Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System Facts: Know About Marine Flora

The series of coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea that are found on the long coast of Belize is known as Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which is a World Heritage Site.

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is home to an incredible diversity of marine life, including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and marine turtles. Glovers Reef is the largest and most well-known reef in the system, and it is teeming with colorful coral, tropical fish, and sharks.

Marine reserve areas help keep these delicate ecosystems healthy and vibrant, and they also provide a safe haven for many threatened species and significant habitat for marine species. It is a great place of tourist attraction and is quite popular for snorkeling and scuba diving.

It has been described as the 'most remarkable reef in the West Indies' by Charles Darwin in 1842. Let’s see some fewer known facts about this popular reef, and its flora and fauna.

Discovery And History

The history of Belize Barrier Reef is quite interesting. The reef has been attracting people from around the world for thousands of years with its resources and natural beauty.

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was first discovered by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the New World in 1502. At that time, he named it the Isla de Carmen.

Spanish conquistadors sailed along the reef system in 1519 and noted its potential for piracy as well as its strategic location for the defense of Yucatan Peninsula. In subsequent years, English buccaneers and corsairs used these reefs to ambush Spanish galleons laden with treasure.

The area around the reef system was also home to various Amerindian cultures, including the Maya and Mopan. Maya had a complex society that reached its peak around 800 AD.

They were skilled builders and left behind many impressive structures, including the pyramid at Chichén Itzá. Mopan was a set of smaller, more peaceful people who lived in the jungle-covered hills around the reef system.

The first Europeans to settle in Belize were English loggers and buccaneers who arrived in the 16th century. They founded the town of Belize City on the banks of Belize River.

In 1847, Britain declared Belize a Crown colony and began to actively colonize the area. Early British settlers cleared large areas of forest for timber and farming.

They also brought diseases like yellow fever and malaria which ravaged the local Maya population. By 1901, the Maya were numbered at only about 2,000 people, down from over 60,000 in 1880.

Mayans managed to hold on to their traditional ways for a few more decades, but then the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was declared a protected area in 1961. This prevented them from continuing their traditional fishing and hunting practices. The protected status of the reef system also helped preserve the Maya culture and way of life.

Today, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is a popular tourist destination, with nearly half a million visitors each year. It is also recognized as a Heritage Site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance.

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. It contains over 1,400 species of fish, 400 species of coral, and 50 species of mammals. It is also home to a wide variety of birds, including the scarlet macaw, toucan, and jabiru.

This reef system is under constant threat from climate change, ocean acidification, and pollution. If not properly managed, these threats could lead to the loss of much of the reef system's biodiversity.

This marine reserve is home to more than 500 species of marine fish, as well as dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and migratory birds. The reef also provides a vital nursery area for many species of juvenile fish. This marine reserve is an important economic resource for Belize.

It supports a thriving tourism industry. The reef also helps stabilize the coast and protect against erosion.

According to some evidence and stories, Mayan civilizations are believed to have been fishing and trading near the reef for quite a long time; since approximately 300-900 BCE. After this, European pirates found and visited the reef in the 17th century, and thus, it opened to the world.

Yearly, almost 260,000 tourists and visitors are attracted to this reef system. It was later inscribed as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site in 1996.

Conservation

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System protects a large portion of the reef. It includes seven marine reserves, three atolls, and 450 cayes.

Also, this area includes Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye natural monument, Glover’s Reef marine reserve, South Water Caye marine reserve, and Hol Chan marine reserve. It contains significant and important natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity under the criteria VII, IX, and X.

In December 2010, a ban was imposed on the bottom trawling and Belize became the first country in the world to do so. Also, they banned offshore oil drilling within a kilometer of the barrier reef in December 2015.

Even after these measures, the reef continues to be under threat from oceanic pollution. Shipping, uncontrolled tourism, and overfishing are some of the main reasons for this.

Global warming and hurricanes are also reasons for an increasing rise in ocean temperature. This has resulted in coral bleaching on a wide area of the reef.

The marine reserve helps protect the coral and fish that depend on it. It also helps protect the coastline from erosion.

Glover's reef is located about 28 mi (45 km) off the coast of Belize and is a part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Glover's Reef was so named by Sir Henry Lytton Cobbold in 1842 after his ship, the Glover, ran aground on this reef.

The reef is about 20 mi (32 km) long and its maximum width is about 7.5 mi (12 km). Glover's Reef supports the second largest barrier reef coral community in the world, fostering marine biodiversity, being a part of evolutionary history.

Conservationists have long argued that Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Forming a natural barrier along the country’s eastern coast, this reef system comprises several square miles of coral formations, seagrass beds, and mangroves. It’s also home to countless species of fish, marine mammals, and birds.

Today, the reef continues to face threats from development, climate change, and overfishing. But with continued conservation efforts, it remains one of the most precious resources in Belize.

Site Statistics

Scientists claim that since 1988, over 40% of Belize reef systems have been damaged. Several mass-bleaching events are affecting the coral reef.

The coastal zonal management institute in Belize reported an estimated mortality of 10% of coral colonies in 1995, when the first mass bleaching event occurred. It was followed by the second mass-bleaching event in 1998, when Hurricane Mitch struck the island.

An approximate 48% reduction in live coral covers was observed by biologists across the Belize Reef System. Even so, pollution and human activity are recorded to be much lower than other corals as the Belize Reef System is in an enclosed area.

FAQs

What is Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System?

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is a natural system that consists of seven marine protected areas in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, and numerous cays along with several coastal lagoons, mangrove forests, and estuaries.

What is special about Belize Barrier Reef?

The special thing about Belize Barrier Reef is that it is the second-largest coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and is one of the most visited tourist destinations popular for snorkeling, sailing, scuba diving, and fishing. These offshore atolls, cays, and islands are a part of Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.

It is also one of the most important reef systems, serving as a vital natural resource for the people of Belize.

This reef provides essential economic benefits to local communities, including jobs, tourism revenue, and food supplies. It also plays a crucial role in protecting coastal areas from erosion and storms.

What rank does Belize Barrier Reef hold in the world?

Belize Barrier Reef holds the second position for size among the coral reef systems in the world.

Which department is responsible for protecting Belize Barrier Reef?

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is currently responsible for protecting a large chunk of land in Belize Barrier Reef.

How was Belize Barrier Reef formed?

Belize Barrier Reef was formed when numerous colonies of breathing, living invertebrates called coral polyps surrounded the area. They are tube-shaped carnivorous polyps that live inside a protective and hard skeleton formed by excreting calcium carbonate.

Where is Belize Barrier Reef?

Belize Barrier Reef is located on the eastern coast of Belize. It is the second-largest barrier reef in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Belize Barrier Reef is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life, including over 400-500 species of fish, 50-70 species of coral, and four species of sea turtles. It's also an important stopover point for migratory birds.

Is Belize Barrier Reef protected?

Yes, Belize Barrier Reef has been under the protection of the Reef Reserve System. Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was created in 1996 to protect the world's second-largest barrier reef. It is the largest marine park in Central America and one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.

What types of coral are in Belize Barrier Reef?

Around 60 types of corals are found in Belize Barrier Reef, which includes brain coral, lettuce coral, staghorn coral, elkhorn coral, star coral, mustard hill coral, fire coral, maze coral, and sea whips.

Is Belize Barrier Reef a World Heritage Site?

Yes, in 1996, UNESCO designated Belize Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site.