Drug trafficking is speeding deforestation in Central America

A new report says that drug smuggling in Central America is rapidly increasing rates of deforestation.

A deforested region in Honduras where drug traffickers are said to operate

Remote forests in Honduras and Guatemala are being cut down to facilitate landing strips for the transportation of narcotics.The scientists believe the influx of drug cash encourages ranchers, timber traffickers and oil palm growers to expand their activities.The research has been published in the journal Science.Drugs have been smuggled through Central America for decades, with marijuana and cocaine from countries like Colombia heading for lucrative markets in major US cities.But according to the researchers, the importance of the area as a route for trafficking has increased significantly over the past seven years after a crackdown on the narcotics trade in Mexico.This prompted drug traders to move their operations into more remote areas in countries like Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

Narco effect

The move has seen a rapid increase in the amount of land cleared for forest.In Honduras, the level of large-scale deforestation per year more than quadrupled between 2007 and 2011, at the same time as cocaine movements in the country also showed a significant rise."A baseline deforestation rate in this region was 20 sq km per year," said lead author Dr Kendra McSweeney from Ohio State University."Under the narco-effect, we see over 60 sq km per year. In some parts of Guatemala, the rates are even higher. We're talking up to 10% deforestation rates, which is just staggering."The problems caused by the narcotics trade usually commence with the building of clandestine roads and airstrips in remote forests.The number of drug-related landing strips prompted Unesco to declare the Rio Platano biosphere reserve in Honduras a "world heritage in danger," in 2011.In both Honduras and Guatemala, these forested areas are often poorly governed. With the influx of new cash and weapons, local ranchers, oil-palm growers and land speculators are emboldened to greatly expand their activities.Conservation groups are threatened and state prosecutors are bribed to look the other way,saysthe report.

 

     The number of larger than expected forest clearings in eastern Honduras, indicating a connection to drug                                                                               trafficking

Laundering profitsThe local indigenous populations are often too frightened to speak outFrom BBC News- Sci/EnvironmentREAD THE WHOLE ARTICLE