SANTIAGO - Chilean officials have implemented a 30-year ban on the hunting and trapping of wild mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds in the central area of Santiago Andino, one of the 25 sites worldwide for which the World Bank is urging protection of biodiversity.

The rivers and lakes of Santiago Andino are important for the life and reproduction of numerous aquatic species near Santiago, and is also a stop for many migratory birds.

The hunting and capture of several species that has been permitted until now, and the destruction of ecosystems have played a role in the reduction of wild animal populations. Bans were already in place against hunting condors, chilla fox, 'cortacorrientes' ducks and ringdoves.
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CARACAS - Municipal authorities, businesses, museums and even religious communities of Caracas have agreed to clean up and improve Los Caobos Park, a 22-hectare area serving as an important "lung" for the Venezuelan capital.

Caracas mayor Alfredo Peña, of the opposition, and Libertador district mayor Freddy Bernal, of the ruling party, have teamed up to entrust 700 workers organized in 32 cooperatives with cutting and trimming trees and cleaning up monuments so that the park can host the upcoming Caracas Book Fair.

Also participating in the effort are the nearby museums of Science and of Fine arts and the National Art Gallery, as well as theaters and hotels, and even the Jewish and Muslim communities, as a synagogue and a mosque are located next to Los Caobos Park.

RIO DE JANEIRO - A DNA vaccine against dengue type 2 was successful in tests using mice in experiments conducted by the Rio-based Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.

This is the first step toward finding a weapon against this serious epidemic, but the final product for humans could be 10 years away, says Ada Barcelos Alves, coordinator of the study.

To be effective, the vaccine must immunize the individual against the four types of dengue virus known to exist, she explained.

The process for obtaining the DNA vaccine entails isolated genes from the microorganism that causes the disease and transferring the genetic information that will activate the human organism's immune system. Tests will be conducted using monkeys, and in the final step, humans.

HAVANA - Two sugar mills in the southeastern province of Guantánamo dumped industrial waste into the Guaso River, causing serious ecological damage and economic losses for the region.

The contamination poisoned thousands of fish and meant that potable water services were cut off for some 55,000 residents, two hospitals and two schools.

The Argelio Martínez agro-industrial complex, which also has a distillery and a rum factory, spilled waste in the Guaso River on Feb 10.

Shortly after, residue from El Salvador sugar mill was dumped into the waters of the Bano River, which flows into the Guaso. The Guantánamo-Guaso basin, covering 2,347 square km is home to 410,000 people.

MANAGUA - Eight new mollusk species have been identified after 11 years of research by two experts at the Central American University's school of science, technology and environment.

The discoveries were included in the latest edition of the "Atlas of Pacific Mollusks of Nicaragua", published by scientists Mijaíl Pérez and Adolfo López.

The atlas, in Spanish and English, will be officially presented this week. It holds data on 88 continental mollusk species. The new findings were reported to international science centers.

Four sample-gathering missions took place from 1994 to 1998 to compile and study the biological material included in the book, such as mollusk type and description, habitat and geographic extension.

TEGUCIGALPA - Environmental groups from Honduras and abroad are lobbying the national Congress to declare the northern bay of Cayos Cochinos, on the Caribbean coast, a natural marine monument.

The initiative seeks to protect the area's species, including the pink boa snake, a reptile that is otherwise on the way to extinction.

The bay, formed by eleven small islets, or keys, is part of the reef system included in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, and holds a research station were experts study the species that inhabit the area.

The environmental groups "urge the protection of the zone's biological wealth," the promotion of eco-tourism and scientific research, says Adrián Oviedo, executive director of the Cayos Cochinos Foundation.

Oviedo accompanied a delegation of parliamentarians Feb 22-23 on a visit to Cayos Cochinos aimed at raising awareness of the marine area's value.

SAN SALVADOR - The project to establish a customs union in Central America could open borders to harmful pesticides, undermining efforts to reduce their use in the region, warn environmental activists of El Salvador.

The customs union project emerged from an accord between El Salvador and Guatemala, and Honduras and Costa Rica joined later, with the aim of entering into force Jan 1, 2004.

The Salvadoran Ecological Unit, a network of environmental groups, universities and civil society organizations, says the free trade agreement implies a threat that the restrictions and bans on highly toxic pesticides will be evaded.

The network is urging the ministers of agriculture, health and environment from Central America to take up the matter during their meeting slated for October in San José, Costa Rica.