Postal Stamp for 10 Anniversary
Image by: MAR Fund
The main idea is to design and print a set of post stamps that accompany a series of events that celebrate the creation of the Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund). The intention to design these post stamps is to portray in history the significance this important marine-coastal region has for the communities living around the reef; the stamps will depict the stage beauty of the reef, the marine species it hosts which are in risk of extinction, the people and the communities that live from the reef’s cultural and natural resources, and finally to clearly see the goodness of keeping healthy the ecosystems in this region shared among Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. The designs proposed have been approved by the Consejo Nacional Filatélico de Guatemala. We are awaiting for the launch date.
Gallery Stamps
Launch Event Postage Stamps
10 Year Anniversary
Photo: Parrot fish stamp
Introduction
After combined efforts to preserve the Mesoamerican Reef, and taking advantage of the 10th anniversary of MAR Fund foundation, it is necessary to feedback the coastal and marine protected areas, their administrators, partners, local communities and actors and sectors at different levels of intervention in the region, a visible picture of the work accomplished thanks to their cooperation and effort. That is why MAR Fund will host a number of commemorative events highlighting the work carried out and the impacts made by each of the strategic actions implemented during this period.
This celebration includes a series of events at national and local level to involve partners and beneficiaries in activities meant to remind us that cooperation on tasks makes work easier and can make a greater contribution to the reef’s health and the human lives that depend on it.
During 2015 it has been considered celebrate the 10th anniversary of MAR Fund, so the planning actions have already begun to develop each event approved by MAR Fund Board of Directors in May 2015.
A Mayan ceremony was held in alliance with CICA (Consejo Indígena Centroamericano) and CIMA (Consejo Indígena Mesoamericano) and the Sotz’il Association to thank Mother Nature for the natural and cultural resources that sustain human life.
For the celebration and ceremony, a place with a special significance was chosen, and the idea was to spiritually connect many people with the reef around the Sacred Fire or Ceremonial Fire.
The Ceremony took place on May 1st., 2015 at Punta de Palma, Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala. At least 70 participants from different countries in the region attended the ceremony.
Gallery Photos
A lithograph of a species that represents the four countries in the region was designed and printed: a parrot fish.
The parrot fish is a symbolic species, very important for sustaining the reefs’ life. Its presence indicates positive milestones in the management of marine and coastal resources, which necessarily involve the effort of the different participants and sectors.
Parrot Fish
In the context of the XXIV Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Directors of MAR Fund held in the City of Guatemala on May 15, 2015, they seized the opportunity to share with friends and partners in the preservation of the Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR), MAR Fund’s ten years of work in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The members of the Board of Directors and the staff from the coordinating office in Guatemala were recognized for their commitment and work philosophy
Gallery Photos
Mesoamerican Reef Rescue Initiative
Photo: Oceanus, A.C.
Mesoamerican Reef Rescue Initiative
In December 2014, a Financial Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Germany and MAR Fund was signed. Under this Agreement the German Cooperation through the KfW granted and deposited US$ 8.5 Million in the MAR Fund endowment, which will be administrated as a specific sub-account for the implementation of the Mesoamerican Reef Rescue Initiative.
The objective of the Reef Rescue Initiative is to increase the resilience and ability to recover of the Mesoamerican Reef -and of the environmental and cultural services it provides -through two approaches:
- Continuous Restoration. Based on coral nursery techniques, cultivating coral fragments to be transferred to reef areas that have been degraded or damaged.
- Emergency Response. Response to hurricanes or ship groundings to recover and attach live coral fragments with the double objective of preventing secondary damage and restoring the reef.
Four key strategies guide the initiative:
- To ensure sustainable long-term funding for continuous and emergency restoration through the establishment of an Emergency Fund and other innovative mechanisms such as, for example, creating insurance mechanisms for reefs;
- To support and develop reef restoration and rehabilitation in the region;
- To develop alternative sources of income and new employment opportunities for local communities, based on resource conservation, and
- To promote the commitment of governments from all four countries in the region through the development of policies and regulations aimed at facilitating the restoration of the reefs.
This innovative enterprise is carried out by the Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund) and the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), specifically with the participation of the four countries that share the reef system: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.
Currently, MAR Fund and CCAD have achieved effective coordination among the four countries through the Technical Supervisory Committee, which is formed by a representative of the natural resources and biodiversity national agencies. In addition, a Collaboration Agreement between MAR Fund and The Nature Conservancy has been possible. The Agreement aims to jointly design a parametric insurance for the region, thus, advancing towards the formulation of an innovative financial mechanism to cover restauration costs following damages to coral reefs due to hurricanes. The Agreement includes the exchange of information between the parties, as well as building protocols and workshops to train the Rapid Response Teams in the region. Moreover, in 2017, an Emergency Fund to prevent secondary damage and restore the reefs has been established with sub-account returns. The ultimate objective of the Emergency Fund is to capitalize it to reach $ 1,000,000.
The critical financial support and trust of the German Government and the joint efforts of the four MAR countries, the CCAD and the MAR Fund, will bring our shared vision of a thriving reef, managed and conserved as a regional eco-treasure for future generations, closer to reality.
Mesoamerican Reef Infographic
Photo: MAR Fund
The Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR)
A shared region
Commemorative Virtual Book – Story Contest
Image by: MAR Fund
Stories about the Mesoamerican Reef
The idea behind creating this book is to transmit the importance of coastal and marine protected areas by the region’s youth telling their stories about the Mesoamerican Reef and its protected areas. We need those living in close connection to the coast or the ocean and who are willing to share their experiences to participate in order to do this.
The book’s creation will take place in several phases, starting with the call for stories about experiences around the reef, mangroves and other coastal and marine ecosystems. The stories will be entered into a contest and, the winning stories will be published in a virtual book.
The virtual book will be launched on the MAR Fund and Member Funds’ websites and social networks, as well as those of strategic partners who offer to distribute it.
Virtual Book
Tulum +20 – COP 13 Biodiversity in Cancun, Mexico.
Photo: MAR Fund.
Tulum +20 – Securing Wellbeing in the Mesoamerican Reef Through a Blue Economy at the COP 13 of Biodiversity in Cancun, Mexico.
About COP13 Biodiversity in Cancun, Mexico
On December 5 and 6, on occasion of the 13th Meeting of the Parties of the Biodiversity Convention in Cancún, Mexico, the MAR Leadership Program, the Healthy Reefs Initiative and the MAR Fund hosted two side events. Their objective was to review achievements in conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine resources in the Mesoamerican Reef since the Declaration of Tulum in 1997.
The strong partnerships between civil society, local and national governments, academia, international CSOs and regional mechanisms as drivers of change were emphasized. The current threats to the Mesoamerican Reef and how the Blue Economy can be adopted as a path towards well-being were highlighted.
You may read the full document here:
Mesoamerican Reef 2017 – A vision for the Future (Full Document)
Mesoamerican Reef 2017 – A vision for the Future (Summary)
For information on the Mesoamerican Reef region, the Healthy Reefs Initiative, the MAR Leadership Program and the MAR Fund
Click here
MAR Leadership Program
Financing for the Future (MAR Fund)
You may see different types of reef restoration methodologies – Reef Restoration Methodologies
El Universal México