0 soaiNamd.v.August Environment



Honduras is rich in cultural heritage
Continuing our focus on Hon try. With a Gross National Product of
durs, this week we'll explore the r im Ha i $3 billion, the crop and livestock
opamic ad cullanlspectsof its iW Fsotmew, Hodsl s industry plviemployent for 46
toanl foundation necesry to country's second-buicg trade is
According to some economists encourage foreign investors. One public administration, which
Honduras is oae of the poorest ample is te industry free include the armd forces. Th
counusis ia la Amei, withB i whe raw maten a ad goods m ar ed fon s al ecmplys.20 pe
unemployment e cloe to 50 per- allowed to be imported without adof spopl s 20
rt inwlk fo e Anolhl I& e iten-1 ftepopulation.


The uitio i, wmat doe being
poor man? Is poverty measured by
lack of mteril things or Mlc of
economic security? Oflm time, we
judge a country based on ignorace
ianstadoffW1.
One thing It struck me while in
Hondras is the mff iou sHou-
dmras haveof their hisiy and cul
ture. Their emphasis on culture is
allr found. You c set it on build-
ings, woodworking, T-shirts, and
other products They may be a poor
people to te standards of the west-
Sworld, bt these people have a
rich culture, a heritage that goes
back moretha a thousand years.
The Mi sfto people, for imtac,
live in the Mosquitia region in
nothasten oast ofoduras. A
dark-skinned people, Miskito are
believed to be a mixed of lndians
and Mck Chib themselves a mix-
tme of Afican and Carib Indians.
Another group that inhabits the
region, he Paya people, live in deo
interior egios ofMosqnia. Other
people in this region are the Pech
andTawabhk


many in me region are forest
people, whose customs, skills and
knowledge are fascinating. They
earn their livelihood as hunters,
gatherers, fishermen, and small-
scale farmers. From their environ-
met they get mew, mecdicie, and
shher.
The Mestizo a mixture of Span-
ish and Indian heritage, make up
about 90 pe of the popton.
Then, we have the native Indians,
who comprise about 7 percent of
the population.
The Garifna people, who make
up about 25 pecet of the pop-
tion, preserve e heritage of their
African and Caib ancesors. They
were imported to the island of
Rontan from the Caribean island
of S Vmincent in 1797. Today, the
Garifmua live on the northern coast
of Hooduras. They still speak their
native Aican language as well as
English and Spanish.
Great cotooasts exist n Hooddms
betwea those who have much and
those who have little. Yet, one most
understand that Honduras is
young, growing democratic conn-


trial p sing zone, which grants
fsal benefits to foei companies
a wel as domestic businesses as
long ascetaincooditios aremet.
The county plans to improve its
economic outlook by diversifying
its industries. t is enoraging the
development of light industry dedi-
cated to the finishing of various
products that ae exported to the
United States ad other countries. I
is also giving preference to work
doe in gh value woods, gricu.-
tuoe ad theexporttion of ontradi
ti products.
Up till now, the tradiional How
dins economy has generated rev.
emes through the export of offee,
shrimp baa, lobsters and min
erais such as zinc and lead. The
main products are bananas, corn,
dry beoa, melon, sugacane, cotl
tonsorgum, tobacco, cattle and
coffee. Other trades include
fosty, fishing. hntig. mamc-
, services, transport and om-
munications. The country's major
makes re the US, which buys 54
percent of its export products then
Germany, Japn, Belgium and Italy.


The third employment sector,
includes the production of sugar,
beer and came. Of the country's
territory, 29 percent is covered by
forests, 22 percent by pastures and
16 percent is land.
Hodurasimpotschmicalspl
tic products, resins, transportation
machinery, eouipmeat, mineral and
fucls. The major suppliers to Hon.
duras are the U.S., Mexico, Japan,
Venezuela and other countries
Hoadms lotim industry gene-
ates more than $30 million annal-
ly. Tourism is one of the fastest
growing industries outside the
industrial zone and is expected to
increase.
Aid from the U.S. also forms a
large pan of the Honduras econo
my. In 1993, the U.S. earmarked
$43.5 million, of which over half
goes to developmental projects
5 percent goes to the military.
Olasee Doavi, hold a mas
o science degree in range man-
agemen a forestry ecoloy, is a
St. Croix ecologist, activist and
witr.