In Honduras’ Moskitia region, Miskito communities are leading the restoration of degraded forests through the establishment of community forest nurseries. With support from the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF), three nurseries have been set up: two in Plaplaya and Belén dedicated to coastal beach species with a total production of 50,000 plants, and a third in Plaplaya with 2,150 coconut plants. In these spaces, native species germinate that help restore soils, protect water sources, and strengthen food sovereignty, thereby increasing community resilience.
Left. Plot where mangrove and sea grape plants, among others, are grown. Right. Cassava plot managed by the Nuevo Amanecer group. Photos by Mario Jolón.
The management of the nurseries combines traditional knowledge with adaptive practices in the face of climate change. Women are responsible for planting and caring for seedlings, while men prepare the land, build structures, and transport supplies. This coordinated work produces healthy, resilient plants ready to reforest 900 hectares of coastal forests and wetlands. The complementarity of roles reflects an inclusive governance model where everyone contributes to the landscape restoration process.
Among the species cultivated are mangrove, naranjón, icaco, sea grape, camacamas, cedar, and mahogany—selected for their ecological value and adaptability to changing climatic conditions. Each nursery also functions as a learning space where experiences are shared, planting processes are planned, and local capacities are strengthened.
The installation and maintenance process requires planning and persistence: selecting seeds, preparing the substrate, controlling humidity, managing pests, and monitoring seedling growth. Each phase demands observation and collective work, elements that reinforce the bond between communities and their environment.
In addition to the forest nurseries, the Plaplaya community promotes a half-hectare cassava plot managed by the Nuevo Amanecer Group, composed mainly of women. This space applies climate-adapted agricultural practices and uses the harvest to produce casabe and other derived products, generating income and strengthening the local economy.
“For us Miskitos, the nurseries represent the conservation and restoration of our natural landscapes; through them we ensure the life of our Mother Earth, Mamatara,” says Marcia Monico, technician at the Forest Conservation Institute (ICF) and member of the CTI Rayaka Board of Directors.
Located within a landscape of more than 20,000 km² of tropical forests, wetlands, and lagoon systems, La Moskitia is part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor—one of the regions with the greatest ecological connectivity in Central America and habitat to emblematic species such as the giant anteater or Winku Tara (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).
The continuity of nurseries and restoration practices in La Moskitia is a concrete strategy to maintain the ecological functionality of the landscape and reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems to new environmental pressures.
Text by Víctor Padilla and Claudia Novelo Alpuche (WCS Mesoamerica and the Caribbean) Photos by Mario Jolón and Víctor Padilla (WCS Mesoamerica and the Caribbean)