Belize Field Center
This area of coastal Central America contains a myriad of habitats, from tropical forests and mangroves to the vast Meso-American Barrier reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thousands of Maya archaeological sites dot the landscape, and rivers cascade from the mountains to the sea over dramatic falls and through limestone caves. Belize has retained much of its coastal forest, thanks to forward-thinking government policies, as well as the actions of local and international conservation organizations, providing a vital resource for local sustainability.
CoralBelize's barrier reef ecosystem, second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, covers a large offshore area of estuaries, lagoons, islands, and shallow water reefs. The reef supports hundreds of species of fish, as well as mollusks, sponges, and other plants and animals. Of special note are the critically endangered manatees and marine turtles as well as struggling populations of lobsters and queen conch that are vital to the local economy.
The Conservation Challenge
Despite having one of the lowest population densities in the world, Belize faces huge environmental concerns. Coastal development and industrial growth foul marine habitats with toxic run-off and sediment, and overfishing and tourism activities threaten the sustainability of the very resources they rely on. The challenge will be to nurture the economic livelihoods of local communities while sustaining the pristine ecosystems that make this region so special.
Earthwatch's Role in Southern Belize
The government of Belize has created a Coastal Zone Management Unit to manage and conserve its remarkable coastal resources. Working in collaboration with local conservation partners, the research efforts of the Belize Regional Initiative provide important data and monitoring assistance to help ameliorate human impacts on this area.
Earthwatch currently has four projects in the Belize Regional Initiative:
- documenting coral health as well as conducting experiments aimed at a better understanding of how to aid coral recovery
- surveying the population and habitat of queen conch and working with the local community to sustainably manage this important economic resource
- ecosystem monitoring in collaboration with local conservation organizations
- rainforest wildlife conservation and ecosystem management
Learn more about the Southern Belize Field Center and how you can make a difference to this unique ecosystem as an Earthwatch volunteer.