PREVEBA- Honduras

While this project has not yet started, ASOCIALAYO has deepened the analysis of this nature-based solution by testing it on fields of small holders, members of the Santa Bárbara CIAL (Local Agricultural Research Committee). 

The analysis showed that implementing bamboo and vetiver barriers in the department of Santa Bárbara significantly reduced the risks of landslides due to the qualities of these plants to stabilize the soil and control erosion. Moreover, this innovative method is low cost, easy to replicate and utilizes local resources ecologically. This has shown great potential for a number of reasons. First, this nature-based solution, using the bamboo plant Bambusoideae spp, is little known in Honduras and the Central American region. Second, these plants have strong roots, regenerate quickly and are long-lasting. Indeed, because of the depth of the roots, they can effectively prevent landslides on the Santa Bárbara Mountain slopes, particularly in the municipality of Concepción Sur, an area very vulnerable to the climate crisis. Finally, this initiative goes beyond preventing soil erosion and preserving soil fertility to aid the protection of water bodies from contamination and conserve biodiversity in the soil. In other words, this manages landscapes and sustains the ecological environment. Soil preservation and fertility are necessary for farming and, by extension, food security for these households.

The analysis also demonstrated that PREVEBA will contribute to gender equality. It will increase women’s leadership and participation in decision-making by encouraging their voices in land management and climate resilience strategies, challenging traditional gender norms that limit their decision-making power. PREVEBA will enhance economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities while creating income-generating opportunities. This method will reduce women’s vulnerability to climate risks, bamboo and vetiver prevent soil erosion, mitigate landslides, and reduce flood risks, protecting farmland and homes. Women, often responsible for household food security, will benefit from increased agricultural resilience. Reduced land degradation can lessen the burden on women who collect water and firewood, allowing them to spend more time on education, economic activities, or community leadership. Thus, by ensuring intentional gender-sensitive approaches, this project can serve as a model for climate-resilient and gender-inclusive development in Santa Bárbara and beyond. 

In conclusion, this ten-month initiative targets 50 vulnerable rural female-led families living on the slopes in the municipality of Concepción del Sur, in the region of Lake Yojoa. This area's high climatic vulnerability and many families at risk of suffering damage due to landslides makes it a prime location to implement this nature-based solution.