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The Great Blue Hole Reef is popular with divers
World Heritage UNESCO has removed the Belize Barrier Reef from its list of World Heritage sites in danger after nine years.
He said the Central American government had taken "visionary" measures to preserve it.
The reef is the second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
It is home to many endangered species, including sea turtles, manatees and the American marine crocodile.
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The reef is home to a rich variety of tropical fish
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Nurse sharks are also common
Unesco added the reef to its list of World Heritage sites in 1996, but said that it was in danger in 2009 following plans by the Belize government to allow oil exploration in the country. the surrounding waters.
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UNESCO urged Belize to put in place safeguards to protect what Charles Darwin described as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies".
Ecologists organized an informal referendum in 2012 in which 96% of participants voted against offshore oil activity.
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Belizeans have made marine conservation one of their priorities
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Marine life is a great attraction for tourists, especially snorkelers
In December 2017, legislators adopted a historic moratorium on oil exploration in Belize waters, making it one of the few countries in the world with such legislation.
At its meeting in Bahrain on Monday, UNESCO praised Belize's "visionary plan for coastal management," saying "the level of conservation we hoped for was achieved."
The decision comes a little less than a year after UNESCO chose not to place the Great Barrier Reef on its "endangered" list, arguing that Australia had taken steps to preserve it.
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