Source: La Prensa (Honduras)
- In order to prevent environmental crimes, such as deforestation and species trafficking in the area of Gracias a Dios, and given the lack of institutional presence, the authorities of the Environmental Cabinet installed the Inter-institutional Control Post in the area of Krausirpi, in the Tawahka-Asangni Biosphere Reserve.
The project, initially valued at 1.6 million lempiras, was carried out thanks to the collaboration between the Forest Conservation Institute (ICF), the Conservation Society (WCS), the Armed Forces and financial support from the European Union (EU).
The checkpoint was applauded a few days ago by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who posted on his social networks about the importance of preserving the reserve's ecosystems. Di Caprio, who is a WCS contributor, noted that "The new checkpoint will help protect the Tawahka and Miskitu indigenous communities from land grabbing, deforestation and violence driven by illegal ranchers".
Other posts
ICF authorities are seeking funds to replicate the project in other areas next year. Luis Edgardo Soliz, director of the Institute, said that they intend to install other posts in the northern zone of Gracias a Dios, one in the municipality of Dulce Nombre de Culmí and in a protected area in the north of the country.
"We realized that the biggest problem of deforestation and the deterioration of natural resources in that area is due to the lack of governance; there was no government institution there. That is why when we sat down to sign the letter of agreement withWCS, we asked to have an inter-institutional control point against logging and environmental crime."
The control post will be managed with support of ICF personnel, who will carry out operations to immediately prevent environmental crime from being committed, the director said. This year, through the actions that began to be carried out the area has managed to reduce deforestation by 48%, he announced.
Source: La Prensa (Honduras)