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African oil palm producers in Honduras and WWF, the global conservation organization, have agreed to execute joint actions toward the implementation of Better Management Practices that will favor production, nearby communities and the natural resources of the region

Coral reefs protected by sustainable agriculture

by WWF

Teamwork to benefit the environment, the communities and a sustainable economy is the goal to be pursued through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the second largest oil palm producer groups in Honduras and WWF.

After signing the agreement today, the palm oil production firm Palmas de San Alejo and the palm oil processor Agropecuaria Tornabe (AGROTOR), subsidiaries of the agroindustrial group JAREMAR, and WWF, the global conservation organization, sealed their commitment to responsible agricultural management.

The objective of this agreement is to identify and reduce environmental impact on the Mesoamerican Reef caused by African oil palm plantations for the production of oil and other food derivatives.

This crop covers nearly 68,000 hectares, divided into three zones: the coastal plains of the Department of Atlantida, the Valle de Sula and the Valle del Aguan. WWF Agriculture Officer José Vásquez explained that the work area of particular interest is in Atlantida, an area of 1,564 km2 located along the Caribbean coast that is bathed by a series of large rivers that flow down from the Nombre de Dios mountain range. 

“The steep mountains and the region’s strong rains make agricultural activity a threat to the reefs due to the large amount of sediments and agrochemicals that reach the sea. It is important that measures be taken to control the contamination,” stated José Vásquez.

Outstanding sponsoring organizations for the initiative include the Summit Foundation, and the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) Mesoamerican Reef Alliance, that addresses the conservation needs of coral reefs and the community wellbeing, which is funded by the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

For Liza Agudelo, Coordinator of the ICRAN-MAR Alliance, “WWF has been pioneering actions with diverse agricultural sectors in the region and we are convinced that these joint efforts will bring great benefits for the health and conservation of the reef and the communities that depend on its resources.”

Palmas de San Alejo and AGROTOR were established in the 1950s. They now have more than 500 employees from the 14 communities that surround the plantation. They produce 23,000 tons of oil annually that is used to prepare food products and they are also planning to produce biodiesel.

Danny Gabrie, Vice-president of Agroindustrial Operations for the Jaremar Group, to which Palmas de San Alejo and AGROTOR belong, affirmed that they are always seeking to improve cultivation practices, from an agricultural, environmental and legal viewpoint.

“We accepted WWF’s invitation to make studies and see how the plantation can be improved. We have oxidation lagoons for the wastewaters that we use to produce electrical energy for the processing plant, which minimizes the agricultural impact on the reef,” added Danny Gabrie.

Noteworthy commitments include the control of empty agrochemical containers, the use of plant cover on the plantations to avoid erosion and reduction of the application of herbicides and fertilizers, especially nitrogen.

 In addition to tourism, agriculture is the main economic activity associated with the Mesoamerican Reef. Commercial and subsistence crops employ more than a million people and generate more than 10 percent of the Gross National Product in the four countries that share the reef. Best management practices on agricultural plantations are vital for watershed protection and minimize the transport of contaminants to the corals.

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