Camp Bay Crisis Discussion Group led by ARC+ Unites Conservation Leaders, Locals, and Institutions

The community meeting opened with introductions from ARC+. It included the following guest speakers:

• Jericca Warren from Alliance of Regional Communications (ARC+)

• Martha Medrano, from the Institute of Forest Conservation (ICF)

• Bessy Aspra, Executive Director of the Roatan Marine Park (RMP)

• Giselle Brady, from the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA)

• Matthew Harper from the Bay Islands Historical and Cultural Preservation Society (BIHCPS)

  
  

This set the tone for what would become one of the most candid public discussions in recent months. Early in the session, Mr. Matthew Harper took the floor to read a written statement from Mary Mason Monterosso, who has been an active agent and figure on Roatan for almost 35 years.

The statement reads as follows:

"You cannot have an honest discussion without including the impact of our two municipals. It is imperative that our elected officials understand the burden & responsibility, that comes with their office, to protect our Islands’ greatest asset: The Reef. They must accept their Stewardship role and be our strongest environmental advocates whether they are approving a project & building plans, issuing permits or undertaking community public works. Our municipals have a very broad jurisdiction and Honduras has some very progressive environmental laws but they must be enforced. Quite simply, we are only as strong or weak as our municipal is.

I have been a realtor for nearly 35 yrs. I’ve witnessed large sustainable developments follow the rules and profit from their investments. Lawson Rock, Palmetto Bay and Parrot Tree all developments over 100 acres. None of these beautiful projects did excessive bulldozing. They did only minimum scraping of interior roads. Sadly, the new trend is to carve out hillsides to build rather than build according to the natural topography. Properties are also being 100% bulldozed & deforested before project or building plans are submitted and approved. Again this is being allowed by the two municipals".

After the reading, the meeting shifted into a detailed explanation of who RMP and BICA are, what they do, and—most importantly—what they legally cannot do. This part of the conversation was led mainly by Bessy, who represents the RMP, and Giselle who represents BICA. Both women addressed the question surrounding misinformation circulating on social media, where many residents and observers have questioned why these organizations don’t “stop” developers, shut down construction, or physically intervene in cases of environmental damage.

They clarified that RMP and BICA are conservation NGOs, meaning their roles revolve around education, monitoring, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. They are not governing authorities. They cannot issue stop-work orders, sanctions, or penalties. They cannot walk onto a project site and shut it down. Their power lies in documenting concerns, guiding the community, and acting as channels to relay verified complaints to the institutions that do have legal authority. In this case, the governing institution is the ICF (Instituto de Conservación Forestal).

To help the public understand why the ICF’s response can seem limited, Martha, explained the legal framework surrounding Roatan. Under the Ley del Fomento al Turismo, the island is designated as urban zone. That classification significantly restricts how much the ICF can intervene because its mandate is tied to the protection and conservation of forests and natural areas—not urban development. So while the ICF is technically an authority, its hands are partially tied.

Because of that legal limitation, the institution with the most direct authority to regulate development, issue permits, enforce compliance, or take action against violations is the municipal government. This is why community members continually emphasize that municipalities must step up, communicate clearly, and uphold environmental protections.

Bessy also explained what actually happens when mud reaches the sea. Once heavy rains wash loose soil from a cleared hillside, that sediment travels with the current until it settles directly on the coral reef. When the particles land on live coral, they form a layer that blocks the sunlight the coral needs for photosynthesis. Without light, the symbiotic algae inside the coral—its main source of energy—can’t function, and the coral begins to suffocate. If the sediment load is heavy or persistent, the coral dies. This is why hillside clearing without proper controls is one of the most destructive actions a developer can take near the ocean.

After the livestreamed discussion ended, a new development took place: an engineer—someone native to the island—reached out to ARC+. This engineer has been handed responsibility by Scott, the developer, to lead the reforestation plan for the Camp Bay site. He requested a meeting that would include ICF, BICA, RMP, ARC+, and the Bay Islands Preservation Society, aiming to determine the most effective strategy to replant and restore the areas that were cleared.

It’s an important step toward accountability, but, as everyone noted, it does not undo the damage. The coral is already dead, and once coral dies, there is no true reversal. Replanting helps future recovery, but the loss itself is permanent. This is part of why local communities have been so vocal; they see these impacts firsthand and understand how long restoration takes—and how often it never fully returns to what it once was.

The legal process is also moving forward. The case has been officially transferred to the Procuraduría General de la República (PGR)—the equivalent of the Attorney General’s Office in English. Fines will be imposed, and the case will now follow the administrative and legal steps required under Honduran law. Updates will be shared as the process advances.

The meeting wrapped up with a message from Bessy, who reminded everyone that, while accountability matters, this is not the moment for internal fighting or finger-pointing among island residents. Instead, she encouraged the community to come together, organize, and volunteer in the restoration efforts. Her closing message emphasized unity, collaboration, and the need for Roatan’s community organizations, environmental groups, and residents to support one another as they navigate the next steps.

As the story develops and ideas are taken into action, ARC+ is committed to informing the public every step of the way through social media posts and website articles.