For decades an increasing number of tourist and real estate mega-projects have been planned for Tela Bay in the Atlantida region (in the Jeannette Kawas National Park). In 2003, the Los Micos Beach and Golf Resort project was launched with an investment of US$ 4 billion for the construction of a tourist mega-complex extending 500 hectares along 3 km of coastline. The Desarrollo Turistico Bahia de Tela S.A. company was awarded the construction concession, despite opposition from local communities, including Afro-descendent indigenous residents (around 400 inhabitant from Río Tinto, Miami, Tornabé, San Juan, La Ensenada y Triunfo de la Cruz (Garífuna communities). |
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Los Micos Beach and Golf Resort Project, Honduras |
| Country: | Honduras |
| State or province: | Bahía Tela, Atlantida. |
| Location of conflict: | Río Tinto, Miami, Tornabé, San Juan, La Ensenada y Triunfo de la Cruz |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Tourism Recreation |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Urban development conflicts Tourism facilities (ski resorts, hotels, marinas) Wetlands and coastal zone management Land acquisition conflicts |
| Specific commodities: | Land Tourism services |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | It is a complex of 7 tourist hotels, which will have 168 villas, 2,000 apartments, 6 multi residences, 1 shopping plaza, themed amusement parks, 1 equestrian center, 1 port for cruise lines and a golf club. |
| Project area: | 500 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | 4,000,000,000 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 500 -700 |
| Start of the conflict: | 2003 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Desarrollo Turistico Baha de Tela S.A from Honduras Troon Golf Astaldi Columbus from Italy |
| Relevant government actors: | The government of Honduras; The government of Italy, Honduran Tourism Institute (IHT) |
| International and Finance Institutions | Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Honduran Tourism Investment Fund (HTIF) from Honduras |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | The Garifuna community, CODETS - Lands and Territory Defense Committee, OFRANEH Organizacion Fraternal Negra Hondurena (The Fraternal Organization of Black Hondurans), PROLASATE The Foundation for the Protection of Lancetilla, Punta Sal and Texiguat - AFE-COHDEFOR Honduran Corporation of Forest Development, Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Indigenous groups or traditional communities International ejos Local ejos Ethnically/racially discriminated groups Garifuna communities Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Objections to the EIA Public campaigns Street protest/marches Strikes Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Desertification/Drought, Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation Potential: Global warming, Waste overflow, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Other Environmental impacts | Invasive species and increased of hurricanes and tropical storms due to the destruction of wetlands and mangroves |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..), Deaths Potential: Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases, Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Increase in violence and crime, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Specific impacts on women |
Outcome
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Corruption Criminalization of activists Court decision (failure for environmental justice) Migration/displacement Violent targeting of activists Application of existing regulations |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | To stop the touristic project and respect the already existing demarcations of the natural parks and the costal line, respecting the population already existing there. Most residents of the Garifuna communities have opted for ecotourism at small scale that does not degrade the environment and provides direct income. The fishermen offer their boats and canoes to take tourists to Punta Sal or around the Laguna Los Micos. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | Despite all the strong mobilization, there has been a severe abuse of the population of the Tela Bay, supported by the government of Honduras including the violation of human, constitutional, environmental rights and international treaties. Corruption has become established to stop the mobilization, as the project is seen as a priority for the national government and the foreign investors. |
Sources & Materials
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Lucie Greyl y Grettel Navas |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 516 |
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