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HISTORICAL CONTE XT

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and many elkhorn and staghorn corals, among the

Formal marine conservation efforts began in the

region's fastest-growing coral species, were lost11.

region about thirty years ago, with an emphasis on

birds and coastal protection. Early protected areas

The International Year of the Reef (1997) marked

included Belize's Half Moon Caye, nesting place of the

a turning point for marine conservation along the

famous red-footed boobies (1928 -- declaration of part

Mesoamerican Reef. Ten years after the establishment

of the caye as a Crown reserve, 1982 -- designation of

of the region's first marine reserve (Belize's Hol Chan

the entire caye as a natural monument); Honduras's

in 1987), Belize celebrated the declaration of the

remote Rio Platano (1982); Sian Ka'an, now the largest

Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site, and several

protected area in the Mexican Caribbean (1986); and

international non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Guatemala's Biotopo Chocón-Machacas (1989).

began setting up regionally focused conservation

Nearly coincident with the establishment of these

programs. On June 5, 1997, the presidents of Mexico,

early preserves, the Caribbean experienced a basin-

Guatemala and Honduras and the prime minister

wide catastrophe (Figure 2): the unprecedented die-

of Belize signed the Tulum Declaration, formally

off of one of its most ecologically important reef

acknowledging the exceptional global value of the

residents, the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema

reef (considered to be relatively "pristine" among

antillarum). A devastating 1983 disease outbreak

Caribbean reefs) and pledging to protect it for future

wiped out 95% of these algae-eating echinoderms10.

generations12.

Algal growth probably accelerated immediately in

One year later the region experienced concurrent

many areas, although there was little quantitative

natural disasters. By September 1998, reef waters

reef monitoring at that time in the MAR region to

had warmed to unusually high temperatures and the

record these changes, and abundant herbivorous fish

most severe coral bleaching event in recorded history

populations may have prevented algal overgrowth in

was underway13. In late October, Hurricane Mitch hit,

some areas. Coral disease also hit hard in the 1980s,

Figure 2.a. Generalized History of Major Reef Disturbances in Belize

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