24764_MesoAmer_Cover.qxd 06.10.02 5:00 PM Page 1 BY PHILIP A. KRAMER AND PATRICIA RICHARDS KRAMER EDITED BY MELANIE McFIELD Ecoregional Conservation Reef Ecoregional the Mesoamerican Caribbean Planning for Logo © 1986, Nature.Wide Fund for World internationally owner. WWF - known as the Trademark WWF Registered ® 11-2001/5000 • Pri nted on recycled paper inks.nted on recycled using soy-based Published May 2002 U.S.A. Straits of Florida CUBA Yucatan ECOREGIONAL CONSERVATION PLANNING Channel MEXICO for the BELIZE BAY ISLANDS EA GUATEMALA Mesoamerican HONDURAS EL SALVADOR NICARAGUA Caribbean Reef ECOREGIONAL CONSERVATION PLANNING for the Mesoamerican Caribbean Reef (MACR) BY PHILIP A. KRAMER AND PATRICIA RICHARDS KRAMER EDITED BY MELANIE MCFIELD Philip Kramer, Ph.D. and Melanie McField, Ph.D. Sylvia Marín Patricia Richards Kramer MACR Reef Scientist/Senior MACR Ecoregional Coordinator MGG, Rosenstiel School of Program Officer for Belize P.O. Box 629-2350 Marine and Atmospheric Science P.O. Box 512 San Francisco de Dos Ríos 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy. Belize City, Belize, Central America San Jose, Costa Rica Miami, FL 33149 Phone 501-2-37680 Phone 506-253-1529 Tel/Fax Phone 305-361-4664 Tel/Fax Tel/Fax 501-2-37681 506-234-7976 305-361-4632 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Acknowledgements his report is the result of a collaborative effort Conservation Society (WCS), Tom Allnutt (WWF), between World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ocean Serge Andrefouet (USF), Alex Arrivillaga (USGS), TResearch and Education Foundation (ORE), and Bessy Aspra de Lupiac (DIGEPESCA), Robert Bonde The University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine (USGS), Ted Cheeseman (TNC), Pablo G. Dieseldorff and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). We would like to (FUNDARY), Janet Gibson and Nicole Auil (CZMA/I), acknowledge the Central American Commission on Luis Morales (PRADEPESCA), Benjamín Morales Vela Environment and Development (CCAD) and the gov- (CIQR), David Olivera (CIQR), Claudia Ruíz (PROAR- ernments of the four countries for their farsighted CA/COSTAS), Antonio Salaverría (CEMA), and vision of the importance of preserving the Beverly Wade (BFD). Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System as embodied in the Dave Olson (WWF) is acknowledged for facilitating Tulum Declaration. We appreciate the financial support the Cancun Workshop and for his experience in apply- of the Summit Foundation and the Ocean Fund. Most of ing the priority-setting methodologies. Valuable work- the information necessary for describing, delineating, shop assistance was also provided by Anthony and prioritizing biodiversity areas of the MACR origi- Anderson, Sarah Christiansen, Miguel Cifuentes, Jaime nated in the priority-setting exercises that were part of González Cano, Arturo Izurieta, Angel Loreto Viruel, WWF’s Ecoregional Planning Workshop in Cancun, Kimberly Marchant, John Morrison, Theresa Padovano, Mexico (April 26-28, 2000). The authors are especially Sue Palminteri, Iván Parra, Susana Rojas, Mercedes grateful to all workshop participants (listed on page 8) Sánchez Sandoval, Patricia Santos González, Fernando for sharing their knowledge and helping to develop this Secaira, and Holly Strand. Mike Lara, Brian Luprek, ecological vision for the MACR region. and Wes Wettengel provided GIS expertise during the Miguel Jorge, Theresa Padovano, and Sylvia Marín Cancun workshop. Isabelle Zaparolli is thanked for provided guidance and support for the MACR-WWF database assistance and translations. project. Brian Lupreck, Mike Lara, and James Byrne The following individuals are also thanked for assisted with the development of the Geographic insightful discussions during different phases of the Information Systems (GIS) database and the prepara- project: Bob Cowen, Terry Done, Paul Dulin, Carlos tion of workshop information maps. Marjo Vierros is García, Robert Ginsburg, Ken Lindeman, Kathleen thanked for the remote sensing image analysis of the Sullivan, and Steve Wing. We are thankful to Meg north coast of Honduras and portions of Mexico. Symington for helping to coordinate the production of Assistance with gathering synoptic data sets came from this report; to Jim Barborak, Jaime González Cano, Elizabeth Fisher, Helena Molina, Mónica Valle, and Arturo Izurieta, Ghislaine Llewellyn, Sylvia Marín, and Nancy Revilla. The following groups and individuals Melanie McField for comments on earlier drafts; and to are also acknowledged for contributing information and Ken Kassem for assistance with final map layout datasets to the MACR Biodiversity Database: Amigos design. We are sincerely grateful to Melanie McField de Sian Ka’an (ASK), Belize Audubon Society (BAS), for her suggestions and editing of this report. Finally, Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority/Institute thanks to María Elena Godbey and Deborah Meader for (CZMA/I), Belize Fisheries Department (BFD), Belize their assistance with the publication of this report. Land Information Center (LIC), Food and Agriculture The purpose of this report is to present the findings Organization (FAO), Fundación Mario Dary Rivera of the MACR Ecoregional Planning Workshop and an (FUNDARY), Guatemala Wildlife Conservation overview of the breadth of information synthesized for Society, InterAmerican Center of Tax Administrations the MACR Biodiversity Database. The authors hope (CIAT), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Wildlife this report proves a valuable resource to all those Ecoregional Conservation Planning for the Mesoamerican Caribbean Reef involved in preserving and managing the biodiversity of understanding on the reefs of Quintana Roo, Mexico the MACR ecoregion. The information in this report is and the importance of their conservation. based on the best information available at the time and, Mario completed a master’s degree in biology with while every attempt had been made to ensure its accura- emphasis on aquatic resources and worked with the cy, errors and omissions are bound to occur; therefore it Mexican Secretariat for the Environment, Natural is our hope that readers will “use this information,” add Resources and Fisheries (SEMARNAP) as reef to it, and verify and update its accuracy. While we have researcher and also as the former Director of the Isla tried to acknowledge the many individuals and organi- Contoy National Park. As lecturer and researcher with zations that contributed to this report, there may be the Mexican National Autonomous University some we have missed and we deeply apologize in (UNAM), Mario also promoted greater understanding advance for any oversight of their hard work. on coral reefs, contributing to environmental education and outreach efforts throughout Quintana Roo. Special Acknowledgement Mario participated actively during the MACR Ecoregional Workshop, sharing information providing The publication of the MACR Ecoregional Biodiversity insights, and guiding fascinating discussions on ecore- Vision is dedicated to Mario Lara Pérez Soto, colleague gional reef conservation priorities. We are extremely and friend who has made important contributions to our grateful for his valuable professional and personal con- tributions to this process. ¡Gracias Mario! Philip A. Kramer and Patricia Richards Kramer May 2002 Ecoregional Conservation Planning for the Mesoamerican Caribbean Reef Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . .1 CONTRIBUTORS . .4 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS . .5 1. INTRODUCTION . .6 1.1 MACR BIODIVERSITY DATABASE . .6 1.2 ECOREGIONAL CONSERVATION PLANNING WORKSHOP . .8 2. THE MESOAMERICAN CARIBBEAN REEF ECOREGION . .10 2.1 ECOREGION AND SUBREGION BOUNDARIES . .10 2.2 BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE . .13 2.3 CHANGES IN THE MACR . .15 3. IDENTIFYING PRIORITY AREAS . .16 3.1 IDENTIFYING PRIORITY AREAS FOR TAXA/GUILDS . .17 3.1a Taxa Priority Areas Approach . .17 3.1b Results: Taxa Priority Areas . .18 3.2 SELECTING BIODIVERSITY PRIORITY AREAS IN THE MACR . .26 3.2a Biodiversity Priority Areas Approach . .26 3.2b Biodiversity Priority Areas Results . .26 3.3 IDENTIFYING THREATS TO MACR BIODIVERSITY . .27 3.3a Threats Analysis . .27 3.3b Threats Results . .27 3.4 IDENTIFYING PERSISTENCE AND FUTURE THREATS . .30 3.4a Persistence Analysis . .30 3.4b Persistence Analysis Results . .32 3.4c Future Threats Analysis . .33 3.4d Future Threats Results . .35 3.5 SEASCAPE CONSIDERATIONS . .36 3.5a Seascape Questions/Answers . .38 3.5b Conservation Success in MACR: Responses, Strategies, and Benchmarks . .38 4. REPRESENTATIVENESS OF PRIORITY AREAS . .42 4.1 SIZE OF BIODIVERSITY PRIORITY AREAS . .42 4.2 HABITAT ESTIMATES . .43 5. DATA AVAILABILITY AND INFORMATION GAPS . .45 6. CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES . .48 6.1 WWF AND THE MACR . .48 6.2 ECOLOGICAL VISION FOR MACR . .49 6.3 DRAFT VISION STATEMENT . .50 APPENDIX A: MACR BIODIVERSITY DATABASE AND MAPS . .51 APPENDIX B: TAXA PRIORITY AREAS: MAPS AND DESCRIPTIONS . .69 APPENDIX C: BIODIVERSITY PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE MACR: MAPS AND DESCRIPTIONS 93 APPENDIX D: LITERATURE CONSULTED AND CITED . .129 Ecoregional Conservation Planning for the Mesoamerican Caribbean Reef Tables and Figures List of Tables TABLE 1 Data Synthesized for MACR Biodiversity Database TABLE 2 Subregion Descriptions TABLE 3 Coral Reef Criteria Ranking Results TABLE 4 Fish and Focal Species Criteria Ranking Results TABLE 5 Biodiversity Priority Areas TABLE 6 Ranking Results of Nine Highest Biological Priority Areas TABLE 7 Threats to MACR’s Biodiversity TABLE 8 Causes of Biodiversity Loss TABLE 9 Biodiversity Threats by Subregion TABLE 10 Integration Matrix of Biological Importance and Persistence Value for