Restoring Coastal Marine Habitats in the Bay Islands National Marine Park

The Bay Islands National Marine Park is home to globally important mangrove ecosystems that protect coastlines, sustain fisheries, support marine biodiversity, and provide livelihoods for island communities. The ecosystem protects the Bay Islands’ communities from storms, supports fisheries, and sustains tourism-based economies deeply connected to the sea.

The islands’ mangrove ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, coastal development, pollution, sedimentation, and inadequate wastewater management. In many coastal areas in Roatan and Utila, mangroves have been degraded or fragmented, reducing their ability to protect shorelines, support marine life, and maintain healthy coastal ecosystems. 

Communities are already experiencing stronger storms, coastal erosion, declining fisheries, and environmental degradation that directly affect their quality of life and the local economy. 

For more than 35 years, BICA has worked alongside communities across the Bay Islands (Utila, Roatan, and Guanaja) to protect and restore the ecosystems that sustain island life. Founded in 1990 by local residents, fishers, and conservation advocates, BICA was created from a shared understanding that healthy marine ecosystems are essential for the future of the islands and their communities. 

This project focuses on restoring degraded mangrove areas, integrating community rehabilitation, outplanting, and awareness activities within the Bay Islands National Marine Park. Our approach combines ecosystem restoration with local stewardship, education, and community participation to create long-term conservation outcomes supported by the people who depend on these ecosystems for their sustenance and livelihoods.