Nyheder – Latin America

Plastic ban in Guatemala: Guatemala has decided to ban plastic bags and a range of single-use disposable plastic products.

Green surplus in Costa Rica: Costa Rica produced more green energy in May than ever before and has therefore exported the excess green energy to other Central American countries.

Costa Rica has doubled rainforests: Since 1983, Costa Rica has more than doubled the area of its rainforests. Half the tropical nation’s economy is based on tourism.

Countries get rid of malaria: Argentina and Algeria have now been certified free from malaria, following several years without any new cases of the disease.

Belize triples protected sea areas: The small Central American country Belize triples the size of its protected marine areas. The expansion limits fishing and protects coral reefs.

Cities act on air pollution: Air pollution decreased in more than half of cities in Europe and in the Americas between 2010 and 2016.

Costa Rica to boost forests: Rainforest hotspot Costa Rica aims to increase forest cover from 52 % to 60 % in 2050 while becoming CO2 neutral.

Jaguars to be better protected: Countries and organisations have agreed to cooperate to protect the jaguar better. A string of 30 new nature reserves are planned to let the big cat roam.

Mexico builds big solar power plant: The installation will be the largest in Latin America with its 2.3 million panels. It is expected to power 1.3 million homes by the beginning of 2019.

Women push for end of violence: Following pressure from women’s rights organisations, the president of Costa Rica has signed a decree to decrease violence against women.

Chile to ban plastic bags: Chile presents a new law to ban the sale of plastic bags in the entire country. The ban is to come into force next year.

Amazonas gets human rights: Colombia now grants the Amazon rainforest the same rights as its citizens. This obliges the state to protect the forest, which is now under increasing pressure.

More jaguars in Mexico: The number of wild jaguars in Mexico has grown 20 percent in the past eight years. This is due to conservation efforts by the country’s national parks.

Paraguay eliminates malaria: Paraguay is the first country in the Americas in 45 years to wipe out malaria. The success is thanks to preventive measures and greater access to healthcare.

Brazil protects more sea: The Brazilian government has declared two huge new protected marine areas, to be a safe haven for endangered species such as sea turtles, sharks, and whales.

Cooperation gave land rights: Thanks to a Danish-Bolivian partnership, thousands of indigenous people have attained the legal rights to their own land, a new evaluation report shows.

More natural parks in Chile: Chile has established five new natural parks and expanded three existing ones. The new protected areas encompass more than 40,000 km2.

Brazil to plant new rainforest: The largest reforestation project in history aims to plant 73 million new trees in Brazil before 2023, as part of replanting 12 million hectares before 2030.

Latin countries ban child marriage: Several Central American countries have banned child marriage, including Honduras and Guatemala. Until 2012, around 29 percent of Latinas got married too early.

Protection for Easter Island sea: Chile has created a huge new marine protection area around Easter Island. The area is meant to protect many species, including 27 at risk of extinction.