GEF Approves $16 Million Regional Project for CMAR

Today, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) announced the approval of $16 million to support the initiative, “Beyond 30x30: Ensuring Resilience in the Eastern Tropical Pacific through Greater Cross-Border Cooperation,” which aims to improve the resilience of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR). Led by the CMAR Secretariat and Conservation International, and implemented by Fundación Pacífico, this project represents an important milestone in our shared mission to protect one of the world's most ecologically rich, but also most vulnerable, ocean regions.  

The announcement was made during the handover ceremony of the CMAR Presidency from Panama, which concluded its three-year term in office, to Colombia, which will now hold the Presidency until April 2028. With this project, CMAR hopes to ensure the long-term resilience and conservation of at least 64,300,000 hectares of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor by strengthening regional governance, ensuring regional connectivity, improving climate-resilient management, and coordinating investments in the blue economy and conservation efforts.  

“The approval of this project by the GEF is recognition of the work and commitment of the Presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama, who at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2021 (COP 26) agreed to jointly meet the global goal of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, GEF CEO and Chairperson. “In addition to supporting the long-term resilience and conservation of more than 64 million hectares of the Pacific Ocean, this project will enable countries to establish the basis for long-term sustainable financing.” 

The Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), which covers the waters of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama, is a key marine biodiversity hotspot of global importance. Located at the meeting point of warm and cold ocean currents, this region is home to a wide variety of tropical, subtropical, and temperate ecosystems. These dynamic waters have a high degree of ecological interconnectivity and species found nowhere else on the planet.  

However, the region is increasingly under threat. Rising ocean temperatures, acidification, overfishing, and plastic pollution are degrading marine habitats and threatening the survival of critical species such as sharks, whales, sea turtles, and coral reef systems. The integrity of vital migratory routes, which connect marine protected areas and are used by endangered species such as leatherback turtles, whale sharks, and hammerhead sharks, is particularly at risk.  

The ecological value of the ETP is recognized globally, with four sites designated as UNESCO World Heritage Marine Sites (Galapagos, Cocos, Coiba, and Malpelo), two Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance (Galapagos and Cocos), and several marine protected areas recognized by the IUCN Green List and Blue Parks Awards. 

Why this regional collaboration is important  

CMAR was created in 2004 as a collaborative initiative between the governments of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama. They joined forces in support of the region's unparalleled biodiversity and the urgent need for coordinated regional protection. Protecting the waterways and migratory ecosystems of the ETP requires countries and communities to work together across national boundaries to ensure habitat connectivity, enforce sustainable fishing practices, and respond collectively to climate threats.  

CMAR's Pro Tempore Technical Secretary, José Julio Casas Maldonado, notes that, “this is the first project funded by the GEF for CMAR and includes activities that will contribute to strengthening important aspects of the Corridor, with the aim of effectively protecting the marine protected areas that comprise it. After an exhaustive two-year technical process, and with the agreement of the four countries, we have obtained approval for a project that will allow us to continue advancing our initiative,” said Casas.  

By aligning regional priorities, CMAR governments can amplify conservation impacts, pool resources, coordinate marine surveillance, and create an integrated network of marine protected areas (MPAs) that safeguard biodiversity and support the coastal communities that depend on them.  

With new funding from the GEF, the “Beyond 30x30” project will:  

· Strengthen governance and institutional coordination between countries. 

· Improve the connectivity and effectiveness of marine protected areas. 

· Promote sustainable blue economy models. 

· Implement climate adaptation and community-based conservation strategies. 

To achieve the ambitious results of this project, which include contributions to the global goal of protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, regional solidarity and international support are needed. This project will work with national governments, local stakeholders, and civil society to ensure the long-term resilience and effectiveness of conservation efforts in the region.  

“For more than twenty years, Conservation International has proudly collaborated with CMAR and the governments of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama to conserve this vital ocean region,” said Marco Quesada, Vice President of Oceans for Conservation International's Americas Division. CMAR's success as an ocean conservation initiative is reinforced by strong intergovernmental commitment and an effective regional vision. This project is poised to lead new efforts in regional governance, connectivity management, and the blue economy, serving as a global example for advancing ocean goals such as climate adaptation, resilient islands, MPAs, and sustainable tourism.”