Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Forestry Law in Limbo

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Mar 31 2008 (IPS) - The Honduran Forestry Law is adrift because the creation of the forestry conservation institute — which would apply the law — has yet to be defined. It would replace the governmental agency Honduran Corporation of Forest Development. This according to a Tierramérica conversation with environmentalist Rigoberto Sandoval, one of the promoters of the law passed in late 2007.

Roberto Micheletti, president of Congress, told Tierramérica that a follow-up commissions had been created and is linked with the Executive branch to set up the new forestry institution, “because, if not, we will have passed a law that will become dead letter.”

The Forestry Law defines the mechanisms for regulation, exploitation and monitoring of Honduras's devastated forests, with a strong component of citizen participation through community forest networks.