Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Local Governments Protect Environment

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TEGUCIGALA, Apr 28 2008 (IPS) - In Honduras, 102 of the country's 298 municipalities have joined an initiative for watershed preservation, reforestation and environmental education, say official sources. The National Program for Sustainable Development, under the Agriculture Secretariat, is carrying out the effort, and aims to protect some 6,700 square kilometers of forest in designated reserves.

Gilberto Guifarro, coordinator of the project, told Tierramérica that the initiative, begun two years ago, is to benefit around 213,000 people, whose local governments will launch educational and technical campaigns for forestry management and reforestation.

The Honduran national territory, covering 112,088 square kilometers, loses some 800 square kilometers of forested area per year, mostly pine and broad-leaf trees.