TEGUCIGALPA, Feb 13 (Tierramérica).- The project forms part of an initiative to preserve the entire Mesoamerican Reef – shared by Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras – which is being implemented by international and regional agencies such as the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD). The presidency of the CCAD rotates on a six-month basis and is currently held by Honduras.

One of the sites targeted for protection through educational and awareness-raising campaigns is the Cordelia coral forest, a 21-hectare-long reef stretching through the Islas de la Bahía (Bay Islands) that encompasses a wealth of marine life, Environment Minister Rigoberto Cuéllar told Tierramérica.

There are also plans to design a marine recreation plan to ensure the protection of the coral forest, which is home to the largest population of live staghorn coral in the Caribbean and is currently threatened by diving and fishing, he added.

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