HondurasCoastal area · Sea level rise

Mangrove restoration to strengthen coastal adaptation in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras

Faced with rising sea levels and coastal erosion in the Gulf of Fonseca, the Red de Jóvenes en Acción por el Clima (REDJAC), a youth organization from San Lorenzo, participated together with CODDEFFAGOLF in the project “Youth for the Gulf: Our Home, Nuestro Futuro”, with support from Little Guardians Foundation (Colombia). They planted 1,000 mangrove propagules, an ecosystem that protects the coast against storms and tides, and held environmental education workshops in coastal and island communities.

Sea level riseCoastal area
Imagen de Restauración de manglares para fortalecer la adaptación costera en el Golfo de Fonseca, Honduras
Problem
The Gulf of Fonseca faces increasing degradation of its mangroves due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, slashing and burning. Its loss reduces natural protection against coastal erosion, storms and storm surges. In November 2024, Storm Sara caused flooding and storm surge that affected homes, boats, and livelihoods in St. Lawrence.
Action
The initiative combines mangrove restoration, environmental education and strengthening youth and community capacities. The main action consisted of planting 1,000 mangrove propagules. Workshops on waste management, recycling, plastic reduction and sustainable resource management were also held, along with participatory biodiversity mapping exercises.
Place
San Lorenzo, Amapala, Nacaome, Choluteca and the islands, Valle and Choluteca, Honduras
Youth participation
REDJAC, a youth organization based in San Lorenzo that encourages young people to lead environmental projects and campaigns, planted 1,000 mangrove propagules. In addition, he participated in workshops on social resilience in the face of the climate crisis, community work and youth leadership.

Base information

Measure summary

Faced with rising sea levels and coastal erosion in the Gulf of Fonseca, the Red de Jóvenes en Acción por el Clima (REDJAC), a youth organization from San Lorenzo, participated together with CODDEFFAGOLF in the project “Youth for the Gulf: Our Home, Nuestro Futuro”, with support from Little Guardians Foundation (Colombia). They planted 1,000 mangrove propagules, an ecosystem that protects the coast against storms and tides, and held environmental education workshops in coastal and island communities.

National vulnerability profile

Honduras is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the region: high exposure to extreme events and adaptive capacity limited by poverty, inequality and institutional weakness. In coastal areas, this translates into risk from sea level rise, erosion and storms. Mangroves, wetlands and estuaries protect communities and sustain their livelihoods: losing them increases their exposure and conserving them reduces that vulnerability.

Measure objectives

Contribute to the restoration and protection of the mangroves of the Gulf of Fonseca, strengthen the environmental awareness of coastal communities and promote youth participation in ecosystem conservation. The measure seeks to recover natural functions of the mangrove and strengthen local capacities to respond to climate environmental challenges.

Proposed solutions

The initiative combines mangrove restoration, environmental education and strengthening youth and community capacities. The main action consisted of planting 1,000 mangrove propagules. Workshops on waste management, recycling, plastic reduction and sustainable resource management were also held, along with participatory biodiversity mapping exercises.

Beneficiary communities

Coastal and island communities of the Gulf of Fonseca, in San Lorenzo, Choluteca, El Venado, Amapala, Nacaome and the San Carlos and Packar islands, which depend on the mangrove for their protection and livelihoods. Also the young people from REDJAC who participated in the project.

Role of youth

REDJAC, a youth organization based in San Lorenzo that encourages young people to lead environmental projects and campaigns, planted 1,000 mangrove propagules. In addition, he participated in workshops on social resilience in the face of the climate crisis, community work and youth leadership.

Results

1,000 mangrove propagules were planted in the Gulf of Fonseca as an action to restore coastal ecosystems against degradation due to slash and burn. The initiative also developed environmental education and institutional strengthening workshops in coastal communities, promoting REDJAC youth leadership and local capacities for mangrove conservation.

Complementary information

Funding type

Mixed

Local climate problem

The Gulf of Fonseca faces increasing degradation of its mangroves due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, slashing and burning. Its loss reduces natural protection against coastal erosion, storms and storm surges. In November 2024, Storm Sara caused flooding and storm surge that affected homes, boats, and livelihoods in St. Lawrence.

National sociopolitical context

Honduras recognizes the importance of coastal ecosystems for climate adaptation and the protection of communities. However, pressures on mangroves associated with changes in land use and productive activities persist. In response, the National Adaptation Plan (PNA) contemplates the restoration of mangroves and wetlands to reduce coastal erosion and protect against storm surges, as well as the reforestation of mangroves in disused aquaculture areas.

Strategic alliances

REDJAC mobilized the young people who carried out the planting and participated in the workshops; CODDEFFAGOLF, an organization specialized in the conservation and management of the natural resources of the Gulf of Fonseca, promoted the project together with REDJAC; and Little Guardians Foundation (Colombia) supported it through South-South cooperation.

Enabling and limiting factors

The presence of local organizations with environmental experience, an active youth network and international cooperation facilitated the implementation of the activities. Among the main conditions are burning, deforestation and other unsustainable practices that continue to put pressure on the mangrove ecosystem.

Co-benefits

In addition to protecting the coast, mangrove restoration benefits marine and terrestrial biodiversity. The workshops added benefits in waste management and plastic reduction, and promoted sustainable economic alternatives for island communities, such as ecotourism and organic agriculture.

Scalability

The experience can be replicated in other coastal communities of Honduras, both in the Pacific and in the Caribbean, that face loss or degradation of mangroves, as long as there are local organizations with experience in these ecosystems, youth and communities willing to support monitoring, and financing for planting and workshops.

Long-term sustainability

In the Gulf of Fonseca, the sustainability of these actions requires involving young people and coastal communities in periodic tours of the planting areas. In coordination with local organizations such as CODDEFFAGOLF, they can record the survival of propagules, identify damage from tides or human activities, and detect areas that require replenishment or protection.