In April, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved the “Integrated Ridge-to-Reef Management of the Mesoamerican Reef” Project (MAR2R) which will be executed by the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD) where WWF is be the implementing agency.
This is an important achievement for the conservation of this transboundary system which includes the second largest barrier reef in the world. The purpose of this Project is to improve regional collaboration for the ecological integrity of the Mesoamerican Reef System (MRS) and to expand the application of the “ridge-to-reef” focus in its natural resource management.
Four components integrate this Project which will be implemented for 5 years. The first one seeks to strengthen the MRS resource governance and regional collaboration for the integrated ridge-to-reef management. The second, aims towards an integrated management of watersheds and freshwater resources. The third component will focus on the integrated management of coastal and marine resources and the fourth one refers to the monitoring and evaluation of the Project, as well as sharing the obtained knowledge.
The main partners of this initiative will be the ministries or environment agencies of the countries that integrate the MRS: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.