Resistance, territory, and autonomy: the imperative of creating public policies to defend the Garífuna biocultural territory in Laguna de Zambuco, municipality of Esparta, Honduras.

Abstract

This article systematizes research on biocultural practices in the Garífuna territory of Zambuco, located in the municipality of Esparta, Atlántida, Honduras. Following its inclusion on the Ramsar Sites list, the need arises to implement public policies that protect natural resources and the cultural and territorial rights of the local communities. With a qualitative approach and a case-based methodological design, the research is organized into three main categories: cultural practices, environmental practices, and commitments associated with Ramsar sites. Techniques such as focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and passive observation were used with community leaders from the localities of Nueva Go, La Rosita, and Cayo Venado, who shared their experiences regarding the struggles to defend their territory. From a theoretical perspective, this work contributes to the study of a hardly ever explored topic in Honduras, with results of great social relevance, given the limited data about the relationship between the biocultural heritage of Zambuco and the formulation of public policies that respond to the conservation needs posed by the communities following its inclusion on the Ramsar list.