Source: GOV.UK

Nick Whittingham, British Ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras, travelled to the region of Trifinio where the two countries converge along with El Salvador and welcomed the beginning of activities of the UK’s Biodiverse Landscapes Fund in the area.

In Guatemala, Ambassador Whittingham visited Concepción Las Minas and San José La Arada, in Chiquimula. While in Concepción las Minas, Ambassador Whittingham inaugurated activities aimed at strengthening community organization, value chains, restoration activities; and management and combating of forest fires, as well as monitoring activities for biological diversity in the area, for which he carried out the symbolic installation of the first camera trap.

In San José La Arada, Ambassador Whittingham met with local authorities to discuss how the Fund could support environmentally sensitive areas to be managed sustainably. In both places, the Fund seeks to create sustainable development opportunities for communities while protecting the environment.

During his visit, Ambassador Whittingham was accompanied by authorities from the Trinational Commission of Trifinio Plan of Guatemala and Municipal delegates.

While in Honduras, Ambassador Whittingham visited the Güisayote Reserve, in the Ocotepeque department.  The Ambassador delivered equipment to prevent and tackle forest fires, in line with the support that this area will receive to reinforce forest control, and to implement sustainable productive models to avoid negative impact on the core zone.

The donation and start of the Fund’s activities was welcomed by representatives of the Honduran Forest Conservation Institute (ICF), Honduran delegates of the Trinational Commission of Trifinio Plan, and local leaders.

The UK Biodiverse Landscapes Fund is a global initiative covering six valuable biodiversity hotspots around the world. In Mesoamerica it will invest up to approximately US$19 million over the next six years. In Guatemala and Honduras, the fund will cover the areas of the Mayan Jungle, Trifinio and Mosquitia.

The activities in Trifinio are carried out by the organizations Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE).

The authorities of Guatemala and Honduras thanked the British people for their important contribution through this Fund, which will have a significant impact on their communities.

The British Ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras, Nick Whittingham, said:

I’m glad to see the fund has started its activities in Trifinio. This Fund was announced in 2019 and since then, my government has been working to develop its architecture and to identify implementing organizations.