Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Women Learn Forest Management

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TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 7 2009 (IPS) - Over the past five years, some 11,000 women from western Honduras have learned forest management techniques to undertake community forestry and to diversify small farming operations, utilizing environmentally friendly methods. The initiative is among those of the National Program for Local Development (Pronadel), which in a half-decade has brought 30,000 families into productive and ecological projects for farm and small business management, environmental protections, community forestry and others.

Xiomara Barcenas, of the Farm and Livestock Secretariat (ministry), told Tierramérica that Pronadel received cooperation from Europe and has focused its efforts on the western and primarily indigenous regions of La Paz, Lempira and Intibucá.

Some 1,544 rural communities have benefited over the past five years, said Barcenas.