River transition: a Costa Rica and Honduras comparative analysis of water quality and community management stages in river basins

This article explores the potential existence of a conceptual “River Transition Curve” model in water quality and community-based river management, using Costa Rica and Honduras as case studies. It draws parallels to the well-established Forest Transition Curve, which describes how forest cover changes over socio-economic development stages: initial deforestation, stabilization, and eventual reforestation. It is proposed that a similar pattern may exist for rivers, linking water quality and rive