Management of the Uyuca Biological Reserve in the National and Global Context of the Protected Areas System

Abstract

The majority of human societies developed relations of respect and even of adoration with nature. The biodiversity of the planet is experiencing a strong crisis whose origins take root in relationship established by the industrial society with the natural world. This situation has called the world´s attention and has justified the creation of wild protected areas (AP) in order to maintain representative samples of the biodiversity. Nevertheless, biological conservation and the environmental ethics cannot be separated from social justice. Due to this, the protected areas must be a vital component of any conservation strategy and simultaneously be used as inn-keeper of other social, cultural and economic needs. It is admitted that the AP can be a sources of important economic benefits so they can be a significant contribution to local economies. The Uyuca Biological Reserve (UBR) is a small protected area created in 1985 that occupies the highest portion of the Uyuca Mountain, 15 km East of Tegucigalpa. However, since 1948, Zamorano has worked in pro of the conservation of the biodiversity of the entire Uyuca Mountain. The current management of the UBR is a responsibility of the Department of Environment and Development (DAD) of the Escuela Agrícola Panamericana. The UBR has been established legally to limit the scope of the conversion of lands inside its delimited area. There are 10 villages that benefit directly of the water of the UBR but the pressure and demand for water is on the increase. Recently, the DAD elaborated a new management plan for the UBR that fulfills all the requirements of the National Institute of Forest Conservation of Honduras. This new plan provides the principles for an adequate management of the reserve but it also allowed the participation of the civil society in the elaboration of this key element following the guidelines of the national system of protected areas.