Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Biosphere Destruction Denounced

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Feb 9 2009 (IPS) - Humanitarian and environmental groups have reported the continued logging in the Honduran biosphere reserve of the Plátano River, where clandestine sawmills operate. The organization Global Witness sounded the alarm in a report, and called on the government to step up monitoring in the area of the reserve, which is a global heritage of humanity site.

Ramón Custodio, the Honduran human rights ombudsman, told Tierramérica that the destruction of the biosphere affects the habitat of 586 plant species and 400 animal species. An estimated 100 hectares are deforested each day.

Luis Cardona, of the Forest Conservation Institute, told Tierramérica that the destruction is also due to the expansion of pastures for livestock.