Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Greater Local Autonomy for Environmental Management

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Feb 21 2011 (IPS) - Honduras will promote the autonomy of local governments in environmental management, putting administrative tasks in their hands, like authorizing minor construction permits and charging specific taxes. The project will begin with eight municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, with the rest following as the process develops, according to Carlos Bendeck, president of the Honduran Association of Municipalities, and signatory of the agreement with the national government.

The municipality of Puerto Cortés, in the northwestern department of Cortés, will be the first given autonomy for environmental management, creating the Municipal Environmental Unit, which can authorize the first construction permits under the program.

Until now, that task was up to the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment, and often has meant delays, Bendeck said.