Progress in each protected area.
Progress in each protected area.
IBANQROO installed 45 informative signs at strategic points within the protected area, prioritizing the sites of ecosystem importance. The signs include a map that shows the location within the area and a list of the activities that are allowed or prohibited.
With the purpose of signaling and providing information to visitors at the Marine Mammal Care and Rehabilitation Center (CARMA, in Spanish), IBANQROO installed signs and infographics that illustrate the Reserve’s characteristics and highlight the manatee as a flag species.
Four small community projects were implemented, derived from the Reserve’s Community Development Strategy:
A guide for best practices and solid waste management in the kitchen was developed for both projects. Five best practices posters were installed in each dining room to inform visitors about their best environmental practices and technologies implemented, as well as attractive sites of the reserve.
These two ecotourism groups were trained in environmental interpretation and ecosystems of the Reserve. They also exchanged experiences with the community groups of Bacalar and Xcalak to learn about community organization, visitor service, market options and financial sustainability.
Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD), acquired the spectrophotometer, pyrex filtration flask, and oil free vacuum pump with all the required accessories, to be able to continue with the contamination sampling for water quality monitoring.
SACD developed the consultations and socialization of the Management Plan, which was delivered to the Forest Department for approval
As part of the research and monitoring program, SACD developed the water quality monitoring, in Corozal Bay, for the rainy season, following ECOSUR protocols.
As part of the research and monitoring program, SACD developed the water quality monitoring in Corozal Bay, for the rainy season, following ECOSUR protocols.
In line with the financial mobilization plan and with matching funds, SACD has registered their business arm under “SACD Green Ltd”. Under the business SACD assisted the piloting of three Pesca Tours expedition of an average of 15 people each.
To strengthen the area managers, the BFD acquired equipment for the office the ministry will provide the department in Dangriga.
To strengthen the community/associations, the Advisory Committee held a meeting during which they discussed: rezoning of the conservation zone boundaries, enforcement activities, among others.
The Management Plan was finished and it was given to the consortium Fundación para el Eco Desarrollo y la Conservación – Asociación Amantes de la Tierra (FUNDAECO-AAT) for them to deliver it to the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) for approval.
FUNDAECO-AAT continues to provide technical support to the 58 families beneficiaries of the agroforestry systems project from Sarstún Creek (29 families), Nuevo Nacimiento Cáliz (9 families), Siete Altares (8 families) and Barra Tatín (12 families).
As a follow up on the productive activities supported, the tourism Committee Asociación de Autogestión Turística Barra Cocolí (AUTBAC) is fully operational and provides touristic services which are already generating alternate income for the community.
As part of the strengthening of local communities, BICA Utila implemented the project “Weaving Dreams with the Network of Artisan Women of Utila”. This project is a local initiative of enterprising women of the island, seeking to develop their skills and undertake business initiatives that provide environmentally friendly products and create economic resources for them and their families.
Six women from the island participated in this project, and learned about cutting and sewing, finance and accounting management, conflict resolution, teamwork, decoration and painting, among other topics.
The six participants also learned to make jewelry with lionfish derivatives and in a month, they managed to make 86 reusable bags with reusable materials. They also participated in a bazaar, which allowed them to socialize their project and publicize their products.
Weaving Dreams with the Network of Artisan Women of Utila
Photos: BICA Utila
The BMF currently has a portfolio of 13 active grants awarded between the periods of May 2017 – May 2018. These grants were awarded through the two programmatic windows for advancing investments 1) the Targeted Grants Program and 2) the Small Grants Program. The projects supported by these programs have been guided by priority areas of focus which were established with the BMF Steering Committee. Some of these priority areas include: efforts related to the expansion, management, monitoring, control and surveillance operations of no-takes; marine conservation policy; efforts related to managed access national roll-out, and improving management effectiveness of MPAs; strengthening the institutional capacity of marine conservation civil society organizations; climate change resilience, blue carbon and the blue economy; protection and restoration of fragile and degraded ecosystems; promotion of sustainable income-generation for local communities; and broad-based attitudinal and behavioral change for enhanced and effective marine resources management. Small grants are for a maximum of USD 30k and Targeted grants are for a maximum of USD 45k.
Below we provide a summary of project progress to date.
In sustaining its efforts at creating a community of stakeholders that comply and advocate for policies that protect their livelihoods, BAS conducted an additional six boat to boat sessions, engaging approximately 150 fishermen. The organization also hosted two Managed Access Committee Meetings to vet new applicants interested in fishing in Area 7, and trained 25 fishing vessels, Captain and crew in best practices. Each respective fishing vessel received a scale and caliper to measure and estimate size and weight limits and used information to complete MA logbooks.
The organization also collaborated with the Belize Coast Guard to establish a permanent presence on Northern and Sandbore Caye to combat illegal fishing and drug trade. This has assisted BAS with the deterrence of illegal fishing at the spawning aggregation site. Additionally, BAS has trained its Rangers in Fisheries Enforcement/Managed Access protocols,and has sustained joint enforcement operation within the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. During this reporting period 20-night patrols were conducted, which resulted in the arrests of six fishers caught fishing within Half Moon Caye Natural Monument.
Additionally, BAS continued its efforts at improving the quality of fisheries dependent data to complement fisheries independent data, to better understand changes in stock abundance of commercially important species within Lighthouse Reef Atoll (LHRA). During this reporting period, BAS has 1) conducted catch per unit effort (CPUE) surveys; 2) trained 10 fishers on the use of a digital data collection app for CPUE using Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART); and 3) conducted independent data collection for conch using the Long-Term Atoll Monitoring Protocol (LAMP).
WWF continues its efforts at 1) conducting climate change resilience analysis for prioritized MPAs in Belize that addresses ecological, weather and socioeconomic variables; and 2) providing a series of resilience solutions based on the results of these analysis, for the prioritized MPAs and their stakeholders, for implementation to improve management. The organization has experienced some delays in the finalization of data collection critical for completion of the resilience analysis, due to the required time and scheduling constraints of key partners. However, WWF anticipates that this work should be completed by January 30th, 2020.
Southern Environmental Association (SEA):
Increasing the effectiveness of Sustainable Marine Resource Use and Management in SEA Co-managed Protected Areas.
SEA has now completed the procurement of all the necessary equipment for installation of boundary demarcation buoys around Laughing Bird Caye National Park and Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve; with installation scheduled for January 18th – 21st, 2020. The organization has also installed signs at LBCNP and Little Water Caye to educate protected areas stakeholders and resource users on protected areas regulations.
Engaging Stakeholders for Sustainable Fisheries Management.
Building capacity of fishing stakeholders for participation in marine conservation, through education, public awareness and collaboration.
In working at creating awareness on the phasing out of single use plastics and Styrofoam, BAS, in collaboration with the Copper Bank RC school, hosted a mini fair under the theme—Plastic Phase out from North to South at the Copper Bank School on November 1st, 2019. Partners such as OCEANA and SACD also participated in the fair with educational booths. Additionally, on November 20th ,the BAS education team launched a pop-up booth at the Chunox Seven Day.
The Adventist School Children’s Day Fair engaged approximately 50 students and 60 parents and highlighted the negative impacts of single use plastics as well as introduced different best practices by which they could reduce or eliminate them in their homes and community. Additionally, on November 21st, BAS education team made classroom presentations at the Chunox RC primary school on the topic of plastic pollution and the national single use plastic phase out.
On November 21st 2019 , BAS made follow-up visits to outstanding food vendors in the community of Chunox who have made efforts to educate their costumers about reducing single-use plastics and also reduced their use in their businesses; finally, on December 1st they conducted a “Community Sharing Time” to raise further awareness around the issue of single-use plastics.
Engaging Belizean youths as the next generation of conservation leaders.
On Thursday, November 28th 2019, Ecology Project International (EPI) held its first Youth Forum on Conservation and Climate Change for high school students. The event, hosted at the Fr. Francis Ring Parish Hall in Punta Gorda Town, saw the participation of approximately 140 students from four major high schools in southern Belize: 1) Agriculture and Natural Resources Institute (ANRI), 2) Georgetown Technical High School (GTHS) (Stann Creek District), 3) Julian Cho Technical High School (JCTHS), and 4) Toledo Community College (Toledo District).
The objectives of the forum were to 1) enhance awareness of climate change and conservation issues affecting protected areas management in Belize; 2) foster a connection between target schools and the key conservation NGOs that manage protected areas within the southern region of Belize, 3) exchange ideas relating to conservation, climate change, and possibilities for volunteerism and opportunities for learning within these NGOs; 4) deepen awareness about recent scientific research being conducted in protected areas in southern Belize and the value of this research in current management interventions; and 6) share projects, project plans and activities that are currently being conducted by the environmental clubs of the four high schools that participated in the forum, while building a space for collaboration and networking toward the achievement of common goals.
Monitoring effectiveness of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve through long-term monitoring of marine megafauna.
As per the previous update, MarAlliance continues to work on the logistics for the field work scheduled to commence on March 18th, 2020—in line with the established project timelines for data collection. The organization has also secured the services of fishers, boats, cook staff, and has purchased equipment needed (such as GPS, spot, depth sounders, hooks and knives, SD cards, and a Dell mini desktop computer) for the field research.
Safeguarding manatees and community livelihoods in Placencia and Belize City through research and education.
Sea to Shore Alliance continued in its efforts at educating Belizean youths on manatees, the marine environment and their conservation efforts through its school visits to Nazarene High School and Wesley Primary School in Belize City, and the St. John’s Memorial Anglican Primary School in Placencia—and manned an educational booth at TIDE Fest 2019. Additionally, Sea to Shore Alliance also presented on its efforts in Belize at National Geographic Kids Matinee and National Geographic Live for an audience of 300 and 400 individuals respectively; and installed manatee murals in Belize City and Seine Bight to spread awareness.
The organization also conducted a tour guide workshop which saw the participation of approximately 220 boat captains and tour guides from San Pedro and Caye Caulker. Participants were trained on the Wildlife Protection Act, Maritime Act and boat regulation, manatee conservation, and appropriate manatee-viewing procedures for boat captains and tour guides conducting tours at Swallow Caye. The training was hosted in collaboration with key partners including the Forest Department, and the Belize Port Authority. Sea to Shore Alliance also maintained its efforts at manatee tracking with twice monthly field tracking of tagged manatees, and monthly night joint patrols of the Placencia Lagoon with the Southern Environmental Association.
Supporting and Strengthening the Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas in the Mesoamerican Reef
The eleventh request for proposals is currently under development. All projects have started and already present progress to date, as indicated below:
1. Cayman Crown: support conservation of the jewel of the MAR through solid science.
Grantee: Fundación Mundo Azul & Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI). Guatemala.
Progress to date:
2. Promotion of new productive activities and environmental education related to recycling of discarded materials for the proper management of solid waste. Phase II.
Grantee: Bay Island Conservation Association (BICA). Honduras.
Progress to date:
3. Strengthening conservation leadership and community empowerment in the island of Utila, Honduras
Grantee: Fundación Islas de la Bahía (FIB). Honduras.
Progress to date:
4. Conservation of the MAR through best sustainable tourism practices in Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve (RBBCH) and Arrecifes de Xcalak Natural Park (PNAX)-Phase II.
Grantee: Amigos de Sian Ka’an A.C. (ASK). Mexico.
Progress to date:
5. Mitigation of climate change and protection of Blue Carbon sinks: Valuation Phase.
Grantee: Casa Wayuu, Centro de Aprendizaje para la Conservación del Medio Ambiente, A.C. Mexico
Progress to date:
6. Analysis of Water Quality of Yalahau Lagoon in the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protected Area (FFPA).
Grantee: Centinelas del Agua A.C. (CDA). Mexico
Progress to date:
7. Leadership Program in the Mesoamerican Reef System: building a new generation of leaders for conservation.
Grantee: Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, A.C.
Progress to date:
8. Mitigation of climate change and protection of Blue Carbon sinks: Certification Phase.
Grantee: Programa Mexicano del Carbono, A.C. (PMC). Mexico.
Progress to date:
Supporting Coastal and Marine Resources Management and Protection in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR)
On August 20, 2019, MAR Fund announced the 12th joint request for proposals, again with the three finance windows.
Two themes were considered for the first window: 1) Monitoring and conservation of fish spawning aggregation sites (FSA) and 2) waste water and solid waste management. The first component was not restricted to protected areas. The second one was eligible for the 18 prioritized coastal and marine protected areas, as well as their areas of influence.
Some examples of the eligible investments for each of these components were, among others:
As with the 11th RfP, eligible applicants were: a) community-based organizations, including fisher groups, b) governmental institutions, c) non-governmental institutions and d) academia.
The deadline for submission of proposals was October 11, 2019. 23 proposals were received for the Traditional window, distributed as follows: seven from Mexico, two from Belize, seven from Guatemala and seven from Honduras. Five proposals were received for the Reef Rescue Initiative window, four from Mexico and one from Honduras. All proposals are under revision by MAR Fund.
Through the implementation of the Re-granting initiative supported by Oak Foundation, seven projects have had interesting progress so far, as indicated below:
Grantee: Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative (HRI)
Progress to date:
Grantee: Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW)
Progress to date:
Grantee: Comunidad y Biodiversidad A.C. (COBI)
Progress to date:
Grantee: Centro de Estudios Marinos (CEM)
Progress to date:
Grantee: Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD)
Progress to date:
Grantee: Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)
Progress to date:
Grantee: Southern Environmental Association (SEA)
Progress to date:
Innovative financial mechanisms, such as parametric insurance for reefs, can contribute to rapid post-event reef restoration and recovery. As part of the parametric insurance model for reef in the MAR, the following activities have been completed:
Preliminary Concept for the Parametric Insurance. In September 2019, The Nature Conservancy started a consultancy on the “Development of a preliminary parametric insurance concept for seven sites in the SAM Region”, with the technical advice of Willis Tower Watson.
The study ended in December. The analysis includes:
Feasibility studies for the insurance model: Additionally, in September, the Financial Sustainability and Beneficiary Analysis studies for emergency response and parametric insurance for the MAR, were completed. The studies were developed by Willis Tower Watson (WTW) and co-financed by InsuResilience Fund (ISF), in support to the insurance model project.
Between August and October 2019, follow-up meetings were held in Roatan-Honduras, Izabal-Guatemala and San Pedro-Belize to build on their post-hurricane response capacity. The workshops were conducted in collaboration with members of the Technical Supervisory Committee of the Reef Rescue Initiative (RRI), the Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI) country coordinator, and The Nature Conservancy.
The main agreements of the meetings included:
In Honduras, the Forest Conservation Institute (ICF in Spanish) agreed to support the formation of at least two Response Coordinating Committees, one for the Bay Islands Marine Park, and one for the Cayos Cochinos Marine Monument. Both Committees will have the support of local institutions and organizations for organizing the emergency response brigades and coordinate the training.
In Guatemala the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP in Spanish) will lead the process to form a single Response Committee for the Caribbean region. In addition, CONAP will undertake and incorporate the Response Protocol and response actions in the management plans of both protected areas: Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge and Río Sarstún Multiple Use Area.
In Belize, a task force was formed to follow up and support on the formalization of the Response Coordinating Committee, organize the brigades and conduct the training next year. The task force will have the participation of the Belize Fisheries Department, the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, San Pedro Tourism Association and the Belize Tourism Industry Association.
A total of 57 people participated in the three workshops: 19 in Guatemala, 18 in Honduras, and 20 in Belize. Representing government agencies, municipalities, local non-governmental organizations, co-managers of protected areas, researchers, fishermen’s associations and the private sector.
Also, in order to implement and strengthen the emergency response capacities in the MAR, MAR Fund is building collaboration agreements with local authorities in each country, that will allow to have the necessary permits to create and train the brigades for their subsequent operation. In both Honduras and Guatemala, environment and protected area authorities offered follow-up to formalize a collaboration agreement with MAR Fund.
In October 2019, the Second Biennial Meeting of the Reef Restoration Network was held on Belize City to: a) discuss challenges and opportunities for the stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), b) exchange regional and international experiences on reef restoration, c) finalize and agree on the implementation of the Network’s Strategic Plan and d), conform the new Executive Committee 2020-2021.
More than 52 representatives from 35 organizations from the four MAR countries, USA and Dominican Republic participated in the meeting. Among them, the hotel sector (IBEROSTAR Group), the MAR2R project, the Coral Restoration Consortium, the Healthy Reefs Initiative, the Dominican Republic Reef Network, the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA), the Smithsonian Institute, the Coral Restoration Unit of the University of Hawaii, and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute.
A new and updated website for the Network (www.coralmar.org) was created and is operational.
In October, the Reef Rescue Initiative and the Belize Marine Fund, organized the one-day joint session, Mesoamerican Reef Health and Management: Responding to the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) Crisis. The objective of the workshop was to discuss and share information on the current status of the SCTLD and its implications for Belize and the Mesoamerican Reef Region; and to identify required interventions for addressing SCTLD in Belize and the MAR. Over 60 participants and experts from the four countries of the MAR region, as well as the Dominican Republic and the U.S attended. This activity provided a beneficial learning exchange on the disease outbreak in the MAR and possible response strategies.
In August 2019, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the RRI had a meeting with the Directorate of the Fund for the Management of Protected Areas and Wildlife (FAPVS, in Spanish) of Honduras. The FAPVS showed interest in the Emergency Fund created by MAR Fund through RRI, and in possible coordination efforts for emergency care in coral reefs in Honduras.
On November 7 and 8, the Technical Supervisory Committee conducted its seventh ordinary meeting. The main topics discussed included:
1. Roatan Marine Park Coral Restoration Project.
Grantee: Roatan Marine Park (RMP). Honduras
Progress to date:
.
2. Coral restoration in the reef habitat of Akumal (Arpea), Quintana Roo, Mexico
Grantee: Centro Ukana I Akumal, A.C. (CEA-AKUMAL). Mexico
Progress to date:
.
The main results of the workshop were:
The MAR Fud’s social networks followers is increasing because the content published is relevant to the audiences . To December 2019 there are 3,260 followers on Facebook; 941 on Twitter and 1,342 on Instagram.
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https://www.facebook.com/MARFund/ |
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@MAR_Fund |
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@mesoamericanreef |
Raising awareness on the current state of the MAR is vital so that more people in the four countries encompassing this region learn about its importance in daily livelihoods.
MAR Fund provided a small financial contribution to the Mesoamerican Reef Reporting Project, which Earth Journalism Network (EJN) of Internews launched in 2019. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/2v32MO7
With MAR Fund’s grant, two Guatemalan journalists complemented the funding granted by EJN to be able to publish the articles about the MAR.
The links to the journalistic articles prepared with the support of MAR Fund are the following:
On September 25, the award ceremony of the environmental projects contest led by Semillas del Océano was held at the residence of the British ambassador in Guatemala City. Claudio Gonzalez, MAR Fund’s technical director, attended the event. The contest was supported financially by the British Embassy and MAR Fund.
Some Guatemalan media outlets published news about this event:
From September 18-20, in Guatemala City, the workshop “Developing a regional strategy for the management and restoration of mangroves throughout the Mesoamerican Reef Ecoregion” was carried out.
After this activity Diario de Centro América published this news: http://bit.ly/2u3lp4i
On September 2019, it was published on MAR Fund’s social media channels the last snapshot of the main impacts of the Conservation of Marine Resources in Central America Project, Phase I, empowered by MAR Fund.
Since March, a monthly newsletter has been sent to MAR Fund donors and stakeholders.
Jóvenes alientan la esperanza de tener un mundo sin contaminación
https://marfund.org/es/jovenes-alientan-la-esperanza-de-tener-un-mundo-sin-contaminacion/
Emotiva clausura de proyecto en BICA-Utila
https://marfund.org/es/emotiva-clausura-proyecto-bica-utila/
Culminó en Livingston proyecto de conservación que impulsó el Fondo SAM
https://marfund.org/es/culminacion-proyecto-conservacion-en-livingston/
A Network of fish spawning aggregations will be protected in the Mesoamerican Reef
https://marfund.org/en/network-fish-spawning-agregations-protected-mar/
Cambio climático: ¿adaptarse o sucumbir? Casos exitosos de algunas comunidades del Caribe guatemalteco
https://marfund.org/es/cambio-climatico-adaptarse-o-sucumbir/
Jóvenes ganadores de los “Mini grants las 4rs” efectuarán proyectos para disminuir la contaminación en Guatemala
https://marfund.org/es/ganadores-mini-grants-4rs/
Los manglares del Arrecife Mesoamericano contarán con una estrategia regional de manejo sostenible
https://marfund.org/es/estrategia-regional-sostenible-mangles/
¡Vamos a Barra Cocolí!
https://marfund.org/es/vamos-barra-cocoli/
You can check the latest Mar News in the carrousel that is on the main page of the website: https://marfund.org/es/