Foto: Belize Audubon Society
The Mesoamerican Reef System (MRS) is the largest transboundary coral reef, shared among Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, and the largest in the Atlantic Ocean. It is an ecoregion of biological, economic, social, and cultural importance.
The MRS has 67 marine and coastal protected areas (MCPAs) distributed as follows:
Photo: Fundación Albatros
Effectively managed MCPAs are one of the best tools for conserving natural resources and ecological processes and reducing threats, enabling development opportunities for local communities.
Approximately 72% of the region’s reefs and just over half of the mangrove surface area are within protected areas. MCPAs supply water, provide habitat for numerous species, reduce the impact of natural disasters, and protect traditional ways of life and cultural and spiritual values, among other goods and services.
Photo: Edwin Cabrera
With the aim of better directing support to the MRS region, MAR Fund facilitated two regional MCPA prioritization exercises. The first exercise, in 2007, resulted in 14 priority areas (4 in Mexico, 4 in Belize, 2 in Guatemala, and 4 in Honduras). The second exercise (2016) produced 14 additional protected areas distributed in the same way.
Within the framework of the Saving Our Protected Areas program, MAR Fund implemented during the period 2012–2020 the Project “Conservation of Marine Resources in Central America” Phases I and II, developed in nine priority MCPAs, with financial support from German Development Cooperation through KfW.
German Development Cooperation has provided new financial support to develop the Project “Protection of Maritime Resources in Central America III” (Phase III), which aims to build on the experiences of Phases I and II over a period of 5 years.
Phase III is developed through two calls for proposals directed at the administrators and co-administrators of MRS MCPAs:
Julio 2023
15 MCPAs supported through 12 projects.
Agosto 2024
16 MCPAs supported through 8 projects.
The objective of Phase III is the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in and among the selected marine-coastal protected areas of the Mesoamerican Reef System.
Its achievement is measured through three indicators:
1 The criterion for more effective conservation is the application of measures to improve biodiversity monitoring, control and surveillance measures, or ecosystem restoration measures.
2 The relevant MRS ecosystems include coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds.
Through the implementation of Phase III, three results are expected to be achieved:
The achievement of these results is measured through seven indicators:
With the implementation of 20 projects in 31 MCPAs, the following Phase III indicator results have been achieved:
Area in hectares with improved conservation
MCPAs implementing best conservation practices
Personas apoyadas con el uso sostenible de los recursos naturales
Iniciativas conjuntas
entre APMC
Datos actualizados a Diciembre 2025
Cozumel Reefs National Park
Flora and Fauna Protection Area — northern portion and eastern coastal strip, terrestrial and marine, of Cozumel Island;
Cozumel Jungles and Wetlands State Reserve y
Laguna Colombia State Ecological Park
Laguna Manatí Flora and Fauna State Refuge,
Chacmochuch Lagoon System Flora and Fauna State Refuge and
Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve
Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro,
Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak,
Reserva de la Biosfera Arrecifes de Sian Ka´an y
Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve
Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve
y Ecological Conservation Zone Xcacel–Xcacelito Sea Turtle Sanctuary
Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Blue Hole Natural Monument, and Fish Aggregation Sites: Sandbore, Northern Two Caye, Half Moon Caye Wall, and South Point
Río Sarstún Multiple Use Area,
Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge and Caiman Crown No-Take Zone
Photos courtesy of the managing and co-managing organizations. Each information sheet includes the specific credits of its authors.
MAR Fund implements measures and actions to ensure the Project is executed in compliance with KfW Sustainability Guidelines. MAR Fund developed and has implemented, since 2022, an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) bajo estándares internacionales. El propósito del SGAS es evaluar el riesgo de los proyectos para evitar o minimizar impactos ambientales y sociales adversos y para potenciar los impactos positivos. El SGAS incluye un mecanismo de quejas y reclamos:
Ana Beatriz Rivas
Coordinadora del Proyecto
arivas@marfund.org
Taller inicial de la 2ª. convocatoria
Del 1 al 3 de julio de 2025, se llevó a cabo en Ciudad de Guatemala el Taller Inicial para los proyectos seleccionados en la segunda convocatoria del proyecto «Protección de los Recursos Marítimos en América Central III (Fase III)”, una iniciativa financiada por la Cooperación Alemana a través del KfW, en el marco del programa Salvando Nuestras Áreas Protegidas de MAR Fund.
Durante tres días, 31 representantes técnicos y administrativos de 16 áreas protegidas marino costeras de México, Belice, Guatemala y Honduras se reunieron para fortalecer capacidades, intercambiar experiencias y alinear estrategias para una implementación efectiva y coordinada de sus proyectos.
También participaron organizaciones de sociedad civil que acompañarán la ejecución de estos proyectos.