Photo: Fundación Albatros
COMPLETED PROJECT
2016-2020
Introduction
Important progress has been made in the conservation and management of natural resources in the Mesoamerican Reef, including: the creation and management of protected areas and other protection mechanisms such as fish refuges; the establishment of monitoring processes that currently generate information on the health of coastal and marine ecosystems; the creation and strengthening of human capital and local organizations; and the development of tools for planning and managing protected areas and resources, to name a few. Despite these efforts, the conservation and health of the SAM ecoregion remain incomplete and new threats must be addressed. Furthermore, many of these initiatives require sustained financial support over time.
Photo: Blanca Quiroga
To consolidate the progress made to date, ensure its continuity, and address existing threats, it is essential that stakeholders doing important work in the region have access to reliable funding. This funding can come from endowment funds and sinking funds.
For more than 15 years, Oak Foundation has been a primary partner and donor in the Mesoamerican Reef. To support this initiative, Oak Foundation granted MAR Fund, through the grant proposal “Re-granting in the Mesoamerican Reef”, sinking funds to finance ongoing initiatives for two to four additional years, depending on the project.
The seven re-granting beneficiaries for specific projects are located in different countries:
The seven re-financed projects began at different times for periods of 2-4 years, from late 2016 through 2020.
Project title: Healthy reefs for healthy people: Strengthening the scientific basis
Project duration: Four years
Project title: Legal advocacy to protect marine and coastal resources in the SAM
Project duration: Two years
Project title: Ensuring the long-term success of the fishing refuge network in the Mexican SAM
Project duration: Two years
Project title: Ensuring the sustainability of fishery recovery zones (FRZ) in the Honduran Caribbean
Project duration: Two years
Project title: Strengthening SACD’s institutional and management capacity for long-term sustainability
Project duration: Three years
Project title: Strengthening financial sustainability initiatives to support the management of Port Honduras Marine Reserve
Project duration: Two years
Project title: Improving the financial stability of the Southern Environmental Association
Project duration: Two years
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.
