The Cacique Lempira, Sen?or de las Montan?as biosphere reserve, Honduras

The Cacique Lempira, Sen?or de las Montan?as biosphere reserve. [Photo/UNESCO]

The Cacique Lempira, Sen?or de las Montan?as biosphere reserve is located in the western part of the country and covers a total area of 168,634 hectares. It forms part of the ecological region of pine and oak forests as well as humid tropical forests and hosts a large number of endangered and endemic species. The high rate of endemism among the wildlife has led Conservation International to designate the eco-region an Endemic Bird Area (EBA). The total population of the biosphere reserve is over 150 000 inhabitants. The predominant economic activity is traditional agriculture (87%), mainly mais and beans, with a steady increase in coffee production. Tourism is promoted in the city of Lempira, which receives local and international tourists in growing numbers.