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.

When it’s summer, the tourist migration to the Mediterranean’s famed beaches is at its height. However, there’s an older guest who has lived here for the past 95 million years and needs our help: the marine turtle. Saving the marine turtle just may be one of the few things the international community can agree on these days, especially steps taken toward turtle conservation through tourism.

Barra de Potosí is a small coastal village at the mouth of a lagoon, part of a complex and interdependent system of lagoons, which runs along the coast of the Municipio de Petatlan in Mexico. The people of Barra de Potosí are now confronted by and opposing a development project that they believe will destroy the existing ecosystem. The fight is proving to be a difficult one, and the people can use all the help they can get.

In honour of Earth Day, staff at WHL Group took a moment to think about our planet. Today, we can travel the world in a way that we never could before — virtually, online. Although there is no replacement for seeing the wonders of nature live and in person, digital media such as online video delivers powerful and inspiring messages. Here are our top picks of videos of ‘earth moments’ that move us.

Ilha Grande, Brazil, is a true haven for biological and ecological diversity and much of the credit for the maintenance of its conservation areas is attributed to the relentless work of the Defence Committee of Ilha Grande (CODIG). This non-profit organisation has been fighting for the preservation of Ilha Grande’s ecological integrity and fending off the interests of those seeking capital gains. One project is the eradication of an invasive species of sun coral.

The photo shows a replica of a bronze age boat sunk off the coast of Kaş, Turkey, one of the best dive locations on the Mediterranean Sea. The boat is regularly accessible by certified scuba divers of any level, from beginner to advanced. For sheer fun and historical excitement, this Uluburun Wreck dive is a must.

This photo was taken in June 2010 off the coast of Koh Samui in the Ang Thong National Marine Park, which is a collection of 42 islands spread over 100 square kilometres. Most of the islands are close enough to each other to create a spectacular panorama. A day trip out to visit these islands is a great one day tour option from Koh Samui itself.