Honduras
Pine beetles and fires have devastated Honduras’ forests. Our team is currently restoring and conserving more than 12,000 hectares of forest, bringing biodiversity and economic opportunity to surrounding communities.
Reforesting a burned area in Las Jagüillas, Muralla III.
Why reforest in Honduras?
Between 2011 and 2015, Honduras lost 500,000 hectares (nearly 2,000 sq. miles, 5,000 sq. kilometers) of forest due to an infestation of disease-carrying pine beetles. The destruction of forests caused water tables to run low, protected areas to lose valuable biodiversity, and surrounding communities to lose jobs. By working directly with local communities to reforest these regions, our team is helping restore the water supply, create a natural habitat for local wildlife, and provide communities with job opportunities and resources to build up their economy.
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1.26 million hectares of forest
destroyed over the span of 20 years
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48% of Honduras
live below the poverty line, as of 2018
Pine beetle damage in Tigra I.
How we started
In 2020, we began working with communities in Honduras with the long-term goal of restoring 50,000 hectares (193 sq. miles, 500 sq. kilometers) by 2025. By reforesting degraded regions with native tree species, we will contribute to generating sustainable economic opportunities for communities to restore and protect large forest areas, which will help preserve the watershed and biodiversity at our project sites.
Hiking a steep 30-45° slope to the Tigra I planting site.
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Tropical moist forest & tropical rainforest
- Reforesting degraded cloud forests in Olancho
- Moist and tropical forests help maintain healthy water sources
- Home to hundreds of native and endemic tree species
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Tropical dry forest
- Helping restore forests that have been devastated by slash-and-burn agriculture
- Planting native, deciduous trees
- Helping ensure food security for local communities
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Tropical mountain system
- Reforesting in mixed pine and oak forests
- Our teams plant native species, including Honduras’ national tree, Pinus oocarpa
- Helping maintain a habitat for local wildlife
Our team is working to reforest this hillside at La Mora.
"Only at Eden": protecting the land at all costs
One of the biggest challenges our field teams face is the risk of wildfires. As climate change worsens, wildfires become more extreme and pose an increased risk to forest conservation. Our Honduras teams are no strangers to the effects of wildfires and have adopted creative actions to help prevent fires at our project sites. When a fire began near our La Tigra 3 planting site, the team knew they needed to protect the trees they’d planted, so they set up camp and took watch throughout the night, ready to call the fire department for backup if needed. Using the materials they brought with them for the day, such as machetes, rakes, and fire extinguishers, our team built shelters and took watch on the side of a mountain all night. The next day, the fire died down and never reached our site. To help prevent future fires, our team creates extensive fire breaks around our sites, removes potential wildfire fuel, prunes trees to promote growth, and remains ready to continue protecting the environment from potential threats.
Planting pine species at the Las Jagüillas, Muralla III site.
Our progress to date
Our 11 project sites in Honduras use multiple planting techniques, such as seedlings and singling, to help restore over 12,000 hectares (46 sq. miles, 120 sq. kilometers) of forest while helping local communities achieve food security and a fair wage. Over the last two years, our team has been able to identify how each species best germinates, ensuring long-term forest growth.
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4 million+ trees
produced, planted, and protected
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190+ people
empowered with fair wages
Our Director of Americas, Natasha, and National Director for Honduras, Rafael, exploring El Cacao, Muralla II planting site.
Our nursery team carefully tending to thousands of seedlings.
Planting pine, oak, and liquidambar species at the La Tigra I site.