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Agriculture
Ridge to reef
Sugar cane plantation Sao Paulo State Brazil
© WWF-Canon / Paul FORSTER
The coastal and marine resources of the MAR drive development in this area. Although the countries value this amazing resource, latest assessments indicate that about 60% of the reef is facing threat from human-based activities and the effects of global climate change.
For these reasons, WWF is focusing efforts in the MAR on reducing major threats and their root causes. One of these major threats is effluent pollution, from agriculture, aquaculture, and deforestation which induce chemical run-off, excess nutrients and sedimentation in coastal waters. by agrochemicals.
To address this challenge WWF and partners are coordinating efforts with oil palm, citrus, sugarcane, pineapple, banana, and shrimp operators and processors, to develop spatial and temporal benchmarks to promote and adopt Better Management Practices (BMPs) aimed to reduce the environmental impact in the natural resource base, using state of the art science and technology
Agriculture in the MAR area
Agricultural activities in the MAR are spread all along its terrestrial areas. These activities include farming, ranching and shrimp and fish production. Agricultural operators ranges from very small to very large.
Because of suitable agro-climatological and edaphic characteristics there are rich tropical agroecosystems that produce a wide variety of crops that include, cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, industrial crops and pastures.
WWF’s approach to agricultural impacts in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) is to reduce the presence of the most toxic pesticides in the marine environment and control soil erosion from major commercial agricultural sectors
Approach
Our approach is to engage with strategic partners throughout the market chain and key agro- industries. Strategic partners include producers, processors, traders, and buyers, and the key crops that have been identified as having the most impact on the reef include:
- banana
- citrus
- oil palm
- pineapple
- sugarcane
Program goals
- Short-term: Develop a scientific and technological platform focused on pursuing a significant harmonization of agricultural activities with the health of terrestrial and marine habitats of MAR to foster a sustainable human development with reduced environmental impact and conserving the natural resource base.
- Mid-term: Develop and implement BMPs in the most intense agricultural and agro-industrial operations that include oil palm, citrus, banana, pineapple, sugarcane, and shrimp, to sustain productivity and reduce environmental impact.
- Long-term: Enhance and promote optimum fitness levels for local flora and fauna populations within the agro-environments, so as to allow proper level of natural forces to act upon.
Current activities
- WWF continues monitoring the bioaccumulation of agrochemicals in marine organisms in the Mesoamerican Reef. Monitoring is being conducted at selected sites near Belize and Honduras
- WWF has made considerable progress with the crop inventory in the MAR watersheds. Using satellite images and other GIS tools, WWF has continued to determine the type, extension, associated soil loss, and other key information to facilitate the selection of the areas, crops, and stakeholders to work with in targeting key agricultural practices to reduce coastal water pollution and sedimentation in the MAR.
- During this period, best and worst management practices inventories for sugar cane, citrus and oil palm in Honduras, Belize and Chetumal, Mexico, were finished and handbooks were printed and distributed. This study centered on developing a thorough understanding of the agricultural activity and the environmental impact of more than 150,000 ha of oil palm, citrus and sugarcane plantations and five processing plants.
- WWF´s Agricultural Program in the MAR has actively been engaged in developing a decision support system known as the “MAR Agro-climotological Monitoring System”, which uses state-of-the-art information and communications technologies as essential tools to provide, in the short run, support for farm operators’ day-to-day management decisions. The two stations in Honduras are fully operational and have been collecting data as expected since the second quarter of 2007.
- Due to the formal adoption of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), WWF supported research on an “Analysis of the impact of CAFTA on the importation and use of pesticides in the MAR watersheds.” The goal of this work was to identify possible changes in crops and pesticide use, determine the new pesticide use regulatory requirements under CAFTA, and forecast possible environmental impacts due to anticipated changes in pesticide use.
Shrimp farming
WWF is working with Belize shrimp farming industry to adapt global standards to the specific conditions facing producers in Belize. In addition we have made recommendations to the producers for a country-specific eco-branding program that will contribute to reducing environmental impacts and produce tangible benefits for participating industries.
Toward these ends, WWF and the Belize Shrimp Growers Association continue to work towards credible standards to improve environmental and social performance. A survey of Belize shrimp farm production practices was undertaken to determine the relative performance levels and impacts of each producer in the country.
The results of the survey revealed water pollution, bird depredation and fish meal inclusion as the main concerns. Belize shrimp farms appear to be a major source of nitrogen pollution to the coastal waters of Belize. Within the global context; though, the producers generally use low water exchange rates, are relatively efficient users of fish meal, can and do conduct water quality monitoring (which is also required by the Ministry of Environment), and practice mangrove conservation.
Learn more
- Promoting better management practices among citrus producers in the Aguan River Valley
- Promoting better management practices among palm oil producers in the Aguan River Basin
- WWF Aquaculture Program
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