Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Pine Beetle Emergency

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Feb 7 2005 (IPS) - The Honduran government is working hard to prevent the spread of the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) plague in the northeastern department of Olancho, Roberto Cabrera, of the state-run forest development agency COHDEFOR, told Tierramérica. For the past two weeks the authorities have maintained a state of ''forest emergency'' in the area because of this tree bark-destroying insect.

The hardest hit municipalities are San Estebán, Gualaco, Jano and Dulce Nombre de Culmí. Residents, the business community and local officials have launched an emergency plan to control the plague and save the pine forests that have not yet been harmed.

Olancho is one of the biggest departments in Honduras and for the past two years environmentalists and the local population have maintained an intense fight against illegal logging of their forests resources.