Mesoamerican barrier reef is faced with growing threats. Salvation of the Mesoamerican Reef: how innovations help to preserve corals Climate and environment Propagating a thousand kilometers along the shores of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, Mesoamerican barrier reef – this is a real miracle of nature. In the largest barrier rif of the Western hemisphere, the most diverse species live, including 60 varieties of corals. 62 ~ However, this most important ecosystem encounters growing threats, such as environmental pollution and climate change. ~ 60 > support for local initiatives To confront these challenges, the UN program program (UNEP), the UN Capital Development Fund, the UN Development Program and the Global Fund for coral reefs launched the initiative to support projects designed to maintain reef. Mesoamerican Reef Foundation provides funding and technical assistance to 50 beginners Eco-enterprises in the countries of the region. Their work covers 1.7 million hectares of corals and creates economic opportunities for 15 thousand people. ~ 60 > according to the director of the Ecosystems Department UNEP Susan Gardner, it is local organizations that have the necessary knowledge and experience . In addition, more fish lives in healthy reefs, so the locals are interested in maintaining them, since for them this means the best food and higher income. shrimp One of the projects supported by the Mesoamerican Reef Foundation is engaged in the cultivation of young royal crabs. They are produced in a reef zone to combat excessive growth of macro-plants, which occurs due to an increase in the ocean temperature. This vegetation displaces corals, weakening the ecosystem. Local royal crabs love to enjoy algae, without causing harm to corals. However, the natural population of crabs is not enough to control plants. New crabs will help restore the balance in the ecosystem, improving the health of corals and creating a stable source of income for local fishermen. To fight pollution, another serious threat to corals, the Mesoamerican Reef fund helps to become more environmentally stable in Belize, including introducing wastewater recirculation systems. Traditionally, shrimp farms often discard contaminated water into the ocean and destroy mangroves – the most important coastal ecosystems. ~ 60 > suffering algae ~ 60 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 ~ 62 Meanwhile, in Mexico, the Fund supports A company that processes a variety of seaweed – sargassum – into raw materials for various products, including biofuel, animal food, fertilizers, textiles and cosmetics. This prevents the accumulation of sargasum, which can “strangle” corals and sea fauna, as well as the entry of algae onto the dumps, where they decompose and pollute groundwater. ~ p > one of the products based on Sargassum is an organic fertilizer, which also helps farmers reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers that contribute to the growth of sargasum and the formation of oceanic hypoxia zones (the so -called “dead zones”). 62 ~~ 60 > Innovation for the health of reefs Coral reefs occupying less than one percent of the ocean bottom area support 25 percent of the entire maritime life. In addition, these ecosystems provide food for people, protect coastal zones and provide livelihoods in regions vulnerable to climate change. However, over the past 15 years, the world has lost 14 percent of coral reefs, some of which existed 5 thousand years. The death of reefs is caused by an increase in water temperature, pollution and unstable fishing methods. ~ 60 > global fund for coral reefs – this is a multilateral trust fund under the auspices of the UN. It provides grants and loans to enterprises that contribute to the preservation of reefs, supporting initiatives in the field of ecotourism, sustainable aquacultural production and the cultivation of seaweed. The purpose of the fund is to support more than 400 enterprises and create more than 30 thousand jobs by 2030. Each enterprise included in the fund’s program solves the problems of reef health, simultaneously contributing to the fight against poverty and ensuring the financial stability of marine protected territories. 62 ~~ 60 > “Fund projects demonstrate that even small investments The preservation of biodiversity can lead to significant innovations and positive results, – noted Susan Gardner from UNUP. – In the face of growing threats to coral reefs, this is exactly the effect of this effect now. ”