REFORES promotes water governance and watershed restoration at the II Symposium “Water for Honduras”

• Based on applied evidence and multilevel coordination, agreements are promoted to advance nature-based solutions in key watersheds.

Within the framework of World Water Day, celebrated on March 17, the II Water Symposium titled “Water for Honduras” was held at Hotel Copantl in Honduras. The event brought together public institutions, local governments, the private sector, academia, international cooperation, and civil society to discuss priorities and concrete actions to strengthen water resource management and governance in the country.

The symposium featured the participation of the project “Use of nature-based solutions to increase resilience to extreme climate events in the Atlantic region of Central America” (REFORES – Forest Restoration for Climate Resilience), which contributed to technical exchange and multi-stakeholder dialogue to advance action pathways focused on the restoration of strategic watersheds and water resilience.

“Talking about water is talking about life, but also about inequality and decisions that we can no longer postpone. Governance requires leadership, functioning institutions, and trust between central government, local governments, the public and private sectors, and communities; without trust there is no coordination, and without coordination there are no sustainable solutions or equitable access to water,” stated Maritza Soto, vice mayor of the Municipality of San Pedro Sula.

Multilevel coordination to move from reflection to action

The symposium discussions underscored the need to align evidence, coordination, and decision-making, integrating a watershed perspective that connects public policies, investments, and local capacities.

“This symposium arises from a clear need in the Sula Valley: to strengthen water resource management with a watershed perspective. That is why we seek to bring multilevel actors to the same table: the private sector, institutions responsible for public policy, and those managing territories under protection and management. This coordination has already generated results since 2024, promoting restoration areas, actions linked to water management, and capacity strengthening,” said Karla Mejía Díaz, REFORES country coordinator.

Technical contribution: nature-based solutions for water resilience

REFORES contributed to the technical component of the event with inputs aimed at strengthening the planning and prioritization of restoration interventions, highlighting the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) as a key approach for adaptation and water security in strategic watersheds.

The event also reinforced a central message: restoration and water resilience require governance to translate ambition into sustainable results, with clear roles, effective coordination, and long-term commitments.

“Governance is the bridge between ambition and implementation: it defines who makes decisions, how responsibilities are coordinated, and how commitments are sustained over time. In watershed restoration, advancing with clear roles, coordination mechanisms, and accountability is key for NbS to generate measurable results and real benefits for communities,” stated Ileana Ávalos, Policy and Governance Specialist at CATIE.

Private sector and shared vision: protecting El Merendón

The symposium also highlighted the role of the private sector and partnerships in sustaining results over time, especially in key territories such as El Merendón.

“From Cervecería Hondureña and Coca-Cola, we are convinced that protecting El Merendón is a shared vision that is strengthened year after year. Water governance is a collective effort: results motivate us and also commit us to continue moving forward. Protecting water means contributing to the resilience of our cities, the sustainability of our companies, and the future of the country. Through the ‘Let’s Toast to Nature’ movement, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting El Merendón and to the actions driven by these partnerships,” said Karla Ávila from Fundación Cervecería Hondureña.

The symposium was carried out as part of the actions established within the framework of the Manchaguala Restoration Network. In this context, appreciation is extended for the support and coordination of WWF, Fundación Cervecería Hondureña, the Municipality of San Pedro Sula, and the Forest Conservation Institute (ICF), as well as all participating institutions and organizations that contributed to dialogue and agreement-building.

The event concluded with a call to consolidate a collaborative water agenda for 2026–2028, strengthening follow-up on commitments, interinstitutional coordination, and resource mobilization to sustain and scale the restoration of strategic watersheds.

About the project

The REFORES – Forest Restoration for Climate Resilience project – is implemented by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), and executed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), with funding from the Adaptation Fund (AF).