Bay Islands Communities Lead Mangrove and Native Plant Restoration in 2025
In 2025, more than 2,300 red mangrove seedlings and 322 native plants were planted across Roatán, Utila, and Guanaja, enhancing coastal resilience and community participation in marine habitat conservation.
© BICA – Bay Islands Conservation Association
In 2025, Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA) carried out restoration activities across the three main Bay Islands, Roatán, Utila, and Guanaja, under the project “Social Networks and Capacity Building as Levers to Restore Coastal Marine Habitats in Fishing Communities”.
The activities included community-based reforestation events, seed collection, nursery strengthening, and donations of native plant species to schools, communities, and watersheds. Each reforestation event was paired with an environmental talk and a beach cleanup, promoting both ecosystem recovery and environmental awareness.
© BICA – Bay Islands Conservation Association
In total, 2,375 red mangrove seedlings (Rhizophora mangle) were planted, restoring more than 1 hectare of coastal habitat. Additionally, 1,285 mangrove seeds were collected in sites like Crawfish Rock (Roatán) and La Giralda (Guanaja), securing material for nurseries that currently hold more than 1,400 seedlings ready for transplantation.
BICA’s native plant nursery also played a crucial role, germinating over 900 plants of culturally and ecologically valuable species such as mahogany, cedar, laurel, and tamarind. Thanks to the partnership with the Trees That Feed Foundation, 322 native and fruit trees were distributed to communities, combining conservation, food security, and environmental education.
© BICA – Bay Islands Conservation Association
These results underscore the importance of partnerships with the Navy, ICF, municipal governments, schools, tourism operators, and international organizations. Through these joint efforts, the Bay Islands are advancing ecosystem restoration while strengthening community resilience to climate change.
- Country: Honduras
- Project:
- Contact:
