Ecobreves – HONDURAS: 900 Eco-Crimes Denounced

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Jul 14 2003 (IPS) - The Honduran Environmental Prosecutor's Office recorded 900 reports of environmental crimes committed in the past year in the capital and in three other cities. At least 300 of the alleged crimes — which occurred along the northern coast in San Pedro Sula, and in the southern Choluteca and northeastern Catacamas — are being investigated to be passed on to the courts, environmental prosecutor Clarissa Vega told Tierramérica.

Most of the denunciations are related to contamination, illegal logging, abuse of authority, fires and harm to wildlife.

Some 35 people are behind bars for setting fires or illegal logging, and the authorities have seized 1,650 wild animals, victims of trafficking, says Vega.