The largest coral reef system in the Northern Hemisphere, the Belize Barrier Reef, was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage in Danger in 2009 over fears of "mangrove cutting and excessive development in the property." The Belizean government responded to the threat by making a "transformational shift," UNESCO's marine program coordinator, Fanny Douvere, told The New York Times, and its hard work paid off — this week the reef was removed from UNESCO's list of endangered sites.
Conservationists credit the Belizean government for suspending offshore drilling and implementing new protections for the mangrove forests. "Today’s outcome shows the power of collective action … and sets an example for the rest of the world," said the UNESCO World Heritage Center director, Dr. Mechtild Rossler.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cowsSpeed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
-
Palazzo Durazzo Suites in Genoa: a palatial gem in northern ItalyThe Week Recommends Live your Italian dream in this astonishing and recently restored palace in the heart of the city
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescueSpeed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in MoroccoSpeed Read
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female presidentSpeed Read
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. saysSpeed Read
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprisingSpeed Read
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
