Convert ESNACIFOR into UESNACIFOR 2014

This decree converts the National School of Forest Sciences (ESNACIFOR) into the University of Forest Sciences, elevating its status to offer higher education in forestry and related fields. The measure benefits students and forestry professionals, allowing the institution to access international funding, advanced research, and regional academic recognition to address environmental and climate challenges.

That the accelerated changes caused by population growth at the global level demand, on one hand, increasingly more natural resources to meet basic living needs among which forest resources and water stand out; and on the other hand the problem of high greenhouse gas emissions forces the search for sustainable management solutions of natural resources in such a way that they ensure the economic development of countries.

That the Country Vision Plan projects a goal of forest plantations of one million hectares over the next 28 years, in which period adequate management of the plantations is required, to develop the processes of transformation and negotiation of timber, as well as by-products, the change of the energy matrix and the need for comprehensive management of natural resources for poverty reduction and strengthen food security, likewise the Plan of Nation and Country Vision establishes developing or implementing environmental programs that contribute to the reduction of the greenhouse effect and mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

That it is of utmost importance to form and train highly qualified human resources in forest sciences, environmental and related fields that allow, within the framework of competitiveness, to face such challenges in order to generate employment options through technological innovations, seek greater efficiency in the execution of different tasks and above all create awareness about the pressing need for sustained use of forest ecosystems.

That education is an essential function of the State, which should be given without discrimination of any kind and that it is necessary that educational institutions be competitive, including state institutions, so that they can increase their academic offerings and their contribution to the socioeconomic development of the country.

That the nature of ESNACIFOR's activity is specialized in the forest, environmental and agroforestry field, and likewise that Honduras due to its topography and climatic and soil characteristics is of forest vocation.

That currently ESNACIFOR is coordinator of the national forest research system, protected areas and wildlife, SINFOR that brings together educational institutions and research centers responsible for generating knowledge in the field of forest sciences.

That ESNACIFOR with its current school status is limited to be recognized as a University within the Council of Higher Universities of Central America (CSUCA), depriving it of the benefits that remaining there implies.

That U-ESNACIFOR within its educational scope will require economic support provided by international and national development agencies with a view to strengthening applied research and technology transfer. For this reason it is necessary that the National Congress issue a Decree to convert ESNACIFOR into a Specialized University in the management of Natural Resources with Specialization in Forest, Environment and Renewable Energies topics.

That U-ESNACIFOR in accordance with its powers shall be responsible for formal education granting academic degrees of the level including technical and specialization studies and non-formal education developing free courses, conferences, seminars, workshops or others that contribute to scientific, humanistic and technological research creating educational spaces to serve the student body, facilitating the admission of students from areas with low human development index especially indigenous peoples fully identified with development regions and supported with the respective market studies.

That by means of Article 205 Attribution 1) it is the faculty of the National Congress to create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws.