Mission Statement:
The mission of Central America Environmental and Historical Relief Organization, Inc. (CAEHRO) shall be the preservation and restoration of the natural resources and cultural heritage of Central America.

Problem Statement:
Address the deterioration and degradation of the natural environment and especially water resources in Central America by education and programs targeted to specific resource protection.

Objectives:
To identify endangered environmental and cultural resources, to create programs to educate the public, and to defend and protect those resources. Special emphasis is placed on identifying endangered water resources and forest habitats and bringing a local awareness to create a solution.

Program One:
Trujillo Natural History Museum and Environmental Center To purchase and to renovate an historic edifice in Trujillo, Honduras for the purpose of an environmental education center and natural history museum. Once a property is purchased and renovated as an environmental center and natural history museum, this program will simultaneously target the fast eroding forests and degrading water resources in the area around Trujillo and the north coast of Honduras. By the creation of a natural history museum/environmental education center through the renovation of an historic edifice in the almost-lost historic center of the small town, the museum edifice itself would serve the worthy purpose of being an historic renovation example. This improvement in an historic block in the center of town will educate as to the possibility of further historic renovation and bring about increased tourism in this town that was founded in 1525. Honduras, being one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere is now in the process of losing its forest resources. Trujillo, with increasing population pressure is having its water resources endangered by deforestation and ill conceived building on top of local streams. Although the government has created some local national parks, enforcement resources are small and local people continue to hunt the dwindling animals that remain in the parks. The Honduran tradition of allowing people to “claim” unused land by chopping down the forest and maintaining it in a “chopped” state has led to the coastal mountain range being almost denuded in the last twenty (20) years.

This project would create a small natural history museum/environmental education center that would educate the several thousand normal school students who come annually to Trujillo from all over the state of Colon, Honduras. Many students come from small villages in the Mosquitia. Exhibits would be created that show the richness and value of the local flora and fauna. Programs to discourage deforestation and to restore forests along streams and rivers would be devised. Cataloging of birds for tourist development would be undertaken. The museum could serve as a meeting point for environmental tourism and scientific exploration. Local historic assets would be cataloged, exhibited and scientific exploration of historic sites would be sponsored.

CAEHRO would own the facility and would work for and contribute towards the build-out of the museum/environmental center. It would be the goal CAEHRO, however, to seek from the national government of Honduras assistance in the staffing and day to day operation of the center.