For further information on the International Year of the Reef, contact the following people or organizations:
Robert Ginsburg is chairman, International Year of the Reef Organizing Committee, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149; e-mail: rginsburg@rsmas.miami.edu. Stephen Colwell and Sue Wells are co-chairs, IYOR Public Awareness and Conservation Committee, c/o Coral Reef Alliance, 809 Delaware St., Berkeley, CA 94710; tel. 510-528-2492, fax 510-528-9317; e-mail: IYOR1997-2001@aol.com. An International Year of the Reef Web site is at http://www.coral.org, home page of the Coral Reef Alliance.
Here are some of the groups involved with research into and protection of Belize's coastal ecosystems:
Coral Cay Conservation organizes teams of international volunteer divers to assist the University College of Belize's Marine Research Centre undertake survey work and gather data on the condition of Belize's reefs. This information assists the Coastal Zone Management Unit in decisions regarding which areas recommend for protection. CCC's Web site is at http://www.demon.co.uk/coralcay/home.html; e-mail ccc@coralcay.demon.co.uk or coral@ucb.edu.bz. They have offices in the UK: London, fax +44 (0) 171-498-8447; in the USA: Miami Beach, tel./fax 305-534-7638; in Australia: c/o Australian Marine Conservation Society, fax: +61 (0)7-892-5814.
The Belize Audubon Society, Belize's oldest and most-influential conservation body, manages several national parks and nature reserves (associate membership, US$25). P.O. Box 1001, Belize City, Belize; e-mail: base@btl.net.
The Belize Center for Environmental Studies is a research center and environmental library which promotes sustainable use of Belize's natural resources; visiting scientists, students and interested individuals may make use of its facilities (participant membership,US$50); P.O. Box 666, Belize City, Belize, fax: 501-2-32347.
The Siwa-Ban Foundation, a Caye Caulker-based Non-Governmental Organization, has positioned mooring buoys on the reef to prevent damage to coral from boat anchors, and also trains teachers, tour guides and individuals on reef coastal habitat conservation (individual sponsor, US$20); 143 Anderson Road, San Francisco, CA 94110
One way visitors to Belize can orient themselves to what's happening
on the reef is to visit the new Marine Museum in Belize
City. It is open now at the site of the old fire station, by the Swing Bridge
on North Front Street. The wonderful displays, designed by two young, talented
Belizean women, Anna Hoare and Lisel Alamilla, who also wrote Coastal
Treasures of Belize, published by the Belize Audubon Society, are
an excellent way of explaining how and why we need to protect reefs.
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