Connect to Protect the Eastern Tropical Pacific Coalition Commitment

Spanning from Costa Rica and Panama to the north and Colombia and Ecuador to the south, the rich waters of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (EPT) region host some among the world’s most productive, biologically diverse, and ecologically significant marine environments. This vast, unique, irreplaceable, and interconnected ecosystem also plays a key role for populations of a wide range of sharks, whales, and sea turtles, and support billions of dollars annually in local economic activity. Yet, typical of the global ocean, these thriving waters – and the communities that depend on them – face growing threats. Recognizing this risk, leaders from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama have stepped forward together to act. Over the past year, each county pledged ambitious new marine protections. Together, these commitments cover some 324,000 square kilometers of ocean, and include the thriving waters surrounding Cocos Island, Cordillera de Coiba, and the Galápagos. Additionally, each country has already committed to protecting at least 30% of their respective exclusive economic zone. In November 2021, the four counties also signed an agreement to create a 500,000 square kilometer transboundary biosphere reserve that would connect and protect the Cocos, Coiba, Galápagos, Gorgona, and Malpelo Islands. Safeguarding the pathways between the region’s linked biological hot spots would protect the tuna, sharks, rays, whales, birds, sea turtles and many other creatures that rely on these corridors to feed, gather, reproduce, and give birth. The reserve would help safeguard the Eastern Tropical Marine Corridor (CMAR), which was formally established by the four countries nearly 20 years ago in a declaration creating an inter-governmental cooperation mechanism for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the region. The 2004 agreement has successfully encouraged communication and collaboration on common regional threats such as overfishing. Recognizing that cooperative leadership is crucial to ensure that the global ocean remains healthy and productive, the Connect to Protect Eastern Tropical Pacific Coalition, which includes Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Nature Alliance, Development Bank of Latin America, Enduring Earth, German Ministry for Economic Development and Coordination through KfW, Global Environment Facility, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Islas Secas Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy, Re:wild, Shark Conservation Fund, UK government, U.S. Department of State, and the Wyss Foundation, has committed $50M over the next five years in private funding, with more than $100 million in public funding in support of this vision. Specifically, the coalition will work alongside elected leaders, communities, Indigenous groups, government officials, and scientists to provide technical and financial assistance in support of: • a regional governance structure • design and implementation of MPAs and the biosphere reserve • securing sustainable financing The UK has committed to supporting the region with technical assistance through the UK's Blue Planet Fund to identify actions to reinforce the monitoring, management, and enforcement of its marine protected areas. And the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has already approved a USD $ 65.2 million investment into the Galapagos Protected Area aimed at rehabilitating the area’s ecosystems and promoting sustainable tourism practices.