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A new project contributes to the decarbonisation of the agricultural and forestry sector in Honduras

Honduras
Sustainable agriculture
07.06.2023
The new project “Paraíso Verde” was recently launched and aims to contribute to the decarbonisation of the agricultural and forestry sector in the department of El Paraíso, Honduras.
  • The multi-year project contributes to the achievement of the country's climate goals with regard to the conservation of forests and biodiversity, increased carbon sequestration, reduced migration due to the impact of climate change.
  • Financed by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the National Forest Conservation Institute (ICF), implemented by Swisscontact in Honduras together with local partners
  • The Paraíso Verde project will have an agroecological approach. It will focus on climate-smart technologies and sustainable value chains of cocoa, coffee, livestock and forestry, reaching 8000 producers and facilitating access to markets with high-quality products.

By promoting the adaptation of climate-smart and agroecological practices in agricultural production, the initiative seeks to bring about transformations in production systems and boost a decarbonised economy within the framework of the EU-Honduras voluntary association agreement.

Over the next four years, the project will mainly operate in the department of El Paraíso, with some activities held in Olancho.

During the launch event, Jaume Segura, Ambassador of the European Union in Honduras, highlighted the EU's commitment to combating deforestation and the conservation of biodiversity.

David Pastrana, from ICF, underscored the important opportunity that Honduras has by being the first country in the region to implement a voluntary partnership agreement between a timber exporting country and the European Union as part of the Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). 

Swisscontact and partners
Ambassador of the European Union, Jaume Segura; Country Director of Swisscontact in Honduras, Liliana Sánchez; Swisscontact's Thematic Leader for Sustainable Agriculture, Iván Rodríguez

Fostering alliances between institutions

The project will work closely with producer organisations and other local actors to transform the coffee, cocoa, livestock and forestry value chains to make them more resilient to climate change. Partners include FEHCAFOR, Fundación MAS, IHCAFE, MANORPA, Solidaridad and FUNDER.

Liliana Sánchez Iglesias, Country Director of Swisscontact in Honduras, and Miguel Ángel Bonilla, Director of FUNDER, highlighted the importance of strengthening producer groups and facilitating access to financing mechanisms to promote the adoption of of climate-friendly practices and technologies that contribute to the producers' competitiveness.

"Through the Paraíso Verde project, Swisscontact facilitates investments to move towards a decarbonised economy in the Department of El Paraíso."
Liliana Sánchez Iglesias
Honduras
Sustainable agriculture
“Paraíso Verde“: decarbonising the agricultural and forestry sector in the department of El Paraíso
The project will focus on agricultural and forestry value chains, compatible with the agroecological landscape approach, to reduce vulnerability to climate change, improve social inclusion, reduce deforestation and CO2 emissions, and increase forest restoration with better governance and local appropriation.
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