Introduction to the Honduras Expedition

Honduras is Central America's second largest country, and boasts not only a mountainous landscape with dense cloudforest, but also many Caribbean Islands. This setting provides the backdrop to Operation Wallacea's biggest project: Teams of scientist are collecting large scale data on a huge range of taxonomic groups, from primates to corals.

Unfortunately the wildlife and biodiversity of this beautiful country is under threat, and the data from Operation Wallacea's teams is being used to secure effective protection of both the Cusuco National Park, and the reefs around the Cayos Cochinos Islands. Such protection can come in the form of grants from organisations such as the GEF (Global Environment Facility), and by the implementation of conservation management practices which can yield both biodiversity and wildlife abundance benefits, in addition to supporting the growth economies of the relevant local communities.

Forest Research

Since 2003, Operation Wallacea have been working in the Merendon Mountains within the Cusuco National Park in Honduras. Terrestrial projects will either be based in this beautiful, remote location, or in the neighbouring Paraiso or "Paradise" valley.

The Merandon mountain range is one of the most biologically diverse parts of the continent, containing a range of habitats from lowland deciduous forests to cloud forests with altitudes of up to 2300m. 

The higher parts of the mountain range (<1500m) and their unique species assemblages will be investigated in the Cusuco National Park, whilst one of the best remaining examples of lowland forest can be accessed by Opwall volunteers within the private reserve in the Paraiso Valley, with forest from sea level to 800m.

 

Marine Research

Operation Wallacea has two marine research sites in the Caribean Sea, just off the coast of Honduras:

The first is on the tiny uninhabited island of Cayo Menor, where we are working with the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation (HCRF) to monitor and develop the management plan for the Cayos Cochinos Islands. The reefs around these islands have been identified by the Smithsonian Institute, TNC, WWF, and the World Bank, as one of the key sections to preserve of the Meso-American Barrier reef system (the second larges barrier reef system in the world).

The second is on the larger island of Utila, where we are working with the Bay Islands Conservation Organisation (BICA) to develop a long term support programme for the conservation of the reefs in this area.