PBI-Honduras accompanies ASODEBICOQ at meetings promoting declarations in the defence of water in Quimistán

On September 5, PBI-Honduras posted:

“Recently we accompanied ASODEBICOQ [the Association for the Defense of Common Goods of Quimistan] at different meetings for communities in Quimistán. Communities raise water defense as one of their priorities, for this reason they continue their efforts to promote declarations of protection to the sources of water in their territories.

From PBI we highlight the work of ASODEBICOQ in the defense of the common goods of the area. We remember that communities not only face the risk of contamination of their waters but also the cutting of trees and the imposition of projects for which they have not been informed or consulted.”

Quimistán is a town and a municipality in the department of Santa Bárbara.

In February 2019, Radio Progreso reported that Santa Bárbara is “threatened by more than 15 hydroelectric projects and 23 concessions for mining.”

That article notes: “In the municipality of Quimistán, there is an imminent danger from the installation of the Santa Lucia hydroelectric dam, which is advanced by 90%. And, despite the fact that there is a strong rejection by the population, they currently intend to build a second hydroelectric dam also on the Cuyagual River.”

PBI-Honduras has previously highlighted: “Over the past two decades alone, Honduras has lost between 23,000 and 58,000 hectares of woodland per year.”

Between 1990 and 2005, Honduras lost 37 per cent of its forest cover, and between 2007 and 2011 the deforestation rate tripled in Honduras.

PBI-Honduras has accompanied ASODEBICOQ since May 2018.

“From PBI we highlight the work of ASODEBICOQ in the defense of the common goods of Quimistán. The communities in the area face the contamination of their waters, the felling of trees and the imposition of projects for which they have not been informed or consulted.”