Ecologists and environmentalist say that Belize's barrier reef, which is the second largest in the world, is under attack from climate change and they are asking for special protection. UNESCO, the United Nation's Education and Scientific Organization, met today in Paris to address the danger climate change poses to World Heritage Sites.
It's of note to Belize because our barrier reef is on that list and experts say the effects are already being seen. The images you are seeing is what ecologists call coral whitening. They say that global warming causes whitening. UNESCO wants to compile a World Heritage danger list which is something like an endangered specie list. But the United States says they want to see the proof and until they do, the U.S. will oppose efforts for a consensus on climate change and the World Heritage Sites.
Belize is represented at the meeting by Melanie McField from the Belize Environmental Law Center. Belize's position is that this country wants its barrier reef included on the World Heritage danger list. McField testified in front of the World Heritage Committee.
