RARE
Washington, DC
Project location: Rio Platano U.N. Biosphere Reserve, Honduras
$90,000 2004-2007
www.rareconservation.org
2006 RARE Site Visit

RARE'S mission is to protect wildlands of globally significant biodiversity by enabling local people to benefit from this conservation. Focusing on educational and economic opportunities, RARE does this by working in partnership with communities, NGO's, protected area managers, and other stakeholders to develop and replicate locally managed conservation strategies.

The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its exceptional biodiversity, located on the northern coast of Honduras. Inside its boundaries are incredible terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including coastal wetlands, pine savannas, humid tropical forest, rivers, and beaches. The most significant threats facing the reserve today are agricultural expansion, logging, illegal hunting and trade of wildlife, and a lack of conservation awareness among its inhabitants.

RARE has begun a program to develop a replicable strategy for achieving long-term biodiversity conservation through integrated ecotourism and awareness strategies. RARE'S goal in Rio Platano is to ensure conservation of its natural resources by developing viable, alternative income opportunities for residents, such as ecotourism, that promote sustainability.

ABSF funding will support technical assistance and equipment needs related to ecotourism enterprises and infrastructure development. This will help RARE provide continued support to community entrepreneurs as they develop products, build new infrastructure, and market connections to international tour operators.