Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Ecologists Stop Construction on Reserve

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Jun 13 2005 (IPS) - A group of Honduran ecologists has convinced the government to revoke an environmental permit to build houses in the mountains of La Tigra national park, an important area for water and forest resources surrounding the capital. Mauricio Velasco, of the Friends of La Tigra Association (Amitigra), told Tierramérica his group found ''irregularities in the environmental permits and concessions'' granted to the company Jamar Comercial Industrial, which was to build the homes.

In the four-month campaign, the activists faced ''many pressures and had to fight impunity,'' but the final results guarantee the protection of natural resources, he said.

The Environmental Secretariat and the Environmental Prosecutor's Office had authorized construction in the heart of La Tigra, in violation of existing law. On June 6, Environment Minister Patricia Panting admitted there was an error in the proceedings, and revoked the permit.