The communities of Mavita and Rus Rus, in Honduras’ Moskitia region, now have cargo motorcycles (also known locally as mototrocos) that will strengthen the work of community rangers in monitoring and protecting the forest.
La Moskitia is one of Honduras’ most valuable ecosystems: it harbors vast tropical forests, rivers, and emblematic species such as the scarlet and green macaw. However, it faces growing threats such as poaching, wildlife trafficking, and deforestation driven mainly by illegal cattle ranching.
Delivery of cargo motorcycles to Moskitia communities. Photo by Víctor Padilla / WCS Honduras
In this context, community patrols are essential but challenging: the vastness of the territory and the complexity of the terrain make mobility one of the main obstacles for surveillance teams.
With the new vehicles, rangers will be able to expand the coverage of their patrols, more accurately register macaw nests and their occupancy, document attempts at wildlife trafficking or hunter presence, and advance the consolidation of conservation areas. All of this strengthens the response to the threats that endanger the biodiversity and resilience of the region.
Left. A day of patrol can involve several kilometers on foot. Right. Eggs of a bird known as the Great Tinamou (Tinamus major) recorded during a patrol. Photos by Santos Manzanares.
“The delivery of these mototrocos strengthens our ability to move through the forest; this allows us to be more efficient in the activities we carry out to care for our natural resources. It was a need that has now become a reality thanks to the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund,” shared Santos Manzanares, leader of the ranger team from these communities.
This support was made possible thanks to the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF), which strengthens the capacities of local communities to conserve their forests, expand areas under protection, and ensure the resilience of La Moskitia in the face of environmental threats.