Conservation of Marine Resources in C. A. Project

Introduction

An effective way of attending the different problems that threaten the Mesoamerican Reef is through the development of an interconnected and functional regional network of coastal and marine protected areas (MPAs). If properly managed, the resulting network, the reef’s backbone, will protect fish populations, diverse habitats, spawning aggregation sites, aquatic resources, forest resources, recreation opportunities and development and growth possibilities for the ecoregion.

Well-managed protected areas regulate access to fisheries, protecting both target and non-target species and allowing populations to either recover or, at a minimum, maintain sustainable levels required to support community livelihoods. Additionally, the inclusion of coastal areas within a regional network preserves sea grass beds and mangroves, providing critical reproductive habitat for endangered manatees, turtles, and other species. This coastal habitat also curbs land erosion and filters incoming water, serving as an effective buffer zone between the watershed and the reef. Finally, within the framework of protected areas we are able to reduce the impacts of climate change by applying proper management practices and protecting resilient reefs.

To select the priority areas, MAR Fund facilitated a process that included the participation of different actors from the four countries. The methodology that was designed for this purpose was applied initially through four workshops to obtain the national priorities. These results were then analyzed at a regional workshop, in which the number one priorities for the region were defined. The initial network of 14 areas are included in the map.

The Project Conservation of Marine Resources in Central America focused on implementing effective, long-term conservation mechanisms in nine areas. Support was also provided for planning, monitoring, updated management plans, control and surveillance systems, infrastructure and equipment, among others, in order to optimize the work performed by the administrators of the areas.

A series of activities defined by each protected area were also supported, with the aim of achieving sustainable use of the areas’ resources, assets and services. These included, for example, the following: codes of conduct for various extractive activities, incentive programs to involve communities in conservation, co-management of conservation zones together with users, strategies for recycling solid waste, mangrove reforestation, environmental education campaigns, sustainable fisheries and responsible tourism.

The intervention logic of the Project focused on improving the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity found in the nine selected CMPAs.

This approach combines three strategies:

Conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Better management and sustainable use practices of coastal and marine resources.
Small grants and implementation of mechanisms for the exchange of knowledge and experience among the Project groups, for example administrators of the CMPAs, or among users of the resources.

Project Objective Indicators:

Indicator 1:There is no increase in the financial gap in all of the CMPAs included in the Project.
Indicator 2:Management Plans are updated and under implementation in 100% of the CMPAs included in the Project.
Indicator 3:The CMPAs included in the Project have natural resource used plans under implementation.

Phase I

This project was supported by the German Government, through KfW, for a total amount of €5 million that were invested in four priority coastal and marine protected areas within a five-year period.

The main objective of the Project is to contribute to the consolidation of the coastal and marine protected areas, the protection of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components, while increasing the economic well-being and improving the quality of life of the resident populations.

The area of the Project is the Mesoamerican Reef System, shared by Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The following priority coastal and marine protected areas (CMPAs) are the focus of the main Project investments:

Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area, México.
Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Belize.
Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge, Guatemala.
Sandy Bay West End Special Marine Protection Zone, Honduras

I. Project Management Documents

Project Text

Operations Manual

Administrative Management System

Monitoring and Evaluation Manual

Informative brochure

II. Annual Work Plan

a) Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area, Mexico.

2012

2013

2014

2015-2016

b) Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Belize.

2012

2013

2014

2015-2016

c) Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge, Guatemala.

2012

2013

2014

2015-2016

d) Sandy Bay-West End Special Protection Area, Honduras.

2012

2013

2014

2015-2016

III. Activities Reports

Annual Report 2012

Annual Report 2013

Annual Report 2014

Annual Report 2015

Annual Report 2016

Annual Report 2017

Final Report and annexes

IV. Project Deliverables

• Management Effectiveness Evaluation in the four protected areas of the project

o Baseline

o Final measurement

• Financial gap in the four protected areas of the projectct

o Baseline

o Final measurement

• Seagrass and mangrove area cover in the four protected areas of the project

o Baseline

o Final measurement

• Support for the assessment of systems of physical and biological indicators implemented in the marine and coastal protected areas of the Project Conservation of Marine Resources in Central America

V. Consultancies in the four Protected Areas

• Yum Balam Protection Area for Flora and Fauna, Mexico

• Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Belize

• Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge, Guatemala

• Sandy Bay-West End Special Marine Protection Zone, Honduras

VI. Systematization documents

• Yum Balam Protection Area for Flora and Fauna, Mexico

o Systematization of the Formation and strengthening of community brigades against forest fires in the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area, Mexico

• Sandy Bay-West End Special Marine Protection Zone, Honduras

o Systematization of experiences related to the Marine Infrastructure Program in the Sandy Bay West End Special Marine Protection Zone, Roatan, Honduras

o Systematization of experiences related to the Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program in Sandy Bay West End Special Marine Protection Zone, Roatan, Honduras.

Book: Written with blue ink, stories of conservation in the Mesoamerican Reef

Phase II

Just as in Phase I, the German Government through KfW, also supported this phase for a total amount of €5 million that was invested in five priority coastal and marine protected areas within a five-year period.

This phase of the Project also contributed to the consolidation of the coastal and marine protected areas, the protection of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components, while increasing the economic well-being and improving the quality of life of the resident populations.

Manatee Sanctuary State Reserve, Bahía de Chetumal, Mexico.
Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize.
South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Belize
Sarstun River Multiple Use Area, Guatemala.

Turtle Harbour Rock Harbour Special Marine Protection Zone, Honduras