Ecosystem-Based Adaptation at Communities of the Central Forest Corridor in Tegucigalpa

This intervention, therefore, seeks to "increase resilience to climate change and water-related risks...through pilot activities and an overarching intervention to mainstream climate change considerations into water sector policies", and as summarised by Ref. 1, has three main components:
1. Strengthening of local and community governance for climate resilience;
2. On the ground adaptation measures for forest, land and water resources management; and
3. Strengthening knowledge, information management, and monitoring systems on climate change vulnerability and adaptive capacity.

It is the second of these components, that concerning pursuit on the ground ecosystem-based adaptation measures, on which this case study will largely focus, and particularly so in light of the benefits which have potential to be offered to the urban population of Tegucigalpa City.

Regarding the urban area of Tegucigalpa City in particular, "almost half the CFC territory belongs to sub-basins that provide more than two thirds of the total water in the capital [Tegucigalpa]", hence the need to work on Ecosystem-Based Adaptation through integrated water resource management has become evident, "recognizing the watersheds, forests and vegetation roles in regulating water flows and providing water to build resilience to climate change" (Ref. 2).

Specifically in relation to Component 2 of the project, 'On the ground adaptation measures for forest, land and water resources management' (Ref. 1), the following quantitative targets have been identified:
- Restoration of 1,000 ha of pine forest in the CBC (Ref. 2);
- Strategic restoration of forest areas by natural regeneration through effective mechanisms for protection against fires, pests and land use change, in order to "reduce the incidence of fires, pests, diseases and illegal logging, thus avoiding
land use change", and further taking into account "management of the bark beetle pest...[and] the repercussions of prolonged periods of drought due to climate change and climate variability" (Ref. 3) / "Protection measures are introduced against fires, pests, land use change, and unsustainable forest use, assisting natural regeneration of forests" (Ref. 2); and
- "Drought management adaptation measures implemented to optimize the use of water resources for agriculture and domestic use" (Ref. 2).
In addition to promoting sustainable management of water resources, the project further seeks to secure provision of further ecosystem goods and services, recognising that "the CFC is under threat of the impacts of climate change as rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, and in the frequency and intensity of extreme events. These have led to drought, water stress, flooding (especially in Central District [Tegucigulpa City]), loss of biodiversity, fire and aggravation of the current plague of the bark beetle", all of which "directly affect the livelihoods of the population, and also the provision of ecosystem services and goods generated in the CFC" (Ref. 2).
The project will additionally "promote the design and implementation of measures and technologies that will reduce the pressure on water consumption and the forests, considering the climatic risks associated to future scenarios of precipitation and temperature change", for example, through promoting development and implementation of Micro Watershed Action Plans (Ref. 3).