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MANAMA, Bahrain June 27, 2018 (ENS) – Conservatives around the world celebrate Tuesday the announcement by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that the Belize Coral Reef Reserve System – the second largest coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef – officially removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger
The World Heritage Committee, meeting this week in Bahrain, has followed the advice of the World Heritage Committee. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Caye Caulker on the World Heritage Coral Reef Belize, July 17, 2015 (Photo by dronepicr)
"The objective of the List of World Heritage in Danger is to help focus the action where it is most needed and the decision taken today to lift the status' in jeopardy Of the barrier reef reserve system Belize proves that it can be incredibly effective, "said Peter Shadie, IUCN Senior Adviser on World Heri
" Each natural World Heritage site should benefit from the highest possible level of protection, and Belize is an inspiring example of how national engagement combined with collective action can ensure that this is the case. " The Belize Barrier Reef was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2009 because of the unsustainable development of hotels that has increased its vulnerability to erosion and severe storms.
Mangrove forests have been replaced by sand and gravel. Due to their destructive and irreversible effects, the oil, gas and mining industries are considered incompatible with World Heritage status but, over the last 10 years, the reef site has faced the threat of water destruction. potential petroleum activities
In 2011, it became public that offshore oil concessions existed on the site, triggering an outcry from Belizeans. Efforts to stop oil exploration were supported by a coalition including WWF, Oceana and the Belize Tourism Industry Association.
The Government of Belize listens. Over the last 18 months, the government has put in place protections to protect the reef from immediate threats.
Last December, Belize announced the banning of oil drilling throughout its marine territory and strengthened the legal protection of its coastal mangroves. , which helps protect coastlines from climate change disasters, maintains virgin waters and supports local fisheries.
These are the decisions that led to the removal of the site from the list of World Heritage in Danger today.
"Belize has demonstrated the kind of leadership it urgently needs to improve the resilience of valuable marine ecosystems." Tim Badman, Director of the IUCN World Heritage Program
"His Commitment closes to protect the reef from oil threats and development impacts Badman said:
While unsustainable development no longer threatens the integrity of Belize's Barrier Reef Reserve System, the site is increasingly exposed to climate change, with impacts such as coral bleaching, sea-level rise, beach erosion and hurricanes.
The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention financial assistance at the request of the 193 countries party to the Convention
The Committee has the last word on the inscription of a property on the List patrimony The World Bank examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and requests States Parties to take action when assets are not properly managed.
It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee will decide on the protection of outstanding natural and cultural sites on the basis of proposals from Canada, China, Colombia, France, Iran, Mexico, Russia and the United States. South Africa
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