decreased due to over-fishing by humans. There are laws implemented to prevent over-fishing, but illegal fishing and poaching still occur.

Coastal development and marine-based activities have also adversely affected the reef. It accounts for 19% of the damage, but this damage is done in correlation to tourist activities. The building of hotels and homes on atolls is destroying the natural beauty of the ecosystem. People from foreign countries want to visit and live in this region, but do not realize the effects of developing the land. They are removing coastal habitats and creating construction runoff. In addition to that, once these hotels and home are finished, its use creates greywater and blackwater. Tourism is good for Belize’s economy but aspects of tourism do harm to what draws people in. Water crafts used for divers and snorkelers cause damage in shallow reef waters, but damage from cruise ships is even more devastating. Anchoring and groundings for ships physically impact the reef destroying corals. The deterioration of this barrier reef is significantly due to human activity and unless this activity decreases, the impact will cause plants and animals of this ecosystem to go extinct. 

Future Prospects

This ecosystem will be dead within the next decade if actions are not taken to preserve and repair its current state. Belize’s barrier reef has been declining at a significant rate since the late 1900’s, but even more significantly in the past decade. A majority of the reef is already dead and will continue to die due to human activity. This ecosystem was named a World Heritage Site in 1996 but a decade later it is listed as a World Heritage Site in Danger due to the damages accumulated over those ten years. The reef was not in pristine shape when it was admitted by UNESCO, but it was noticeably better than it is today. For example, Glover’s Reef coral cover was estimated at 80% in 1971 but in 2005 it dropped to a mere 20.72% and even lower in 2008 to 11.8%. The almost 10% decline in a 3 year period shows the dangerous rate at which human activity has influenced the reef. The future outlook for this ecosystem is bleak and there have been cynical reports of this ecosystem disappearing in 2012. Belize’s barrier reef may be in terrible condition but it is not to the point of no return. There is still hope for this reef, if not to reverse the damages then to try to maintain and prevent it from decaying even further. If actions are not taken in attempts to preserve this ecosystem, it will disappear within the next decade or possibly sooner.

Improvements

As humans, we cannot prevent the damages done to the reef through natural occurrences such as hurricanes, but we can prevent further destruction caused by humanity. The seafood industry is big in Belize but it is endangering certain species of fish due to over-fishing. The methods used to catch fish and various crustaceans are also destroying the coastal habitats needed for species of the reef to thrive. Belizeans, tourists and people around the world can prevent extinction of fish species by not purchasing these types of endangered species caught off the coast of Belize. Besides fish, one of the main issues affecting the reef previously mentioned is agricultural runoff due to the growing of citrus fruits and banana plantations. The methods that these fruits are grown can be changed in order to improve the ecosystem of Belize’s coast as well as the ecosystems present on land. Fruits grown in monoculture are bad for the ecosystem in which they are grown but they also affect many other ecosystems, as can be seen by its effect on the Belize Barrier Reef. Civilization as a whole should seek better methods of growing produce, such as intercropping, which is better for the environment. Another way people can help better the reef is to support it through contributions to non-profit organizations or by visiting the reef. Tourism is an issue that has caused the reef to decline, but there are healthy ways to tour the reef without leaving a negative impact. Tourists can travel to Belize’s barrier reef to explore the local culture and people as opposed to going on a vacation and staying in a hotel or going on a cruise that can kill parts of the reef. The revenue gained from tourist activities helps the economy and thus helps the government which can use collected taxes to create programs that will benefit the reef. Government intervention and implementation of stricter laws can help maintain and possibly revive parts of the ecosystem. Human impacts have negatively affected the reef for decades, but something they take for granted may be gone sooner than they expected. Belize’s barrier reef is a natural wonder of the world that attracts many people but preservation needs to be the common goal of Belizeans as well as citizens of the world. 

Data

Status of Coral Reefs (Belize Barrier Reef System)
	Coral Cover
	Year	Average	Status	Year	Average	Status
Bacalar Chico	2005	18.67%	alert
Hol Chan	2005	11.97%	poor
Caye Caulker	2005	44.58%	optimal
Gladden Spit	2005	11.12%	poor
Glover's Reef	2005	20.72%	good	2008	11.80%	poor
South Water Caye	2005	44.25%	optimal	2008	11.80%	poor
Sapodilla Caye	2005	28.95%	good	2008	9.90%	critical
Half Moon Caye				2008	20%	good
Laughing Bird				2008	16.60%	alert
Port Honduras				2008	8.80%	critical
	Algae Cover
	Year	Average	Status	Year	Average	Status
Bacalar Chico	2005	39.28%	alert
Hol Chan	2005	67.32%	critical
Caye Caulker	2005	19.42%	optimal
Gladden Spit	2005	39.85%	alert
Glover's Reef	2005	30.06%	alert	2008	26.30%	good
South Water Caye	2005	26.07%	good	2008	25.30%	good
Sapodilla Caye	2005	19.62%	optimal	2008	34.10%	alert
Half Moon Caye				2008	31.40%	alert
Laughing Bird				2008	31.40%	alert
Port Honduras				2008	24.80%	good

“Project for the Conservation and Sustainable use of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.” Oceanus.org.mx. MBRS Technical Document No.18, Volume 1. December 2006. Web. <http://www.oceanus.org.mx/web/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=12&Itemid=1>

“Status of Coral Reefs in the Mesoamerican Region.” Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008. Oceanus.org.mx. Chapter 18: 253-264. <http://www.oceanus.org.mx/web/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=7&Itemid=3>

Criteria Assessment of Status of Reef Fish Populations of Barrier Islands
Criteria	Barrier Islands
	Cay Chapel	Gallow's Point	Sergaent Cay	Goff's  Cay	Rendevous Cay
Area Surveyed	3840 m2	3840 m2	3840 m2	3840 m2	1920 m2
Fish Biodiversiy	2.88	2.84	2.65	2.6	2.45
Herbivore:CarnivoreRatio	1.075	2.21	2.54	3.64	4.14
Adult Fish Density (40/100m2)	<40	<40	<40	>40	<40
Fish Recruit Density (60/10m2)	<60	<60	<60	<60	<60
*Shaded areas indicate conditions that are "not good."

Gomez, Gianna."A Rapid Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Reef Fishes of Barrier Islands within Central Belize Barrier Reed Complex utilizing the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems Protocol." Oregon State University, June 2004. Web. <http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/4217/Gomez_ocr.pdf?sequence=1>