In La Mosquitia, Honduras, what was once one of the most important forests in Central America has turned into barren savanna. Year after year, fires burn across the landscape, killing young trees and stopping the forest from growing back.
So, together with our partner Paskaia and the local Miskito community, we’re bringing back the forest by training and equipping a local fire brigade, building firebreaks, and putting out fires before they can spread.
We’re also carrying out controlled fires, because sometimes the best way to stop destructive fires is to start one. Here’s why:
The pine ecosystem in La Mosquitia depends on fire. When burns are carefully controlled and carried out at the right time, fire clears dry vegetation and helps pine cones release their seeds. Because the forest can then regenerate naturally, there’s often no need to plant new trees, and the ecosystem can gradually return to a state that needs less intervention.
What does restoring a forest this way actually look like on the ground? Watch the video to find out.
