MAR News

Photo: Albatross Foundation

MAR Fund Initiatives Present at COP16

From October 21 to November 1, 2024, the global conservation community will gather in Cali, Colombia, for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16).

MAR Fund will play an active role through its initiatives, MAR+Invest and the Reef Rescue Initiative (RRI). Both are dedicated to ensuring sustainable management of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) and contributing to global coral reef conservation. MAR+Invest focuses on driving private investments toward conservation efforts, ensuring that marine ecosystems, including reefs, are protected for future generations. The RRI, another key initiative, works on coral reef restoration and building resilience to safeguard the future of MAR.

MAR Fund will participate in various activities, workshops, and forums in the Blue Zone, including the GEF Partnership Pavilion, organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the For Coral Pavilion, organized by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).

The GEF Pavilion will bring together the Global Environment Facility and conservation funds and partners to ensure ongoing support for sustainable biodiversity management worldwide, from the Amazon to the Congo and the Himalayas, and across the ocean.

The For Coral Pavilion will serve as a crucial meeting point during COP16, focusing on urgent efforts for coral reef conservation. By bringing together policymakers, Indigenous peoples, conservation experts, and local communities, this space will allow for the sharing of experiences and innovations in managing these ecosystems, raising awareness about the fragile state of reefs and promoting sustainable management practices.

By participating in COP16, MAR Fund and its initiatives will have a significant opportunity to foster collaboration, highlight the urgent need to protect coral reefs, and share their achievements with a global audience of policymakers, investors, and conservationists.

This conference not only supports environmental efforts but also promotes economic and social benefits for the region, facilitating key conversations that impact both regional and global environmental decisions. The previous conference, COP15, held in Montreal in December 2022, resulted in the historic “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” with over 195 countries committing to significant biodiversity goals, such as conserving 30% of terrestrial and marine areas, restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems, reducing pesticide risks, and mobilizing $200 billion annually for biodiversity protection.

Expectations for COP16 focus on accelerating these commitments and improving monitoring mechanisms to combat the ongoing biodiversity crisis.

With information from:
COP16 Colombia
ICRI-Cop16forcoral.org
GEF – COP16