October 2014: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has provided an update on its ‘Integrated Transboundary Ridges-to-Reef Management of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR2R)’ project, which is using a holistic approach to address threats to the Mesoamerican reef. The regional, cross-border project promotes reef conservation in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

The project is working to address five key threats related to: overfishing; agricultural runoff, which is one of the leading causes of reef dead zones; invasive alien species (IAS), including lionfish that are reducing reef biodiversity; upstream stresses on the watersheds; and tourism and industrial sprawl. For example, a regional ban on lobster fishing during its mating season has been established. The project’s ridge to reef approach focuses on land and marine interactions and brings together reef stakeholders from the four countries to strategically address these threats.

Protection of the reef is critical to biodiversity preservation and the maintenance and protection of economic and social services provided by the reef ecosystem, according to Andrew Hume, Deputy Director, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which serves as the GEF implementing agency for the project. He stressed Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico “have agreed that this is a priority for them and they want to work together to solve it.”

The Mesoamerican corridor includes cloud forests, fertile lowlands and mangroves, supports over 12 million people and is critical to the economies of all four countries, according to the GEF. [GEF Press Release] [IISD RS story on Mesoamerican Reef Project Approval]