Marco de Manejo Ambiental y Social para el proyecto Manejo Integrado Transfronterizo con Enfoque de la Cuenca al Arrecife para el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano

The document provides an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for a project aimed at conserving freshwater, marine, and coastal resources in the Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR). It defines the institutional roles of the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) and partner NGOs, establishes a project classification system (Categories A, B, and C) based on risk, and outlines procedures for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). The framework identifies priority river basins—including the Hondo, Motagua, Belice, Chamelecón, and Ulúa—and details the threats facing the reef, such as agricultural runoff, deforestation, and urban waste. It also sets strict safeguards for indigenous peoples, involuntary resettlement, and the use of hazardous pesticides, while proposing various 'ridge-to-reef' interventions like agroforestry and habitat restoration.

• The project's primary goal is to conserve shared freshwater, marine, and coastal resources in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) eco-region by implementing a 'ridge-to-reef' approach to ensure sustainable economic benefits for communities.
• The Mesoamerican Reef is threatened by both land-based and marine factors, including climate change, urban waste, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and overfishing.
• The project identifies specific priority river basins for intervention: Priority 1 includes the Hondo, Motagua, and Chamelecón rivers; Priority 2 includes the Yucatán Peninsula (North Zone), Belice River, and Ulúa River; and Priority 3 includes the New and Monkey rivers in Belize.
• Projects are classified into three categories based on risk: Category A for sensitive, diverse, or unprecedented adverse impacts; Category B for significant but mitigatable impacts; and Category C for minimal or no probability of adverse impacts.
• The framework mandates the use of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) when project activities affect indigenous communities, particularly in Honduras where ethnic minorities like the Lenca, Garífuna, Chortí, and Tolupanes face active conflicts over land tenure.
• Strict prohibitions are placed on the use of World Health Organization (WHO) Class Ia and Ib pesticides, while Class II products are only permitted if managed by trained personnel using protective equipment.
• The document outlines a 'Negative List' of activities that should generally be avoided or require extreme caution, such as the introduction of exotic species or genetically modified organisms, and any activity that violates local laws or disrupts ecological corridors.
• The framework emphasizes the importance of karst geological formations in the region, noting their high permeability makes them susceptible to contamination from waste disposed of in cenotes.

APA

WWF International (2016). Marco de Manejo Ambiental y Social para el proyecto Manejo Integrado Transfronterizo con Enfoque de la Cuenca al Arrecife para el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/6gshyedaaw_ESMF_MAR2R_Espanol_Final_2016.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Marco de Manejo Ambiental y Social para el proyecto Manejo Integrado Transfronterizo con Enfoque de la Cuenca al Arrecife para el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano. 2016. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/6gshyedaaw_ESMF_MAR2R_Espanol_Final_2016.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Marco de Manejo Ambiental y Social para el proyecto Manejo Integrado Transfronterizo con Enfoque de la Cuenca al Arrecife para el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano |date=May 2016 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/6gshyedaaw_ESMF_MAR2R_Espanol_Final_2016.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2016marco, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Marco de Manejo Ambiental y Social para el proyecto Manejo Integrado Transfronterizo con Enfoque de la Cuenca al Arrecife para el Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, month = may, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/6gshyedaaw_ESMF_MAR2R_Espanol_Final_2016.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }