7 February 2012: A first-ever eco-audit of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) system off the coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico has found that, despite some positive steps, much more needs to be done to protect Latin America’s largest reef system. Shortcomings were found to include: inadequate management of marine protected areas (MPAs); insufficient treatment of wastewater to avoid damaging reefs; and lack of comprehensive coastal zone planning, resulting in poorly planned and located developments that endanger nearby reefs. The audit was conducted by the Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI) in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and 40 local organizations, government agencies and companies, as well as the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The audit methodology, developed with the help of PricewaterhouseCoopers, uses 22 management indicators across seven theme areas: MPAs; global issues; research; education and awareness; coastal zone management; ecosystem-based fisheries management; sanitation and sewage treatment; and sustainability in the private sector. The audit found that the overall management of MAR, on a scale of 1 to 5, rated only 2.7 across the region and for all seven thematic areas. The individual country management scores were: Belize 3.3; Guatemala 2.2; Honduras 2.7; and Mexico 2.7. The four countries currently receive substantial ecosystem services from the MAR. One WRI study of Belize estimates that MAR provides that country US$395-559 million in goods and services annually.

HRI, WRI and their allies plan to issue new audits every two years, with “report cards” in the interim years. They have called for a regional meeting to address data needs and quantify targets for the 2012 report card and 2013 audit. [WRI Press Release] [Publication: 2011 Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef Countries]