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Like the Atlantic Region's Gulf of Maine, the Gulf of Honduras is a semi-enclosed marine environment with a large watershed, many rivers, a developing coastline and globally significant resources. (The second largest coral reef in the world is found here.) Though very different ecologically, people in the two gulf's share a common interest in participatory approaches to coastal resource management, and QLF has organized several exchanges linking the two.

Gulf of Honduras (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico)

In the Gulf of Honduras region, as in other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, conservation leaders face extraordinary challenges. Among these are the growing pressures on the region’s natural resources and biodiversity. For example, deforestation for farming and timber extraction threatens wildlife and watersheds. Degradation of watersheds affects available water supply as well as coastal resources. Poorly sited tourism and second home development in coastal areas threatens fragile coastal habitats, and in many cases has an impact on the culture and way of life of traditional communities. While Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico have established impressive systems of national parks and other protected areas, the responsibility for management of these areas rests largely with NGOs, many of which are working with limited financial resources and staff capacity.
In the face of these challenges, conservation practitioners in the region are leading many impressive and innovative initiatives in areas such as “ridge-to-reef” conservation, protection of micro-watersheds, community-based natural resources management, and private land conservation. Our experience in the region, and guidance from our cadre of alumni and partners in the Gulf of Honduras, have highlighted several areas where exchange and capacity-building would be particularly useful.

These include:
• Supporting emerging private land conservation efforts,
• Reinforcing regional cooperation within the Gulf of Honduras,
• Supporting networks of community leaders, and
• Fostering an inter-regional exchange of experience with innovative conservation approaches.