How to look after the precious natural resources on which we all depend
Local college’s tree nursery for reforestation of mangroves on lagoon shore. Photo: Steve Collins
by Judith Collins.
In the past, the way in which people living in the Mosquitia region of Honduras used their natural resources had little lasting impact on the area’s vast expanses of forests and wetlands. However, rapid population growth, the influx of new colonists and a gradual move from subsistence to a market economy are all putting pressure on the area’s fragile ecosystems. Current problems include deforestation, over-fishing, over-hunting, erosion, and soil and water pollution.
Community identification of the problem
For a long time, local leaders had recognized that the over-use of natural resources was threatening the health, welfare and even the survival of their communities. However, a series of work shops, facilitated by Tearfund partner MOPAWI, helped the communities to work out for themselves what the nature and scale of the threat was.
Men, women and children from 15 different communities – as well as representatives from local organisations and authorities – worked together to develop an action plan for the rational use and conservation of their shared natural resources. They used the six steps shown on pages 8–9.
Community action
Since the workshops, various community groups have carried out different aspects of the plan. For example:
Lessons learnt
It is important to have:
See pages 8 –9 (Develop a community action
plan for shared natural resources) for the process, which you can adapt and use in your community.
A free digital and print magazine for community development workers. Covering a diverse range of topics, it is published three times a year.
Sign up now
Articles
The global rise in temperature is melting ice which is frozen within glaciers and ice caps. Large amounts of fresh water are released.
Case studies
Tearfund partner, ASJ, forms a coalition to lobby for forest protection
Tools and guides
Incorporating environmental and economic sustainability into relief and development work
Articles
The global rise in temperature is melting ice which is frozen within glaciers and ice caps. Large amounts of fresh water are released.
Case studies
Tearfund partner, ASJ, forms a coalition to lobby for forest protection
Tools and guides
Incorporating environmental and economic sustainability into relief and development work
Articles
The global rise in temperature is melting ice which is frozen within glaciers and ice caps. Large amounts of fresh water are released.
Case studies
Tearfund partner, ASJ, forms a coalition to lobby for forest protection
Tools and guides
Incorporating environmental and economic sustainability into relief and development work
Your privacy and peace of mind are important to us. We are committed to keeping your data safe. We only collect data from people for specific purposes and once that purpose has finished, we won’t hold on to the data.
For further information, including a full list of individual cookies, please see our privacy policy.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.
These cookies allow us to measure and improve the performance of our site. All information these cookies collect is anonymous.
These allow for a more personalised experience. For example, they can remember the region you are in, as well as your accessibility settings.
These cookies help us to make our adverts personalised to you and allow us to measure the effectiveness of our campaigns.
