The forest and the axes
Deforestation, as is the case for almost all the world's tropical forests, is raging in Belize. Whereas forests covered 75% of the territory in the 1980s, today they represent only around 60%. The main reason: massive logging to make way for agriculture, in particular banana and sugarcane monocultures. This is an extremely dangerous phenomenon, given that Belize is covered by one of the few primary rainforests, i.e. one that is completely untouched by human intervention. These pristine forests stand in stark contrast to man-managed forests, which represent a greatly diminished biodiversity. But while it only takes a few axe blows to cut down the trees of a tropical forest, it will take several centuries for it to recover. It is therefore essential to tackle the problem at source, and prevent the massive felling of Belize's forests. This is the battle to which a coalition of international NGOs has committed itself. It has purchased almost 1,000 km2 of virgin forest in the east of the country, to save it from the chainsaws. In addition to protecting the rich biodiversity of tropical species such as jaguars, spider monkeys and howler monkeys, this also helps combat global warming, since tropical forests are important carbon sinks. The government is also taking action, notably by increasing the number of protected areas. However, deforestation is often carried out illegally.
A spectacular coral reef
Who would have thought that this small Central American country would boast the third largest barrier reef in the world, after Australia and New Caledonia? Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Belize's barrier reef is unparalleled in its richness: at least 100 species of coral, 500 species of fish and 100 species of invertebrates, although it is estimated that the vast majority of the reef's biodiversity remains to be discovered. Like all the world's coral reefs, Belize's is under threat from warming waters, which cause coral bleaching, as well as from tourism and trawling.
However, the government is taking concrete steps towards its conservation, for example through the Belize Barrier Rief Reserve System, a tangle of seven marine reserves, protecting nearly 1,000 km2 of reef. In 2010, the country also became the first in the world to ban all trawling in its waters, including its entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These measures have paid off: in 2018, UNESCO decided to remove the Belize Barrier Reef from the list of World Heritage in Danger. It had been placed there in 2009, following decisions to drill for offshore oil, sell land and destroy mangroves, which endangered the reef. Ten years later, having banned oil drilling in its waters and protected the mangroves and land through legislation, the site has finally been removed from the list of World Heritage in Danger.
The Sargasso invasion
Belize is suffering from a proliferation of sargassum. This brown algae, which floats on the surface of the water before washing ashore, is completely natural and an important link in marine ecosystems. However, since 2011, their proliferation has been beyond comprehension on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Although this phenomenon is not yet fully understood by the scientific community, it is thought to be due to the combined action of fertilizers ending their life in water and global warming. Heat and nutrients are a little too favorable for sargassum to thrive, so much so that Belize's coasts are regularly littered with these algae.
The only drawback is that when the seaweed washes up on the beach, it decomposes, releasing a gas that is as foul-smelling as it is toxic. In addition to the rotten-egg smell of the gaseous cocktail, it is also linked to recurrent headaches and digestive problems. These brown tides also pose a risk to marine life, suffocating certain species and disrupting turtle nesting. As this phenomenon is as recent as it is sudden, scientists have yet to find a solution. The tides are episodic, however, and travelers have a good chance of escaping them.
Protected areas: sanctuaries of biodiversity
Protected areas: sanctuaries of biodiversity
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Belize protects almost 40% of its land and 20% of its water. The country boasts 17 national parks, as well as marine reserves, sanctuaries and other protected areas with different levels of protection. One of these is of international interest: the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the world's oldest and largest jaguar reserve! Even if the jaguar is particularly discreet, allowing only a privileged few to catch a glimpse, the sanctuary is known as a major international observation site. Indeed, while countries such as Brazil boast larger populations due to their size, Belize has the highest density of the feline.
For its part, the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve combines terrestrial and marine beauty, which is why it is both a national park and a marine reserve. It's this duality between sea and land that gives it its exceptional wealth of ecosystems: mangroves, beaches, tropical forest, marshes and, of course, the coral reef. The park even boasts the only place in the country where coral meets the coast. This exceptional site is called Rocky Point, in reference to the fossilized coral protruding from the waves.
