CENTRAL AMERICA

Honduras' Parks and Protected Areas

This is a preliminary index of protected areas in Honduras. This is an inclusive index with information from various sources.

The Players: Honduras' government forestry agency COHDEFOR has been in charge of the protected areas since 1993. The agency works with various local environmental groups (NGOs) in the park managment, scientific study and the development of ecotourism.

One of the best sources of information I've found is with the U.S. Peace Corps, which has assigned members to the top priority areas decided by USAID/COHDEFOR. Jorge Betancourt, the director of the Peace Corps/Honduras' Natural Resources Department, is also a committed Honduran environmentalist.

That said - there is a definite lack of information about the protected areas - now some 107 areas. Management plans are still being drawn up, and the data that has been collected is poorly distributed, according to many Honduran sources and personal experience.

HONDURAS ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE:

• Honduras is 112,492 square kilometers large, with a population of 5.5 million people. Urban growth, deforestation and soil erosion all impact the country. In addition, mining activities pollute the nation's fresh water. The first national environmental law was passed in 1993. Numerous environmental groups address issues from local, national and regional perspectives and are entrusted in the administration of the nation's protected areas and parks.

PROTECTED AREAS IN HONDURAS

Tallest peak struggled to become park, yet still losing trees - Larry Lee/Honduras This Week

Biosphere Reserve/Reserva de la Biosfera

National Parks

Cerro Azul
- Cloudforest six miles northeast of Florida, Copan. No facilities.

Celaque
- Cloud forest 5 miles from Gracias with optional departure from Belancuacho. This park has the highest peak in Honduras and requires a three-day trip to the top.
Climbing Celaque - Chris Humprhey

Santa Barbara
- 6 miles southeast of Santa Barbara

Cusuco
NGO Contact: Fundacion Pastor
- Cloudforest 22 miles north of Cofradia and outside of the small town of Buenos Aires. The road to the park should be considered dangerous when it's raining. The park is comprised of secondary and virgin forests.

Honduras This Week Feature

Cerro Azul Meambar
NGO Contact: Aldea Global
- Cloud forest 18 miles north of Siguatepeque

Pico Pijol
- Cloud forest 20 miles from Morazan. Moderate climb.

Pico Bonito
NGO Contact: Fundacion Parque Nacional Pico Bonito
- Magnificent cloud forest with high biodiversity 3 miles south of La Ceiba. Most difficult climb in Honduras. The national university (UNAH) has a research station here.

Montana de Yoro
- cloud forest 5 miles southeast of Yoro

Capiro-Calentura
NGO Contact: FUCAGUA
- Two mountains overlooking Trujillo
Trujillo's National Parks - Honduras Notebook

Sierra de Agalta
- cloud forest near Catacamas and Juticalpa, extends to Dulce Nombre de Culmi.

Montana de Comayagua
- 8 miles east of Comayagua. Heavily deforested.

La Muralla
- Sub-tropical forest with large Quetzal population 9 miles north of La Union, Olancho. One of the best developed park infrastructures in Honduras.

La Tigra
NGO Contact: Amitigra
- Cloud forest 23 kilometers from Tegucigalpa. Easy access
- one of the earliest protected areas; declared a biosphere reserve in 1980

Jeanette Kawas (Punta Sal)
NGO Contact: PROLANSATE
- Coastal rainforest with coral reefs 5 miles from Tela. Threatened by palm oil plantations.

Proposed National Parks

Cayos Cochinos
Project run by Smithsonian Institution. Friction with local Garifunas. Helicopters not planes can land. Access by boat.

Swan Islands
- originally known as the Islas Santanilla. Isla Grande is the largest of these islands; very remote. A private tourism enterprise is investing heavily here.

Sandy Bay/West End
NGO Contact: BICA
- coral reefs

Turtle Harbor
- coral reefs

Bay Islands
NGO Contact: BICA
- coral reefs. IDB has a major project in place; very little information is online.

Wildlife Refugees

Puca
- cloud forest in state of Lempira. Deforested.

Texiguat
NGO Contact: PROLANSATE
- cloud forest near Tela; has high biodiversity in the states of Atlantida and Yoro

Cuero y Salado
NGO Contact: Fundacion Cuero y Salado
- rainforest, wetlands with high biodiversity

Laguna Guaimoreto
- mangrove, wetlands with high biodiversity in the state of Colon
Trujillo's National Parks - Honduras Notebook

Punta Izopo
NGO Contact: PROLANSATE
- wetlands with high biodiversity

Bahia de Chismuyo
NGO Contact: CODDEFFAGOLF
- mangroves on the Pacific coas

Barbareta

Lagunas de Invierno
- seasonal lagoon

Laguna de Caratasca

Biological Reserves

Uyuca
- cloud forest and pine forest near Tegucigalpa

El Pital
- cloud forest in the state of Ocotepeque

Lancetilla Botanical Gardens
NGO Contact: PROLANSATE
- located near Tela. Founded by Popanoe.

Volcan Pacayita
- cloud forest, broadleaf and pine forest

El Chile
- cloud forest
Chile Reserve - HTW

Montecillos
- cloud forest

Guajiquiro
- cloud forest and varied pine forest

Carias

Rio Kruta
- tropical rainforest with high biodiversity

Natural Monuments/Monumentos Naturales

• Cuevas de Taulabe
• Cuevas del Sitio
• El Sitio
• Cerro Los Tornillos
• Cerro Los Cuscos
• Rio Toco
• Cerro los Hoyos
• Cerro el Cedral
• El Boqueron
• Cuevas de Talgua
• Puente en San Antonio
• Cueva El Tigre

Proposed Biosphere Reserve

Ten Priority Areas for USAID/COHDEFOR

• La Muralla
• Pico Pijol
• Montecillos
• Montana Yoro
• Agalta
• Las Iguanas
• Pico Bonito
• Chismuyo
• Celaque
• Texiguat

Second Tier Priority Areas

• La Tigra
• Cusuco
• Guisayote
• Guajiquiro
• Yerba Buena
• Mixcure
• Jicarito
• Capiro y Calentra
• Warnta
• Cerro Azul
• Guaymoreto
• Santa Barbara
• El Chile
• Montana de Comayagua
• Misoco
• Montana Verde

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