Issuing a Decree to Ensure the Legal Protection of a microbasin (Honduras)

Honduran Forest Legislation establishes the strict protection of microbasins from human exploitation. However, in practice, there is an accelerated rate of microbasin degradation brought on by land use changes that turn forest lands into crop lands. Through sensitization, raising awareness, and training aimed at the general population and Water Management Boards, Local Emergency Committees (in Spanish, Comités de Emergencia Local, CODEL) and Health Committees in particular, a negotiation process involving land users is promoted to protect microbasins that provide water by issuing a decree.

One of the main obstacles faced by communities in the Department of Olancho, Honduras, is access to water systems providing water in the required quantities and quality. In recent years, inadequate use of these microbasins has increased erosion in these regions. Changes in land use resulting in transforming forest lands into lands for agricultural and livestock production affect the cycle for recharging water. Furthermore, the pollution caused by agrochemicals and waste water derived from coffee processing reduces water quality and damages the health of the area's population

Honduran forest legislation establishes strict protections for microbasins exploited for human consumption. However, enforcing these laws frequently causes conflicts. The “Resiliencia” project headed by the Honduran / Swiss Red Cross, together with competent authorities, supports issuing decrees in order to protect microbasins; this is based on sensitization, raising awareness and providing training to the general population, specifically at the Water Management Boards, Local Emergency Committees (CODEL) and Health Committees. Local structures led by Water Management Boards are the main actors in this process and participate in community assemblies, surveys, delimitation of microbasins, collection of documents and negotiation with users, etc.

During the negotiation process, many Water Management Boards have carried out diverse fund-raising activities to compensate those users who give up the land plots they use in the microbasin. The Forest Conservation Institute (in Spanish, Instituto de Conservación Forestal, ICF) and the Environmental Municipal Unit (In Spanish, Unidad Municipal Ambiental, UMA) as well as the Red Cross, help to collect data, to define the area that will come under protection, to draft theme maps, to consolidate information required for clearance by the National Agrarian Institute (in Spanish, Nacional Agrario, INA). This also facilitates negotiations and agreements with people exploiting the aforementioned areas. The process required to issue a decree increases the community's sense of property, as well as ensures protection and conservation of microbasins and comprehensive water management systems. The nucleus of the approach involves strengthening Water Management Boards to help them manage their own water system through training in environmental issues, management and fee estimation, as well as providing them with tools to improve their water provision system. Thus, Water Management Boards become key players in protecting microbasins.