The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is the largest reef complex in the Atlantic-Caribbean region and represents the second largest reef system in the world. UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1996, recognising its unique range of reef types and the biodiversity found across its seven protected areas.
But in 2009, the site was placed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger. Concerns included the destruction of mangroves and marine ecosystems, offshore oil extraction and unsustainable development.