Protection of marine resources in Central America III (Marfund)

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The Mesoamerican Reef (Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano - SAM) is the world's largest transboundary coral reef, located in a global biodiversity hotspot. In addition to ecological functions such as protection from natural forces, the SAM also serves as a breeding and refuge area for marine life, as well as a food source for marine life and CO2 storage. It also contributes to food security and the economic basis (fishing, tourism) of many people living in the area. However, the ecological functions of the important ecosystems such as mangrove forests, coral reefs and seagrass meadows in the SAM are increasingly being severely impaired. To protect and preserve the ecological functions of the SAM, the four states with a share in the Mesoamerican Reef (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras) have currently designated around 70 coastal and marine protected areas with an area of around 8.8 million hectares. The protection of almost 20% of the SAM area, together with the designation of further terrestrial protected areas in the four countries, has so far not been accompanied by the necessary government budget increases to finance the areas. The aim of the module Protection of Marine Resources in Central America III is therefore the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in and around selected coastal and marine protected areas of the SAM. The funds from the third phase of the project will be used for protection measures and measures for the sustainable use of natural resources in at least 18 protected areas in the project region, which will be selected as part of ideas competitions. As with the two previous projects, the Meso-American Reef Fund (MAR Fund) is the contractual partner and recipient of the funds. MAR Fund was founded in 2002 by four national environmental funds (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras) and has been operational since 2005. KfW has contributed to the foundation capital through two projects. The module aims to achieve the following results: (1) Selected protected areas of the SAM have improved their conditions for the conservation of their natural resources. (2) Selected protected areas of the SAM have implemented measures for the sustainable use of their natural resources with the participation of the local population. (3) Cooperation between key actors for the conservation of biodiversity in the SAM has been strengthened. The direct target group comprises the local population living in and around the selected protected areas and protecting and/or using their natural resources. This includes protected area staff and other persons involved in the management of the protected areas and beneficiaries in the neighboring communities as well as their family members. The total cost of the project is expected to amount to EUR 17.0 million. It is financed from an FC grant of EUR 13.0 million as well as own contributions and services from MAR Funds and the selected protected areas.