The project will take place in the Department of Olancho, one of the most important regions related to forestry resources, which are very important for the national and local economy. The majority of the local communities involved in this project lives in poverty conditions, and lacks the tools and mechanisms to effectively participate in the management of protected areas. Most of the Olancho department is covered by pine-oak and dry forests ecosystems, both ecosystems are categorized by WWF as critically endangered.

In Olancho we find 10 protected areas that are under low management practices, and threatened by unsustainable forestry practices, forest fires of great magnitude, plagues and diseases, advance of the agricultural frontier, and pressure to provide goods and services to local communities. The major challenges are strengthen the local capacities to improve the management of protected areas, create conditions to local participation in protected areas management; consolidate an effective network of well managed protected areas; and, ensure the provision of environmental goods and services to local communities. The project will contribute to reduce poverty in local communities, conservation of biodiversity of national and global importance, and contribute to accomplish the Program of Work on Protected Areas of the CBD. << Read less

Strengthen the local capacity to improve the management of protected areas, create favourable conditions for local participation in the management of protected areas, consolidate an effective network of well managed protected areas, and ensure equitable and fair sharing of benefits from ecosystem goods and services with local communities.

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The National Institute of Conservation and Development of Forests, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF) in its Strategic Plan 2009-2011 has goals and actions that include the following: a) Coordinate the strategic planning of SINAPH according to the results of gap analysis, financial and physical capacity b) implement the recommendations of the physical and management analysis gaps identified by the declaration of proposed protected areas, demarcation and legalization of limits, review and redefinition of categories of protected area management.
The existing Biophysics Gap Analysis from the National Protected Areas System (SINAPH) indicate that pine-oak forests, despite being the largest eco-regions of the country, these forests are only represented by a 2% in the National System of Protected Areas (SINAPH).On the other hand, other Meso-level studies conducted by The Nature Conservancy in recent years indicate that the best zones of pine-oak forests of Meso-level and national level, are located in the northern municipalities of the Department of Olancho. Given this, it’s important that as a key element of a vision to consider the establishment of protected areas of pine-oak exclusively, effectively managed, with the participation of local communities and financially sustainable. << Read less

The protected areas have been supporting carbon sequestration, this effort has been supporting initiatives of coal for a compensation mechanisms to protected area or country. Inventories have been made to start. There is statistical evidence of the national inventory of emissions and sinks of greenhouse gases from Honduras, 2000

Public funds in the budget from ICF, Reforestation Fund, Forest Reinvestment Fund, The Nature Conservancy, GTZ, municipal governments, NGO `s, Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

This project will contribute with the consolidation of co-management, advisory councils, payment mechanisms for environmental goods and services, elaboration and implementation of management plans.

The ICF national planning has identified its priorities in protected areas, which are detailed below: a) promote the strengthening of the SINAPH and effective management of protected areas by addressing the major threats that are subject b) promote integration of protected areas managed, regional networks, national and transboundary protected areas c) promote equity and participation in the benefits generated by protected areas to ensure the involvement of local communities and all relevant stakeholders d) promote social and economic valuation and incentives of protected areas to strengthen its administration and management e) ensure the financial sustainability of SINAPH f) promote and adopt minimum standards and best practices for SINAPH. << Read less

Goal 1.1: To establish and strengthen national and regional systems of protected areas integrated into a global network as a contribution to globally agreed goals
Goal 1.2: To integrate protected areas into broader land- and seascapes and sectors so as to maintain ecological structure and function
Goal 1.4: To substantially improve site-based protected area planning and management
Goal 1.5: To prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of key threats to protected areas
Goal 2.1: To promote equity and benefit-sharing
Goal 2.2: To enhance and secure involvement of indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders
Goal 3.1: To provide an enabling policy, institutional and socio-economic environment for protected areas
Goal 3.2: To build capacity for the planning, establishment and management of protected areas
Goal 3.4: To ensure financial sustainability of protected areas and national and regional systems of protected areas
Goal 3.5: To strengthen communication, education and public awareness
Goal 4.1 - To develop and adopt minimum standards and best practices for national and regional protected area systems
Goal 4.3: To assess and monitor protected area status and trends
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