velop and administer its growing list of national parks. Wildlife Conservation International has offered to help the government set up a Belize Barrier Reef Authority, modeled after the Australian agency that oversees similar marine reserves in that country. The main goal of the proposed BBRA would be to provide for the protection, sustainable use, and recreational enjoyment of the reef and waters through public zoning and careful management of all marine resources. Experience has shown that when reserves are established on the basis of esthetic qualities, species diversity, and other scientific criteria, but without regard for traditional human usage, they stand little chance of success. Zoning can take into account and separate the conflicting activities. Thus, specific areas of the reef would be designated as suitable for specific activities, such as commercial fishing or scientific research, and some regions would be strictly protected from any use so that genetic diversity and essential ecological processes can be maintained. The proposed reef authority would also be responsible for implementing a comprehensive research program in order to better understand the ecological processes of the reef and to monitor the changes brought on by man's activities. Belize's barrier reef ecosystem-its reefs, cays, grass flats, and mangrove swamps-is truly a global treasure, and the commitment of the Belizean people to protect it is strong. Nevertheless, success ultimately depends on the country's ability to make a longterm moral and financial commitment to its fledgling conservation programs. Belize is one of the few places on Earth where vast resources remain underdeveloped and relatively undisturbed, where people are aware of the dangers of development, and where the government wants to avoid environmental mistakes. For Belizeans, sustainable use of Hol Chan and other natural marine resources is not only a rational response to their necessary economic development, but an ethical imperative as well, expressed best in the belief that we have not inherited the Earth from our parents, but borrowed it from our children.☐ 66 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BECOME A BARRIER REEF BOOSTER Conservation of Belize's barrier reef-recently named by marine experts one of the seven underwater wonders of the world-is vital because of its pristine condition and extreme vulnerability to human activities. Belize is taking steps to ensure the reef's survival, but the country is poor and certainly not alone in its responsibilities to the ecosystem. The reef belongs to us all and to no one. We should share in the efforts to preserve it. There are two ways you can help: (1) Travel. Revenue from tourism is an investment in wildlife. (2) Write letters of support to Belize officials and conservationists. Travel For years, the Belize reef has been the secret destination of divers and fishermen. Even today, the region is relatively undiscovered. There are a number of ways to see the reef: Charter sailboats, glass-bottomed boats, and professional dive boats make daily excursions from some of the more than 200 offshore cays. You can bring your own snorkeling or diving gear or rent it there. Ambergris Caye is the largest of the resort islands, with a variety of tourist accommodations and regular flights from Belize City. The main town of San Pedro, near the southern tip of the 25-mile-long island, is laid back, with sun-faded pastel houses, thatched-roof cabanas, sociable bars, fishing smacks anchored in the lagoon, and friendly people. Bare feet are the rule wherever you go on Ambergris. The rainy season runs from May through October, the rest of the year is relatively dry, with especially delightful weather during the winter holidays. The best diving is in late spring, when underwater visibility often exceeds 100 feet. Water temperature ranges from a winter low of 73° F to a summer high in the mid-80s. The air temperature is balmy year-round. Belize is directly accessible from Miami, Houston, and New Orleans. A number of travel agencies can help you arrange flights and tours; among them: International Expeditions, 1776 Independence Court, Birmingham, AL 35216, 800/ 633-4734; Ocean Connection, 16728 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062, 800/331-2458; Oceanic Society Expeditions, Fort Mason Center, Building E, San Francisco, Visit Belize and experience the reef and its inhabitants from aboard a glassbottomed boat (left, at Hol Chan Cut) or up really close and personal (above, a diver followed by a green moray eel). CA 94123, 800/326-7491; Triton Letters George Price was recently elected prime minister. Urge him to continue current conservation projects and to support future efforts to save the ecosystem. Write to The Honorable George Price, Prime Minister, Belmopan, Belize. Glenn Godfrey is head of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, a brand-new cabinet department responsible for fostering concern for the environment while expanding the vital tourist industry. Encourage close monitoring of tourism development and its impact on the country's natural resources. Write to The Honorable Glenn Godfrey, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Belmopan, Belize. Victor Gonzalez is executive director of the Belize Audubon Society, which played a major role in securing local support for Hol Chan Nature Reserve, and administers Half Moon Caye National Monument. Write letters of support to Dr. Victor Gonzalez, Belize Audubon Society, P.O. Box 1001, Belize City, Belize. Compiled by D. Behler JUN 01 '92 11:06 P.1/2 SUPPORT OF CORAL REEF RESEARCH BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE The National Park Service (NPS) administers four sites in the vestern Atlantic and Caribbean which have major coral reef resources; Biscayne National Park, Fort Jefferson National Monument, Buck Island Reef National Monument, and Virgin Islands National Park. Since 1983, NPS has committed over 1.5 million dollars for research projects on coral reefs and reef fishes. In 1987, the Park Service completed construction of the Virgin Islands Biosphere Reserve Center on St. John. This complex provides laboratory and office space for the Virgin Islands National Park's Division of Research and Resource Management. The park's Research Biologist has served as the primary coordinator for research on marine resources in the Virgin Islands and Florida. In 1983, the Park Service organized the Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative (VIRMC) which brought together local and regional expertise to design a baseline research effort with an emphasis on coral reefs. The Cooperative included 16 public agencies and private institutions concerned with conservation, research, and resource managment in the area, including government institutions in Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. VIRMC members produced over 22 reports on coral reefs and associated marine resources. Several of the research projects evolved into more detailed studies as part of the NPS Reef Assessment Program which was initiated in 1988. In 1988, NPS provided $590,000 to support a coral reef assessment program for 5 years in cooperation with six institutions, including the University of Georgia, the Florida Dept. of Natural Resources, the USVI Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources, Northeastern University, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Island Resources Foundation. The goal of this program is to establish effective long-term research and monitoring programs at the NPS sites in Florida and the US Virgin Islands. Primary objectives are to 1) develop and evaluate standardized methods for assessment of trends on coral reefs, 2) provide baseline data on reef fish and coral populations and environmental parameters, and 3) determine natural rates of change. Major accomplishments to date include quantification of the effects of Hurricane Hugo (September 1989) on reefs at Buck Island and the Virgin Islands National Park and rates of recovery from the storms; interpretation of the geological history of Buck Island Reef; evaluation of photographic, quadrat, and linear transect methods; and assessment of natural rates of change in living coral cover at all sites. A great deal of effort has gone into establishing permanent transects and photostations at the four sites, monitoring of individual coral colonies, censusing of fish populations, installation of recording thermographs, and evaluation and fine-tuning of methods. Recommendations on methods have been summarized in a draft coral reef monitoring manual, and research results from several of the projects in this regional program have already been published. UNIVERSITY OF Miami REF:100-662:BR:mm May 12, 1992 Congressman Dennis Hertel U. S. House of Representatives 2442 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Hertel: Thank you very much for inviting me to participate in the recent hearing in Key Largo on the nation's living coral reefs. My colleagues and I at the Rosenstiel School are most appreciative of your efforts to focus and fund a long-term coral reef research agenda through federal legislation. Such measures are long overdue and, as South Floridians, we have observed first hand the escalating health problems the reefs are facing. After listening to the testimony of others at the hearing, I am more convinced than ever that legislation is needed to advance coral reef research in a coordinated and meaningful way. Current efforts are too fragmented, too unfocused and too underfunded to produce the results which provide an adequate foundation for conservation and management. I strongly endorse your including in the legislation specific long-term research objectives. In addition to those subjects already outlined in the proposed legislation, we believe an important component of the research agenda must be the study of recruitment and regeneration; that is, understanding the birth and population dynamics of young corals and the rate at which new corals are replacing dying corals. Our scientists believe it is possible that the major differences between the vigorous healthy reef areas and those that are dying are not so much the rates of death but the rates at which the dead corals are being replaced (or are not being replaced) by new, young recruits. Very little data has been collected on this subject. Easylink Mailbox No. 62845425 Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Office of the Dean 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway (305) 361-4000 Telex No. 317454 Clearly, for an ambitious, long-term research agenda to work and for funds to be invested most effectively in research coordination is critical. We encourage the establishment of a national coral reef research institute which is representative of the research community, can coordinate the research agenda among participants, channel funding to appropriate institutions and investigators, foster cooperation and assure the advancement of initiatives at the regional, national and international levels. Finally, we suggest that the legislation establish provisions for a thorough review of current coral reef research literature and the establishment of a national archive or repository to compile and catalog the results of coral reef research. All of these issues were covered in my testimony to the committee. Once again, I appreciate the opportunity to share our thoughts with you. If we can be helpful in any way regarding the passage of this legislation, please do not hesitate to call on us. Sincerely, Buk Rosent Bruce R. Rosendahl Dean and Weeks Professor 56-344 (200) |