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In mid 2008, we started gathering all the necessary information for receiving the environmental certificate, which Honduran institutions and enterprises are required to have. Already the first few clarifications made it clear that this was going to be a rather time-consuming and complicated issue. The certificates are – according to the size and nature of the institutions or enterprises – classified in category 1, 2 or 3. We were classified in the “midfield”, in category 2. However, before we could proceed to the certification, we had to meet a number of construction requirements and to additionally obtain the permits for our food shop, our kitchen and the stables as well as for our water reservoirs and our ground water wells for water use. These were all quite complicated and time consuming operations. Thanks to the unremitting commitment of our attorney Mario Chinchilla, an expert in environmental issues, we were able to receive all necessary permits, in a rather short lapse of time.
Hence, we could do the actual certification. 
According to Honduran legal requirements, wastewater has to be purified before it can be discharged into rivers and creeks. The purification has to be done with the help of wastewater treatment plants by the enterprises themselves. Now, there are still very few public clarification plants. Usually, wastewater is being discharged in an unpurified state into the rivers; and only larger enterprises and a small number of bigger villages have basic clarification plants. For us, setting up a wastewater treatment plant was not an issue: Due to the fact that in the school area and in the buildings, where our employees live, there are no flush toilets, construction of such a plant was not necessary for receiving the environmental certificate. We have been using composting toilets, with which we have had very positive experience, for many years. The small amount of wastewater we produce (hand washing, kitchen, etc.) is collected in a subterranean water tank and is then piped into a bog hole of our farm. A further tricky issue concerning the environmental certification was our farm: We had to build a bog hole with a capacity of 200 m3, in which all wastewaters of the stables as well as the animals’ excrement is temporarily be stored. This system enables us to regularly fertilize our fields with high-quality manure. On our birthday, on March 3, 2010, project leader Edi Fellmann personally received the environmental certificate from vice environment minister Mauricio Reconco. We are, therefore, – acting as a role model – one of the very few certified private organizations in Honduras! 
As for the future, we are planning to build a biogas plant for around 200 livestock units. The goal is to gain biogas from the manure. We would be very grateful for any help with the planning and of carrying out of this project. Financial audits
Anualmente contratamos un auditor independiente, reconocido, para verificar nuestra contabilidad.
Todos los fondos provenientes del Estado de Honduras (INFOP) están sometidas a otra auditoria contratado por el Estado. We are having audited our financial accounting each year by an independent and accredited firm. Furthermore, a second firm also audits all funds we receive from the government. Financial Audit Report 2009 
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