**** International Herald Tribune | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT | Fr i d ay ,Nove m b e r 14 ,2008 5 The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a Unesco World Heritage Marine site in Central America, is off-limits for certain activities, like fishing, but local communities benefit from tourism- related work and are deeply involved in protecting the site SPOTLIGHT | Getting involved Belize Barrier Reef: Local communities help protect World Heritage site and reap the benefits Protecting World Heritage he Belize Barrier Reef in Central Amer- Such interaction is possible only if the means they feel part of it.’’ Today, he says, the kind of support that makes a difference. The Belize public, notes Patry, already Unesco’s World Heritage mission is ica is the world’s second-largest reef, community feels involved, and Belize is a one in four Belizeans benefits directly or indi- We can show the economic benefits of supported World Heritage. ‘‘When these de- to encourage countries to sign the T and it is the longest in both the North- place where the locals are really making rectly from the tourism industry. these sites, but you need the other part — a velopment issues arose,’’ he says, ‘‘the gov- World Heritage Convention and ern and Western hemispheres. A summary their voices heard. The national government, Specifically, projects to encourage com- sense of these places, within the communi- ernment had to back down because the ensure protection of their of the reef’s World Heritage nomination was through the Forest Department and other munity involvement can be basic business- ty.’’ whole country was up in arms.’’ Such grass- patrimony; to date, 185 countries prepared in 1996 by the International Union stakeholders and agencies, administers the training courses in the villages or licensing Developing this sense is best practice roots pressure can come only from a com- have done so. Unesco also for Conservation of Nature, a Swiss-based World Heritage site. Says David Perera of agreements with tour operators, requiring for World Heritage sites, and should begin munity that shares a firm dedication to its encourages these countries to forum with more than 1,000 government the Belize Forest Department’s Protected them to use a percentage of local residents. early — ideally during the nomination pro- World Heritage site. nominate sites within their and nongovernmental member organiza- Areas Program, ‘‘It’s the government’s inten- When tourists visit the area, it is now man- cess for World Heritage inscription, says Unesco helps a protected area’s man- territory for the World Heritage tions, as well as almost tion to make locals par- datory to draw on the communal expertise; Marc Patry, a Unesco specialist for Latin agement system confront issues such as in- List, and to establish management 11,000 volunteer scien- Charles Darwin called it ticipate in the tourism tour operators by law must hire local guides America and the Caribbean. ‘‘If a country is appropriate or illegal development. ‘‘But plans and reporting systems on the tists in more than 160 industry by training to lead tourist groups. ‘‘In this way,’’ Perera considering a nomination for World Heritage, there’s something else in play here,’’ Patry state of conservation of their countries. Describing ‘the most remarkable them in sustainable explains, ‘‘we guarantee the sharing of the it should carry out a consultative process adds, ‘‘the need to build local and national World Heritage sites. It helps the Belize Barrier Reef reef in the West Indies’ livelihood projects.’’ tourism pie, and also guarantee conserving with the stakeholders,’’ Patry says. ‘‘It pride in these sites, to be able to counter WWW.STUARTWESTMORLAND.COM / WESTMORLAND STUART countries safeguard these sites by Reserve System’s justi- Local communities, the area in perpetuity for Belizeans and for- should not be a top-down decision. We’ve such development. There can be pride in a providing technical assistance and fication for inclusion in World Heritage, the Perera explains, have depended on the eigners alike.’’ Involving the local population found that when inscribed after little con- flagship species, like a manta ray or whale training. Unesco also provides IUCN stated: ‘‘It provides a classic example site’s resources for many years, and it is a relatively new concept that has taken sultation with stakeholders, you have a fra- shark — something people can relate to emergency assistance for World of the evolutionary history of reefs, contains comes as a shock to them when the area is hold, and it is making Belize a showcase site gile site. Local communities have to become that symbolizes the site and World Heritage. Heritage sites in immediate superlative natural phenomena and areas put off-bounds for certain activities, like fish- where a concerned population plays a prin- active in conserving it. If not, the site gets There can be huge outpourings of public danger. For more information, visit of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic ing. So the Forest Department finds alterna- cipal role in sustaining its own economy. eroded — the help you need at the local support for not doing something. We saw it http://whc.unesco.org importance, and is one of the most pristine tive work for them, which now includes tour- But community participation goes further level is not there.’’ in Belize. We need to develop that pride.’’ reef ecosystems in the Western hemi- ism-related activities, such as guiding than this: natives help protect the site, too. sphere. As early as 1842, Charles Darwin visitors who want to go snorkeling or diving. Belize’s citizens, for example, recently re- referred to it as ‘the most remarkable reef in The Forest Department, which for de- acted strongly to development plans on a the West Indies.’’’ cades has sought a balance between devel- cay that was part of the protected area. The report continues: ‘‘Its history illus- opment and conservation at the Belize Bar- Their reaction was so strong that the im- trates the major role reefs have played in rier Reef, seems to have hit on the right pugned project was scrapped. Recalls Art the history of humankind. Such interaction approach. Training is provided to those living Pedersen, a Unesco program specialist on between human and reefs is particularly ev- close or adjacent to the protected marine heritage and sustainable tourism: ‘‘It set off ident in Belize today, where a large part of areas. Says Perera: ‘‘They are the local care- a worldwide — but more importantly, Belize- the economy is dependent on the reef takers and beneficiaries of most of these based — outcry against the development through fisheries and tourism.’’ projects. Heavy involvement in the process plans, which later were suspended. That’s DIVING | The Blue Hole and other sites One of the Caribbean’s top diving destinations panning the country’s coastline for its ceiling, forming the phins also live close by about 185 miles (300 kilometers), almost perfectly round and will often come to S the Belize Barrier Reef ranks among sinkhole 1,000 feet check out divers. Ocean the top Caribbean diving destinations. Its (305 meters) across currents bring schools offshore atolls — Turneffe, Glover’s Reef and nearly 500 feet of snapper and other and Lighthouse Reef — provide more than deep, so popular with pelagic species (those 100 diving and snorkeling sites, most of divers and snorkelers living in open waters). At them easily accessible for the visitor. today. Though farther Lindsey’s Back Porch, The ‘‘Scuba Diving Belize’’ Web site out from the reef, it is a another top location, (www.scubadivingbelize.com) offers a com- must-see. Stalactites divers can observe the prehensive look at the reef for visitors plan- from the Pleistocene white spotted toadfish, ning a trip. Belize, it reminds divers, has age are visible on the found only in Belize. been slower to develop than other parts of canyon walls, and visit- Turneffe also offers the Caribbean, which means the country can ors can usually ob- amateurs of wreck offer the luxury of uncrowded sites. Divers in serve sharks here. The diving a chance to ex- Belize will encounter marine life of all variet- Blue Hole is one of the plore the Sayonara, ly- ies, including 70 types of hard corals and seven marine protec- ing at a depth of 50 nearly 500 species of fish. Water tempera- ted areas making up Under the sea: Belize offers spectacular diving. feet, and the HMS Ad- ture, the site says, remains constant at the Belize Barrier Reef vice, a British vessel around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Reserve System, a World Heritage site. that sank to 16 feet in 1793. Remains of an- Celsius), and the waters stay relatively calm Turneffe Atoll offers locations to suit other ship, called Amigo’s Wreck, can be inside the reef or on the unexposed side of every level of diver. Its Web site found at Ambergris Caye. the atolls. (www.tflats.com), which commits one per- The official site of the Belize Tourism Turneffe Atoll, 30 miles long, is the cent of its revenue to conservation, lists oth- Board (www.travelbelize.org) offers this ad- largest coral atoll in the Caribbean. It offers er favorites. These include the Chutes off vice: ‘‘For something different, try snorkeling 60 diving sites and easy access to other Calabash Caye. Here, the site says, divers or diving near a mangrove colored island — spots, like the Blue Hole, located in the cen- often find spotted morays and hawksbill the nursery of the sea — where you are ter of Lighthouse Reef. The ocean explorer turtles, an endangered species. sure to find tiny barracuda, snapper and oth- Jacques-Yves Cousteau made the Blue Hole Amateurs of drift diving (an advanced- er fish whose parents you might have seen famous when he took his ship, the Calypso, level method where one floats with the cur- in deeper water.’’ In southern Belize, the site there in the early 1970s and filmed a televi- rents) should head for the canyons of The El- also recommends South Water Caye Marine sion documentary.