Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Military Engages in Operation Forest

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Feb 23 2009 (IPS) - The Honduran government announced that at month's end it will deploy a military contingent to protect 23,000 hectares of forest in the protected areas that are most in danger of fire in the dry season. The force involves 2,400 soldiers who underwent special training in the past two months for forest management and fire prevention.

Defense Minister Edmundo Orellana told Tierramérica that the operation aims to reduce forest loss and protect the densely forested zones.

In Honduras, there are an average of 2,500 forest fires per year, which cause losses related to water sources, climate, soil, air quality and flora and fauna, said Orellana.

Over the past four years, the armed forces have worked to protect the forest, spreading out to areas where the greatest number of uncontrolled fires have been reported.