The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is impressive, covering 560 miles from Cancun to Honduras. In Belize, where the reef stretches for a remarkable 186 miles, a company called Blue Ventures has taken a creative and effective approach to conservation. Beginning in January of 2010, Blue Ventures began a project to understand the impact the local coastal communities have on the nearby reef.

The picture was taken at Coral Cay (or Crawl Cay as it is locally known), about 20 minutes away by boat ride from Isla Colón/Bocas Island. The Cay is appropriately named after the abundant coral reefs that surround it. It is one the best places to snorkel and a great place to have lunch if you wish to do so in a spectacular environment.

A dazzling combination of unspoiled national parks, verdant and mountainous cloud forests and famously active volcanoes – not to mention pounding surf and gorgeous beaches – has made Costa Rica one of the world’s top destinations for ecotourism. Of course, attaining world recognition as a ‘green destination’ would not have been possible without the important efforts of local tourism professionals like Il Viaggio Travel, which has been at the forefront of ‘green’ initiatives in Costa Rica by providing reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly transfer services.

The field operations of Earth Train, an international youth leadership organization, are located in Panama in the Mamoní Valley Preserve. The preserve is a remarkable area in the center of the Americas on a land bridge teeming with biodiversity and where the separation between the two great oceans is at its narrowest. It is a crucial battle ground for the protection and smart use of rainforests for future generations.

Off Panama’s Pacific coast lies Isla Gobernadora, a peaceful and natural haven practically untouched by modern preoccupations. For the local inhabitants, primarily fishermen, island life tends to revolve around the seasons and tides, and the absence of roads and cars means that people get around by boats or boots. This hasn’t however prevented outsiders from…