Mesoamerican Reef Fund MAR Fund Fondo SAM

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Mesoamerican Reef Fund(MAR Fund / Fondo SAM)

• Third International Tropical Marine Ecosystems
  Management Symposium (ITMEMS3)
• 17 October, Cozumel, Mexico
• María José González

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Concept/Objective

• To build, based on the strengths and experience
  of the four founding environmental funds, a
  financial mechanism as a complementary initiative
  to the present and future conservation and
  sustainable use efforts in the Mesoamerican Reef
  ecoregion.

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Mesoamerican Reef

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Time in operation

• Not-for-profit
• 501 (c) (3)
• Registered Delaware, February 2004
• Board of Directors May 2004
• Planning 2005
• Operation 2006

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A unique niche

• Investments in conservation solutions at a
  meaningful, ecoregional scale
• Investments in localized problems with broad,
  regional impacts

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Programmatic priorities

• Development of an interconnected network of
  priority conservation areas that spans from
  ridge to reef
• Initial focus coastal and marine protected
  areas
• 2. Key issues that support better management
  practices
• Sustainable fisheries
• Integrated watershed management
• Fostering sustainable tourism
• Reducing land-based pollution from industrial and
  other sources

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Challenges

• Agreement among 4 national funds 4 countries
• Time and opportunity for discussion and
  exchanges consensus
• Regional approach
• Communication
• Initiating operation
• Operation
• Full support and participation of the Board
• Clear goals
• Clear strategies
• Initial funding
• Funding / Capitalization
• On-going

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Conditions for success

• ULTIMATE CHALLENGE /MEASURE OF SUCCESS
• Positive impact on conservation, healthy reef and
  ecoregion
• Sustainable sources of funding
• Functional and permanent organizations at local
  level
• Effective and strong governmental organizations
• Ability to measure the changes in the reef
• Steps towards success
• Clear agreement on structure and form of
  operation
• Clear objectives
• Strategic planning
• Constant communication
• Advisory committees

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Funding

• Support to set the stage for operations
• Beginning of operations
• Search for funding options for regional
  activities
• Endowment
• Possible sources
• Multilateral, bilateral, corporations, foundations

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Recommendations

• Committed Board
• Clear objectives
• Advisory committees
• Open communication and information
• Alliances
• The Nature Conservancy
• World Wildlife Fund

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• THANK YOU
• www.marfund.org
• www.fondosam.org