Climate Action Honduras Project #9618

Clean Water for Rural Honduras

by EcoLogic Development Fund

Project Report | Dec 17, 2019
Voices From the Field: Your Support Changes Lives

By Victor Daniel Escobar | Field Technician, MAMUCA Project, Honduras

Victor Daniel, the author, with a farmer

Dear GlobalGiving supporters,

Thank you so very much for your past support! I write to share a message of gratitude from some of the community members that have benefited this year thanks to you.

Juan Fernando, a farmer who has established cacao agroforestry through our project, shares his perspective: "This is helping us protect the flora and fauna, which had been in decline. Before EcoLogic arrived, we had pastures here close to the streams, close to the water sources and springs. Now we have eliminated that and we have cacao agroforestry systems. This is working to maintain the ecosystem. And another thing that I feel is excellent is that we're involving the whole family to be part of the work. Our daughters, our mothers come to the nursery and that also helps strengthen the family nucleus."

Keyla, from the community of San Francisco who received a new fuel-efficient stove comments that, “It has improved my quality of life as well as that of my family. It has a chimney, so the smoke doesn’t stay inside the home, which used to cause a lot of respiratory problems. It saves a lot of firewood, as well. And we can cook on the stove top and bake at the same time.”

Wendy, from the community of Saladito who benefited from a gray water drain in her home, notes that, “Now we have a way for water to drain. It won’t pool and create mosquito breeding grounds.” She adds, “It is important for our children, for our health, and for our water.”

Thank you for making each of these stories, and many more, possible. Please consider renewing your support! This holiday season, you can spread the #JoyOfGiving AND help EcoLogic win bonus prizes from @GlobalGiving to support our life-changing work. Donate today!

In solidarity,

Victor Daniel Escobar

Field Technician, MAMUCA- EcoLogic Project

EcoLogic Development Fund

New fuel-efficient stove

Establishing a new agroforestry parcel

Links:

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Sep 17, 2019
The Importance of Tropical Forests

By Carlos Duarte Euraque | Program Officer, Honduras

Bird Count in the Dry Forest

Dear GlobalGiving supporters,

Since I last wrote the world has experienced forest fires of unprecedented proportion in the Amazon and the Antarctic. The importance of tropical forests for global wellbeing and the need to urgently stop deforestation and forest degradation is being highlighted more and more. This is what we are working toward in Honduras--as healthy forests are intricately linked to healthy ecosystems--including livelihoods, biodiversity, and the hydrological cycle.

The Challenge of Palm Oil: Toward a Zero-Deforestation Supply Chain

A significant driver of deforestation in Honduras is the oil palm industry. For example, you can read this recent article in Mongabay. This is why this July we and our local partners joined a multi-stakeholder initiative spearheaded by the Solidaridad Network through which the palm oil sector committed to a zero-deforestation agreement. The aim is to restore and protect vulnerable ecosystems and biodiversity while increasing sustainable production.

Biodiversity: Bird Count in the Dry Forest

We recently participated in the First Bird Count of the Dry Forest on the Territory of the Tolupan Tribe in El Zapotal, La Ceiba, Honduras. I was there along with our local partner organization, the Association of Water Councils of the Southern Sector of Pico Bonito (AJAASSPIB), and other local institutions with which we collaborate in our conservation efforts. This took place in the communities of El Tamarindo and La Alemana, next to the emerald hummingbird reserve in Olanchito. The event brought together experts and community members who are passionate about conserving the important biodiversity of the country of Honduras.

Over the last few months, we have also finished the construction of 200 fuel-efficient stoves, established 20 new agroforestry parcels, and built 50 additional gray water drains. I work with these communities day in and day out. I know how much they appreciate the positive impact you are making in their lives and on their forest through your support of EcoLogic. If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with me at ceuraque@ecologic.org. Or, better yet, come visit us and see for yourself!

In solidarity,

Carlos Duarte Euraque, Program Officer, Honduras

EcoLogic Development Fund

Bird count in the Dry Forest

Bird Count Event

Newly built fuel-efficient stove

Newly built grey water drain

Zero Deforestation event

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Jun 19, 2019
Community Fire Brigade Protects the Watershed

By Carlos Duarte Euraque | Program Officer, Honduras

The brigade establishing firebreaks

Dear GlobalGiving supporters,

I hope you’re well! Things have been challenging in Honduras since I last wrote. From the environmental perspective, we’ve faced another severe dry season with a high incidence of forest fires. From January to April, 461 forest fires were reported country-wide by the Honduran Forest Conservation Institute (ICF) consuming over 22,000 hectares of forest.

In our project area, in the Uchapa-Pimienta watershed we have been working with a brigade to conduct forest monitoring, fire prevention activities--like establishing firebreaks and removing potential kindling--and control fires that do break out. Early analysis shows that we had a significantly lower rate of forest loss due to fires compared to the rest of the country, but we are still crunching the numbers.

The destruction of the forest and the effects of the El Niño phenomenon have reduced the flow of water in Honduras, so the authorities have begun to apply rationing in some neighborhoods. Rural areas are being hit particularly hard by this critical lack of access to potable water. Some of the streams and rivers have run completely dry.

This is why we continue to work with local communities in northern Honduras to produce and plant native trees in important watersheds (we have produced 50,000 so far this year) and to reduce their reliance on firewood for cooking by installing fuel-efficient stoves (we are in the process of installing 200 right now). We have also collaborated with local TV and radio networks to raise awareness about the situation. You can see one of the clips here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otven9wbEt8

The rains are starting now--so we're working to take stock of the overall condition of the watershed after the fires. I look forward to keeping you posted, Thank you so much for your support--it allows us to keep fighting every day for our forests and streams and for the health of our communities.

In solidarity,

Carlos Duarte Euraque, Program Officer, Honduras

Fighting a fire with backpack style fire pump

Dry stream, fish got stranded

Native seeds collected for reforestation

One of the tree nurseries

Links:

VIDEO: Prevent forest fires and protect water sources

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