Oak Foundation’s Mesoamerican Reef Eco-Region Programme Goals

To develop an ecologically representative network of marine reserves that maintain the health of the barrier reef ecosystem and its wildlife, and that support the food security and sustainable economic development of local coastal communities.

In the Mesoamerican Reef Ecosystem we support capacity building, research, communications, policy, advocacy and market-based activities that:

• Improve marine reserve management effectiveness;
• Promote sustainable coastal and marine resource management, including sustainable financing; and
• Promote long-term, non-extractive, diverse economic development opportunities for coastal communities.

Mesoamerican Reef Eco-Region Programme Grants (2006)

• Conservation International

  To encourage and assist Belize’s cruise shipping industry stakeholders to form new, innovative partnerships to focus on minimizing the coastal and marine habitat degradation associated with cruise ship tourism. (Over two years)

• Earth University Foundation

  To improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of targeted rural communities in Mesoamerica by educating a group of new professionals who will become “agents of change” in their home countries. (Over four years)

• Earthwatch Institute

  To undertake collaborative scientific research and educate stakeholders in southern Belize about the management of Marine Protected Areas.

• EcoLogic Development Fund

  To support bi-national, community-based, coastal marine management in southern Belize. (Over two years)

• Friends of Nature

  To continue to improve the management of the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserves by incorporating lessons learnt into new initiatives for management.

• Katalyst Institute for Public Policy and Research

  To promote continuing policy influence work through support for follow-up activities from Katalyst’s first 2006 policy research project; and for the further development of policy dialogue, research, and advocacy activities that focus on the environment.

• LightHawk

  To support LightHawk’s environmental programme for biodiversity protection of the Mesoamerican Reef Ecosystem as well as Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. (Over two years)

• Quebec Labrador Foundation Inc

  To advance land conservation and stewardship in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Region through exchange of innovations, capacity building of local institutions and international partnerships.

• Toledo Institute for Development and the Environment

  To maintain the coastal ecosystem function and natural resource values of the coastal segment of the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor through the protection of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. (Over two years)

• World Resources Institute

  To develop and apply an economic valuation methodology for coral reefs in Belize. This is to improve coastal management decisions, strengthen the case for investing in Marine Protected Areas, evaluate potential sources of sustainable financial support for the Marine Protected Areas system, and develop policies to reduce the threats to coral reefs. (Over two years)

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