Projects in Honduras

Conserving Butterfly Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes in Copán, Honduras and Matiguas, Nicaragua

This project aims to improve our understanding of how farmers can manage silvopastoral systems to better conserve butterfly biodiversity in pasture dominated landscapes.

Conserving Parrotfish as Keystone Species; Integrating Social and Ecological Approaches to Prevent Macroalgal Dominance on Caribbean Coral Reefs

Conservation of keystone species, such as parrotfish, may be the only way to restore Caribbean coral reefs and the livelihoods which depend on them. We aim to quantify current levels of parrotfish removal and also demonstrate their role in maintaining the health and economic value of coral reefs.

Environmental Education with the Children of the Local Schools to Promote the Awareness and the Importance of the Conservation of Nature in Utila Island

The project intends to contribute with the efforts of the country to ensure the sustainable development through a systematic environmental education program.

Conservation of the Natural Resources through Local Environmental Campaign in Cangrejal River Watershed

The project involves more than 110 primary school children and their families in 4 different rural communities

Creation of the Environmental Media Educational Program for the Youth in Cangrejal Watershed

This project aims to provide children and young an unique educational, leadership and training opportunities at all levels through teaching art, video and graphic design as tools to set up an environmental footprint.

Investigation of Forest Canopies as Possible Safe Havens from Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis): Hope in the Midst of a Global Amphibian Extinction Crisis

My project aims to elucidate the role of the international aquarium trade as a possible global dispersal engine for amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). In doing so, I intend to produce results which will help slow the progression of the current global amphibian extinction crisis which is being exacerbated by this emerging infectious disease.

Forest Canopies as Safe Havens from Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Phase II: Enigmatic Dispersal Mechanisms and Environmental Distribution

This project strives to elucidate the environmental distribution of amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) throughout Cusuco National Park, Honduras while also assessing the relative significance of four possible dispersal pathways including: amphibians, arthropods, wind/rain, and human locomotion. The resulting information will allow us to evaluate the risk of chytrid exposure faced by each of the park’s 16 endangered amphibian species based on amphibian behavior, distribution, and life history and evaluate various modes of pathogen dispersal which occur within the natural environment.

Developing Sustainable Solutions for Small-Scale Shrimp Aquaculture, to Promote Biodiversity Conservation in the Gulf of Fonseca

This project is designed to promote the responsible and sustainable use of coastal resources, working directly with small-scale shrimp farmers to rehabilitate currently barren ponds to biodiverse wetland habitats. The provision of economic incentives to small-scale shrimp producers to alter their practices, not through simple dispersal of funds, but through utilizing naturally occur products that can help reduce overhead costs of production and improve productivity. The combination of utilizing natural resources and appropriate technology will provide an enhanced productivity and income to coastal communities, whilst directly promoting ecologically sound practices.