independent forest monitoring

honduras

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Following various visits to the country, Global Witness and the Honduran National Commission for Human Rights (Comisionado Nacional de Derechos Humanos - CONADEH) signed an agreement to pilot Independent Forest Monitoring in May 2005.

The main objectives of the project were:

  • To generate reliable information about illegal logging and its associated trade in Olancho Department, which contains one of the largest areas of conifer forests in the country and is being subjected to intensive logging;
  • To ensure the objectivity and transparency of monitoring operations undertaken by the Forest Authority (Administración Forestal del Estado - Corporación Hondureña de Desarrollo Forestal, AFE-COHDEFOR);
  • To strengthen the operational capacity of the Forest Authority through undertaking joint field missions and sharing experience and skills.

Between May 2005 and April 2006, Global Witness and CONADEH produced 14 field mission reports, a first summary report of activities and a second summary report. The project has been warmly welcomed by AFE-COHDEFOR, civil society and some elements in the industry, all of which have voiced a need to implement long-term IFM in Honduras.

Joint work between Global Witness and CONADEH also provided the opportunity to build the latter's capacity in monitoring techniques and gradually hand them over the leadership of the project.

In April 2006, CONADEH and AFE-COHDEFOR signed an agreement for a further year of IFM work in the country, which included a substantial increase in human resources and area covered by the project. Mission reports continue to be produced regularly and are publicly available on CONADEH's website.

Both CONADEH and AFE-COHDEFOR have expressed a strong interest to continue to have Global Witness' support in the implementation of the project.