THE MESOAMERICAN REEF TOURISM INIATIATIVE MARTI

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THE MESOAMERICAN REEFTOURISM INIATIATIVE (MARTI)

• Applying the CI/IBLF Hotel Siting, Design and
  Construction guidelines and engaging hoteliers
  and marine service providers to implement
  environmentally sound practices

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Playa del Carmen 1974
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Playa del Carmen 2005
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Accelerated growth in the hotel infrastructure
in the Riviera Maya
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Increase in tourism arrivals
Arrivals in 1996 390,588
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Coastal Ecosystems
Forrest
Mangrove
Cenote
Lagoon
Reef Barrier
Forrest
Sea Grass
Reef
Costal Dune
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Key threats to the Mesoamerican Reef

• Coastal habitat destruction
• Water pollution
• Marine habitat degradation

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The Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative(MARTI)

• A five year project implemented by
• Amigos de Sian Kaan and Conservation
  International
• Supported by the Summit Foundation

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The Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative(MARTI)

• Mexico
• Belize
• Honduras

Adapted from Kramer and Kramer (2002). Used with
permission from World Wildlife Fund
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The MARTI Strategy

• Work with new hotel developments to reduce
  coastal habitat destruction
• Work with hotels and cruise ships to reduce water
  pollution
• Work with marine recreation providers and cruise
  lines to reduce negative impacts

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The MARTI Strategy Ownership and Partnership
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CI - IBLF sustainable hotel development
guidelines objectives

• The siting, design and construction (SDC)
  guidelines seek that new hotel developments
• are in harmony with their surroundings
• use minimal natural resources and create less
  waste
• respect and protect their cultural and natural
  environment and
• benefit and involve the neighboring community

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The Siting, Design and Construction (SDC)
guidelines in Hotels and tourism facilities

• A publication produced by the International
  Business Leaders Forum and Conservation
  International to help those involved in the
  process of planning or developing hotels in
  addressing environmental and social
  responsibility issues.

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Reduce coastal habitat destruction applying SDC
guidelines

• MARTI will
• integrate the sustainable Hotel Siting, Design
  and Construction (SDC) guidelines into existing
  policy tools and regulations and develop
  incentives for their application.
• promote SDC guidelines with resort and tourism
  facilities developers as well as public sector
  decision makers and provide technical support for
  guideline application.
• support the application of the guidelines in at
  least one tourism development pilot.

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Reduce water pollution

• Marti will
• Implement Environmental Best Practices in hotels
  in the Riviera Maya promoting a reduction in
  water consumption and improvements in solid waste
  and waste water management.
• Identify and map sensitive marine areas and
  promote adequate cruise ship discharge outside
  the identified areas.

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Reduce negative impacts of marine recreation
providers and cruise lines

• MARTI will
• Extend the cruise ship destination dialogue to
  more effectively manage cruise tourism impacts
• Promote and support the application of Best
  Practices for marine recreation service providers
  with The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)

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The MARTI Strategy

• This important change will be achieved by
  creating local ownership and partnerships with
  interested stakeholders and will contribute to CI
  and Amigos mission to conserve global
  biodiversity and to demonstrate that human
  societies are able to live harmoniously with
  nature