Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Biosphere Could Lose Its Title

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Apr 14 2003 (IPS) - The biosphere reserve of the Plátano River, in northeast Honduras, could lose its “heritage of humanity” status, granted by the United Nations, due to the environmental deterioration of the area, official sources told Tierramérica. The director of the state-run Honduran Forest Development Corporation (COHDEFOR), Gustavo Morales, said the lack of government policies aimed at true protection of natural resources leaves the biosphere vulnerable, “and is on the verge of losing its heritage of humanity title.”

The U.N. gave the Plátano River biosphere the designation in 1980 because it holds important populations of endangered flora and fauna. A U.N. delegation is to visit Honduras at mid-year to evaluate the reserve.