Turtle Harbor Wildlife Refuge (RSVTH)
Turtle Harbor Wildlife Refuge is a 10km2 protected area located on Utila Island, Bay Islands Department, Honduras. It was declared a protected area in 2010 by Decree of the National Congress of the Republic of Honduras No. 75-2010. It is the islands only terrestrial protected area that provides an essential habitat for biodiversity. The refuge is a designated RAMSAR site of international importance for wetlands. Predominant habitats are neotropical savanna, mangroves and marshland, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. This includes several endemic and endangered species.
Co-Management Agreement
In 2022, Kanahau NGO became an officially signed comanager and active member of the environmental technical committee for the protected area, Turtle Harbor Wildlife Refuge (RSVTH), working in collaboration with national authorities Instituto de Conservacion Forestal (ICF), local government Utila Municipality, and local NGOS, Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA) and Fundacion Islas de la Bahia (FIB). Access permissions must be sought from comanaging authorities prior to conducting any activities in the refuge.
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