Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Celebrates 20 Years and a Successful 9th Regional Partners Meeting in Cozumel
Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico — March 18-20, 2026 — The Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP) Initiative proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, marking two decades of science-based conservation, regional collaboration, and impactful communication to protect the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR).
As part of this milestone year, HRHP successfully convened its 9th Regional Partners Meeting in Cozumel, Mexico, bringing together approximately 60 experts and representatives from across the region. The meeting served as a key platform to advance the development of the upcoming 2026 Mesoamerican Reef Report Card.
HRHP is uniquely positioned as the only initiative that unites more than 70 institutions across non-governmental organizations, academia, government agencies, and the private sector. This diverse regional partnership spans Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, working collaboratively to assess and communicate the health of the Mesoamerican Reef.
“The strength of HRHP lies in its partnerships. By bringing together science, policy, and community voices, we are able to deliver credible, region-wide assessments that drive meaningful conservation action,” said Melanie McField, Director of HRHP.
From March 18-20, 2026, partners reviewed the latest coral reef monitoring data and began shaping the narrative, indicators, and key messages for the 2026 Report Card. The sessions addressed critical threats and solutions affecting reef health, including coral bleaching events, marine protected areas, sargassum influxes, coral rehabilitation and restoration, and wastewater management.
Special attention was given to innovative approaches, including coral-assisted reproduction, cryopreservation and live coral biobanking, herbivory restoration through king crab aquaculture, ecosystem connectivity, and climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Participants also explored emerging legal concepts such as reef rights and opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation mechanisms.
Beyond challenges, the meeting highlighted inspiring success stories from each country within the MAR region. These stories of hope show that when local communities lead with strong stewardship and work together, conservation efforts can make real, measurable improvements in reef health.
The 2026 Mesoamerican Reef Report Card will synthesize these findings into a powerful communication tool designed to inform decision-makers, engage the public, and catalyze greater action to protect this globally significant ecosystem.
As HRHP celebrates 20 years of impact, the organization reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the Mesoamerican Reef for future generations through collaboration, science, and communication.
The choice of Cozumel as the host location highlighted the importance of local conservation leadership within the region. Cozumel has been the subregion with the highest reef health index over the years due to its bountiful fish populations and well-enforced fully-protected zones. However, like the other subregions, its coral cover is declining, and it has become a key site for coral reef conservation and restoration efforts in Mexico, where partners are actively working to restore critical reef-building species such as Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis. During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to visit one of these active restoration sites and meet the community-led group, providing a tangible connection between regional science, collaboration, and on-the-ground impact.
The meeting was made possible thanks to the generous support of key donors and partners. HRHP extends its sincere appreciation to The Oak Hill Fund and Summit Foundation for its continued commitment to reef conservation in the region. The participation and support of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), as part of the GBIF-funded project Consolidate and Disseminate Ten Years of Data from the Mesoamerican Reef through the European Commission, were also instrumental, contributing both technical expertise and financial support to advance data sharing and regional collaboration.
HRHP also thanks Cozumel Hotel and Resort, the official venue, for providing an ideal setting for productive dialogue, collaboration, and regional exchange. Their support was key to a successful gathering.
For more information, please visit: www.healthyreefs.org.
Pictures available: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jWuSaz4w8MlgcWFzruT6aFP1CYZhEqeW?usp=sharing
Media Contact:
M.Sc. Marisol Rueda Flores
Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP)
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