MEXICO CITY, Jan 6 (Tierramérica) - In an act of "typical corruption", according to environmentalists' complaints, Mexican officials gave the green light in late 2006 to two big real estate projects in areas bordering the Chamela-Cuixamala nature preserve, near the Pacific coast, in the western state of Jalisco.

The projects, which include hotels, golf courses and homes, "were approved under pressure and in violation of the laws and recommendations included in many studies," Alberto Székely, spokesman for the non-governmental Council for the Defense of the Pacific Coast, told Tierramérica.

Contrary to the opinion of other government agencies, the Environmental Impact Directorate approved the projects between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4, 2006. On Dec. 1, Felipe Calderón was sworn in as Mexico's president, replacing Vicente Fox.

"It was a typical last-minute move (when public interest was focused on other issues), with hints of corruption," said Székely.

Although the planned developments are outside the limits of the Chamela-Cuixamala park, which covers 13,142 hectares of tropical forest, lakes and marshes, they are within the giant polygon that the United Nations considers a global reserve zone.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 6 (Tierramérica) - In Brazil, the pupunha palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) produces 20 tons of oil per hectare, four times more than the African palm (Elaeis guineensis), the source of the oil that is second in terms of world consumption.

Lidio Coradin, coordinator of Genetic Resources at the Ministry of the Environment, told Tierramérica this information.

Cultivation of pupunha palm, found in the Amazon region and Central America, has been expanding to provide heart of palm, but not yet for its vegetable oil, which will be in growing demand to make biodiesel.

It is one of 775 native species with great economic potential identified by the Ministry, which will publish this information in five volumes, starting this year, in a bid to encourage their sustainable use.

The plants selected were the most promising for ornamental, medicinal, oil production or aromatic uses, among others, Coradin said.

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 6 (Tierramérica) - The government of Argentina published a law on Jan. 2 to promote the use of renewable energy sources, which envisages increasing their participation in the national electricity grid from one percent to eight percent over 10 years.

The law declares that generating wind, solar and geothermal power, among others, is "in the national interest", and promotes investment and research by means of tax incentives and subsidies for every kilowatt generated from alternatives to fossil fuels.

Juan Casavelos, coordinator of Greenpeace's energy campaign, told Tierramérica that this is a "very good sign" and that "any step that increases the share of renewable sources in the grid is of great value." However, he said the incentives should be larger.

According to Casavelos, a fund is needed to plan investments and make renewable energy supply more competitive.

BOGOTÁ, Jan 6 (Tierramérica) - The Colombian Institute for Rural Development (INCODER) is to undertake construction of the Triángulo de Tolima land development project (in the central province of the same name), with an investment of 150 million dollars.

Germán Molina, INCODER coordinator in Tolima province, told Tierramérica that this will be the biggest project of its kind in the country, after the southern irrigation district of Ranchería which is currently under construction.

The project will benefit some 45,000 people who live on 24,000 hectares in the south of the province that will be cultivable under irrigation. Eleven thousand of the beneficiaries are indigenous people, Molina added.

The Environment ministry awarded the environmental permit for the project to INCODER on Dec. 27. The Institute will be in charge of providing infrastructure, operation, maintenance, land preparation, sowing and irrigation.