Mangrove Island Clear-Cut for Tourism

This mangrove island in the Pelican Cays, Belize, was clear-cut and filled with dredged sand and coral from the adjacent reef flat. Developers are clearing and dredging mangroves in an attempt to create sand-based islands for tourists. Unfortunately, mangroves help prevent erosion and submergence of islands due to sea-level rise and after mangrove removal, islands rapidly erode and sink. More about mangroves can be found in our Mangroves featured story.

This mangrove island in Belize was cleared and dredged to create sand beaches.
Courtesy of Karen McKee/The Wetland Foundation

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