Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor for the Implementation of CMAR Action Plan 2025–2035

The Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR) connects the waters under the jurisdiction of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama, forming one of the most productive and biodiverse marine regions in the world. Its ecosystems support globally important species, sustain the livelihoods of numerous coastal communities, and contribute billions of dollars annually to regional economies. Established in 2004 through the San José Declaration, CMAR is a voluntary cooperation agreement between the four member countries aimed at strengthening the conservation and sustainable management of this shared marine environment.

As part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Enduring Earth project, The Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) is supporting the implementation of environmental and social safeguards for the CMAR Action Plan 2025–2035. AAE was commissioned to develop an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to support the implementation of the Action Plan in accordance with the GEF Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy.

The ESMF provides a framework for identifying and managing the environmental and social risks and potential impacts associated with activities under the CMAR Action Plan. Covering the CMAR core marine areas and the Exclusive Economic Zones of the four member countries, the framework establishes measures to avoid, minimise and manage potential adverse impacts and provides the basis for the development of a future Environmental and Social Management Plan as and when implementation details are defined.

The assignment included the development of environmental and social profiles of the project area; stakeholder identification and analysis; a review of the relevant legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks across the four countries; and the identification and assessment of environmental and social risks and impacts and corresponding mitigation measures. Particular attention was given to the regional and transboundary nature of CMAR, as well as the potential implications of conservation measures for coastal communities, Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous Peoples. In addition to the ESMF, the assignment included the development of complementary safeguard instruments to support inclusive and sustainable implementation of the CMAR Action Plan.

Main outputs:

• Environmental and social profiles and stakeholder analysis
• Legal, regulatory and institutional framework analysis
• Environmental and social risk and impact assessment
• Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), including a Process Framework, Stakeholder Engagement Framework, and Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendant Communities Planning Framework.