The stretch of road intended to facilitate trade between Honduras and El Salvador is not expected to harm the endemic species the Honduran emerald hummingbird (Amazilia luciae) or the spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura melanosterna) as environmentalists had feared it would. The construction company was able to design options in the route so that would not hurt the wildlife or the tropical dry forest of the northern department of Yoro, according to Lester Lozano, of the non-governmental Olancho Regional Environmental Education Center.

Lozano said it was not an easy battle, but “finally the authorities understood, and now have set aside resources to protect unique and endangered species, as well as preserving the tropical dry forest, where there is also flora with unique characteristics.”