The community of Mokorón approves its participation in the proposed Indigenous Anthropological Reserve of Warunta, bringing the total area endorsed by Indigenous peoples to over 93,000 hectares of forest.
In a decisive step for forest conservation in La Moskitia, on Sunday, June 29, the Indigenous community of Mokorón (located in the FINZMOS Territory) approved in an open assembly its inclusion in the proposed declaration of the "Warunta Indigenous Anthropological Reserve" as a Protected Area.
This milestone is the result of an ongoing process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), led in coordination with the territorial councils of BAKINASTA, BAMIASTA, and two communities from FINZMOS. In 2023, approval had already been secured from the first two councils and from the communities of Mavita and Rus Rus. However, Mokorón’s participation was key, as its territory contains approximately 30% of the primary forest in the proposed area—equivalent to about 30,000 hectares in excellent conservation status.
Following an initial information-sharing meeting in April 2025, the community requested a second gathering with national authorities, open to the entire population. This second consultation was organized jointly with the Forest Conservation Institute (ICF) and included participation by its regional director in La Moskitia, officials from the Protected Areas Department, and the Indigenous presidents of the BAKINASTA and BAMIASTA territorial councils.
After three hours of deliberation, the community of Mokorón approved by majority vote the inclusion of part of its territory in the initiative. This agreement marks the conclusion of the broadest community phase of the FPIC process. A new technical phase will now begin, with specific meetings in each community to validate and define the detailed boundaries of the proposed protected area.
It is important to note that FPIC processes in Honduras are not limited to a single event, but rather constitute ongoing mechanisms for consultation and dialogue with Indigenous peoples, developed throughout the entire project life cycle.
At the same time, work will continue with ICF to draft the declaration agreement. This draft will be published for public comment for a four-month period. Once this stage is completed and any concerns are addressed, the proposal—along with the technical and legal assessments—will be submitted to the National Congress.
This progress represents a major step forward in the protection of one of the last major forest remnants in Honduras and underscores the vital role of Indigenous governance in safeguarding the country’s natural and cultural heritage.