SOCIOECOLOGICAL SURVEY OF RESIDENT POPULA TIONS IN CAYOS-COCHINOS BIOLOGICAL RESERVE, HONDURAS

The archipelago of Cayos Cochinos was established as a protected area in 1993. The Biological Reserve - ca. 460 km(2)- includes two forested islands, 12 cays and the surrounding coral reefs, seagrass meadows an d other underwater habitats. People, mostly from the Garifuna ethnic g roup, live part of the year within the Reserve, to supply their basic needs. This preliminary study evaluates the socio-ecological aspects t hat originate positive or negative attitudes of the indigenous people towards the protected area. In general terms, the study reveals positi ve attitudes in all three resident communities surveyed, with some exc eptions in one of the villages. The level of support of the inhabitant s towards the activities developed in the Reserve is considerable, and contradicts public opinion and media propaganda: 77% of the responden ts believe that it is important to protect the area of the archipelago ; more than half of them consider the park to be beneficial to the com munity and 60% maintain good relationships with the protected area's p ersonnel. Residents (66%) believe there are more resources (commercial ly important) 3-years into the 5-years ban on fisheries that was decla red in 1993, including regulation of fishing techniques. Positive atti tudes were influenced by many factors, including the perception of rec eiving benefits and good relationships with park personnel. Negative p erception from the settlers can be attributed to misguided policies, m isinformation, cultural idiosyncracy, low educational level, few or no income alternatives other than fishing and poor living conditions. Th e results suggest policies to follow in order to improve the incorpora tion of the communities towards the management of resources in the Res erve. It is necessary to implement an integral program that includes l ocal participation, basic and environmental education projects, the de velopment of alternative activities to improve the economy of the resi dents, and the followup of the study and monitoring of the natural res ources in the area. This survey provides important information, both t o the Honduran government and to the managers of the Reserve which wil l enable them to make important decisions as well as to follow-up on t he implementation of future policies. The results of the survey should lead the managers to review the present program and even analyze the current legislation, and the legal status of the Biological Reserve.