Deforestation and encroachment by illicit actors into forested areas occurs at high rates in eastern honduras and many local communities do not have the resources or skills to stop the ongoing…

This $606,400 project grant from the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Assistance for Overseas Programs (CFDA 85.750) will support Asociacion Mesa De Ongs Comanejadoras De Areas Protegidas De Honduras Mocaph in delivering natural resource management and economic development services in communities surrounding the El Armado Wildlife Refuge in Honduras from April 2022 to April 2025. Specifically, MOCAPH will train community members in sustainable agriculture and watershed management practices. They will also conduct environmental education activities in schools and draft documents to guide participatory natural resource decision-making for the protected area. These activities aim to improve food security and natural resource governance, addressing drivers of irregular migration from Central America as targeted by the IAF program.

Deforestation and encroachment by illicit actors into forested areas occurs at high rates in eastern honduras and many local communities do not have the resources or skills to stop the ongoing fragmentation of habitats and degradation of watersheds. Our grantee asociación mesa DE organizaciones comanejadoras DE áreas protegidas DE honduras (MOCAPH) will work with communities surrounding the EL armado wildlife refuge in olancho, honduras, to strengthen the development of viable economic opportunities and governance of natural resources in the local area. MOCAPH will train community members in sustainable agriculture and watershed management, conduct environmental education activities in schools, and draft key documents that guide decision-making for the protected area. These activities will improve food security and participatory natural resource management. This grant is part of the IAF's efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration in central america.