Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve

Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve protects the northern portion of Ambergris Caye in Belize Belize District. Established in 1996 and classified IUCN Category IV despite carrying National Park in its name, the reserve covers about 15,530 acres of swamps, grasslands, and tropical forest together with extensive marine habitat, including mangrove beds, sea grass beds, and part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the world second longest barrier reef. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and provides critical habitat for endangered species including jaguars, pumas, manatees, and sea turtles; the reserve was established after surveys found unusually high biodiversity for a barrier island, with local support encouraged by the revenue the nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve had generated through conservation.