TEGUCIGALPA - Belize, Guatemala and Honduras are to carry forward a joint program to halt the dumping of garbage and other pollutants in the western Gulf of Honduras, on the Atlantic Ocean.

The eight-million-dollar plan, financed by the Inter-American Development Bank, will be launched in mid-2003.

The project aims to be financially self-sustaining, with revenues to come from granting recycling concessions, imposing fines on ships violating environmental rules, and collecting tariffs from the private sector for using port services.

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican and U.S. governments have saved the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) from extinction, ironically, after having intentionally tried to get rid of this species. In the past 15 years, the population of this unique wolf has grown from fewer than 50 to more than 206.

Beginning Dec 10, the image of the gray wolf is the symbol of a campaign led by the Mexican government and the non-governmental Asociación Naturalia to raise funds to aid in the rescue of endangered species.

In the 1950s, health authorities from the United States and Mexico carried out an initiative to poison the wolves with the argument that they were attacking and killing livestock. But in 1975, after having killed more than 8,000 wolves, the two governments changed their stance and began a program to reinstate the species.

The 206 wolves, which live in zoos, will ultimately be returned to their habitat, though a date has not yet been set.

BOGOTA - Environmental officials in Colombia released some 300 sea turtles -- most of the carey species -- along the country's northern Caribbean coast as part of an effort to boost the turtle population, which is threatened by human activities.

Last week, the turtles were set free in their natural habitat in the waters of the Islas del Rosario by experts from the national parks division of the Environment Ministry.

"Blas", named for a local resident who had adopted him, was the oldest turtle to be released. He had spent the last 25 years in a tank on one of the Rosario islands.

BUENOS AIRES - Travelers will be able to make the trip to Antarctica on commercial flights beginning January 7, departing from the southern Argentine city of Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego province.

Until now, the only flights to the frozen continent were made by military aircraft, while tourists, mostly from other countries, made the trip by cruise ship, also departing from Ushuaia.

The state-run airline LADE has partnered with tourist operator Aerored to carry passengers aboard Hercules C-130 airplanes, which have only been used to transport cargo and military personnel.

There will be two flights per week at a price of 630 dollars per person -- roundtrip, of course.