Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican
Reef Countries
Are we doing all we can to safeguard our most valuable natural asset?
The Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) provides a diverse array of valuable goods and services to the people of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. The leaders of these four countries, officially recognized their shared vision and commitment to conserving the >1000 km of coral reef in the Tulum Declaration of 1997, followed by the 2007 declaration of March 10 as “Mesoamerican Reef Day”.
Since 2004 HRHP has periodically published Report Cards on the Health of the Mesoamerican Reef. These reports have described a mixture of declines and recovery in coral reef health, which stem in part from inadequate management of local threats. Since 2008, these Report Cards have included specific management recommendations. The purpose of the Eco-Audit is to evaluate the degree of implementation of these management actions in each country, catalyze faster, more effective management responses and increase accountability within all sectors.
What is an Eco-Audit?
The Mesoamerican Eco-Audit evaluates our collective efforts toward protecting and sustainably managing the region’s coral reefs, celebrates management success stories, and documents the extent to which recommended management actions have been implemented in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP), in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and local partners, developed this unprecedented multinational evaluation tool of reef stewardship in 2011.
The Eco-Audit is a systematic and transparent evaluation of the degree of implementation of 28 recommended reef management actions, grouped into seven general themes: Marine Protected Areas, Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management, Coastal Zone Management, Sanitation and Sewage Treatment, Research, Education and Awareness, Sustainability in the Private Sector, and Global Issues. The 2021 Eco-Audit is our fourth evaluation, enabling us to consider trends and rates of implementation in addition to the comparative scores for implementation by each country.
In 2025 we aim to revamp the Eco-Audit in order to track fewer more critical indicators in real time.
How was it Scored?
The Eco-Audit is a systematic and transparent evaluation of the degree of implementation of 28 recommended reef management actions that were made in the 2008 and 2010 Report Cards in order to catalyze faster, more effective implementation of recommendations and to increase accountability within the public and private sectors, and among non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The 2021 Eco-Audit was our fourth evaluation, enabling us to consider trends and rates of management progress. In addition to the comparative scores for implementation by each country, HRHP recognizes the efforts, progress, and dedication of our >70 partner organizations throughout the region in our collective progress in protecting this valuable resource. We remain united and committed to safeguarding our Mesoamerican Reef and the communities it sustains.
What is the Interactive Eco-Audit?
HRHP has been advancing its Eco-Audit overhaul initiative, a cornerstone of our efforts to monitor and improve management and environmental sustainability. With assistance from Engine AI, we are working to refine the Eco Audit to better align with our strategic priorities and enable almost real-time tracking of key metrics. Engine AI, a leading provider of data analytics solutions, specializes in delivering actionable insights from complex datasets to empower informed decision-making. We are working closely with them to have a revamped Eco Audit that will be constantly tracking progress and can be consulted on our website by the end of summer 2025.
Main Eco-Audit Achievements.
Through the Eco-Audit initiative, we have successfully identified and achieved significant milestones in safeguarding the health of the Mesoamerican Reef.
Parrotfish Protection: All four countries within the MAR region have enacted legislation at various governmental levels to protect parrotfish, recognizing their ecological importance as herbivorous species that naturally control the overgrowth of macroalgae on coral reefs.
Research, Education, and Awareness: Our most prominent indicator has been the success of regional outreach efforts, alongside our systematic AGRRA training programs and biennial reef monitoring activities.
Wastewater Management in Honduras: The Polo’s Water Association has successfully established wastewater treatment plants in West End, Roatan, contributing to improved water quality in the region.
Private Sector: MAR+Invest works with business development and financing mechanisms supporting the conservation, protection and restoration of coral reefs and associated ecosystems through commercially viable projects that deliver positive outcomes for reefs.
Help us make
a difference
HRHP is a core technical team that supports the unique Healthy Reefs Initiative, which includes over 70 partner organizations devoted to safeguarding the Mesoamerican Reef. Join us in protecting this vital ecosystem.