19 Mar 2007 - Placencia,
Belize – A WWF survey shows that rising
temperatures, altered rainfall and coral
bleaching are among the main threats to
Central America’s Mesoamerican Reef.
The survey, conducted in this small coastal
Caribbean village, recorded first-hand testimony
from local inhabitants about the impact
climate change has had on their marine resources,
and by association, on their way of life.
“This is the first time an assessment of
this nature has been carried out in the
reef region,” explained Nadia Bood, a WWF
scientist studying the Mesoamerican Reef.
“Placencia was chosen due to its close
geographic location to the reef and the
fact that the village’s main source of income
is strongly tied to the coastal area, particularly
from fishing and tourism.”
Many of the villagers surveyed believed
that coral bleaching and overfishing have
significantly reduced fish and lobster populations.
They believe that responsible fisheries
management and stricter control of off-season
fishing regulations and illegal fishing
are needed to reduce the destruction of
the reef system.
The climate change “witnesses” also asserted
that the climate is not as predictable as
it used to be, with storm systems and rainfall
becoming increasingly severe and unpredictable
over time. During storms and hurricanes,
erosion has been a problem for the peninsula
and has been even more of a concern for
surrounding islands, where rising sea levels
are also having an impact.
Certain locations in Central America and
southern Mexico are already prone to extreme
weather events such as intense storms and
hurricanes, as well as flooding and landslides.
“The results of the survey bring to light
that climate change is a serious problem
that affects livelihoods directly,” added
Bood. “This study shows how crucial it is
to take immediate actions toward reducing
the effects of climate change effects.”
The survey complements other scientific
work WWF is carrying out, including a report
with The Nature Conservancy to assess the
physical status of coral reefs throughout
the Mesoamerican Reef. Based on preliminary
findings for Belize, deeper offshore reefs
appear to be more susceptible to bleaching
effects. Many of these reefs are those which
fishers and marine tour operators depend
upon for their livelihood.
END NOTES:
• The Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second
largest barrier reef, stretches more than
700 kilometers from the extreme north of
the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico down through
the Belize Barrier Reef, the Caribbean coast
of Guatemala and the island complex of the
Bahía/Cochinos Cays adjacent to the
northern coast of Honduras.
• The WWF survey, conducted with assistance
from the US-based Edelman Public Relations
firm, interviewed 22 villagers from Placencia,
Belize, which lies just 30km off the coast
from the Mesoamerican Reef.
Cinthya Flores Mora, Communications Director
WWF Central America
