HONDURAS

• Ocean Acidification.
• Chemical Contamination.
• Eutrophication.
• Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Marine Biotoxins.
• Microplastic contamination.

• Ocean Acidification.
• Chemical Contamination.
• Eutrophication.
• Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Marine Biotoxins.
• Microplastic contamination.

• Ocean Acidification.
• Chemical Contamination.
• Eutrophication.
• Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Marine Biotoxins.
• Microplastic contamination.

Secretaria de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente (MiAmbiente+)/ Centro de Estudios y Control de Contaminantes (CESCCO).

Role in the Project:  National Counterpart.

Contact info: carlosalbertothompson@yahoo.com / cthompson@miambiente.gob.hn / cescco.miambiente@yahoo.com / cescco@miambiente.gob.hn /   Tel: +504 8800-8892.

Responsible for fulfilling CESCCO's mission by carrying out our work of Environmental Pollution Control, in the different Environmental matrices as a scientific-technical entity of Honduras, through environmental surveillance and management of chemical substances, provision of laboratory services, responsible for different registries such as RETC, PCBs, Mercury, Fixed Sources, Residual Water Discharges, among others, and the development of research and studies on environmental issues with the purpose of strengthening environmental management in Honduras.

National Focal Point for the International Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements and their Elimination, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure Applicable to Certain Pesticides and Hazardous Chemicals Object of International Trade, Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Protocol of Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution of the Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region. He is currently a graduate of a Master's Degree in Territorial Planning and Management from the Alcalá de Henares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Faculty of Space Sciences.

Secretaría de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MiAmbiente+) – Centro de Estudios y Control de Contaminantes (CESCCO).

Role in the Project:  Eutrophication Component Coordinator.        

Contact info:  mbarahona@miambiente.gob.hn / messi.gateor@gmail.com /Tel: 504 32771857

She is currently responsible for the Ecotoxicology Laboratory where we carry out analyzes with organisms that indicate toxicity (for example Daphnia magna), culture and maintenance of Chlorella, Artemia, Daphnia and Hydra; Likewise, I have performed functions as assistant and head of the Water Quality laboratory where nutrient analyzes are carried out in environmental matrices (drinking, residual, surface, underground and marine water); the methods developed are based on the standard method 21 edition; She actively participates in research on water quality due to the effects of environmental pollution (mining, wastewater discharges, etc.), attention is given to environmental complaints, and the formulation of projects, among others.

It is worth mentioning that collaboration agreements are made with the academy (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras “UNAH”) for institutional strengthening and supervision in the development of professional practices, training is provided to students, private and government companies on environmental issues.

Secretaría de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MiAmbiente+) – Centro de Estudios y Control de Contaminantes (CESCCO).

Role in the Project:  National Technical Counterpart and Coordinator of the Chemical Contamination Component     

Contact info: acastillo@miambiente.gob.hn / acanavarro24@gmail.com /Tel: 504 8734 3435

Environmental analyst of the chemical contaminants laboratory unit since 2002. Experience in sampling, analysis and interpretation of physical chemical parameters in water, soil, sediment, mud, biological tissue and dielectric oil. Analytical expertise in gas chromatographic techniques for the determination of organic pollutants (pesticide residues and total petroleum hydrocarbons), persistent organic compounds (COP's), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and atomic absorption techniques (flame, furnace of graphite, hydride generator and direct mercury analyzer), for the determination of elements (Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Chromium, Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Mercury, Selenium and Zinc) in different environmental matrices. Since 2014 Head of the chemical contaminants laboratory unit and Quality Coordinator of the CESCCO laboratories.

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras – Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlántico (UNAH-CURLA).

Role in the Project:  Collaborator in the Ocean Acidification and Eutrophication Component.        

Contact info: Emilia.cruz@unah.edu.hn Tel: +504 9936-1902

PhD in Chemistry and Pharmacy with orientation in Food Technology, postgraduate studies in environmental toxicology from the universities of Clemson in South Carolina (MSc, 1998) and Texas Tech (PhD, 2004). I have elaborated in the Chemical and Biological Analysis Laboratory of the National Association of Meat Packers, in the monitoring of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides as residues (1992-1995). Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras at the Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlántico (UNAH-CURLA) campus since 2012; coordinator of the Aquatic Ecosystems Research Group. The research emphasis has been fresh water quality on the Atlantic coast, to determine the water quality index (ICA). Extensive experience in analytical chemistry using gas chromatography, liquid chromatography (HPLC), and spectrophotometric, gravimetric, and volumetric methods.

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras – Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlántico (UNAH-CURLA).

Role in the Project: Collaborator of the Harmful and Toxic Algal Blooms (HAB's) component.

Contact info: marcela.garay@unah.edu.hn  Tel: +50433449938

University teacher and researcher at the Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlántico (CURLA-UNAH) from 2015 to date, with experience in limnological studies and water quality analysis using biotic indicators such as; aquatic macroinvertebrates and phytoplankton specifically with potentially toxic cyanobacteria from freshwater ecosystems. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Water Sciences with an emphasis on Water Quality. 

Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM).

Role in the Project:  Collaborator of the chemical contamination and microplastic component.

Contact info:  bgonzalez@marinamercante.gob.hn

Bachelor of Biology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras – UNAH

I work as a Technical Assistant of the Department of Protection of the Marine Environment of the Honduran Maritime Authority since 2017. With experience in the execution and coordination of pollution prevention programs on beaches and coastlines, water quality monitoring, evaluation and formulation of maritime and environmental projects for coastal infrastructure and diving, as well as extensive experience in fishing resources. Similarly, Focal Point in Working Groups on Marine Litter and Microplastics for the Caribbean and for the Northeast Pacific.

Extensive capabilities in the implementation of national and international regulations, with special emphasis on the MARPOL Convention, OPRC 90 Convention, Fund 92 Convention, Ballast Water Convention, Cartagena Convention and MERP Agreement. Special training in the IMO Model courses on preparation and response to spills of hydrocarbons and harmful and potentially dangerous substances, Level 1 and 3, courses on the incident command system and on contingency plans for spills at sea, and certified PADI Diver at Advance level.

Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM).

Role in the Project:  Collaborator of the Harmful and Toxic Algal Blooms (HABs) and Eutrophication component.      

Contact info: jmaldonado@marinamercante.gob.hn / Tel: +504 9881-2493

Technical assistant of the Department of Protection of the marine environment, in Puerto Cortés.

With experience in the management of wildlife, protected areas, in the management of pollution caused by the maritime and port environment, such as hydrocarbon spills in the sea, maritime constructions, evaluation of marine-coastal projects, monitoring of marine litter , beach cleaning, reforestation and water quality monitoring.

Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM).

Role in the Project:  Collaborator of the ocean acidification component.

Contact info: jmclaughlin@marinamercante.gob.hn / dolandmc@gmail.com / Tel: +504 9846-7781

As an Environmental Technical Officer of the Department of Protection of the Marine Environment assigned to the Bay Islands, I develop the functions of control and surveillance in the development of activities with the risk of spills of hydrocarbons and their derivatives, as well as potentially harmful substances to the sea, giving special attention quickly and timely in the event of a spill incident for its containment, recovery and safe disposal, control the development of infrastructures or ocean and coastal engineering works in order to minimize the negative effects on marine-coastal ecosystems and avoid illegal developments that put at risk natural resources, address complaints of environmental damage to marine ecosystems in coordination and cooperation with other government entities as well as with the support of non-governmental environmental organizations, represent the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine before the committee of the National Marine Park Islands of the Bay and in the topics we relate to the regulation, control and protection of marine-coastal resources in the islands and the Honduran Caribbean coast.

Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM).

Role in the Project:  Collaborator of the ocean acidification component.

Contact info: ibonilla@marinamercante.gob.hn / Tel: +504 9993-9834

With a degree in Biology with an emphasis in Aquatics, he currently works as a Biologist within the Department of Marine Environment Protection, his scope of work focuses on maritime environmental inspections along the coastal areas of Honduras, as well as his later analysis.

His specialty is focused on evaluations of marine ecosystems in the Honduran Caribbean, oriented to the connectivity between reef fish and coral reefs, and currently he has combined all his knowledge acquired in the maritime environmental area such as the execution and coordination of pollution prevention programs on beaches and coastlines and emphatically in the preparation and response to spills of hydrocarbons and harmful and potentially dangerous substances, levels 1, 2 and 3.

His experience is based on 15 years of combined experience in conservation and research within various Marine Protected Areas of the country, as well as in the maritime area through the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine.

Secretaría de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MiAmbiente+) – Centro de Estudios y Control de Contaminantes (CESCCO).

Role in the Project:  Coordinador de componente microplásticos y floraciones Algales Nocivas

Contact info: vpineda@miambiente.gob.hn / pineda.alvarado@gmail.com / Tel:  504 9792-7742 / Skype: vpineda21

My current position is head of the Food and Water Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, monitoring microbiological contaminants in environmental and food matrices, developing research on different food products distributed nationwide. Likewise, I was part of the list of evaluators and technical experts of the Honduran Accreditation Agency in Honduras (OHA), as well as the institutional counterpart of the Codex Alimentarius Committee in Honduras, and national focal point for the regional fund for the management of wastewater in the Greater Caribbean region, in the period from 2013 to 2018, as well as a member of the technical committee for flagging beaches in Honduras, as well as technical liaison for the protocol for the Protection of Pollution in marine areas from Sources and Activities Terrestrial.

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras-Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlántico (UNAH-CURLA).

Role in the Project:  Collaborator of the microplastics and chemical contamination component.

Contact info: jesus.rodriguez@unah.edu.hn   Tel: +504 99368560

He is a teacher and coordinator of the Soils Laboratory, in the Department of Soils at UNAH-CURLA, he currently directs the implementation of the quality management system under the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard. He was a member of the chemistry department and was coordinator of the laboratory of Environmental Analysis. He was supervisor and quality manager of the WHAL laboratory of the Dole company.

He is a member of two research groups: the "Aquatic Ecosystems, with emphasis on marine-coastal zones" and the "Use, management and conservation of soils". His lines of research are: the evaluation of sedimentation rates, dating of sedimentary cores, sediment and soil quality with emphasis on the evaluation of organic and metallic contaminants, and their relationship with water quality and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. He works on estimates of blue carbon in marine-coastal ecosystems. He has participated in various university-society link projects related to the environment.

Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM).

Role in the Project:  Collaborator of the Harmful and Toxic Algal Blooms (HABs) and Eutrophication component.        

Contact info: szelaya@marinamercante.gob.hn /  Tel: +504 98273483

Degree in Biology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras – UNAH and Official Master's Degree in Environmental Management of Water Systems from the Universidad de Cantabria, Spain.

Assistant of the Department of Protection of the Marine Environment of the Honduran Maritime Authority since 2015, head of the unit since 2017. Trained in national and international regulations (MARPOL Convention, OPRC 90 Convention, CLC 92 Convention, Fund 92 Convention, on Ballast Water, Convention on Ship Antifouling Systems, Cartagena Convention, among others) in the maritime-environmental field, with IMO Model courses on preparation and response to oil spills and noxious and potentially dangerous substances, Level 1, 2 and 3, courses on incident command system and spill contingency plans. National focal point for ocean sector issues before the United Nations Organization, with special emphasis on the process of adopting a legally binding document within the framework of CONVEMAR for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in waters beyond jurisdiction national.