VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTG #0155/01 0531239
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221239Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7693
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD WASHDC

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000155 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/EPSC, AND OES/ENV. 
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE 
INTERIOR FOR USGS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EAGR ECON HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN FORESTRY UNDER PRESSURE 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Despite moderate progress recently, the 
Honduran deforestation rate has remained steady at about 2-3 
percent a year, according to informed sources.  Honduras lost 
about 37 percent of its forests from 1990 to 2005.  Though a 
new forestry law will offer additional  protection for 
already protected areas, it most likely will only keep 
deforestation from worsening.  Few expect the Honduran forest 
situation to improve significantly over the long term.  End 
summary. 
 
---------------------- 
A Junket to the Jungle 
---------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) In early February, Econoff accompanied President 
Zelaya, much of his cabinet, members of the diplomatic  corps 
and other notables to the Rio Platano Biosphere  Reserve in a 
remote area of Olancho Department in Eastern  Honduras.  The 
purpose of the trip was to showcase GOH  efforts to protect 
the forest as well as the skills of the  Honduran Armed 
Forces, who provided logistics support. 
 
---------------------------- 
State of Forests in Honduras 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Honduras has the most intact tropical forests in 
Central America, thanks primarily to their  inaccessibility. 
Over 75 percent of Honduras is or was forest, primarily pine. 
 Tropical woods such as mahogany  and cedar are prevalent in 
protected areas.  According to various GOH and NGO sources, 
population growth, poverty and lack of planning have 
contributed to deforestation of between two and three percent 
a year over the past few decades.  According to Honduran 
Forestry Service (COHDEFOR)  Director, Ramon Alvarez, who 
worked 20 years for USAID,  burning of wood for fuel is the 
primary cause of  deforestation.  Over half of Honduras's 
total energy demand is met by firewood.  One well respected 
forest group  conducted a study that revealed the average 
rural family cuts down and consumes 30 trees a year for fuel. 
 The second largest cause of deforestation is clearing land 
for agriculture, followed by logging for lumber to build 
houses and furniture.  As neither fuel wood consumption nor 
clearing land require logs to be transported over a 
significant distance, these activities are hard to prevent 
within protected areas. 
 
¶4. (U) Alvarez said that under President Zelaya the number of 
COHDEFOR employees had been reduced from 800 to 350.  This 
reduction in COHDEFOR staff has been partially offset by the 
use of Honduran military to patrol forests since 2006.  This 
tactic has had mixed results - while NGO  representatives 
assert the military must patrol with  "closed eyes," they 
acknowledge that the military presence has deterred some of 
the less politically connected from engaging in illegal 
forest product trade. All agree COHDEFOR is under-funded and 
under-staffed.  Few people involved in the transport of 
illegal lumber are prosecuted, and virtually none of the "big 
fish" have been brought to  justice. 
 
¶5. (SBU) (Note:  A trustworthy NGO told PolCouns that we 
could see a groundbreaking criminal suit against some of the 
more politically connected illegal loggers as early as March 
2008, so their impunity may be threatened for the first time. 
 End Note.) 
 
¶6. (U) On the positive side, authorities recently  adopted a 
new certificate for legal timber that is harder to 
counterfeit.  GOH, NGO and other sources confirm the  price 
of wood has increased significantly in recent years,  a 
signal of scarcity that may lead to more concerted protective 
efforts. 
 
----------------------------- 
Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve covers 525,000 
hectares -- roughly seven percent of the national territory. 
It comprises a central zone and a less protected buffer area, 
which has seen some encroachment.  Holger Afflerbach from the 
German Technical Cooperation agency (GTZ) said the reserve 
was losing 10 hectares of  forest a day.  In 2007 the United 
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
(UNESCO) removed the  Rio Platano reserve from the list of 
endangered World  Heritage sites, based on actions the GOH 
has taken to reduce pressure on the biosphere.  Those actions 
include enlarging the buffer zone in 1997, several current 
and future forest management projects, and significant GTZ 
involvement, including over USD 6 million in funding. 
 
---------------- 
New Forestry Law 
---------------- 
 
¶8. (U) President Zelaya signed a new forestry law February 
14 that, among other things, makes environmental damage to 
forests a crime and elevates COHDEFOR to ministerial  status, 
although it will still technically be part of the  Ministry 
of Agriculture.  Agriculture Minister Hector  Hernandez told 
EconOff implementing regulations for the new law were 
expected within six months.  Afflerbach of GTZ said the new 
law was a significant, positive step for the protected areas, 
strengthening enforcement and clarifying important 
administrative details.  Some environmental groups feel the 
law does not go far enough.  They say it continues to favor 
land use over land conservation in the non-protected areas 
and emphasizes private property and investment rights over 
the benefits forests provide to the  public, such as clean 
air and water.  Nonetheless this is the first new forestry 
law in 35 years and suggests that despite resource 
constraints Zelaya is making an effort to protect the forests. 
 
------------------------------ 
Comment: What the Future Holds 
------------------------------ 
 
¶9. (SBU) By encouraging the new forestry law, directing the 
military to assist in protecting the forests, and inviting 
his cabinet and the foreign diplomatic corps to visit the 
biosphere, President Zelaya has taken positive action to 
combat deforestation.  Virtually all sources, including 
NGOs, tell us they believe Zelaya cares about the 
environment.  On the other hand, many participants in the 
excursion to the biosphere felt that the trip was mainly for 
show, especially given the large number of invited media, and 
that the visit would not lead to improved forest  protection. 
 NGOs and even private businesses are more involved than the 
GOH in many day to day environmental activities, such as 
finding green energy solutions, removing squatters from 
protected land, finding them alternate employment, monitoring 
forests, and providing financial assistance.  Perhaps the 
best option for protecting the forests is regulated 
commercial harvesting and replanting of trees.  Agroforestry 
in Honduras is still a relatively unexploited resource.  With 
an appropriate emphasis on access controls, permits and 
replanting, those who make their living from the forests 
could both prosper financially and protect their future 
livelihood.  For this to happen, additional laws will be 
required to address the non-protected forest areas of 
Honduras.  End comment. 
 
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