Marine Protected Areas
Humboldt
Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt is a national park in the Cuban provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo . It is named after the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt who visited the island in 1800 and 1801. The park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for of its size, altitude range, complex lithology, landform diversity, and wealth of endemic flora and fauna . The rivers that flow off the peaks of the park are some of the largest in the insular Caribbean . The park is said to be the most humid place in Cuba [ and this causes a high biological diversity. The park has an area of 711.38 km² (274.7 sq mi), [2] of which 685.72 km² (264.8 sq mi) land area and 22.63 km² (8.7 sq mi) marine area. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1,168 m (3,832 ft) on El Toldo Peak. Sixteen of Cuba's 28 endemic plant species are protected in the park including such fauna as Dracaena cubensis and Podocarpus ekman . Fauna present in the park includes various species of parrots , lizards, hummingbirds , the endangered Cuban Solenodon (endemic), Hutia and snails. The Park has historically been an area of land little used by man, with only one archaeological site from the pre-Columbian period being known; this is located in the coastal zone of Aguas Verdes. During the XVIII and XIX centuries some peripheral places were used as refuges or camps by maroons . The park began to be laid out in the 1960s, with the declaration of the Jaguani and Cupeyal del Norte nature reserves. This continued into the 80s with the proposal of the Ojito del Agua Refuge, associated with the last sighting of the Royal Woodpecker , a last remnant of this species which was already extinct in its other habitats in the United States and Mexico . In 1996 these protected areas were united to form a National Park that was named after Alexander von Humboldt . Being one of the most important biosphere reserves in the Caribbean basin, the National Park, along with Cuchillas del Toa was declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2001. There are unique flora and fauna elements n this unique ecosystem, with some of the highest indexes of endemicity in the archipelago. The park has coastal jurisdiction, but it shelf area is narrow and its use is not regulated.
Arrecife Alacranes
Alacranes is an emergent platform type reef that forms part of a group known as the Campeche Bank Reefs, because they are located along the outer shelf of the Campeche Bank. It is the largest reef in the entire southern Gulf of Mexico, as well as the most northerly in location. It has five vegetated islands associated with it, Isla Desterrada, Desertora, Pérez, Chica and Pájaros, all of which have been the subject of several scientific studies that have focused on the dynamic conditions of vegetation changes along with changes in shape through time. Since 1900, when the lighthouse was erected on Pérez, the island has been host to permanent residents, there are three buildings that host four families. Alacrán faces threats from activities like fishing, tourism and contamination. The latter, is primarily caused by boat washing on open waters where toxin detergents are used and by oil exploitation. (taken from http://www.gulfbase.org/reef/view.php?rid=arrecife14 ) It comprises 5 islands, namely Pérez, Chica (Cornezuelos o Blanca), Larga (Pájaros), Desertora (Muertos u Oeste) y Desterrada. The park includes 2 core areas: Zona Núcleo Norte and Zona Núcleo Sur, with 1973 and 1194 km2, respectively.
Arrecifes de Cozumel
The Reefs National Marine Park of Cozumel is in the town of Cozumel, in the state of Quintana Roo. It is located in the Province Caribbean, covering part of the coast SW, S and SE of the island of Cozumel. With a total land area of 119.88 maritime k2. The reefs are formed by a coral community in which they live thousands own tropical waters. The plant communities are represented both by the algae, of which there is a huge variety, as seagrass. The cyanobacteria are of great ecological significance and like many microorganisms are very abundant in this ecosystem. The area is a reservoir of species of marine flora and fauna, some of which are threatened or endangered species subject to special protection. Such is the case of sea turtles (green, loggerhead and hawksbill), lobster, queen conch, black coral, and coral Acropora palmata and A. Cervicornis, or a few more who are exploited by the high intrinsic value of natural substances, such as octocoral (Plexaura homomalla). Within the range of coral reefs in the Mexican Caribbean, the island of Cozumel has one of the most distinctive because of the variety of conditions which presents impressive slopes falling almost vertically from 40 to 400 m depth. These reefs, along with those of Banco Chinchorro, the coastline of Quintana Roo and Alacranes, in the Yucatan, is the largest coral reef reserve in the country. The reef system Cozumel covering almost along the coasts of the island, but those in the region SW are the most known and used.
Bacalar Chico
The park is known as a Mayan historical site and it is situated at northmost tip of Ambergris Caye. It includes parts of the Barrier reef, a large area of brakish lagoons, salt marshes and coastal forest. It is also known for its transboundary of rich biodervisity. The area known as Rocky point has fossilized corals and its the point where the reef touches the shoreline and as such is considered as unique geological formation. Hawbill, Longerhead, and Green sea turtle use this place as thier prime nesting site. it is also a spawning site for queen conchs, nassau grouper and dnappers.
Banco Chinchorro
Banco Chinchorro is a Federal Reserve with no permanent human settlements, except for a Mexican Navy post station, the Reserves Station and several fishing camping huts (temporary residence during lobster season from July through February). Fishing exclusive rights for mainly queen conch, lobster and finfish are granted to three fishing cooperatives (92 persons), based in Xcalak, Mahahual and Chetumal City. There is little public access to the Reserve, mainly for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole lies within the Atoll's lagoon about 8km north of Half Moon Caye Natural Monument. This large almost circular sinkhole has a diameter of approximately 318m and a maximum depth of 125m. This sinkhole has been for many years been a major attraction for scuba divers and is the most famous destination in Belize. The Blue Hole attracts expert divers enjoy diving among the stalactites; as well as beginners who are able to see the coral walls, the sharks, Pederson's Cleaner Shrimp, schools of Jacks, butterfly fishes or maybe even the rumored Giant Sea Serpent ñ spotted in the late 1960ís. The Blue Hole has a unique geological history and formation, as a result, like Half Moon Caye the Blue Hole was inscribed upon the World Heritage Sites List in March 1996 and later declared a Natural Monument in February 1999. Blue Hole Natural Monument covers an area of approximately 3,000 acres and consist of the Great Blue Hole, surrounding coral patch reef and shallow seagrass lagoon. http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/protected_area/profile.phtml?pa_id=74&patitle=Blue%20Hole%20NM
Cahuita
Cahuita National Park is a National Park in the Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area of Costa Rica located on the southern Caribbean coast in Limón Province , connected to the town of Cahuita . It protects beaches and lowlands and attracts tourists and other visitors who are able to scuba dive and snorkel in the protected marine area which contains the reefs, as well as being a nesting ground for sea turtles . This is also one of the least developed beaches in Costa Rica. The reef is known to have at least 35 species of coral , 140 species of molluscs , 44 species of crustaceans , and 123 species of fish. On land there are many types of animal as well including tamanduas , pacas , coatis , raccoons , sloths , agoutis , howler and capuchin monkeys . It has a variety of birds as well including the green ibis , rufous kingfisher and keel-billed toucans . Originally the site was created as the Cahuita National Monument in 1970, and was reformed as a National Park in 1978. This change was ratified in 1982. Cahuita National Park also has the distinction of the only national park in Costa Rica that does not to charge an admission fee (at the Cahuita entrance) but relies on donations.
Caye Caulker
The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve includes the turtle grass lagoon adjacent to the Caye Caulker Forest Reserve and the Belize Barrier Reef that runs parallel to the entire Caye, extending approximately a mile beyond the reef. This area has been used for snorkeling, scuba diving and sport fishing for some time. The Reserves are co-manged by the Forest and Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker (FAMRACC), an NGO composed of community representatives formed for this purpose, along with the Fisheries Department.
