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While many consider [[mangrove]] to be one of Belize's various [[forest]] classes, it is important to point out that in Belize, mangroves assume the form of not only [[forest]] (dominated by closed formations of mangroves of over 3m tall) but also [[scrubland|scrub]] (dominated by formations of dwarf mangroves below 3m in height), and [[savanna]] (areas with scattered mangroves).<ref>Murray, M.R., Zisman, S.A., Furley, P.A., Munro, D.M., Gibson, J., Ratter, J., Bridgewater, S., Mity, C.D., and C.J. Place. 2003. "The Mangroves of Belize: Part 1. Distribution, Composition and Classification." Forest Ecology and Management 174: 265–279</ref> Because of their importance for shoreline protection and maintenance of fisheries stocks, Belize's mangroves are legally protected under the ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120313105434/http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap213s.pdf Forests Act]'' of the ''[http://www.belizelaw.org Laws of Belize]''.<ref>Government of Belize (GOB). 2003. "Forests Act Subsidiary Laws." Chapter 213 in: Substantive Laws of Belize. Revised Edition 2003. Government Printer: Belmopan, Belize. 137 pp. {{cite web|url=http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap213s.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2016-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313105434/http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap213s.pdf |archivedate=2012-03-13 }}</ref>
A recent study by the [http://www.wri.org World Resources Institute (WRI)] indicates that Belize's mangrove ecosystems contribute '''US $174–249 million''' ''per year'' to the national economy.<ref>Cooper, E., Burke, L., and N. Bood. 2009. "Coastal Capital: Belize. The Contribution of Belize's Coral Reefs and Mangroves." WRI Working Paper. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. 53 pp. http://pdf.wri.org/working_papers/coastal_capital_belize_wp.pdf</ref> The clearing of mangroves for development of coastal infrastructure has been recognized as a threat to Belize's mangroves and led to public perception that destruction of mangrove ecosystems was rampant, such as an investigative study in 2008 which indicated unauthorized clearings within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve,<ref>http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/art/Pelican_Review.pdf</ref> and which eventually led to the Belize Barrier Reef System's designation by [[UNESCO]] as an endangered [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>
With uncertainty regarding actual rates of clearing of Belize's mangrove ecosystems, a recent study<ref>Cherrington, E.A., Hernandez, B.E., Trejos, N.A., Smith, O.A., Anderson, E.R., Flores, A.I., and B.C. Garcia. 2010. "Identification of Threatened and Resilient Mangroves in the Belize Barrier Reef System." Technical report to the World Wildlife Fund. Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) / Regional Visualization & Monitoring System (SERVIR). 28 pp. {{cite web|url=http://maps.cathalac.org/Downloads/data/bz/bz_mangroves_1980-2010_highres.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-07-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731035556/http://maps.cathalac.org/Downloads/data/bz/bz_mangroves_1980-2010_highres.pdf |archivedate=2013-07-31 }}</ref> funded by the [http://www.wwf.org World Wildlife Fund (WWF)] has clarified the situation, making use of [[Landsat]] [[satellite imagery]] to comprehensively examine Belize's mangrove cover. That study, which spanned the thirty years from 1980–2010 and was based on the earlier work of mangrove researcher Simon Zisman,<ref>Zisman, S.A. 1998. "Sustainability or Status Quo: Elite Influence and the Political Ecology of Mangrove Exploitation in Belize." Doctoral dissertation, Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Scotland</ref> was conducted by the [http://www.cathalac.org Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC)] and found that in 2010, mangroves covered some 184,548 acres (74,684 hectares) or 3.4% of Belize's territory. By contrast, it is estimated that in 1980 mangrove cover stood at 188,417 acres (76,250 hectares) - also 3.4% of Belize's territory. Based on Zisman, it is also estimated that Belize's mangrove cover in 1980 represented 98.7% of the pre-colonial extent of those ecosystems. Belize's mangrove cover in 2010 was thus estimated to represent 96.7% of the pre-colonial cover. Where the 2010 update of the [http://www.earthscan.co.uk/Products/9781844076574/tabid/34104/Default.aspx World Mangrove Atlas] also indicated that a fifth of the world's mangrove ecosystems have been lost since 1980,<ref>The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 2010a. ""World Atlas of Mangroves" Highlights the Importance of and Threats to Mangroves: Mangroves among World's Most Valuable Ecosystems." Press release. Arlington, Virginia. http://www.nature.org/pressroom/press/press4573.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717013054/http://www.nature.org/pressroom/press/press4573.html |date=2010-07-17 }}</ref> the case of Belize's mangroves thus stands in stark contrast to the global picture.
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