Posted: Monday, December 5, 2016. 12:41 p.m. CST.
By BBN Staff: Today, the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable development announced that a World Heritage Site forum will be held tomorrow at the Bliss Institute for the Performing Arts from 7-9 p.m. in Belize City.
This is in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve system.
In December 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The BBRRS being the largest barrier reef complex in the Northern and Western Hemisphere, also represents the second largest barrier reef system in the world. It provides habitat to a number of endemic and migratory birds and threatened marine species such as the West Indian manatee, the American crocodile and marine turtles. Belizeans in the Tourism and Fisheries Sector have relied greatly on the reef for their livelihood.
The BBRRS comprises of seven marine protected areas which makes up 12 percent of the entire reef complex of Belize.
The seven sites include: Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park and the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.
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