Ecobreves – CENTRAL AMERICA:: Green Troops

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SAN JOSE, Jul 7 2002 (IPS) - In the countries of Central America, 170,000 police and military troops will receive training to protect natural resources and nature preserves in the region. Their education covers agricultural, forestry and ecological matters and is part of the Central American Environmental Defense Program of the Meso-American Biological Corridor (CBM), a plan encompassing the countries of the isthmus and southern Mexico.

The Tropical Agronomy Research and Teaching Center is in charge of the effort, in collaboration with the environment ministries of the Central American countries, to train 35 officers and 240 soldiers and police, who will then go on to teach the rest of the security personnel.

The Center will also serve as advisor for eight military and two police academies in the region.