MESOAMERICAN REEF REGION
The Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region, spanning Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, is the largest barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere, supporting vibrant biodiversity and millions of livelihoods.
Priority Locations
Mexico
- Cozumel Island
- Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area
- Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
- Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve
Guatemala
- Cayman Crown Replenishment Zone
- Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge
- Sarstun River Multiple-Use Area
Belize
- Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve
- South Water Caye Marine Reserve
- South Water Caye Marine Reserve
- Caye Caulker Marine Reserve
- Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve
- Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve
Honduras
- Arquipelago of Cayos Cochinos Marine National Monument
- Barras de Cuero & Salado Wildlife Refuge
- Tela Bay Marine Wildlife Refuge
- Bay Islands National Park
Partners
Convening Agent: MAR Fund
Key Implementing Partners: Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN)/ Sureste Sostenible (SS), Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative (HRI), New Ventures/VIWALA
2030 Targets
60K HA
Coral reefs under conservation and sustainable management target
$60M+
Private investment, returns & co-financing leverage target
3M
Community members benefiting from improved resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and increased income target
Overview
The MAR thrives with over 60 hard coral species, including the last healthy populations of staghorn and elkhorn corals, and provides sanctuary and sustenance to hundreds of fish species, marine turtles, and sharks. However, the region faces challenges including a surge of tourists and large-scale agriculture, placing strain on the fragile coastal marine ecosystems. To address these local stressors, the GFCR-funded MAR+Invest programme was launched in 2022 as a finance and development facility for the region. Led by the MAR Fund, MAR+Invest aims to foster the development and scaling of enterprises or projects with a positive impact on coral reefs.
The GFCR Equity Fund has also invested in Carbonwave. Carbonwave is the world’s leading developer of ultra-regenerative, plant-based, advanced biomaterials from seaweed. The company transforms sargassum seaweed—a resource long considered waste, which does not need land or other inputs to grow—into biomaterials that can replace petroleum products and other harmful industrial inputs. Carbonwave is part of a new wave of companies that are building the next-generation economies that will heal the planet through materials that are regeneratively sourced from our oceans.
The investment will support Carbonwave’s groundbreaking “cascading biorefinery” model for upcycling the over-supply of Sargassum seaweed into high-value biomaterials while simultaneously restoring ocean health and sequestering greenhouse gases.
