Alex's story
“Together we can preserve Honduran forests.”
Alex Melendez, deputy mayor of Campamento, feels he is keeping his side of the bargain in doing all he can to reduce illegal logging in his part of Honduras. Now he wants European consumers to play their part.
By his own admission the Campemento Council used to rely on wood for 35% of its income. “Today that figure is 0%,” he says proudly.
A combination of measures, from better tax collection leading to better council services so people cut down fewer trees, to networks of community consultative committees through which local people manage their own environment in partnership with the council, have meant that this part of Olancho is less popular with the illegal loggers.
“The forests here no longer have to be sold in order for people to survive,” he explains. “It is important that Members of the European Parliament understand that together we can work to preserve our forests. We must ensure efficient management of our exports of wood, but we must also stop the demand for illegal wood.
“We have made much progress in Campamento on illegal logging and want to become a model for the rest of Honduras.”
Photo: Alex Melendez, deputy mayor of Campamento, Olancho, Honduras (photo © Omar Banegas/Progressio)
