What?

Mesoamerican Reef DAO (MesoReefDAO) is a Regenerative Coral Reef Science initiative that focuses on the creation of a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) of DeSci (Decentralized Science) that seeks to scale coral reef conservation efforts in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR). The Mesoamerican Reef is indeed the second-largest coral reef system in the world, spanning over 600 miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras (Fig 1). It is an incredibly diverse and ecologically important ecosystem, providing habitat for thousands of species that support ecological goods and services.

Fig 1. A map of the Mesoamerican Reef, © WWF Guatemala.

MesoReefDAO is working to establish partnerships with local communities, NGOs, and governments to support the implementation of sustainable fishing practices and the development of marine protected areas in the MAR. The DAO believes that engaging local communities in conservation efforts is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the region (Fig 2).

Fig 2. MesoReefDAO General Framework.

Mission The MesoReef DAO aims to restore, protect, preserve, and conserve the Mesoamerican Reef ecosystem, working towards the United Nations Decade of Restoration framework, through the implementation of regenerative practices, big data analytics, and decentralized technologies. We will foster a decentralized and collaborative management system to ensure a sustainable future for the reef and the people that depend on it.

Vision

The MesoReef DAO envisions a future where the Mesoamerican Reef ecosystem is thriving, providing ecological and economic benefits to local communities and visitors. We will achieve this by restoring degraded coral habitats, improving water quality, reducing pollution, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and educating local communities and visitors.

Problem

The problem that MesoReefDAO is trying to solve/mitigate is the rapid deterioration of the Mesoamerican Reef System due to climate change, pollution, overfishing, biodiversity loss, and other human activities. The Mesoamerican Reef System is one of the most biodiverse and economically important coral reef systems in the world, providing critical habitat for numerous species of marine life and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people in the region.

However, the reef system is under significant threat in the Anthropocene. The current approaches to address these issues have not been sufficient, with a lack of coordination between stakeholders, insufficient funding, and limited implementation of scientific research and data-driven decision-making.

Fig 3. Coral Outplanting areas in the Mexican Caribbean.

How?

MesoReefDAO aimed to mitigate the problems facing the Mesoamerican Reef through decentralized science web3 tools, community engagement, and leveraging the power of blockchain technology. As a DAO, MesoReefDAO is governed by its members, who collectively make decisions and allocate resources based on a set of rules and protocols encoded on the blockchain.

The framework model is centered around creating a decentralized, transparent, and sustainable system of funding and decision-making for regenerate coral reef conservation efforts in the Mesoamerican Reef System (Fig 4).

Fig 4. Six-layer framework (a-f) for “Web3” DeSci DAOs, adapted from Ding, et al., (2022).

Create regenerative feedbacks in coral reef conservation throughout the MAR (Fig 5).

Fig 5. The Five Steps of the Conservation and DeSci Web3 tools to explore adapted from Brown et al. (2022).

When?

Key features of 2024

• Develop a Web2+Web3 Interface
• Expansion and Onboarding Efforts
• Exploration of Web3 DAO Tools
• Collaboration Partnership and Initiatives
• Research and Development Initiatives (i.e. Tokenomics, Biodiversity Credits)
• Community Engagement and Transparency
• Pilot Programs and Proof of Concept: RegenReef

1. Biobank of corals
2. Coral and Fish Nursery
3. Micropropagation Zone
4. Disease and Bleaching Research Unit
5. DeSci Web3 Collaboration Hub

• Continuous Improvement and Adaptation

RegenReef #1

RegenReef #2