Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Beetles Infest Forest

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Sep 29 2002 (IPS) - – A plague of pine beetles (Dentroctonus frontalis) attacked 18,000 hectares of forest in Honduras, causing 30 million dollars in losses over the last three years, reports the Honduran Forest Development Corporation. The infestation began in 1999 and since then 12,000 outbreaks have been recorded throughout the country. The beetle, known here as 'gorgojo', eats away at tree bark — mostly pine — and has damaged natural habitat for other species, altering biological diversity, say scientists.

In the last few years the beetle has destroyed 40,000 hectares of forests in nearby Belize and 35,000 hectares in neighboring Nicaragua.