Posted on July, 21 2008

"What has saved the Turneffe Atoll so far is the distance from shore, but unfortunately is being discovered by investors who want to establish here recreation centers, which would damage the area in many respects," he says with concern Shalini Cawich, biologist Marine Programme MAR, WWF.

The Turneffe Atoll is located 40.2 kilometers east of Belize City, surrounded by deep ocean dyed an intense blue. With approximately 48 kms. long by 16 kilometers. wide, is the largest Atoll and the highest biodiversity of Belize. It consists of a series of mangrove islands, cays, lagoons and lush grassland marine robes, all surrounded and protected by a ring of colorful coral reefs.

More than 150 islands make up Turneffe, from small sandbars, islands emerging with some mangrove trees, islands up from just over 2 thousand hectares long, covered with at least 77 different species of plants, including mangroves, palms and dwarf coconut.

This Atoll Caribbean has a high conservation value because of their large tracts of virgin mangrove forests, grassland and marine habitats shallow lagoons, making it a huge nursery for a wide range of marine species such as fish, lobsters, snails The western Indian manatee and is home to the largest population of American saltwater crocodile, with about 300 individuals registered.

Unfortunately, some threats hanging over this tropical paradise almost unchanged so far: on the one hand ensañamiento with nature is more intense and frequent hurricanes that destroy everything in its path, and global warming, caused by bleaching and death of corals, and on the other hand, the pressure to build hotels and houses in this area and illegal fishing or bad practices affecting the environment of these islands.

WWF, the global conservation organization, has been working for several years with the local committee of Turneffe, to establish the Guidelines for the Development of the Turneffe Islands, which includes research and inventory of species that support the designation of this atoll as the first Biosphere Reserve in Belize.

Notwithstanding its importance, Turneffe Atoll is the only System MAR that does not have any statement or protected area management plan. Recently completed the National Policy and Plan of Protected Areas System, the Ministry of Natural Resources, which together with research funded by WWF, confirmed the importance of ecosystems Turneffe and the urgent need to protect them.

The results of this research have attracted other organizations interested in joining the work of WWF, as the Oak Foundation and the University of Belize. With support from the Oak Foundation, WWF plans to start handling of two vital areas of mating and reproduction in Turneffe, to ensure the viability of the species seeking refuge in this area.

Through an agreement with the University of Belize, this will provide a boat for four park rangers paid by WWF patrolling around the atoll, preventing fishermen and other invaders affect the various natural habitats.

"The fishermen bring lime to trap lobsters confined to the daytime shelters. Spreading lime on corals and lobsters have to leave to avoid suffocation, as they can not breathe, and that's when the fishermen catch, but in the process, lime also kills the coral. It is a bad practice that we are trying to change, talking to fishermen to make them aware of the damage they cause "laments Shalini Cawich, who believes that conservation work the passion of his life.

According to her, "also come to fish off-season when locusts are in breeding and females are being loaded with half a million or more eggs. It is their priority conservation…. "

As part of the conservation program of Turneffe Atoll, WWF has undertaken the project of "sowing Seaweed," which teaches fishermen to plant a species of algae in line with sustained subject to buoys and sea floor. "At first is a small investment in ropes and buoys, but then only have to come once a week and reap the surplus algae," explains Cawich. These algae are used at the moment for their own consumption or sold in local trading to make milk shakes, massage creams or lotions for the face.

Cawich says that "some investors arrived in St. Lucia and took samples of this algae to plant there. Cover hundreds of hectares with this plant and marine now being exported, and that first seed left here, Turneffe. It is something that could be done here and it would be an option for fishermen. "

Certainly there is much to be done to preserve the Turneffe islands and lagoons, but have already taken important steps to achieve it.