MESOAMERICAN REEF FINANCIAL FACILITY

Countries involved:  Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Mexico

Coral Collective Partner:  GFCR

The Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region, encompassing Belize, and the Caribbean coasts of Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, is home to the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, stretching almost 700 miles. 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.