In Honduras, World Wetlands Day is Both a Celebration and a Call to Action
Researchers at the country’s Center for Marine Studies say protecting coastal wetlands is key for the environment—and a sustainable way of life
World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on Feb. 2, commemorates the 1971 signing of the Convention on Wetlands. Coastal wetlands—which include mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and salt marshes—play a crucial role in addressing climate change, safeguarding biodiversity, and sustaining livelihoods. In Honduras, researchers at the Center for Marine Studies (also known by the acronym CEM, from its name in Spanish) are exploring ways to understand and conserve these valuable ecosystems.
José Luis Matamoros Carranza holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and has six years of experience in the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems, primarily in southern Honduras. Throughout his career, he has worked on reforestation projects, protected area management, and mangrove forest restoration, collaborating with local communities and government institutions to promote sustainability. His work combines advanced technological tools, such as geographic information systems and wildlife monitoring techniques, with a focus on biodiversity preservation.
Raquel Alvarez is a biologist working on the conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands, especially in Honduras’ Tela Bay. Throughout her career, she has collaborated closely with local institutions and communities, participating in projects that combine environmental conservation with social development.
Through her work, she has observed how the deterioration of wetlands directly affects the quality of life of communities, especially those that depend on wetlands for their livelihoods.
Her approach is to strike a balance between environmental conservation and human well-being, promoting sustainable practices and raising awareness about the importance of these ecosystems for the future of coastal regions.
This interview with them has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Why are coastal wetlands important to you?
Matamoros: Coastal wetlands provide key ecosystem services by acting as habitats for diverse species, protecting coastlines from storms, and storing large amounts of carbon.
Alvarez: And mangroves, especially, are essential for the lifestyles of fishing communities because they serve as refuge and breeding areas for marine species that are key to local, small-scale fishing.
Q: What is your role in coastal wetlands work?
Matamoros: As Raquel says, these ecosystems represent not only a biological treasure, but also an invaluable resource for the communities that depend on them. As part of the project Strengthening National and Local Capacities for the Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Wetlands in Honduras 2023-2026, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, my role at CEM focused on the conservation of mangroves in the Gulf of Fonseca, part of the southern coast of Honduras, by combining technical mapping with an analysis of ecosystem goods and services. This work aims to underscore the importance of mangroves at the local level and promote nature-based solutions for the sustainable management of these trees. Additionally, CEM collaborates closely with local communities to integrate their knowledge into conservation strategies.
Alvarez: My work at CEM focuses on conservation, research, and restoration. We’ve also established a better understanding of degraded mangrove areas in Tela Bay, on the Caribbean coast of northwestern Honduras, which has allowed us to identify priority areas for restoration and promote sustainable development.
Q: What threats do coastal wetlands face on the Caribbean coast of Honduras and the Gulf of Fonseca?
Matamoros: Coastal wetlands in Honduras face multiple threats, including deforestation, pollution, and overexploitation of natural resources. In the Gulf of Fonseca, the expansion of aquaculture has had a significant impact, with a 33% increase in the area dedicated to shrimp farming between 2018 and 2024, which is now 27,692 hectares (a little more than 100 square miles). This growth has led to land-use changes that directly affect mangrove cover. Overfishing, especially in areas critical to traditional small-scale fishing known as artisanal fishing, has reduced the availability of marine resources that local communities depend on. Climate change exacerbates these problems, increasing the vulnerability of wetlands to coastal erosion and beach loss.
Alvarez: Other threats include poor management of these areas by landowners as a result of conflicts with government institutions, as well as the expansion of the agricultural and livestock frontier. These issues contribute significantly to the degradation of these ecosystems, jeopardizing their sustainability.
Q: What challenges does Honduras face in addressing some of these threats?
Matamoros: Honduras faces the challenge of balancing economic development with environmental conservation. A lack of funding and technical resources limits the country’s capacity to implement wetland management and restoration plans, with environmental policies not always effectively implemented because of insufficient personnel and monitoring mechanisms. Many residents depend economically on fishing and aquaculture, so integrating local communities into conservation strategies is crucial. Finally, environmental education urgently needs to be strengthened in order to raise awareness across the board about the importance of wetlands and the risks associated with their degradation.
Alvarez: There’s also a need to strengthen environmental legislation and ensure its enforcement, which is currently weak. And improving coordination between government institutions and other key stakeholders is essential to ensure the sustainable management of these ecosystems.
Q: Let’s take a step back. How did you come to work at CEM and in coastal wetland research and conservation in the first place?
Matamoros: My interest in wetlands began during my training as a biologist, when I took part in wildlife monitoring and protected area management in mangrove ecosystem restoration projects. This sparked my fascination with these coastal ecosystems. Joining CEM was an exciting, motivating, and significant step, given the organization’s prestige and history in Honduras, where it’s recognized as a pioneer in coastal conservation. I was deeply attracted by the opportunity to be part of this spectacular team, made up of dedicated professionals committed to the conservation and management of coastal resources, as well as their close collaboration with local communities.
Alvarez: I’ve worked as a consultant with CEM since 2022, contributing to projects focused on the conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands. My academic training, and my previous experience at another institution also dedicated to the conservation of these ecosystems, allowed me to understand the importance of coastal wetlands for ecological balance and their impact on the lifestyles of local communities. My interest in this field arose from the conviction that wetlands are essential not only for biodiversity but also for human well-being, especially in coastal areas.
Q: What has most caught your attention in your research?
Matamoros: The size of the shrimp farming industry in the Gulf of Fonseca, which puts pressure on the mangrove ecosystem—which covers about 145 square miles in the Gulf of Fonseca, according to CEM’s 2024 analysis. Despite this pressure, mangroves continue to serve as a refuge for marine species and a natural reservoir for carbon. I’m also struck by how deeply local communities depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. This balance between human development and conservation motivates me to seek sustainable solutions to preserve this unique habitat.
Alvarez: What caught my attention the most was working in a place where mangrove ecosystems hadn’t been widely studied or managed, which represented a major challenge. This lack of information led us to conduct a thorough analysis of local needs to identify degraded areas and design a restoration protocol; together with local stakeholders, we developed a restoration plan for the recovery of these critical areas. This experience marked a milestone in my professional career because it was the first time I participated in a restoration process from the planning stage. That allowed me to gain a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities involved in this type of work.
Q: In your research, you’ve seen how local communities and stakeholders depend on the health of coastal wetlands. How can these communities participate in the conservation of these important ecosystems?
Matamoros: Local communities can play a key role by adopting sustainable practices that reduce pressure on wetlands, such as mangrove reforestation and responsible management of fisheries resources. Training programs in economic alternatives, such as ecotourism, can diversify their income and livelihoods while promoting conservation. It’s also important to strengthen community governance by forming local committees that actively participate in wetland management. Collaboration with stakeholders such as industries and private companies can then help implement environmental responsibility measures.
Alvarez: It’s essential to include local communities as strategic allies in the implementation of sustainable solutions. They can also play a crucial role through activities such as adopting sustainable fishing and agricultural practices and proper solid waste management. What’s more, their participation in environmental monitoring, restoration, and education projects strengthens the link between conservation and community development.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
Alvarez: The conservation of coastal wetlands isn’t only an environmental responsibility; it’s also an investment in the future of the communities that depend on them. Collaboration between organizations such as CEM and other local and international partners has been key to addressing the threats facing these ecosystems. And strengthening public policies and promoting active community participation ensures that the benefits of coastal wetlands can be maintained for future generations.
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