in - Pandaassets.panda.org/downloads/wwfca_revista_6_en.pdf · Studies to discover the location and dynamics of natural populations and communities, the creation and effective management

• What is coral: animal, plant or rock?

• United by a World Treasure inMesoamerica

• Moving Towards Fisheries Certification in the MACR

• Manatee Poster

• What is coral: animal, plant or rock?

• United by a World Tr e a s u r ein Mesoamerica

• Moving Towards Fisheries Certification in the MACR

• Manatee Poster

ISSN 1 - 409 - 2 786

This magazine was produced by theCommunications Department of WWF CentralAmerica and published in 2000. The partial or totalreproduction of the articles and illustrationscontained here in is permitted, provided that thesource is always mentioned and a copy of thepublication is sent to:

WWF Central AmericaP.O. Box 70 - 7170 CATIE

Turrialba, Costa RicaPhone: (506) 556 1383 / 556 1737

Fax: (506) 556 1421Email: [email protected]

Editorial Board: Miguel Cifuentes A.Steven GretzingerSylvia MarínSandra Andraka G.Oscar BrenesMiguel Jorge

Editor: Laura Vilnitzky S.

Graphic Design and Production: Laura C. Cerdas P.

Laura Vilnitzky S.

Contributors: Elvia Ledezma

Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Current Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4• Are corals animals, plants or rocks?. . . .4• United by a World Treasure in

Mesoamerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7• New co - management model transforms

Cayos Cochinos, Honduras. . . . . . . . .13• Conserving for the Community

means working with the Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

• A spill in the Gulf of Honduras coulddestroy marine resources. . . . . . . . . .20

• Certification of fishing industry begins..23

News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 • Eco-regions generate expectations

in Panama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 • Scholarship Program supports

Mesoamerican Reef . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28• What, where and when. . . . . . . . . . . .29

Grains of Sand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31• Useful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 31

Manatee Poster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Center pages

Contents

The authors are responsible for their own articles. The opinionsexpressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of WWF.

The photographs published in this edition are the property of theirauthors. WWF has the right to publish them in this edition only.

The geographical designations and material contained in thismagazine do not imply any judgment, on the part of WWF,

regarding the legal status of countries, territories or regions, or thedemarcation of their boundaries or limits.

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Miguel Cifuentes AriasRegional RepresentativeWWF Central America

Dear Readers:

There is no doubt that our coasts and seas are essential for the conservation ofbiodiversity and the sustainable development of Central America, a narrow strip ofland bordered by the world’s two largest oceans: the Pacific and the Atlantic.

The internal migratory processes taking place in the Central American countries have resulted inmore and more people concentrating in the region’s coastal zones, thus increasing pressures on the naturalresources found in the surrounding seas. Even activities that might appear harmless to the environment, suchas ecotourism, can produce serious effects on coastal and marine ecosystems, unless necessary precautionsare taken to ensure that these activities and the region’s natural resources are managed in a sustainable way.

The proper management of coastal and marine ecosystems largely depends on what occurs inland and in thehighland areas of the region’s short river valleys. For this very reason, we need to take consensus-baseddecisions and actions that will enable us to tackle our common problems together.

Mesoamerica boasts one of the world’s largest coral reef systems, stretching the entire length of the Caribbeancoasts of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and up to Mexico. As a highly productive natural system of incalculableimportance to the region’s economic development, the Mesoamerican Reef System (MRS) deserves preferentialattention to guarantee its long-term conservation and the sustainable use of its resources. This is precisely whatthe four countries that share the MRS are trying to do in order to guarantee the well being of the hundreds ofthousands of people whose subsistence and development depend on the continued existence and good healthof the coral reefs.

Studies to discover the location and dynamics of natural populations and communities, the creation andeffective management of protected areas and those under special management, the certification of fisheries,the prevention of disasters and accidents in port areas, are all vital and urgent actions to assure the quality,quantity and continued existence of the region’s marine and coastal resources.

In the following pages we offer some examples of the projects and initiatives that are under way inMesoamerica to conserve our marine and coastal resources, particularly the coral reefs. What we need is thecontribution and commitment of everyone to achieve these objectives and guarantee the success of thoseprojects. A participatory approach to natural resource management or co-management could be the key toensure this success, thereby opening up the options for sustainable development in this region and in the world.

In offering this edition of WWF Central America I would like to thank all our readers for their continued supportfor this publication and to wish them success in their future endeavors.

Corals are marine animals that have asymbiotic relationship with algae (plants) andproduce a kind of skeleton made of calciumcarbonate or limestone (rock). As animals,corals belong to the group of cnidarians, whichalso includes medusae or jellyfish, seaanemones, sea fans and other even strangercreatures. These are simple animals with onlytwo layers of tissue and a ring of tentaclesaround the mouth. Many species live at thebottom of the sea in large colonies of thousandsof individuals. Like other animals, they eatorganisms that live in the water. They musttransfer gases and produce waste like anyother animal. For these reasons, corals arestudied from the perspective of zoology, thescience dedicated to the study of animals.

But there is a difference. Most coral species arefound in the warm, shallow waters of tropicalseas. These corals have symbiotic algae calledzooxanthellae in their internal tissue, which insome cases may constitute nearly half of theirbiomass (in other words, the weight of theanimal part is very similar to the weight of thealgae). Zooxanthellae produce organic matterfrom inorganic molecules and light. Like plants,they produce oxygen as a byproduct ofphotosynthesis. The food and oxygenproduced within the coral are used by theanimal to live. In turn, the waste from the coralprovides nutrients for the zooxanthellae. Forthese reasons, corals are also studied from theperspective of botany, the science dedicated tothe study of plants.

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C U R R E N T E V E N T S

Are corals animals, plants or rocks?

* By Jorge Cortés

Photo: Jorge Cortés

Coco Island,Costa Rica.

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But there is more. Corals produce a skeleton ofcalcium carbonate, a material similar tocement. This skeleton is produced frommolecules present in the seawater.Calcification, as the production of limestoneskeleton is called, is carried out by the animalwith the help of zooxanthellae. The skeletonsproduced by corals accumulate at the bottom ofthe sea, like rocks, and with the passage of timegradually form a coral reef, a structure that canbe preserved in the fossil records. For thesereasons, corals are studied from the point ofview of geology, the science dedicated to thestudy of rocks and fossils.

Based on the above description, we can seethat corals are animals, that act like plants anddie like rocks. But they are much more thanthat.

Corals gradually form reefs that are three-dimensional marine structures, found in shallowtropical waters. These reefs contain the greatestbiological diversity to be found in the ocean: alltypes of algae, plants and animals, as well asa great variety of interactions, some of theseextremely complex in which many differentorganisms participate. Coral reefs play animportant role in recycling compounds on theplanet, such as CO2 for example. They are sitesfor the reproduction, recruitment anddevelopment of innumerable species, some ofcommercial importance such as lobster andpink conch. Coral reefs provide a source ofincome for many people, either from fishing, ormore recently, from tourism and the extractionof important substances for use in medicine.

Photos: Jorge Cortés

Dic hocoenia st ok esi

D i p l o r ia la b y r i n t h i -

Underwater view of Coco Island, Costa Rica.

At present, the world’s corals are suffering negative impacts from anumber of factors. The main impact is from sedimentation causedby deforestation, bad farming practices and the disturbance ofcoastal areas. These sediments choke or bury the corals andkill them, or else they gradually weaken and degrade them,since these animals have to invest energy in cleaningthemselves. The worst aspect of anthropogenic impacts(those caused by humans) is that they are generally bothacute and chronic, allowing corals no opportunity to recover.

Coral reefs benefit us all and for this reason, the study, conservationand rational use of these productive ecosystems is everyone’s responsibility.Whether we are interested in animals, plants or even rocks, corals are all that and more. They are essential to sustainlife on Earth, and are builders of areas containing a rich biodiversity, a source of food, chemical products andemployment. In addition, they are very beautiful places.

Coral reefs are very ancient ecosystems, constructed by different organisms during different periods: by bivalves in theCretaceous period and by algae or bacteria prior to this era. At present, the main reef builders are corals andcalcareous algae. Coral reefs have survived for millions of years and, although they sometimes they appear to die out,

they eventually begin to grow again. However, the combined pressuresof natural events and the impact of human activity are

currently doing away with the world’s coral reefs.

One of the most important natural disturbances we arewitnessing is the warming of the oceans as a result of the "El Niño"phenomenon. In the years when this phenomenon is strongest, the ocean waterheats up to a temperature above the level tolerated by coralsand as a result, they become bleached because they lose theirzooxanthellae and their pigments. In such cases the whiteskeleton may be seen through the coral’s tissue. If the coraldoes not recover its zooxanthellae within a certain period oftime, it may even die. Massive coral deaths took place duringthe El Niño phenomenon of 1982-83, 1992 and in 1997-98.In most cases, these natural disturbances are specific events,and once they are over and conditions return to normal, thecorals recover. The impacts of human activity, however, are themain causes of the destruction and death of our coral reefs.


Photo: Jorge Cortés

For more information, contact:

Jorge CortésCoral Reef Specialist

Marine Research Center (CIMAR) andSchool of Biology

University of Costa Rica (UCR)San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica

Phone: (506) 207 3201 Fax: (506) 207 3280E-mail: [email protected]

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Pocillopor a capit at a

As we begin a new millennium, the world is being united by global trends. Corporations are merging, tradeagreements are proliferating and international cooperation is increasing. Nowadays, it is also widely acceptedthat our environment does not recognize political or economic boundaries. Nature is inter-dependent because itcontains different habitats such as forests, rivers, seas, freshwater areas and mangroves, and for this reasonconservation efforts require an integrated approach with a regional and global perspective. Based on thepremise that a broad and integrated perspective is the best approach for protecting biodiversity and analyzingits threats , WWF has adopted an "Eco-Regional" approach in the Caribbean Mesoamerican Reef System (MRS),a unique area of utmost importance for the conservation of the planet’s marine-coastal ecosystems. The MRSoffers the world one of the most viable and transcendental opportunities to accomplish a multinationalconservation initiative.

The largest reef system in the Americas is shared by four countries that have declared their commitment to protectthe MRS and begun to draw up a formal agreement to preserve it.

The Mesoamerican Reef System of the Caribbean stretches from the far north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico,down through the Belize Barrier Reef and along the Caribbean coast of Guatemala, continuing as far as the BayIslands (Islas de la Bahia) and Cayos Cochinos in Honduras. This system, which includes barrier reefs, fringing

reefs, atolls and other corals scattered in groups orpatches, is unique in the western hemisphere, notonly because of its great size, but also because of theexuberance of the coral formations and the diversityof its coastal and marine ecosystems, which are stillrelatively well preserved.

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United by a World Treasure in Mesoamerica

* By Sylvia Marín

Photo: Laura Vilnitzky S. - WWF

Photo: Sara Shoemaker

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his map presents the results of the joint work carried out by renowned experts in coastal and

marine areas and shows the priority areas for conservation from an eco-regional perspective.

The areas identified are critical to maintain the eco-region’s ecological functions in the long-

term and allow us to guide conservation actions throughout the Mesoamerican Reef System.

T

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Associated with this reef system are large areas of costalwetlands, pastures of sea grasses, lagoons and mangroveforests. This eco-region is home to sea turtles, crocodiles,dolphins, more than 500 species of fish, including thelargest, the whale shark, the largest population ofmanatees in the western Caribbean andmore than 60 species of corals. Thespecies that are commerciallyexploited include the spinyl o b s t e r, the pink conch(cambute), prawns, redsnapper and grouper or seabass. In addition to being animportant food source and tourist attraction, the livingstructure of the reef provides other environmental services,such as a natural defense against erosion and protectionfrom the hurricanes that frequently pound the length of thiscoast.

Tourism and fishing in the MRS generate very substantialincomes for the economies of the four countries that sharethe reef, and these economic activities in turn dependdirectly on the health and good condition of the reef and thecoastal and marine ecosystems. Although coral reefs havemanaged to withstand the force of the hurricanes that buffetthe area several times a year, they will probably not be ableto survive the strong pressures caused by human activities.

Corals need clean water but unfortunately, several portionsof the reef have been seriously damaged by waste fromships, pollution from fertilizers and pesticides used inagriculture and waste from coastal communities. Inaddition, deforestation and the clearing of land for farmingare activities that generate large volumes of sedimentsbrought down to the coast by the rivers. These sediments arethen dragged out to sea by ocean currents flowing to thereefs. Over-fishing, whether for commercial or recreationalpurposes, reduces the lobster, conch and fish populations.


Photo: Priscilla Cubero


From the mid-eighties, WWF has workedclosely with the governments of the fourcountries and supported the establishmentand management of the Marina Hol ChanR e s e rve in Belize, the Chocon-MachacasBiosphere in Guatemala and the Cuero ySalado Wildlife Refuge in Honduras. WWFis also working with the government ofMexico to designate a protected area forXcalak and to institute real protection for theatoll of coral reefs in the Banco ChinchorroBiosphere Reserve.

Since tourism provides an important source ofincome, it is far more profitable to preservethe coral reef than destroy it. However, unlesstourism is carefully planned, it too can causenegative impacts because it encouragescostal development in the form of roads,hotels and marinas, which also causesedimentation, water pollution and loss ofcoastal habitats.

Global climate change is another significantthreat to the Mesoamerican Reef, because it isproducing increases in the surf a c etemperatures of the ocean for longer andmore frequent periods. This phenomenon iscausing the corals to become bleached orexpel their symbiotic algae, which in turncauses the death of the animal if thetemperature does not rapidly return tonormal. In the MRS a significant loss of coralsthrough bleaching has been observ e d ,especially in 1995 and 1998. At present,studies are being carried out to determinewhether the reef has managed to recover.

Photo: Sylvia MarínHotel development in Cancún, Mexico.

1. Research on the conservation and management of natural resources throughout the eco-region.

2. Strengthening the regional system of protected areas.

3. Management of coastal areas.

4. Public information, capacity-building and regional coordination.

The planning and execution of WWF’s eco-regional initiative currentlyfocuses on four main lines of action:

* Eco-region: Term used to describe a region that contains a set of ecosystems that share a number of species, relationships and conditions withsimilar characteristics. Eco-regional conservation helps to guarantee the long-term continuity of the ecological processes, necessary to preserve theplanet’s biological diversity.


The Tulum Declaration, signed in 1997 by the heads of state of Belize,Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala, formally pledged high-levelpolitical backing for the conservation and management of theCaribbean Mesoamerican Reef System as a unique ecosystem. Sincethen, the four governments have formulated an inter-governmental"Plan of Action" for the Mesoamerican Reef. Given this strong showof political will, WWF’s goal over the next three years will be to pursueconservation efforts on an eco-regional* scale. WWF will provide thenecessary technical support to ensure that the processes of costaldevelopment do not damage the natural treasures of this area, and willstrengthen the establishment and management of protected areas. Toachieve this objective, WWF together with local partners designed anEco-Regional* Conservation Plan based on scientific and socio-economic data.

Given its track record and commitment to the eco-region, during theinitial phase of the Mesoamerican Reef Program, WWF has alsocontinued to support field activities as well as contributing to thediscussion on regional policies.

Photo: Sara Shoemaker

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The success achieved to date and the activities underimplementation demonstrate that the conditions arenow favorable to make real progress in theconservation of the eco-region’s marine and coastalresources. The Tulum Declaration and the Plan of Actionhave encouraged governments, NGOs and the privatesector to involve themselves even more in internationalcooperation initiatives to conserve the MRS. However,the most significant aspect of this eco-regional effort,which is being executed under the Tulum Agreement, isthat it reflects the genuine interest of the populations ofthe four countries to protect valuable marine resourcesthat they share. At the same time, it shows the will ofgovernments to work together for the environment,recognizing that only in this way will they be able toachieve the region’s common development objectives.

• Strengthening the capacities of our partners through scholarships, exchanges, technical assistance and specialized courses.

• Disseminating information and promoting regional coordination amonggovernments to ensure that the efforts of the different organizations working in the eco-region are complementary.


Sylvia Marín,Coordinator of the Mesoamerican Reef Eco-Region

WWF Central AmericaPhone: (502) 363-5012 / Fax: (502) 363-5015

E-mail: [email protected]

The conservation actions promoted by WWF and its partners inthe region include:

• Supporting the Declaration on theprotection and management ofGladden Spit (Belize), Banco Chinchorro (Mexico), Xcalak (Mexico) and Cayos Cochinos (Honduras).

• Strengthening the Regional Network forthe Conservation of Sea Turtles.

• Harmonizing fishing policies, analyzingmarket forces (especially for lobster andconch), evaluating the potential of certification of fisheries and theestablishing restricted fishing zones.

• Developing a communications andlobbying strategy on coastal tourism, including a comparative analysis of tourism and population trends and the useof natural resources throughout theeco-region.

• Reducing threats from maritime transportby analyzing shipping routes, assessing the possibility of establishing "Particularly Sensitive Marine Areas" and promoting a "code of conduct " for the cruise industry.

• Working with the agro-export industry to reduce sedimentation and the flow ofagricultural effluents towards coastal areas.



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The Cayos Cochinos Archipelago is located18 miles northeast of the Honduran city of LaCeiba, on the country’s northern coast, at adistance almost mid-point between themainland and Roatan Island (see map). Thearchipelago covers approximately 500square kilometers and for the most part,consists of sea. The Keys have a population ofapproximately 250 inhabitants, includingproperty owners and Garifuna communities,who live on 3 of the area’s 12 cays. The maincommercial activity is small-scale fishing oflobster and scale fish, followed by tourism. In1993, the site was declared a protected areawith a view to conserving the characteristicfeatures of its marine ecosystems, particularlythe coral reefs with their great biologicaldiversity.

Why is Cayos Cochinos considered ane x e m p l a ry model of part i c i p a t o rymanagement or co-management of aprotected area? This protected zone is theonly mixed or integrated area (private andgovernmental) in Honduras. Its declaration asa protected area in 1993 was promoted bythe private sector of Honduras and endorsedby the Honduran government.

New co- management model transformsCayos Cochinos, Honduras

* By Arturo Izurieta

A ne w management model is cur rentl y being tr ied out in t he Ca yos Coc hinosar c hipelago in Hondur as, in vol ving communities, t he go ver nment and t he

pr ivat e sect or in t he management of a pr o tect ed ar ea. This uniq ue initiativ e isan e xam ple f or t he Centr al Amer ican r egion and t he w or ld.

Photo: WWF

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Photos: Arturo Izurieta

Since the very beginning, the management of this protectedarea has been delegated to the Honduran Coral ReefsFoundation (HCRF). With financial support from the SwissInternational Foundation, "AVINA", a first class scientific stationhas been installed in Cayo Menor, where important marineresearch is carried out to contribute to our knowledge of naturalresources and their management in this sector of theMesoamerican Reef System.

The administration of the Cayos Cochinos Protected Area hasundergone a process of transformation to respond to thechallenges of good management. The HCRF initially had thesupport of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), thescientific institution that promoted the first ecologicalevaluations and research on the state of the area’s main naturalresources, from the ecological and economic point of view.

Although the management model used at the outset was basedon a predominantly scientific approach, it nevertheless set upthe first zoning system, established the first regulations on theuse of resources and implemented monitoring activities andpatrols. When the support from STRI ended in 1997, the HCRFbegan the task of establishing appropriate links with the mainactors or groups associated with Cayos Cochinos, especiallywith the Garifuna communities, with whom the work of localparticipation was a priority due to the little attention paid at thebeginning to the management of the reserve. At present, thelocal populations, represented by their community leaders,continuously participate in discussions and proposals to benefitboth the communities themselves and the conservation andrational use of the resources of the protected area.

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Cayos Cochinos has established a model inter-institutionalalliance to reinforce its supervision and patrol of small-scalefishing. The Honduran Navy assigns six marines and oneofficer all 365 days of the year so that, together with therangers of the HCRF, they can monitor the activities within thereserve area. This is the only alliance of its kind in Hondurasto support the conservation of a protected area such as the onein Cayos Cochinos. In addition to the collaboration of theNavy, the area also receives assistance from the GeneralDirectorate of Fisheries, through its departmental delegation,particularly on matters related to fishing regulations andfollow-up of contraventions of the Fisheries Law.

With the support of WWF Central America, the endorsementof the Ministries of Natural Resources and the Environment andAgriculture and Livestock of Honduras, through theirDirectorates of Biodiversity and Fisheries and Aquiculture,respectively, the HCRF organized a workshop to define andprioritize its conservation objectives for this protected area,with the participation of members of the Garifunacommunities, government officials, representatives of propertyowners in the cays and external observers. After analyzingthe results of the meeting, WWF Central America, whichprovides technical assistance to the HCRF, recommended thatthe area be declared a "Natural Monument ". Thismanagement category is better suited to the conservationobjectives and the sustainable use of resources proposed bythe key actors and to its peculiarity of being an integrated(mixed private and government) area.

To further promote community participation and integration inthe co-management of the area, the HCRF decided to recruittwo park rangers or guards from some of the six maincommunities of Cayos Cochinos. For this purpose, communityleaders were invited to nominate their candidates and to form

part of the selection committee.


We should continue to strengthen the co-management model applied in Cayos Cochinos and generate a greatercommitment among all the actors involved: communities, property owners, users, governmental institutions, in orderto coordinate actions that are in line with the conservation objectives for this protected area. To achieve this goal,better training will be required at all levels, together with institutional and technical strengthening and thedevelopment of mechanisms to guarantee financial sustainability.

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Honduran Coral Reef Foundation Project WWF /Cayos Cochinos

Phone/fax: (504) 443-4075 / (504) 443-4076Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

WWF Central America and the AVINAFoundation have signed an agreement tostrengthen the HCRF’s institutionalcapacity and identify greater technicaland financial opportunities and strategicassociations to ensure the continuedexistence of the natural wonders of CayosCochinos.

From the standpoint of contributing toeco-regional conservation efforts, WWFCentral America has identified CayosCochinos as a priority site forconservation and also as strategic area todevelop monitoring and research effortsin the southern subregion of theMesoamerican Coral Reef.

Through the use of geographici n f o rmation systems (GIS), CayosCochinos is contributing to the training ofa critical mass of professionals in theregion, who will support the conservationand management of its coastal andmarine resources.

Photos: Arturo Izurieta


It is five o’clock in the morning and the sun appearsfrom behind the Nombre de Dios mountain range,bathing the Caribbean Sea around the CayosCochinos Archipelago in gold. Fishermen sail hometo their villages after an exhausting night of fishing.

Back in their communities, the fishermen are met bya group of students sponsored by the HonduranCoral Reef Foundation (HCRF), who are working ontheir theses. The students keep a daily record of thefishermen’s catch, making a note of the differentspecies caught in Cayos Cochinos.

This is just one of the ways in which local fishermenfrom the villages of Cayos Cochinos and thesurrounding areas, participate in the managementof the archipelago’s resources, which they haveused for generations.

In 1993, the Honduran Government form a l l ydeclared Cayos Cochinos to be a Protected NaturalArea. Since that time, the HCRF, a non-profitinstitution, has been responsible for administeringthe area, and, since 1998 has actively promotedcommunity participation in the management of theislands, cays, coral reefs, sea grasses andsandbanks, that make up the Archipelago.

At present, the communities are allowed to fishwithin the protected area, in accordance withmanagement criteria and respecting theestablished zoning system.

Shortly after midday, when the wind begins tob l o w, cooling the intense heat, the lobsterfishermen have completed their daily task. Somereturn to their villages in Cayos Cochinos andothers to the communities of Rio Esteban, NuevaArmenia and Sambo Creek. Lobster is one of themost important resources for small-scalefishermen, and they too collaborate in the task ofgathering information about their catch. Thelobster merchants in the coastal communities also

keep a record of all the productsthey receive, andsubsequently pass all this

information to the HCRF.

Conserving for the community meansworking with the community

* By Adoni Cubas


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The joint eff o rt of local communities, theGeneral Directorate of Fisheries andAquiculture and the HCRF, will hopefullyprovide the necessary data to take bettermanagement decisions. These will facilitate thec o n s e rvation of the Eco-Region of theMesoamerican Reef, and at the same timeenable small-scale local fishermen to continuebenefiting from the sea’s resources and preventtheir excessive exploitation.

Photos: WWF

Just a couple of hours before the sun sets on Cayos Cochinos, two young students from the Dr. Alfonso LacayoSchool, who live in the village of Chachahuate, arrive at the HCRF station in Cayo Menor, to have dinner thereand join the rest of the group of ten volunteers who are preparing to go "turtling".

For the past two years, with the participation of national and foreign volunteers, the HCRF has beenimplementing a Research and Conservation Program on the Hawksbill Turtle. Thanks to this initiative, we havenow learnt that this species deposits its eggs, is born, spends its early life and mates in this archipelago. TheProgram carries out a number of activities including patrols of the local beaches, protection of nests, releaseof hatchlings and environmental education. Local people have played an active role in all these activities,especially the young people and children from the Dr. Alfonso Lacayo School, in the community of East End.

The fruits of this effort have not been long in coming. A group of fishermen came to Cayo Menor to report thata hawksbill turtle had been trapped in one of their colleagues’ fishing lines. Because of the mark on its fin andthe records kept in the HCRF’s database, it was learned that this particular turtle had nested on the beachesof Cayos Cochinos in 1998. "A few years ago, this turtle would have ended up in a "soup pot", joked a localresident who witnessed the release of the fortunate turtle, which disappeared into the ocean waves.

The process to achieve a high level ofp a rticipation has been a great learn i n gexperience for the HCRF and the differentgovernmental agencies and local communitiesinvolved. Members and employees of theorganization are convinced that the only wayto ensure that the conservation efforts endureand produce the desired results is to seek theactive involvement of local actors, particularlythe people who live in the coastal communities.



Phone: (506) 257 - 3030 / (506) 800 - MI BANCO (642 -2626)Fax: (506) 222 - 3460 / (506) 222 - 8840 P.O. Box 6714 - 1000 San José, Costa Rica

Address: Central Street, Second Avenue Email: [email protected]

Banking Ser vices

Thank y ou f or helping t o maint ain a Living Planet


Adoni Cubas Honduran Coral Reef Foundation

Project WWF /Cayos CochinosPhone/fax: (504) 443-4075 / (504) 443-4076

E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]

Night has fallen on this paradisiacal archipelago in the Honduran Caribbean. In the dark sky, the brilliantstars of the Milky Way can be seen very clearly, reminding us of the long road that must still be traveledto achieve the optimum level of participation by local people in the conservation of Cayos Cochinos.

However, the future looks bright, because the HCRF now enjoys the technical and financial support ofWWF Central America and the AVINA Foundation, to strengthen joint conservation efforts with localcommunities. As a result of this initiative, community leaders from Cayos Cochinos and the surroundingareas of influence met with government representatives and other important actors to define theconservation objectives of the Cayos Cochinos Protected Area. The plan takes into account theuse of natural resources, the unique character of the ecosystems and species found in thisarchipelago, and their importance to the country, to the Eco-Region and to theMesoamerican Reef as a whole.

The idea is to project the experiences in Cayos Cochinos within the regionalcontext, with the support of WWF Central America. This task has alreadybegun and the plan is that the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation willfacilitate and support the activities carried out by the communities witha view to conserving Cayos Cochinos, as an important contribution byHonduras to nature conservation in the region.


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The Gulf of Honduras contains importantecosystems such as coral reefs, sea grasses,estuaries and mangroves that are particularlyrich in biodiversity and provide the basis formajor economic activities in the threecountries, such as fishing and tourism. In turn,these are intimately interconnected by theocean currents that sustain many commercialspecies such as red snapper, sea bass, lobsterand conch.

However, these ecosystems and the economicactivities they support face a serious andlatent threat: the risk of accidents from shipsthat transport highly polluting products. TheGulf of Honduras is an important hub forcommercial shipping, based around threemajor ports: Santo Tomas de Castilla andPuerto Barrios in Guatemala, and PuertoCortes in Honduras, plus 6 other small porttowns.

Oil and its derivatives, fertilizers, pesticidesand other dangerous materials are routinelyshipped through the Gulf. The intensiveshipping activity, the precarious conditions inthe ports, the types of materials transportedand the topographical conditions, are allfactors that increase the risk of accidents withextremely serious consequences for the area’scoastal and marine ecosystems. To furtheraggravate this situation, the port authoritiesand private companies that transport thesecargoes do not have sufficient capacity tocounteract the impact of a possible accidentor spill.

A spill in the Gulf of Honduras could destroymarine resources

* By Fernando Secaira

Belize, Guat emala and Hondur as all shar e t he Gulf of Hondur as, a busy shipping r out ethr ough whic h large cargoes of fuel, f er tilizers and o ther c hemicals ar e tr anspor ted. A

disast er her e w ould no t onl y af fect public healt h but w ould also gr eatl y damage t he ar ea’sbiological div ersity . F or t his r eason, a gr oup of r epr esent ativ es fr om t he pr ivat e sect or ,go ver nment al institutions and int er national cooper ation organizations ha ve f or med a

committ ee t o pr e vent and r espond t o an y contingency t hat might ar ise in t he e vent of a



Mindful of this serious threat to theenvironmental integrity of the Gulf ofHonduras, the PROARCA/Coasts Project(WWF-TNC-URI) and local non- governmentalorganizations (NGOs) decided to reduce therisk on one hand, and improve local capacityto respond to an accident, on the other. Forthis reason, an evaluation was conducted toassess the capacity of shipping companies andport authorities to handle dangerous products,and to deal with oil spills and spills of otherpollutants. The study also evaluated the levelof risk, given the volume and type of traffic inthe Gulf, the conditions of the ocean currentsand areas of high risk and biologicalimportance.

Subsequently, a Committee on Environmentaland Port Safety was established in Guatemala,(government, private sector and NGOs) toidentify the main resources needed to dealwith port contingencies, based on variouspossible disaster scenarios in Puerto Barriosand Santo Tomas.

The Committee, in turn, established the PortContingencies Brigade, a body to coordinateefforts and make joint use of the equipmentand infrastructure of its member institutions.The Committee and the Brigadeprepared a preliminaryContingency Plan, andcarried out spillsimulations to determinethe needs forcoordination andevaluate the existingcapacity for response.

To date, the Contingencies Brigade has goneinto action on two occasions to contain minorspills. These incidents have enabled it to assessits capacity for coordination and teamworkand to detect its weaknesses and areas forimprovement. The Brigade’s actions have beencompletely financed by its member institutions,on a totally voluntary basis, further increasingthe merits of this effort. The cost of the firstaction alone in 1998, was US$ 200,000. Thecost of controlling the second spill in August2000 has not yet been quantified.

In 1996, an initiative known as the"Environmental Policy Dialogue" was launchedby the non-governmental organizationFUNDAECO, to bring together diff e r e n tsectors in workshops, seminars and meetings,to discuss the environmental problems posedby shipping.



F i n a l l y, one of the initiative’s most import a n tachievements has been its impact at regional level.National and regional authorities are now moreaware of the potential hazards of shipping, as arethe port authorities and shipping firms of thedifferent countries.

In response to these concerns, the Central AmericanCommission for the Environment and Development(CCAD) and the Central American ShippingCommission (COCATRAM) and PROARCA/Coastsconvened a meeting to prepare the RegionalAgenda on Maritime and Port EnvironmentalSafety, within the context of the Meeting of PortAuthorities of Central America, held in San PedroSula. All that is pending now is its approval by theregional bodies of SICA.

Environmental safety, both at sea and in the ports,is essential to guarantee the conservation of ourmarine and coastal ecosystems. We consider thatthis initiative, launched in 1996 in the Bay ofAmatique, Guatemala, has had an import a n timpact both at local level and in the three countriesof the Gulf of Honduras, and throughout the CentralAmerican region, through the Regional Agenda.

While it is gratifying to note theprogress made so far, there isstill a long way to go, since

safety conditions in thesecountries are still precarious and

our ecosystems continue to bethreatened. We have taken the first steps.

The task continues.

The "Dialogue" has generated great interest amongmembers of government and Congress, who havepromoted actions to strengthen national capacities.Likewise, it has been instrumental in getting theprivate sector involved in this area of action.

This initiative has also generated other collateralachievements during the past 4 years: the creationof the private firm DVG S.A., specialized in themanagement of port waste, the oil companies’acquisition of equipment worth more than US$150,000 to prevent and clean up oil spills, and asimulation of an oil spill in Central America.

This effort has also attracted the attention of theInter-American Development Bank (IDB) which,together with local actors, drafted a projectproposal for US$5 million to be submitted to theGEF (Global Environmental Fund), to developcapacity to prevent and dealwith environmentalcontingencies in the Gulf,involving the three countries.

For more information, contact:Fernando Secaira

WWF Central AmericaProject PROARCA/Costas

3a. ave 7-59 zona 14, GuatemalaGUATEMALA

Phone: (502) 367 5326 / (502) 367 5327E-mail: [email protected]


23


Moving Towards Fisheries Certification in the MACR

* By Jaime González Cano

T h e f i s h i n g i n d u s tr i e s o f th e M e so a m e r i c a n R e e fta k e s te p s to o b ta i n c e r t i f i c a t i o n

Photo: Sarah Shoemaker

The World’s oceans are under siege. In spite of adequate management schemes and regulatory measuresin numerous countries, at the global level, many resources are over-exploited and far from a sustainablestatus. Therefore, in 1996 Unilever and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) established the Marine StewardshipCouncil (MSC), an organization aiming to provide some solutions to this problematic situation. Its interest isin fish as a renewable resource and the roleit plays as a source of food, employmentand as part of the marine ecosystems. TheMSC has explored mechanisms to stimulatesustainable management of marineresources subject to exploitation, for thebenefit of present and future generations.Amongst different mechanisms that havebeen tried, "the market forces" or "marketincentives" are regarded as a plausiblesolution. The assumption is that consumerswill decide what to buy and that theirwillingness to pay for certified products willindirectly support those fisheries wheresustainable management is being carriedout. The choice of consumers would decideif a fishery should be rewarded toguarantee that it is managed adequately.

The MSC now operates independently, buthas been very successful in bringingtogether a board coalition of supporters(important commercial chains) which areinterested in acquiring products only fromc e rtified fisheries under sustainablemanagement. To obtain the certification, thefishery must adhere to three main principles:

Principle 1.A fishery must be conducted in a manner that does not lead to over-fishing or depletion of theexploited populations and, for those populations that are depleted, the fishery must be conducted in a manner that demonstrably leads to their recovery.

Principle 2.Fishing operations should allow for the maintenance of the structure, productivity,function and diversity of the ecosystem (includingassociated habitat and related species) on which the fishery depends.

Principle 3.The fishery is subject to an effective managementsystem that respects local, national and international laws and standards and incorporates institutional and operational frameworks that require use of the resource to beresponsible and sustainable.

24


In addition, to maintain the certification and continue using the MSC logo, the fishery must be assessed onannual basis. The certification, however, provides great advantages: (1) it allows to maintain the resource ingood state and (2) it opens new markets never considered before. The most interesting aspect is that thismechanism is based in the attitudes and choices of consumers. They may have to pay higher prices, but knowthat their individual contribution might guarantee maintaining healthy fish stocks.

The certification is not a simple process, and it is given at different levels in the chain of commercialization: thefishery, markets, processing, restaurants, and retailers. Once the fishery is certified, companies wishing to usethe MSC products must undergo a "Chain of Custody" certification to guarantee that the MSC-labeled seafoodcan be traced and ensuring that it has been separated from non-certified product at every stage of production.The chain of custody guarantees that no cheating or products from the black market are introduced and soldas if originating from a certified fishery.


Up until now, only three fisheries have been certified: the Western Rock Lobster fishery in Australia, The Herringfishery in the United Kingdom, and the Salmon fishery from Alaska. Still, other fisheries are now being consideredfor certification. In the Mesoamerican Caribbean Reef (MACR) Ecoregion, and with support from the EndangeredSeas Campaign (ESC), in September of 2000 two certification pre-assessments for the spiny lobster Panulirus arguswere carried out under the leadership of the Australian expert Bruce Phillips and with the support of WWF staff.

The pre-assessments in Banco Chinchorro, Mexico and in Cayos Cochinos, Honduras haveshown that there is not a perfect fishery with all the necessary elements for certification inplace right away. Even the most studied fisheries, like the Western Rock lobsterfishery, had to meet additional requirements prior to certification. Thus, the resultsof both pre-assessments in the MACR will indicate if the fisheries in both placesare recommended for the following stages in the certification process and theconditions that will have to be met to move forward.

Regardless of the final results, one of the important spin-offs has been the greatdeal of interest generated in both places in improving fisheries management to reachcertification. If certification is achieved in these areas, these would will be the first two certifiedfisheries in the Caribbean Region involving a resource that is being shared throughout the Caribbean region. Thiscould raise the attention and interest in exploring other similar possibilities within the MACR or in the widerCaribbean Region.

It is important to note, that the conservation objective remain the same, but everyday we search for new ways toachieve it. If the certification process continues in both places, it will generate important lessons to evaluate if themechanism could be used more broadly to stimulate sustainable fisheries management in the Caribbean.



Jaime González CanoProgram Officer – MACR

Cancún, Q.R. MexicoWWF Mexico

Phone: (52-98) 848849E-mail: [email protected]

Photo: WWF

26

To halt the loss of species and the destruction of the world’s habitats,conservation efforts must be planned on a large scale and long-term.WWF and other organizations have adopted a new approach known asEco-regional Based Conservation (ERBC), aimed at conserving and,where necessary, restoring biological diversity to an eco-region.

This eco-regional approach is based on the fundamental principles ofbiodiversity conservation:

a) Maintain ecological and evolutionary processes that

create and sustain biodiversity.

b) Represent all natural communities within a particular

ecosystem and within a network of protected areas.

c) Maintain viable populations of species.

d) Conserve natural habitat areas sufficiently large to be

able to respond to periodic alterations and long-term

environmental changes.

Photo: Sylvia Marín

What is anEco-Region?

An eco-region isa relatively

large area ofland or water

that contains acharacteristic set

of similarand/or related

species, naturalcommunities

andenvironmental

N E W S

ERBC is implemented thougha program made up ofseveral elements:Identification, BiologicalEvaluation, BiodiversityVision, Socio-economicEvaluation and Eco-regionalPlan.

E c o - r e g i o n s

There are around 895 eco-regions in the world. Of these, 200 outstanding eco-regions (the Global 200) wereselected to represent the planet’s "Main Types of Habitat". These were selected through a comparative analysis ofbiodiversity data, for each continent and oceanic basin. The central principle considered in this selection process wasrepr esent ativity , in other words, the need to conserve a full representation of the world’s ecosystems, to guaranteetheir inclusion in the regional conservation strategies, since the main threat to Nature conservation is precisely theloss of natural habitats.

In Panama City, a Symposium on Biodiversity Conservation Based on Eco-Regions was held during the FourthCongress of the Mesoamerican Society for Biology and Conservation in late summer of 2000. The purpose of thesymposium was to disseminate information about this conservation planning tool based on the concept of eco-regions,

and encourage discussion on the challenges and opportunities it offers.

The event was attended by different experts, both from WWF and from otherorganizations in the region, who discussed and explained the concept of eco-regions,the 200 most representative Global Eco-Regions, the eco-regional process in the

Mesoamerican Reef and in the wet montane forests of the Talamanca Region in CostaRica. They also discussed the application of the eco-regional

system in identifying "gaps" in botanical informationandin the representation of biological diversity in

Central America’s protected areas, as well asto determine research priorities.

At a round table organized with the speakers theend of the Symposium, several part i c i p a n t s ,mainly professionals and students from the CentralAmerican countries and Mexico, expressed theirinterest in incorporating this new eco-regionalapproach in their respective areas of work, such asornithological studies, and the management ofprotected areas and natural resources in general.

27


Sandra Andraka G.WWF Central America

Phone: (506) 556 - 1383 / (506) 556 - 1737Fax: (506) 556 - 1421


N E W S

expectat ions in Panama* By Sandra Andraka

T R A I N I N G

The Russell E. Train Education For Nature Program

Oscar BrenesWWF Central America

P.O. Box 70 - 7170 CATIE, Turrialba, Costa RicaPhone: (506) 556 -1383 / (506) 556 - 1737

Fax: (506) 556 -1421E-mail: [email protected]

Interested candidates should submit theirapplication, on a special form, to the WWF officesin the country or region where they live. In the caseof Central America, those wishing to participatemust be citizens of Belize, Guatemala andHonduras, three of the countries that have custody

of the Mesoamerican Reef.

A selection panel made up ofWWF staff and extern a le x p e rts on education andc o n s e rvation, reviews andevaluates the applications.S u b s e q u e n t l y, theseapplications are sent to theWWF office in the United

States with recommendations regarding theselection, where they are evaluated a second timeby a selection panel also composed of WWF staffand external experts.

All applications must be submitted to the regionalrepresentatives of WWF before February15 of eachyear. Applications received after that date will notbe accepted.

The Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program(EFN) seeks to promote local capacity-building indeveloping countries to improve conservation actions.EFN offers present and potential leaders the necessarytraining, education and experience to face thechallenges of conservation. Founded in 1994, theprogram awards universityscholarships for undergraduate,masters or doctorate programs, tolocal conservationists in Asia,Africa and Latin America. Based onthe premise that the most effectiveleadership in conservation requiresthe integration of knowledge andexperience from various disciplines,the EFN program selects candidateswho are seeking a learning experience with aninterdisciplinary approach to conservation.

In recent years, this Program has focused on theworld’s priority eco-regions, as defined by WWF. InCentral America, the Mesoamerican Reef System,which falls within the boundaries of Mexico, Belize,Guatemala and Honduras, has been placed under thiscategory.

For more information in Central America (Belize,Guatemala y Honduras) contact:

Francisco PadronWWF Mexico Program Office

Ave. Mexico No. 51 Col. HipodromoC.P. 06170 Mexico D.F., Mexico

Phone: (525) 286 5631 / (525) 286 5634Fax: (525) 286 5637

For more information in Mexico, contact:

* By Oscar Brenes

EducationFor

Nature

28

N A TION AL UNIVERSIT Y (UN A)

Regional W ildlif e Management Pr ogr am

Ecological Criteria for the Design, Management andAdministration of Protected Areas

Date: January 22 –February 2, 2001Place: UNA, Heredia, Costa RicaCoordinator: Maria Isabel Di MarePrincipal instructor: Jamie RauTarget group: Academics, decision-makers, administrators of ProtectedAreas and Wildlife Conservation Areas.Cost: US $500

Biology, Conservation and Management of Cetaceans inC.A. (Second Course)

Date: Del 9 –17 July 2001 Place: UNA, Heredia and Marine Science Station in Punta Morales,Costa RicaCoordinator: Carlos DrewsTarget group:P r o f e s s i o n a l s ,academics, studentsand managers ofCentral America.Cost: US $350

29

What, where and when?

OR G ANIZA TION F OR TR OPIC AL S TUDIES(O TS)

Business Decisions and Enviro n m e n t a lQuality in C.A.Date: 13-17 February 2001Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Jose Maria RodriguezTarget group: Business ExecutivesCost: US $1,400.00

Agro-ecologyDate: June 29- August 9, 2001Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Jose Manuel MoraTarget group: Professionals working in Protected Areas

UNIVERSIT Y F OR PEA CE (UP AZ)

Analysis and Design of Forestry and Natural ResourcePolicies

Date: June 2001.Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Ronnie de CaminoTarget group: G o v e rnment officials, private sector, NGOs andcommunities.Cost: US $2,300.00

Information on OTS courses:

Organization for TropicalStudies

P.O. Box 676 – 2050 SanPedro,

Costa RicaPhone: (506) 240 66 96

Information on PRMVS courses(UNA):

Regional Wildlife ManagementProgram (PRMVS)

P.O. Box1350 University National3000 Heredia, Costa RicaPhone: (506) 237 - 7039Fax: (506) 237 - 7036

C A TIE

Pro tect ed Ar eas and Biodiv ersity Course U nit

23rd International Course on Protected Areas Date: 25 April – 25 May 2001Place: CATIE, Costa Rica - PanamáTarget group: Managers of Protected Areas in Latin America.Coordinator: Eduardo CarrilloCost: US $3,400.00

Information on courses at CATIE:

Eduardo Carrillo J.Phone: (506) 556-1712Fax: (506) 556-9649

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

Information on courses at UPAZ:

Felipe MatosRecursos Naturales

Phone:(506) 205 - 9083Universidad para la Paz Phone: (506) 205 - 9000Fax: (506) 249 - 1929


T R A I N I N G

30

G R A I N S O F S A N D S

DO N O T DUMP G ARB A GE

If y ou don’t w ant t he garbage,the cor al r eef doesn’t eit her . Dono t dum p w ast e in r eef ar eas andin o ther fr agile par ts of our natur ale n v i r o n m e n t su c h a s r i v e rs a n dbeac hes. The pr oper place f or garbage is t hetrashcan.

Cor al r eefs cont ain a gr eat er div ersity of f lor a and f auna t han man y of our f or ests on land. Ho wever , f e w people ar e a war eof t he numer ous benef its that cor al r eefs of fer . Aside fr om being an essential mar ine ecosyst em t hat pr o vides f ood, shelt erand a r epr oductiv e sit e f or a large number of species of f ish and o ther mar ine cr eatur es, cor al r eefs pr o tect our coasts fr omthe r a vages of st or ms and hur r icanes and ar e also a gr eat t our ist attr action. A t pr esent, cor al r eefs ar ound t he w or ld,including t hose locat ed of f the shor es of Me xico, Belize, Guat emala and Hondur as, ar e de ter ior ating r apidl y. Belo w w eof fer some useful tips so t hat y ou can help t o conser ve t hese v aluable under wat er tr easur es.

DO N O T BUY C ORAL

In man y coast al ar eas y ou will f ind shopsand individuals selling souv enirs, je welr yand cr af ts made fr om cor al. Eac h time y ou

buy one of t hese it ems, y ou ar econtr ibuting t o t he destr uction of t he

cor al r eefs. DO N O T buy ar ticlesmade fr om cor al.

Pass t hese useful tips on t o y our fr iends and contr ibut e y our little gr ain of sand t o t he ef for t toconser ve our natur al tr easur es.

Useful Tips

LO O K B U T D O N ’ TTOUC H!

Some t our ists touc h cor alreefs or e ven w alk on t hem,

d a m a g in g th e se fra g i l ee c o s y s t e m s a n d h a rm in g lifeunder wat er . In tur n, cer tain speciesthat liv e on cor al r eefs ma y causeskin allergies. Help t o pr o tect t hehealt h of t he sea cr eatur es andyour o wn - please do no t touc hor st and on cor als.

D O N O T A N C H O R IN C O R A LREEFS

Think bef or e y ou dr op anc hor in r eefzones, because b y doing so y ou ma y kill t he cor als and

disr up t mar ine lif e. It is be tter t olook f or ar eas wher e t her e ar e noreefs or t o tie y our boat t o buo ys inar eas wher e t his is allo wed.

The paperused for

thismagazine

can be Let’s build a LIVING PLANET

WWF Central AmericaP.O. Box 70 - 7170 CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Phones: (506) 556 1383 / 556 1737 Fax: (506) 556 1421 Email: [email protected]

The Worldwide Fund for Nature, WWF, is oneof the largest and most experiencedindependent conservation organizations inthe world. It has 4.7 million members and aglobal network that is active in 96 countries.

W W F ’s mission is to conserve Nature andecological processes by pursuing the followingobjectives:

• Preserving the genetic diversity of species and ecosystems.

• Guaranteeing the sustainable use of renewable natural resources both nowand in the long term.

• Promoting actions aimed at reducingpollution and the wasteful exploitation and consumption of resources and energy.

Documents

in - Pandaassets.panda.org/downloads/wwfca_revista_6_en.pdf · Studies to discover the location and dynamics of natural populations and communities, the creation and effective management