NCI 2024
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    Honduras, located in Central America, is bordered by Guatemala to the west, El Salvador to the southwest, and Nicaragua to the southeast, with coastlines along the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The country covers an area of about 112,492 km² (43,433 mi²). Honduras features diverse landscapes, including coastal plains, mountain ranges, and tropical rainforests.

    Honduras’s varied landscapes support rich biodiversity. The country’s tropical rainforests are home to a wide range of wildlife, including jaguars, ocelots, and howler monkeys. The cloud forests, especially in regions like La Tigra National Park, host unique plant and animal species, including the resplendent quetzal. Honduras’s coastal areas and coral reefs, particularly around the Bay Islands, are known for their vibrant marine life, including sea turtles, dolphins, and a multitude of fish species. The country’s rivers and wetlands provide crucial habitats for various bird species, such as toucans and macaws.

    Score Rank Change
    Total Score – NCI 2024 57.15 68 N/A
    Land Management 61 54 N/A
    Protected Areas (Terrestrial) 93 44 N/A
    Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 100 1 N/A
    Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 62 59 N/A
    Protected Areas (Marine) 30 43 N/A
    Pristine Habitat (Converted Land) 100 1 N/A
    Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution) 29 121 N/A
    Sustainable Pesticide Use 11 128 N/A
    Threats to Biodiversity 63 86 N/A
    Threatened Species (Terrestrial) 83 119 N/A
    Threatened Species (Marine) 68 41 N/A
    Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas 98 48 N/A
    Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas 98 39 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial) 0 165 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Marine) 0 10 N/A
    Depleted Fisheries 23 27 N/A
    Fishery Pressure in the High Seas 100 57 N/A
    Invasive Species Pressure 98 46 N/A
    Capacity and Governance 64 78 N/A
    Total Management Cost 90 118 N/A
    Conservation Culturomics 76 7 N/A
    Conservation Legislation 38 94 N/A
    Ratification of CBD 100 1 N/A
    Ratification of CITES 100 1 N/A
    Political Stability and Absence of Violence 30 124 N/A
    Control of Corruption 30 141 N/A
    Government Effectiveness 32 141 N/A
    Future Trends 41 93 N/A
    Climate Change Mitigation 41 93 N/A


    Four pillars elaborated:

    Land Management

     Honduras boasts a diverse range of protected areas, with a total of 107 designated sites, 57 of which are legally protected. These areas cover a significant portion of the country’s land and marine territories, amounting to 23.45% of the land and 4.58% of marine environments. Honduras’s protected areas include national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges, and marine protected areas, ensuring the preservation of its rich biodiversity and unique habitats. The country’s conservation efforts have garnered international recognition, with several protected areas earning the prestigious IUCN Green List status, a testament to their effective management and governance.

    Threats to Biodiversity

     The primary challenges to biodiversity in Honduras persist due to insufficient planning regarding production activities, deforestation, forest fires, unlawful hunting, unchecked extraction of forest resources, the introduction of invasive species, ecosystem pollution, and urban expansion. Additionally, the overarching cumulative impacts of climate change pose significant natural hazards.

    Capacity and Governance

     Biodiversity has been integrated into Honduras’ National Development and Poverty Reduction Plans, showcasing a commitment to environmental sustainability. The establishment of the Marine Studies Center in 2006 on Utila Island has since expanded its reach to both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, engaging in regional projects concerning the Mesoamerican reef and the Gulf of Fonseca. Bilateral and trilateral alliances with Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador within the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) underscore collaborative efforts in environmental conservation.

    Honduras’ adoption of a new Forest Law in 2013 has propelled conservation initiatives forward, particularly within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, where ninety percent of the nation’s primary forests are situated. Additionally, as a UN-REDD Programme Partner Country, Honduras actively contributes to global efforts aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

    Future Trends

     Honduras introduced a novel initiative during COP28 in Dubai to preserve and restore the Moskitia forest, its largest forested area. The goal is to eliminate deforestation and illegal cattle ranching in the forest entirely by 2030, underscoring the country’s heightened commitment to combatting these practices. Additionally, Honduras acknowledges the vital role of its coastal wetlands in supporting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and sustaining local livelihoods. Efforts are underway to safeguard and rehabilitate these critical ecosystems.


    Biodiversity

    The country’s tropical rainforests, particularly those in the Mosquito Coast and La Mosquitia region, are among the most biodiverse areas in Central America. These dense forests are home to a multitude of plant species, including mahogany, ceiba, and a variety of orchids and bromeliads. The rainforests also provide habitats for numerous animal species, such as the Honduran emerald hummingbird, the endangered salamander species of the genus Bolitoglossa, tapirs, and various species of monkeys like the howler and spider monkeys. Birdlife is abundant, with species like the scarlet macaw, keel-billed toucan, herons, egrets, and the endangered jabiru stork.

    Honduras’s coastal and marine environments are equally significant. The Bay Islands, including Roatán, Utila, and Guanaja, are encircled by the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, a crucial ecosystem and the second-largest coral reef system globally. These coral reefs are a bustling hub of marine life, hosting a kaleidoscope of colorful fish, graceful sea turtles, playful dolphins, and a diverse range of sharks and rays.

    In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Honduras only):


    Species
    (World rank)    		 Threatened % Threatened Endemic % Endemic
    Mammals 237 (#45) 8 3.4% 9 3.8%
    Birds 708 (#36) 17 2.4% 1 0.1%
    Reptiles 283 (#32) 40 14.1% 51 18.0%
    Amphibians 149 (#25) 55 36.9% 59 39.6%
    Fishes 1,043 (#46) 62 5.9% 7 0.7%
    Plants 7,584 (#42) 134 1.8% 12 0.2%


    Go To 2024 National Nature Conservation Index Main Page

    Honduras

    A precious jewel of biodiversity in the heart of Central America

    Score:

    57.15 / 100

    Rank:

    68 / 180