Climate-Smart Villages as Local Innovation Platforms for Ecosystem-based Adaptation

Implemented in the Santa Rita and Olopa communities of Honduras and Guatemala, respectively, within the Central American Dry Corridor region, this project builds on the current evidence gleaned from Climate Smart Villages (CSV) on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), thus generating robust scientific evidence on ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) effectiveness. The project implements agricultural practices to recover agroecosystems using agroclimatic information, and improving the ecosystem services of agricultural production systems. Additionally, the project informs the formulation of public policies to strengthen the cross-sectoral implementation of the EbA approach. By combining participatory methodologies, effective dialogue between science and local knowledge, bridging the gap between policy-informing scales, and contributing to knowledge exchange through collaborative research, this project further showcases the benefits of EbA in agricultural settings.

Project Update

The project “Climate-Smart Villages as Local Innovation Platforms for Ecosystem-based Adaptation” was implemented in Olopa (Guatemala) and Santa Rita (Honduras), within the Central American Dry Corridor, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change. Its main objective was to strengthen the resilience of rural communities by integrating CSA and EbA approaches, promoting sustainable solutions to address climate variability and risks.

Funded by the Global EbA Fund and implemented in partnership with local organizations (ASORECH in Guatemala and CASM in Honduras), the initiative sought to reduce agroclimatic vulnerability through participatory research, community training, and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

Key achievements include:

• Strengthening local capacities to access and apply agroclimatic information for improved decision-making.
• Enhancing food security and crop diversification, leading to higher levels of self-sufficiency.
• Increased participation of women in productive and community decision-making processes, promoting gender equity.
• Improved agricultural productivity and resilience, with yield increases in coffee, maize and beans, better soil and water conservation, and greater agroecological diversification.
• Reduction of CO₂ emissions in production systems (up to 76% in maize in Honduras and 38% in coffee in Guatemala).
• Improved social cohesion and community capital, reducing vulnerability in human, social, and natural capital.

Policy recommendations derived from the project emphasize the need to:

1. Integrate and align EbA and CSA approaches within national and local programs.
2. Promote cost-effective, high-impact practices such as contour ditches, live barriers, agroforestry systems, and organic fertilization.
3. Facilitate accessible financing mechanisms and inclusive technical assistance.
4. Support continuous training with a strong focus on women and youth.
5. Mainstream findings into climate policies such as the National Climate Change Action Plans (NCCAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

In conclusion, the project demonstrates that CSV are effective models to enhance climate resilience and agri-food system sustainability in rural communities across Central America, with strong potential for replication and scaling in other vulnerable territories.

Project Achievements

• Capacity building: More than 80 training sessions were held for farmers, and over 100 professionals from 30 organizations were trained, including 27 graduates from a specialized diploma on innovative agricultural extension.
• Women’s participation: Female involvement was exceptionally high — 75% of participants in Santa Rita (Honduras) and 87% in Olopa (Guatemala).
• Crop productivity: In Honduras, the SEF 70 bean variety achieved yields of 2,742 kg/ha, approximately 340% higher than the national average.
• Emission reductions: Implementation of EbA/CSA practices reduced CO₂ emissions by up to 76% in maize (Honduras) and 38% in coffee systems (Guatemala).
• Food security and resilience: In Santa Rita, 75% of farming households reported improved food self-sufficiency due to on-farm production and adoption of practices such as agroforestry and water harvesting.

Project Status

Completed 4 December 2024