Minister of Tourism and Belize Government Officials attend meeting with UNESCO

The Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Manuel Heredia, Jr., attended a meeting with representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and local government officials on March 25th, 2009 at the Coastal Zone Management Authority's training room.

UNESCO dispatched two officials, Mr. Edward Muller and Mr. Marc Patry, from its World Heritage Headquarters in Paris, France to coordinate a public discussion on the present state of Belize's protected areas and to forge a way forward in addressing the underlying issues that are presently threatening Belize's world heritage sites.

Representatives from various government departments, heads of Departments, government agencies, as well as environmental NGO's all attended the meeting to listen to concerns from the UNESCO representatives. Of greatest concern was the continued development within designated protected areas, with major emphasis on the continuous dredging activities that has reportedly been taking place within the Pelican Caye Range inside the South Water Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR).

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Jr. gave the government's commitment to working harder to protect and better manage Belize's World Heritage Sites to ensure that problems of the past are mitigated and steps are taken to prevent irresponsible development within these protected areas. The Minister also pledged that the significance of these sites cannot be taken for granted given the great value they hold for our natural heritage and their role as a key marketing tool in Belize's tourism industry.

UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be outstanding value to humanity. UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage as well as encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage.

Belize joined UNESCO on May 10th, 1982. The Belize Barrier Reef System is inscribed on the World Heritage List along with the seven protected areas that make up the Belize Barrier Reef System namely, Bacalar Chico Marine & Wildlife Reserve, Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Blue Hole Natural Monument, and Laughing Bird Caye National Park.