The WCS Marine Program’s primary objective is to protect vulnerable species and landscapes across the Pacific coastal and marine zones, while fostering sustainable livelihoods for local communities. Since its launch in 2017, the program has focused on preserving the biodiversity of the Pacific through a sustainability-driven approach that aligns with national legislation and upholds the country’s environmental governance. It also contributes to the achievement of international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as key national policies such as the National Biodiversity Policy, the Nationally Determined Contributions, and the National Maritime Policy 2023-2043.
Our strategy is built around four key pillars: 1) we collaborate with the government to advance the Marine Agenda, led by the Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (CONAP, by its Spanish acronym), 2) by participating in the development of technical studies, 3) promoting marine-coastal protected areas, and 4) driving legislative initiatives. In addition, we focus on the conservation of threatened species that are crucial both for ecology and local livelihoods. This is achieved through participatory biological monitoring in fish landings, which allows us to analyze populations and assess their vulnerability.
We implement pilot projects aimed at strengthening local governance and fostering community partnerships, with a focus on integrating mangroves into protection and restoration initiatives. Additionally, we conduct assessments of artisanal fisheries and train communities in citizen science, empowering them to identify and monitor biodiversity. In a broader, more integrated approach, we enhance institutional collaboration with CONAP, DIPESCA, and INAB by providing training in the use of the SMART tool, which improves monitoring, control, and surveillance in critical areas.
Among the program’s notable achievements is supporting the advancement of the Marine Agenda through technical studies for areas such as Tiquisate-Tecojate, Tulate-Churirín-Chiquistepeque, and the Marine Biosphere Reserve of the Pacific. We have also enhanced technical studies for areas like Sipacate-Naranjo, Hawaii, Manchón-Guamuchal, and Las Lisas, contributing to fisheries management through governance and technical working groups. Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) have been identified in the Pacific, and fisheries have been monitored in key points along the Pacific coast, aiding fisheries management and identifying recovery zones.
We have generated baseline population data for shorebirds along the Pacific migratory route, in collaboration with WCS-Beringia, and developed marine-coastal awareness campaigns alongside CONAP. The implementation of the SMART tool for control and surveillance has been carried out in collaboration with partners across the Pacific, supporting local mangrove committees in Nueva Concepción, Champerico, and Tiquisate. Additionally, we have restored mangrove ecosystems in Iztapa, Nueva Concepción, and Champerico, and provided training in the use and management of SMART in CONAP’s South-East and Southern Coast regions.
Among other actions, we have conducted routine patrols in the Chiquimulilla Canal and Pacific conservation areas, in partnership with INAB, CONAP, ARCAS, and CECON. We have also delivered training on the identification of sharks and rays of the Pacific, as well as on how to handle stranded or incidentally captured marine megafauna.