The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) stands as the world's largest transboundary barrier reef, stretching 1000 km from Mexico to Honduras. This system is a biodiversity hotspot and economic cornerstone, supporting coral reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves that sustain nearly two million people, with one million directly dependent on its resilience for livelihoods. The MBRS also offers critical protection against hurricanes and tropical storms while significantly boosting tourism economies across Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Indigenous groups such as the Garifuna, Kekchi, Maya, and Creole inhabit the region, adding cultural depth to its ecological significance.

(Ed.). (2016). The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Marine Transboundary Conservation and Protected Areas, 268–282. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315724270-23