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Could you imagine the world without natural and cultural treasures like the Grand Canyon and the Taj Mahal? Luckily when the Convention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created the World Heritage program in 1972, they ensured we would never lose them.
Since that time, numerous countries and organizations, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), have contributed to the protection and celebration of these fragile World Heritage areas. To date, there are more than 800 World Heritage sites, including the subject of WildCam Belize Reef, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.
World Heritage sites are areas recognized internationally for their outstanding value as natural and cultural treasures. The program, involving 185 countries, is one of the most universal legal instruments for the protection of these unique areas of global importance and demonstrates that the conservation of our World Heritage is the duty of the international community as a whole.
The IUCN, whose vision is "a just world that values and conserves nature," promotes conservation research, runs projects throughout the world to improve management of natural areas, and strives to foster appreciation of natural World Heritage sites. They have a program specifically for the Marine Biome under their World Commission on Protected Areas.
The United Nations Foundation's Friends of World Heritage campaign is a grassroots initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting World Heritage, promoting sustainable development in and around World Heritage sites, and offering ways to explore these treasured destinations through responsible travel.
These two organizations have come together with the National Geographic Society (NGS) to bring you WildCam Belize Reef. Our live stream brings you an unprecedented view of the vibrant beauty and diversity of this coral reef ecosystem. The wealth of information to be found on the NGS, IUCN, and UN Foundation websites will enhance your connection with this live view, by providing information on the species, science, management, and conservation issues surrounding coral reefs and World Heritage sites. We all share the goal of inspiring people to care about and, ultimately, conserve these important habitats.
