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.