Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System

The Western Hemisphere’s largest barrier reef system, extending along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. It includes reefs, atolls, lagoons, and coastal habitats.

Barrier reef: A coral reef separated from shore by a lagoon or other body of water. The system is a regional example of this reef form.
Belize Barrier Reef: A barrier reef along Belize’s Caribbean coast and part of the Mesoamerican reef system. It is the system’s largest continuous reef section.
Coral bleaching: The loss of symbiotic algae or their pigments from corals, often caused by heat stress. Marine heat can trigger bleaching across the system’s reefs.
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System: A UNESCO World Heritage property comprising seven protected areas along Belize’s coast. Its conservation status highlights international efforts to protect part of the system.
Coral reef restoration: Interventions intended to help damaged coral reefs recover or regain ecological functions. Restoration projects test how much damaged sections can recover.
Coral reef: A marine ecosystem built largely from the calcium-carbonate skeletons of corals. Coral reefs form the system’s central habitat.
Glover's Reef: An offshore atoll in Belize, with a reef surrounding a shallow lagoon. It shows how atolls contribute to the system’s range of reef forms.
Coral reef fish: Fish species that live in, feed on, or depend on coral reef habitats. Their feeding and shelter needs link reef habitats into a living ecosystem.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A place recognized under the World Heritage Convention for outstanding universal value. The Belize reserve system received this designation in 1996.
Marine heatwave: A prolonged period of unusually warm ocean temperatures in a particular region. Increasing heat extremes raise questions about the reef’s capacity to withstand bleaching.

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