Hi list,

The following link provides a preprint of "Seismic Hazard of Honduras"
by Diego Caceres and Ota Kulhanek.

cheers,

Rob Rogers
Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin
4412 Spicewood Springs Road, Building 600, Austin, TX  78759-8500
office: (512) 232-3207  fax: (512) 471-8844
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/honduras/index.html
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/caribbean/carib.links.htm


Diego Cáceres wrote:
>
> Hello Robert;
>
> After the last earthquakes in Honduras I came to think about my still "in
> construction" homepage and put a new link to the paper in Seismic Hazard of
> Honduras. The paper is going to be published in the next issues of the
> journal "Natural Hazards". The page in my web-site is :
>
> http://www.geofys.uu.se/~dca/hazardmaps.html
>
> Perhaps the paper can be useful. Please, If you have time, try to cheque it
> out..
>
> Regards
>
> Diego


________________________________________________________________________
Diego Caceres                           Phone:  +46-(0)18-471-1473
Uppsala University                      Fax:    +46-(0)18-50 11 10
Earth Sciences Department               e-mail: dca@...
Villavaegen 16                          URL: http://www.geofys.uu.se/~dca
S-752 36 Uppsala
Sweden
________________________________________________________________________

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HONDURAS GEOLOGY Website has moved to:
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/honduras/index.html

at the Institute for Geophysics, The University of Texas at Austin
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/


Rob Rogers, host
Honduras Geology

Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin
4412 Spicewood Springs Road, Building 600, Austin, TX  78759-8500
office: (512) 232-3207    fax: (512) 471-8844
rrogers@...

Rob Rogers is away from the office but can be contacted at
krautara@... until June 30, 1999.  After this date, use only
the rrogers@... email address.  Note: I will not access
my utexas.edu email until after July 8, 1999.

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Emilio Mayorga wrote:
>
> SITIO CENTROAMERICANO ECOLÓGICO-AMBIENTAL
> A continuación el anuncio en español.
>
> CENTRAL AMERICAN ECOLOGICAL-ENVIRONMENTAL SITE
> Please see below for the English announcement.
>
> ******* ESPAÑOL ***************
>
> Anunciamos la creación de un nuevo sitio en el internet dedicado a la
> recopilación, organización y distribución de información acerca de temas
> ecológicos, ambientales, de ciencias de la Tierra, y temas similares
> científicos y sobre la conservación, concernientes a América Central:
> "Ecología y Ambiente de América Central". La dirección es:
> http://boto.ocean.washington.edu/americacentral/
>
> Somos un grupo de científicos jóvenes de Centroamérica y Norte América,
> con diversas especialidades e intereses y trabajando en este proyecto de
> manera voluntaria. Tenemos varios objetivos. El Internet ha facilitado la
> distribución directa de la información por científicos, organizaciones,
> gobiernos, y privados, y esto es igual de cierto para América Central; una
> gran cantidad de información ya existe en el internet. Sin embargo, esta
> información usualmente no está interconectada y es difícil de encontrar.
> Estamos colectando y organizando temáticamente enlaces a sitios con
> información sobre la región toda o sobre países específicos. Otro objetivo
> es colectar datos científicos y de conservación que ya existen y están en
> manos de centros internacionales de datos o instituciones nacionales, y
> procesarlos como sea necesario para crear una base de datos
> Centroamericana que pueda ser distribuida libremente a quien sea, y así
> hacer los datos más disponibles. Un objetivo de largo plazo es la creación
> de una red de investigadores y organizaciones que producen o utilizan
> datos ecológicos o ambientales sobre la región.
>
> Queremos ser de utilidad a una audiencia diversa, que vaya desde
> científicos hasta organizaciones no gubernamentales, estudiantes,
> ecoturistas, y especialmente la gente Centroamericana. Queremos apoyar y
> promover la investigación científica con una perspectiva regional, tanto
> por científicos locales como internacionales. Las fronteras que separan
> nuestras naciones son artificiales en lo que se refiere al medio ambiente
> y las comunidades biológicas. Nuestro grupo pretende aumentar el
> reconocimiento de nuestros legados naturales y problemas ambientales
> comunes, y aumentar la comunicación entre científicos, activistas, y el
> publico en general.
>
> Es nuestro objetivo tener un sitio completamente bilingüe, pero en estos
> momentos sólo hemos desarrollado páginas en inglés. Las páginas en español
> serán creadas en los próximos meses.
>
> ******* ENGLISH ***************
>
> We would like to announce a new web site dedicated to the compilation,
> organization, and distribution of information about ecological,
> environmental, Earth Science, and related scientific and conservation
> topics pertaining to Central America: "Central America Ecology and
> Environment". The address is:
> http://boto.ocean.washington.edu/americacentral/
>
> We are young Central American and North American scientists, with diverse
> specialties and interests and working on this project on a voluntary
> basis. Our goals are multifaceted. The internet has facilitated the direct
> distribution of information by scientists, organizations, governments, and
> individuals, and this is no less true for Central America; a wealth of
> information already exists. However, this information is often
> disconnected and difficult to find. We are collecting and thematically
> organizing links to sites with information about the region as a whole or
> specific countries. Another objective is to collect scientific and
> conservation data that already exists from international data centers or
> national institutions, and process it as needed to create a Central
> American database that can then be freely distributed to anyone and made
> more accessible. A long-term goal is to create a network of researchers
> and organizations that produce or make use of ecological and environmental
> data about the region.
>
> We want to serve a diverse audience, ranging from scientists to
> non-governmental organizations, students, ecotourists, and particularly
> Central Americans themselves. We want to support and foster scientific
> research with a regional perspective, both by local and international
> scientists. The boundaries that separate our nations are artificial when
> it comes to the environment and the biological communities. We want to
> increase the awareness of the shared natural heritage and environmental
> problems across the isthmus, and increase the communication among
> scientists, resource managers, activists, and the general public.
>
>
********************************************************************************\
********
>
> Emilio Mayorga Rubi,                   Nicaragua
>    University of Washington, Seattle, USA
> Alexis L. Aguilar Henriquez,           Honduras
>    University of California, Los Angeles, USA
> Hugo Hidalgo Leon,                     Costa Rica
>    University of California, Los Angeles, USA
> Derek Parent,                          Canada
>    Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
>
> También/Also:
>
> Gerald R. Urquhart,                    USA
>    Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
> Carlos R. Ramirez-Sosa,                El Salvador
>    St. Lawrence University, Canton, USA

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Any news about this?
Saludos desde Honduras

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Drilling during Leg 165 of ODP at five sites in the Caribbean led to the
discovery of a large number (>2000) of volcanic ash layers in the Caribbean
basin, that are attributed to fallout from Central American ignimbrite volcanism
in the Tertiary. The preliminary results are reported in Initital Reports of
ODP, vol. 165. The almost entirely glassy and silicici volcanic ash layers are
truly impressive, some ranging up to 90 cm in thickness at more than 600 km form
possible land sources. Two major episodes of ignimbirte volcanism are identified
and dated in the cores, in the late Eocene and in the Miocene. A more
conprehensive treatment of these ash deposits, their Ar39/Ar40 ages, and
dispersal mechanisms is provided in the the ODP Scientific Results vol. 165 (in
press).
	 The ODP drilled Caribbean sediment archive (five sites) thus contains a
valuable, well-dated, long (70 m.y.) and very complete record of Central
American voclanism throughout the Tertiary. The geologists who have worked on
the marine record are seeking exchange of information and ideas on the
intergration of the land record of voclanism in Central America with the marine
record discussed above.

Haraldur Sigurdsson, University of Rhode Island

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Dr. Horne,

I am not aware of a specific symposium on Central America at the IGC.
However, there will be a symposium on Caribbean Plate Tectonics, Origin
and Evolution that may be appropriate for CA basement geology.  Below is
the relevant portion of an email from Manuel Iturralde-Vinent about the
Caribbean symposium.  Also, at the 15th Caribbean Geological Conference
in July 1998 in Kingston Jamaica, Martin Meschede and I discussed
restarting the Central American Geology Conferences with the idea of
linking it to the 16th Caribbean Conference (2001) if it were to be held
in Costa Rica.  Meschede volunteered to investigate organizing the
conference in Costa Rica, but I do not know where this stands at
present.

Rob Rogers
-----------------------------------
>The organizing committee of the 31 IGC to be held in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, August 6 to 17 of the year 2000, has scheduled
>one special symposium dedicated to our subject of interest.  You will
find it in the Second Circular under the heading
>General Symposium 17. GEOTECTONICS, PLATE MOTIONS AND REGIONAL
GEOPHYSICS Special Symposium 17-6. Caribbean Plate Tectonics, >Origin
and Evolution Conveners: Grenville Draper (FIU) and M. Iturralde-Vinent
(MNHNC)

>For more information and important details on this issue please contact
our web page
>http://wolfenet.com/~krautara/cariborigin.html

>Manuel Iturralde-Vinent
------------------------------------

Gregory Horne wrote:
>
> Have you, or anyone in our network heard anything about the International
> Geological Congress scheduled for Rio in 2000?  I hope they plan a
> symposium on the bedrock geology of CA.  I would have expected preliminary
> inquiries by this time.  I'd appreciate any info on this.  Thanks.

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Have you, or anyone in our network heard anything about the International
Geological Congress scheduled for Rio in 2000?  I hope they plan a
symposium on the bedrock geology of CA.  I would have expected preliminary
inquiries by this time.  I'd appreciate any info on this.  Thanks.

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The new Mining Law and OPIC/Citibank $200 million cedit line for Centaral
America opens a new interesting venture destination for mining
investors/scientist.
Hope to hear form you soon.

Cesar Gonzalez
Legal Counsel

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The "unofficial" text of the LEY GENERAL DE MINERIA passed by the
Honduran National Congress in November, 1998 can be found at
http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/leymineria.html on the Honduras
Geology web site.

The offical and legal text of this law is found in the La Gazeta,
Febuary 6, 1999  #28,785.  Honduras Geology expresses
gratitude to Adrian Oviedo, Oviedo's Consultores (504) 225-1770, for
providing the electronic text.

Regards,

Rob Rogers, host
Honduras Geology
http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/index.html


DECRETO Nº 292-98    LEY GENERAL DE MINERIA

TITULO 1    DISPOSICIONES GENERALES
         CAPITULO 1      OBJETO Y NATURALEZA DE LA LEY
TITULO II   DE LOS RECURSOS MINERALES
         CAPITULO 1      DE LA CLASIFICACION DE LOS RECURSOS MINERALES
TITULO III   ACTIVIDADES MINERAS
         CAPITULO I      DE LA DEFINICION DE LA ACTIVIDAD MINERA
         CAPITULO II     PROSPECCION
         CAPITULO III    DE LA EXPLORACION Y EXPLOTACION
         CAPITULO IV     DEL BENEFICIOS
         CAPITULO V      DE LA COMERCIALIZACION
TITULO IV    DE LOS DERECHOS COMUNES DE LOS TITULARES DE CONCESIONES
         CAPITULO I      DE LAS BENEFICIOS Y GARANTIAS A LOS TITULARES DE
CONCESIONES
         CAPITULO II     DEL REGIMEN DE TENENCIA DEL PROMEDIO SUPERFICIAL
TITULO V     DE LAS OBLIGACIONES DE LOS TITULARES DE CONSECIONES
         CAPITULO I      DE LA PRODUCCION MINERA Y EL CANON TERRITORIAL
         CAPITULO II     DE LAS CONCESIONES POR BENEFICIO
         CAPITULO III    OBLIGACIONES COMUNES
TITULO VI    DE LOS PROCEDIMIENTOS DE CONCESIONES MINERAS Y BENEFICIOS
         CAPITULO I      DEL ORDEN DE PRIORIDADES
         CAPITULO II     INHABILIDADES PARA ADQUIRIR DERECHOS MINEROS
         CAPITULO III    DEL OTORGAMIENTO DE CONCESIONES MINERAS
         CAPITULO IV     DE LAS CONCESIONES DE BENEFICIO
         CAPITULO V      DE LA OPOSICION A LA CONCESION MINERA O DE BENEFICIO
         CAPITULO VI     EXTENSION DE CONSECIONES A SU DESTINO
TITULO VII   DEL REGIMEN TRIBUTARIO
         CAPITULO I      NORMAS ESPECIALES
TITULO VIII  DEL REGIMEN DE ESTABILIDAD TRIBUTARIA
         CAPITULO I      DEL PROGRAMA DE INVERSION Y GARANTIAS
TITULO IX    DE LA REGULACION AMBIENTAL
         CAPITULO I      DEL ESTUDIO DE IMPACTO AMBIENTAL
TITULO X     DEL BIENESTAR Y SEGURIDAD LABORAL
         CAPITULO I      DE LAS MEDIAS DE PREVENCION, HIGIENE Y SEGURIDAD LABORAL
TITULO XI    DE LA AUTORIDAD MINERA
         CAPITULO I      DE LA CREACION DE LA AUTORIDAD MINERA
         CAPITULO II     DE LA ESTRUCTURA ORGANIZATIVA DE LA DIRECCION EJECUTIVA
         CAPITULO III    DE LA SUB DIRECCIÓN EJECUTIVA
         CAPITULO IV     DEL REGISTRO DE DERECHOS MINEROS
         CAPITULO V      DEL REGIMEN ECONOMICO Y ADMINISTRATIVO DE LA DIRECCION
TITULO XII   DISPOSICIONES FINALES
         CAPITULO I      DEL IMPUESTO MUNICIPAL
TITULO XIII  DISPOSICIONES TRANSITORIAS

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Greetings -

This is Ron Mader, host of the Eco Travels in Latin America website
(http://www.planeta.com). I am letting people know of updates to the website,
focusing on Central America.

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/center/center.html
Eco Travels in Central America
- regional overview, country reports and tourism features

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/center/ccarchive.html
Central American Environmental Reports
- should include section about Mesoamerican Biological Corridor if we can get
up-to-date reports

Let me know if you would like to exchange links and/or receive the writer's
guidelines (http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/search/guide.html) for
submiting an article to this website.

While Planeta.com boasts a large number of environmental reports and articles
about all of Central America, a particular focus is Honduras. Reason - this
year I am updating my guidebook to environmental travel in Honduras. The
profile of the book is online
http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/search/tequila1.html

Suggestions are always welcome. I've placed a great number of documents about
Honduras online. Here is a short index of the most popular articles:

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/center/honduras/honduras1.html
Eco Travels in Honduras

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/center/honduras/honparks.html
Protected Areas in Honduras

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/center/honduras/hond.html
Environmental Contacts in Honduras

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/center/honduras/aproecoh.html
APROECOH - Honduras' Ecotourism Association

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/ecotravel/schools/schoolist.html#Honduras
Language Schools in Honduras

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0598/0598celaque.html
Parque Nacional Montana de Celaque - Chris Humphrey

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0597/0597carbon.html
Ecotourism in El Carbon - Kevin Postma and Kate Thomson

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0597/0597muralla.html
Visiting La Muralla - Craig Perham

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0597/0597mosquitia.html
Visitor Information for the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve - Arden Anderson

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/1197/1197honorg.html
Esfuerzos de la Educacion Ambiental -  Suyapa Dominguez y Jaime Bustillo

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0896/0896butterfly.html
Honduras' Butterfly Museum - Robert Lehman (08/96)

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0596/0596celaque.html
Visit to Celaque National Park - Alexis Aguilar (05/96)

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0596/0596hon.html
Working Notes from La Ceiba Conference (04/96)

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0596/0596gollin.html
Lights Out in Honduras - James Gollin (1995)

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0595/0595hond.html
Presidential Destruction Decree (05/95)

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0898/0898hondurosa.html
A Practical Guide to Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras - Warren Post

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0298/0298mosquitia.html
Tourism and Biodiversity Preservation in Honduras - Eric Greenquist

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0298/0298patuca.html
Legal Declaration of Patuca National Park in Honduras - Alexis Aguilar

http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0597/0597.html
El Planeta Platica - Honduras Unplugged Issue

PS) Feel free to forward this message to anyone who might be interested in the
above-mentioned online documents and resources. If anyone else would like to
receive these updates, send the message  - Subscribe - to
EcoTravel@...

--
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    telnet://fc.greenbuilder.com:3000
            modem:  512.462.0633
---
Green Building Professionals Directory at
http://www.greenbuilder.com/directory/


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Effective immediately, replying to new postings from "cenamgeology" will be
addressed only to the person who sent the message and not to the entire
distribution list.  Note that this change does not apply to postings
preceding this message.  My apologies for any confusion this may have
caused.

Rob Rogers, list moderator


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1. Below is an AP report on the USGS effort in Honduras.
2. Take a look at what the USGS are up to at:
http://cindi.usgs.gov/events/mitch/cent_amer.html

note:
There are at least three major digital data compilation efforts
occurring in Honduras; NASA, the USGS, and the UNDP.  From what I know
there is suprisingly little overlap of efforts.  I'm sure many on this
list would like to help ensure that these efforts succeed and also to
access the data in time.  Jim Jancaitis, systems development director at
the U.S. Geological Survey's Center for Integration of Natural Disaster
Information, and Ed Harp, USGS geologist-currently in Honduras, are now
subscribed to this listserver (Central American Geology).   If you have
GIS data of Central America that you wish to share with the USGS team
and everyone else, you can drop them a note at
<cenamgeology@egroups.com>  or contact Jim
Jancaitis directly <jrjancaitis@...>.  I'm sure that
Jim will let us know as soon as the data is available.

Rob Rogers, moderator
Central American Geology Group
  http://www.eGroups.com/list/cenamgeology/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-----------------------------------------------------------
High-Tech Data Reveals Mitch Damage

By David Briscoe
Associated Press Writer
Monday, December 14, 1998; 1:25 a.m. EST

RESTON, VA. (AP) -- One image shows a galaxy of lights, another
darkness. One shows
vast patches of green vegetation, another brown mud. One shows roads,
bridges and villages,
another more brown mud.

The before-and-after views of Nicaragua and Honduras, including
high-resolution photos like
those used for government spying, are vivid evidence of the destruction
of Hurricane Mitch
  across an area with the size and population of California.

They also may be key to rebuilding Central America after the most
destructive storm in the
Western Hemisphere in 200 years. More than 9,000 people died and 2
million were left
homeless, with damage estimated at more than $5 billion.

``People analyzing the photographs are amazed at the level of
destruction. We have not seen
anything like this for any other major storm anywhere,'' said Jim
Jancaitis, systems
  development director at the U.S. Geological Survey's Center for
Integration of Natural
Disaster Information.

With monitors taking in everything from Russian satellite images to
weather data and live
news media reports, the lab has the immodest goal of monitoring and
saving the world.

Alarms go off when the words like ``hurricane'' or ``earthquake'' are
uttered in news
bulletins, but the lab's other monitors usually already have researchers
scurrying.

First word of the hurricane that hit Central America triggered a massive
data-gathering effort
that has given relief workers and reconstruction crews the ability to
immediately locate
landslides, pinpoint fatalities, spot potential dangers and retrace
roads, utilities and shifting
waterways.

An Army Corps of Engineers spokesman, Scott Saunders, called the survey
system ``a
powerful application that we have put to good use.'' The World Food
Program, missionary
groups, international financiers and Canadian and British agencies
working in Central America
also have been using the data.

As Air Force OC-135B observation planes continued to fly over the region
snapping detailed,
high-resolution photographs, a team of Geological Survey scientists
worked in Tegucigalpa,
Honduras, using the data in state-of-the-art computers to analyze
immediate problems.

One is a massive landslide across Tegucigalpa's Choluteca River, which
Jancaitis said has
backed up a ``witch's brew'' of water, chemicals, raw sewage, debris and
bodies.

In an unprecedented high-tech exercise involving the survey and several
other agencies and
companies, a mountain of data is being drawn together to form a highly
complex geographic
  information system of areas devastated by Mitch.

Anyone with access to the Internet can get a glimpse at the system, at
www.usgs.gov. But
  some of the highest-resolution photographs, which are for government
use only, are not there.

The full information package of photos, maps and data that can be
layered over each other for
comparison is being made available for use by government and private
relief agencies and
others involved in the rebuilding.

It could provide the pattern for a more scientific, coordinated response
to disasters, whether
they be in large urban areas or the world's remotest corners.

``It's very exciting stuff with really large possibilities,'' Interior
Secretary Bruce Babbitt said
  in an interview.

He noted that while computer imaging systems been used in past domestic
disasters, its use in
Honduras and Nicaragua shows how it can guide rebuilding. ``In Central
America, we are
gaining the ability to use data after the fact,'' he said.

Babbitt said it was important to make the data as widely available as
possible, although he and
other officials acknowledged the concern that such detailed information
about a country might
be misused by terrorists.

Nonetheless, Babbitt said, the danger of misuse ``is outweighed by the
benefits of
transparency in making it useful.''

  Further enhancements are expected as the technology rapidly improves
and costs go down.
Gathering and consolidating similar information on past U.S. disasters
cost millions of dollars
and took several months.

Scientists estimate the cost of the Central American project so far at
about $250,000.

Mark Schaefer, a deputy assistant interior secretary, said the system
could help save lives in
future disasters anywhere in the world.

``Natural disasters are both a tragedy and an opportunity to build a
more resilient system,'' he
said.

  © Copyright 1998 The Associated Press
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Two items follow: A Press Release and the Memorandum of Understanding

note: I have been told that the contact person, from the CCAD office in
Guatemala, is Jorge Cabrerea <jcabrera@...>.  I'm sure I will
be hearing from him if not.   Rob Rogers


>RELEASE: 98-222
>
>NASA, CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS SIGN EARTH SCIENCES PACT
>
> NASA and the Central American Commission on the Environment
>and Development (CCAD) will use existing satellite data to develop
>land-use maps of Central America.
>
> NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin and the President of the
>Central American Commission on the Environment and Development,
>and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of El Salvador,
>Miguel Eduardo Araujo Padilla, today signed a Memorandum of
>Understanding (MOU) at NASA Headquarters, establishing cooperation
>between the CCAD and NASA in support of the Mesoamerican
>Biological Corridor.
>
> Under the terms of the agreement, NASA centers as well as
>NASA-funded investigators and Central American researchers will
>use satellite data to develop maps classifying the land cover of
>the Central American isthmus according to life zones, land-use
>types, geological structure, hydrology, and other Earth Science
>factors. NASA also will support the development of the CCAD's
>environmental data and information system by making available
>optical, radar and topographic remote-sensing data to the CCAD.
>The agreement will initiate a new partnership between NASA and the
>countries of Central America and will demonstrate the utility of
>NASA Earth science data and information for both biodiversity
>conservation and sustainable-development planning.
>
> The membership of the CCAD consists of the Governments of
>Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua,
>and Panama, which have all agreed to work together within the CCAD
>framework to promote the sustainable development of the entire
>Central American region. In 1997 the Presidents of the seven
>Central American countries endorsed the concept of a Mesoamerican
>Biological Corridor, running throughout the Central American
>isthmus with the goal of integrating conservation and the
>sustainable use of the region's biodiversity into a framework for
>long-term economic development.
>
> NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, and Jet
>Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, will participate in the
>implementation of the agreement in support of NASA's Earth Science
>enterprise, Washington, DC. NASA's Office of Earth Science seeks
>to understand the total Earth system and the effects of natural
>and human-induced changes on the global environment.
> -end-

***************************************************************
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
AND
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COMMISSION
ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
FOR COOPERATION IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
  MESOAMERICAN BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR

  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States
of America (hereinafter referred to as "NASA") and The Central American
Commission on the Environment and Development (whose membership consists
of the Governments of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama and hereinafter referred to as "CCAD"),
together hereinafter referred to as "the Parties" to this Memorandum of
Understanding,

RECOGNIZING the utility of satellite observations of the Earth for
understanding environmental change in Central America;

NOTING that the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, running through the
Central American isthmus, was established in 1997 by the Presidents of
the seven countries with membership in CCAD as a crucial environmental
region with a central development concept -- integrating conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity within the framework of sustainable
economic development, and SHARING an interest in promoting the
development of the Corridor;

RECALLING their ongoing cooperative effort to improve CCAD's holdings of
environmental information within the CCAD environmental data and
information system;

RECOGNIZING the utility of creating a "benchmark" map, derived from
satellite data, that classifies land cover and land use throughout the
Central American isthmus;

NOTING the importance of researchers throughout Central America being
trained in the analysis of remote-sensing information;

APPRECIATING the need to improve scientific understanding of the amount
of carbon sequestered by the biomass of the Central American isthmus;
and

DESIRING to establish mutually-beneficial scientific cooperation between
CCAD and NASA;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:


ARTICLE 1 -- PURPOSE

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to define the
terms and conditions for cooperation between the Parties in the
following areas:

? Development of maps classifying the land cover of the Central American
isthmus according to, inter alia:  (1) life zones; (2) land-use types;
(3) geological structure; and (4) hydrology.  These products will be
used in the development of a Mesoamerican Biological Corridor;

? Joint activities dedicated to increasing the quality of information
held in and usefulness of CCAD's environmental data and information
system, such as providing CCAD with optical, radar, and topographic
remote-sensing information and climate and ocean information from NASA
archives and on-going remote-sensing projects for use in developing and
maintaining the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and for a large number
of other applications within the Central American isthmus, including:
regional development, urban planning, assessing the vulnerability of
areas in the region to natural hazards, promoting meteorological and
marine research;

? Improving the understanding, through model-based estimates, of the
amount of carbon sequestered in the ecosystems of the Central America
isthmus;

? Building the capacity among Central American researchers to analyze
and use remote-sensing information and to develop an environmental data
and information system through training and exchange of personnel with
NASA; and

? Facilitating connections between Central American researchers and
other U.S. Government institutions involved in Space and Earth science
research and applications.


ARTICLE 2 -- NASA RESPONSIBILITIES

For its part, NASA shall use reasonable efforts to carry out the
following responsibilities:

1.  Process Japanese Earth Resources Satellite 1 (JERS-1) imagery, held
by the Alaska Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Facility, of the entire
Central American isthmus;

2.  Use JERS-1 SAR imagery to generate a mosaic of the entire Central
American isthmus;

3.  Combine the mosaic data with topographic information of the Central
American isthmus obtained from Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) archives,
releasable data obtained during the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission
(SRTM) and from a NASA commercial purchase of airborne SAR data covering
approximately 40,000 square kilometers of Central America and provide
these combined data and topographic information to CCAD for inclusion in
the CCAD environmental data and information system;
  4.  Establish, in consultation with CCAD, the selection criteria for
intensive site study areas and select several intensive site study areas
imaged in the mosaic for subsequent co-registration and analysis with
Landsat (and possibly other) data, consult with CCAD regarding their
acquisition of additional satellite imagery (Landsat data, etc.) for the
intensive site study areas, and seek to obtain "U.S. Government and
Affiliated User Status" for CCAD, to assist CCAD in its purchase of
Landsat data;

5.  Support, as appropriate and mutually agreed, CCAD as it conducts the
analysis of the intensive site study areas;

6.  Classify the mosaic according to land-cover/land-use
characteristics, including life zones;

7.  Analyze the data to estimate forest age classes, structure, and
biomass; and derive model-based estimates of the terrestrial carbon
content of the Central American isthmus;

8.  Establish, in conjunction with CCAD, a plan for a ground-based
campaign(s) (which is separate from that identified under Paragraph (4)
above) to validate the land-cover/ land-use classification for the
Central American isthmus;

9.  Work with CCAD to define the CCAD environmental data and information
system in order to incorporate information from this project into a
system capable of supporting users throughout Central America;

10.  Provide, as appropriate and mutually agreed, researchers and
students to work with  CCAD to facilitate data analysis required to
accomplish this project;

11.  Provide, as requested by CCAD and mutually agreed by NASA,
information and methodologies for assessing the vulnerability of the
Central American isthmus to climate variability and other natural
hazards;

12.  Facilitate, as requested by CCAD, connections between Central
American researchers and other U.S. Government institutions involved in
Space and Earth science research and applications; and

13.  With CCAD, mutually establish a five-year time table and
requirements schedule showing critical phases of the program and
required milestones.


  ARTICLE 3 -- CCAD RESPONSIBILITIES

For its part, CCAD shall use reasonable efforts to carry out the
following responsibilities:

1.  Coordinate the selection of a technical team of Central American
experts, and define the operational ground rules and organizational
structure for this team to interact with its NASA counterpart;

2.  Send personnel to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Global
Hydrology and Climate Center and JPL to participate with researchers
there in the processing and analysis of remote-sensing information in
order to ensure its successful infusion into the development and
management of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, and encourage
scientists from the CCAD member countries to develop research activities
using NASA data provided to the CCAD environmental data and information
system;

3.  Establish, in consultation with NASA, the selection criteria for
intensive site study areas; select, along with NASA, several intensive
site study areas imaged in the mosaic for subsequent co-registration and
analysis with Landsat (and possibly other) data; acquire additional
satellite imagery (Landsat, etc.) for the intensive site study areas;
and, with support from NASA and as appropriate and mutually agreed,
conduct analysis of data from these intensive site study areas;

4.  Establish, in conjunction with NASA, a plan for the conduct of a
ground-based campaign(s) (which is separate from that identified under
Paragraph 3 above) to validate the land-cover/land-use classification of
the Central American isthmus; and independently conduct the ground-based
validation campaign(s), which will include field data collection to
support the research objectives;

5.  Develop, maintain and operate an integrated Internet Web site, as
part of the CCAD environmental data and information system, providing
access to data and information products from this project and from other
regional activities of interest to the NASA Earth science research
community;

6.  Establish a high-speed electronic connectivity capability among the
key Central American database centers where the information will be
deposited;

7.  Conduct, at its discretion, periodic repeats of the
land-cover/land-use classification of the Central American isthmus to
update the mosaic and the CCAD environmental data and information system
and make the results of these efforts available to NASA;

8.  Identify the needs and key sectors for assessing the vulnerability
of the Central American isthmus to climate variability and other natural
hazards and for pursuing adaptation options, and conduct any resulting
assessment; and
  9.  With NASA, mutually establish a five-year time table and schedule
showing critical program phases, requirements and milestones.


ARTICLE 4 -- POINTS OF CONTACT

The CCAD and NASA points of contact for this MOU, who are responsible
for coordinating and implementing the agreed-upon functions and
responsibilities of each Party, will be indicated in an exchange of
letters between the Parties.


ARTICLE 5 -- DATA DISTRIBUTION

All remote-sensing and validation data and information obtained as a
result of this cooperative activity and all standard products produced
will be made available (after an initial calibration period for the new
products produced) to all potential users without restriction, and at no
more than the cost of fulfilling the user request.


ARTICLE 6 -- FUNDING

The Parties shall each bear the costs of discharging their respective
responsibilities under this MOU, including travel and subsistence of
each Party's personnel and transportation of its own equipment and
associated documentation.  The obligations of the Parties under this MOU
are subject to their respective funding procedures and the availability
of appropriated funds.


ARTICLE 7 -- CUSTOMS AND TAXES

Each Party shall arrange duty-free customs clearance and a waiver of
applicable customs duties and taxes for equipment and related goods
necessary for the implementation of this MOU, in accordance with
respective national laws and regulations.  In the event that any customs
fees and/or taxes of any kind are still levied on the equipment and
related goods necessary for implementation of this MOU, after seeking to
develop the free customs clearance and waiver of applicable customs
duties and taxes, such customs fees or taxes shall be borne by CCAD for
fees and/or taxes levied by one of its member states and by NASA for
fees and/or taxes levied by the United States.  Such arrangements shall
be fully reciprocal.

ARTICLE 8 -- PERSONNEL ACCOMMODATION

1.  Each Party may send appropriate personnel and/or personnel of its
contractors and subcontractors and affiliated research institutions into
facilities of the other Party, when necessary to implement the
dispatching Party's responsibility under this MOU, with the approval of
the receiving Party.

2.  The personnel of the dispatching Party or the personnel of its
contractors and subcontractors and affiliated research institutions
shall comply with the internal rules of the receiving Party's
facilities.

3.  The Parties shall accommodate each other's personnel or the
personnel of the other Party's contractors and subcontractors and
affiliated research institutions, as mutually agreed.

4.  Subject to national laws and regulations, CCAD will facilitate
provision of the appropriate entry and residence documentation for U.S.
nationals who enter, exit, and reside within the territory of CCAD
member states and NASA will facilitate provision of the appropriate
entry and residence documentation for nationals of CCAD member states
who enter, exit, and reside within the territory of the United States,
in order to carry out activities under this MOU.


ARTICLE 9 -- NECESSARY EQUIPMENT

1.  The Parties, subject to their national laws and regulations, may
bring appropriate equipment into facilities of the other Party, with the
approval of the other Party, when such equipment is necessary to
implement responsibilities under this MOU.

2.  The Parties may use equipment provided by the other Party with the
approval of that Party when such equipment must be used to implement
responsibilities under this MOU.

3.  Each Party shall retain ownership of equipment it furnishes to the
other Party.


ARTICLE 10 -- EXCHANGE OF TECHNICAL DATA AND GOODS

The Parties are obligated to transfer only those technical data and
goods necessary to fulfill their respective responsibilities under this
MOU, in accordance with the following provisions:
  1.  All transfers of proprietary technical data and export-controlled
technical data and goods are subject to the following provisions.  In
the event a Party finds it necessary to transfer goods which are subject
to export control or technical data which is proprietary or subject to
export control, and for which protection is to be maintained, such goods
shall be specifically identified and such technical data shall be marked
with a notice to indicate that they shall be used and disclosed by the
receiving Party and its related entities (e.g., contractors and
subcontractors) only for the purposes of fulfilling the receiving
Party's responsibilities under the programs implemented by this MOU, and
that the identified goods and marked technical data shall not be
disclosed or retransferred to any other end use or entity without the
prior written permission of the furnishing Party.  The receiving Party
agrees to abide by the terms of the notice, and to protect any such
identified goods and marked technical data from unauthorized use and
disclosure, and also agrees to obtain these same obligations from its
related entities prior to the transfer.  Nothing in this article
requires the Parties to transfer goods or technical data contrary to
national laws and regulations relating to export control or control of
classified data.

2.  All goods, marked proprietary data, and marked or unmarked technical
data subject to export control, which are transferred under this MOU,
shall be used by the receiving Party exclusively for the purposes of the
programs implemented by this MOU.


ARTICLE 11 -- INVENTION AND PATENT RIGHTS

1.  Except as set forth in paragraph 2 of this Article, nothing in this
MOU shall be construed as granting or implying any rights to, or
interest in, patents owned or inventions which are independently
developed by the Parties or their contractors or subcontractors.

2.  In the event that an invention is jointly made by any combination of
the Parties during the implementation of this MOU, patent protection
shall be requested jointly by the Parties involved on the basis of equal
rights, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties involved, taking into
consideration their respective contributions to the invention.


ARTICLE 12 - PUBLIC INFORMATION AND
RIGHTS IN SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

1.  The Parties retain the right to release public information regarding
their own activities under this MOU.  The Parties shall coordinate with
each other in advance concerning public information activities which
relate to the other Party's responsibilities or performance under this
MOU.
  2.  In the event the Parties or their investigators publish results
primarily obtained from information regarding results obtained from the
implementation of this MOU, the Party involved with the publication
shall make this information available to the other Party, and each Party
shall, at minimum, have a royalty free right to reproduce, use, and
distribute the publication for its own purposes.

3.  In no event shall a Party include in a publication technical data or
information on technical goods furnished by the other Party which is to
be protected in accordance with Article 10 of this MOU, or information
disclosing the other Party's inventions before patent application,
without the other Party's prior written consent.


ARTICLE 13 -- LIABILITY

1.  Neither Party shall make any claim against the other, its employees,
a related entity of the other (e.g., contractors, subcontractors,
investigators, other participating entities), or employees of the
other's related entities for injury to or death of its own employees or
employees of its related entities, or for damage of any kind to or loss
of its own property or that of its related entities arising out of
activities under this MOU whether such injury, death, damage or loss
arises through negligence or otherwise, except in the case of willful
misconduct.  In addition, each party shall extend the cross-waiver of
liability as set forth above to its own related entities by requiring
them, by contract or otherwise, to agree to waive all claims against the
entities or persons identified above.

2.  In the event of a third-party claim for which the Parties may be
liable, the Parties shall consult promptly to determine an appropriate
and equitable apportionment of any potential liability and on the
defense of any such claim.

ARTICLE 14 -- ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

The Parties may enter into additional agreements, as necessary and
mutually agreed, for future cooperative activities.

ARTICLE 15 -- AMENDMENT AND EXTENSION

This MOU may be amended and extended by written agreement of the
Parties.

  ARTICLE 16 -- ENTRY INTO FORCE, DURATION AND TERMINATION

1.  This MOU shall enter into force upon the date of the latter
signature of the Parties and shall remain in force for a period of five
(5) years.

2.  This MOU may be terminated upon ninety (90) days written notice by
either Party.  Neither Party shall have the right to any claim
whatsoever for compensation or damage as a consequence of termination of
this MOU.  Termination by either Party will not affect that Party's
continuing rights and obligations under this agreement with regard to
liability and the protection of technical data, goods, and intellectual
property rights, unless otherwise agreed.

FOR THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS  FOR CENTRAL AMERICAN
AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION   COMMISSION ON THE
OF THE UNITED STATES    ENVIRONMENT AND
OF AMERICA:     DEVELOPMENT:

Done at:      Done at:
Date:       Date:
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New Mining Law - New Opportunities in Mining in Honduras.
Attorney, in Tegucigalpa, has done much legal counseling and permitting for US
and Canadian corps. and individuals in joint ventures, forestry, privatizations,
etc.

Interested in discussin issues related to the new Law and the legal framework.

Also practice in Nicaragua
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News Release
      U. S. Department of the Interior
      U.S. Geological Survey
      119 National Center
      Reston, VA 20192
      For release: December 8, 1998
      Contact:     Trudy Harlow   703-648-4483      tharlow@...
      Karen Wood     703-648-4447      kwood@...
      USGS Sends First Science Team to Honduras As Part of Reconstruction
Effort
      Note to Editors:  Downloadable pictures and information about
individual
      team members can be found on the Internet at
      <http://cindi.usgs.gov/events/mitch/USGSteam/index.html>.
      A team of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists will arrive in
      Tegucigalpa, Honduras  on Tuesday, December 8 to provide scientific
and
      technical expertise, including field work surveys on geologic,
hydrologic
      and biologic impacts and risks still facing Central America.
      The first U.S. science mission to Honduras in the wake of Hurricane
Mitch,
      the team -- consisting of a geologist, two hydrologists, an
      ecologist/biologist and a
      computer/geographic information systems (GIS) specialist -- will
assist the
      devastated country by providing information critical to the continued
      recovery and beginning rebuilding efforts.
      "Even as the humanitarian effort continues, the Central American
nations
      devastated by Hurricane Mitch are beginning the reconstruction process
and
      planning for the future," said Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.  "The
      technical support and scientific assessments that will be conducted by
the
      USGS team will enable those working on the reconstruction effort to
make
      informed decisions as they rebuild and ensure that communities will
not be
      as susceptible to future natural disasters."
      Reconstruction activities will be facilitated by high-quality
USGS-compiled
      data from many agencies and the private sector, organized into usable
form
      for Central American governments, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
US-AID,
      the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and others.  This
      information includes geologic and historic landslide, maps to help
re-site
      bridges and roads; map images of newly-formed river and stream beds;
and
      documentation of large changes in the topography of the countryside.
These
      data will assist reconstruction planners in rebuilding disaster
resilient
      communities that are out of harm's way to the greatest extent possible
for
      future natural disasters.
      The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Open Skies project will
provide
      more than 15,000 aerial photo images that will enable the scientists
to get
      a clear and timely 3-D picture of the location and occurrence of
landslides
      and floods, agricultural damage, and damage to offshore reefs, as well
as
      changes in current land use due to debris flows and flooding --
information
      that will be of great use in urban and rural rebuilding efforts.  The
      images are crucial to modeling that planners will use to minimize
damage
      from future floods.
      The USGS, working with private sector partners, has already sent on
loan
      computers and monitors, ESRI Arcview software, GIS map databases,
plotter
      supplies, maps and Landsat satellite imagery to help with the
      reconstruction effort.  The USGS computers will be networked with the
      existing Honduran task force assets and will be digitally linked by
      satellite to a USGS laboratory in Reston, Va.  This equipment will
assist
      the Honduran government and the USAID in-country team already working
on
      reconstruction plans.
      As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science and
civilian
      mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2000
      organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial,
scientific
      information to resource managers, planners, and other customers.  This
      information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize
the
      loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the
sound
      conservation, economic and physical development of the nation's
natural
      resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water,
biological,
      energy, and mineral resources.





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Recent updates to the Honduras Geology website include the following two
abstracts:

1. Drobe, John (Tombstone Explorations Company, Vancouver, BC, Canada)
and Oliver, Douglas H. U-Pb age constraints on Early Cretaceous
volcanism and stratigraphy in Central Honduras [abstr.]: in 1998
abstracts with programs; the Geological Society of America 94th annual
meeting; cordilleran section, Abstracts with Programs - Geological
Society of America, 30(5), p. 12, March 1998.
at http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/Drobeabst.html

2. Cox, Randal T, 1998, Neotectonics Along the North American-Caribbean
Plate Boundary, Roatan Island, Honduras [abstr.]: in1998 abstracts; the
American Geophysical Union 1998 Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA Dec 6-10
1998.
at http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/Coxabst.html

Please visit Randy at his presentation at the Fall AGU meeting in San
Francisco CA. Follow AGU link for schedule:
http://www.agu.org

Also updated bibliographies, links, and more at:
Honduras Geology
http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/index.com

Nos Vemos,

Robert Rogers, editor
Honduras Geology
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Nick Donnelly asks about damage including Motagus Valley:
We have some mining exploration operations 100 km south of there, we are
starting up a drill program with a , more or less , 20 ton truck mounted drill
rig and due to minimal damage do not forsee any slow downs because of Mitch
damage. We found a couple of bridges out but nothing serious beyond that.

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The International Lithosphere Program's Task Group II-2 (Major Active
Faults of the World) recently released the first of hopefully many products
for Central and Southern America.  The product is actively compiling data
on Quaternary faulting for use in modern seismic hazards assessments.  The
compilations are mainly conducted by local experts, but the general project
is being supervised by Michael Machette of the U.S. Geological Survey in
Denver, Colorado, USA.

The first product is the "Map and database of Quaternary faults and folds
in Costa Rica and its offshore regions" by W. Montero, P. Denyer, R.
Barquero, G.E.Alvarado, H. Cowan, M.N. Machette, K.M. Haller,  and
R.L.Dart, 1998,  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-481, 61 ms. p.,
1 plate (1:750,000 scale).

The map and report is available from the USGS through open-file services.
The map was prepared in ArcInfo, but an Adobe Illustrator output file is
being used for the print-on-demand map.  The senior authors have limited
copies, but do not have the capabilities (yet) to produce copies of the
full-color map.

We anticipate producing a similar map for Panama by the end of the calendar
year±.  It will be referenced as the "Map and database of Quaternary faults
and folds in Panama and its offshore regions"  by H. Cowan, M.N. Machette,
K.M. Haller,  and R.L.Dart, 1998:  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
98-___, about 60 ms. p., 1 plate (1:500,000 scale).

For more information about ILP Task Group II-2, visit one of thes sites:

http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/paleosei/ILP_Homepages/ILP_II-2_Homepage.htm or

http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/pb4/ilp/projects.htm

Michael N. Machette
ILP Task Group II-2 Co-Chairman
U.S. Geological Survey
Mail Stop 966, P.O. Box 25046
Denver, CO 80225  USA
http://gldage.cr.usgs.gov/

Phone:  303 273-8612
Fax:    303 273-8600


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Can anyone say what was the hurricae damnage to southeastern Guatemala?
That includes the Motagus Valley.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Recent updates to the Honduras Geology website include the following two
abstracts:

1.      Drobe, John (Tombstone Explorations Company, Vancouver, BC,
Canada)
and Oliver, Douglas H. U-Pb age constraints on Early Cretaceous
volcanism and stratigraphy in Central Honduras [abstr.]: in 1998
abstracts with programs; the Geological Society of America 94th annual
meeting; cordilleran section, Abstracts with Programs - Geological
Society of America, 30(5), p. 12, March 1998.
at http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/Drobeabst.html

2.      Cox, Randal T, 1998, Neotectonics Along the North
American-Caribbean
Plate Boundary, Roatan Island, Honduras [abstr.]: in1998 abstracts; the
American Geophysical Union 1998 Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA Dec 6-10
1998.
at http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/Coxabst.html

Please visit Randy at his presentation at the Fall AGU meeting in San
Francisco CA. Follow AGU link for schedule:
http://www.agu.org

Also updated bibliographies, links, and more at:
Honduras Geology
http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/index.com

Nos Vemos,

Robert Rogers, editor
Honduras Geology
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Hi, my name is Waldo Taylor, I am geologist and work in Instituto
Costarricense de Electricidad, in the Seismological and geological
Department.

In Costa Rica fortunately we don't have damage compare with Nicaragua and
Honduras.

All the seismological networks, mining activities and research centers are
working.

In this moment we have two little seismic swarms, one in Puriscal (30 k
form San Jose) and another in Tierras Morenas, near to the Tenorio Volcano
(10 km).

Costarricans now are working for help to Nicaragua and Honduras, and the
government is looking for economic support for recieve all the Nicaraguan
people, the idea is create new jobs (for now) in Costa Rica and receive
the people from Nicaragua and Honduras. Is difficult for the USA receive
all the people but may be We can do that, here in Costa Rica.

See you,

waldo

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Managua essentially untouched, including INETER, which runs the seismic
monitoring stations on the volcanoes.  I have no idea about the sensors
themselves, but would expect them to be still in place, with the notable
exception of Volcan Casitas.

Volcan Concepcion has shown some signs of an impending major slump.  Don't
know what the current situation is there.

Erosion in the north has to be seen to be believed.  The soil is loosely
consolidated volcanic sand and ash.  Doesn't stand up well to four feet of
rain in a day.  Many bridges down.  Others undamaged, but both approach
ramps completely gone.

Hillsides have slumped onto roads in many places; roads themselves have
slumped further down the hillsides in others.

Major land routes are mostly open again, but with fords crossing many
creeks/rivers.  In a few cases, vehicles are being towed, one-by-one,
across by heavy construction equipment.

-------------
Original Text
From: Rob Rogers and Renee DeGrendel <krautara@...>, on 11/20/98
11:35 AM:
To: <cenamgeology@egroups.com>

Listeros:

I'm looking for information on damage to the geoscience infrastructure
in Central America resulting from Hurricane Mitch.  Please let me, and
others on this list, know about damage to:

1)  Seismic Networks or monitoring equipment,
2)  Government Ministries housing geoscience programs,
3)  The Institutos Geograficos Nacionals (maps, aereal photography,
ect)
4) Universities (damage to classrooms, offices, collections, etc)
5) Mining operations (specifically are the El Mochito tailing piles
siting in Lago Yojoa?)
6) Other

Jackie E. Stephens of Maya Gold Corporation relates the following about
the Instituto Geografico Nacional In Tegucigapla:

"My contacts told me that the Map Department building was left unharmed,
as an island, with total destruction in three directions from the site."

I will compile this information and get it on the internet as it will no
doubt be useful for the reconstruction.  I encourage you to forward this
email to interested parties.

Please let the list know about damages to geosciences in Central America
by responding to: cenamgeology@egroups.com
You can also reach me directly at: krautara@...

Thank you for your help and perhaps we can find a way to assist with the
rebuilding.

Rob Rogers
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When I did a fair amount of caving in Honduras my 'favourite'cave was
one on the Rio Susmay, to the North West of Talgua. The cave had a small
river, but dramatic sand banks that seemed beyond any likely flow. A few
kilometres downstream of the resurgence a large sink hole was totally
clogged with tree trunks up to 0.75 metres in diameter. I often wondered
what sort of event could move the amounts of material concerned. I guess
we now know.


Andy Mckenzie
(Please reply to
A.Mckenzie@...)

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Thank you for the information on the Instituto Geografico...I was really
worried about the maps/airphoto libraries!

I spent February to August in Honduras as a Fulbright Scholar and
traveled all over the country taking over a 100 rolls of film on
environmental/earth science issues.  Also LOTs of pictures from many of
areas around Tegus and North Coast/Bay Islands BEFORE Mitch.  If you
need a few specific ones let me know how I might help.

Robert E. Ford
Westminster College of Salt Lake City
****************************************************

Donald Stierman wrote:
>
> Thank you for the news.  My attempts to contact the Instituto Geografico
> office by e-mail and telephone have been unsuccessful.
> A report in La Prensa (http://www.laprensahn.com/socarc/9811/s18001.htm)
> states that the Talgua caves were destroyed.  I suspect (I hope) the
> archaeological remains were not affected, that the damage was to the
> entrance and boardwalk.  Perhaps it was previous storms of this magnitude
> that filled the natural rock basins in which many of the Talgua bones were
> covered with water at some point in time?
> I'm scheduled to give a couple of talks on Mitch, flooding and landslides
> in about a month, even though all I know is what I see on the Web - a good
> time to encourage people to "pass the hat" again - and would appreciate
> copies of any photographs showing classic effects of the storm.  I'm
> scanning some "Tegucigalpa before Mitch" slides to post on the Web.  I can
> convert .jpg or .gif to slides or scan hard copy images (slides or photos)
> and return the originals.
>
> Don Stierman - dstierm@...
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--
*****************************************************************
Robert E. Ford, Associate Professor
Adamson Chair, International Studies,
Westminster College of Salt Lake City
1840 South 1300 East,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84093 USA
Office: 801-488-1655
Email: rford@...
Home address: 8749 South Alta Hills Circle,
Sandy, Utah 84093  USA  Tel. 801-944-1990
Homepage: http://www.wcslc.edu/pers_pages/r-ford/ford1.html
*****************************************************************
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Thank you for the news.  My attempts to contact the Instituto Geografico
office by e-mail and telephone have been unsuccessful.
A report in La Prensa (http://www.laprensahn.com/socarc/9811/s18001.htm)
states that the Talgua caves were destroyed.  I suspect (I hope) the
archaeological remains were not affected, that the damage was to the
entrance and boardwalk.  Perhaps it was previous storms of this magnitude
that filled the natural rock basins in which many of the Talgua bones were
covered with water at some point in time?
I'm scheduled to give a couple of talks on Mitch, flooding and landslides
in about a month, even though all I know is what I see on the Web - a good
time to encourage people to "pass the hat" again - and would appreciate
copies of any photographs showing classic effects of the storm.  I'm
scanning some "Tegucigalpa before Mitch" slides to post on the Web.  I can
convert .jpg or .gif to slides or scan hard copy images (slides or photos)
and return the originals.

Don Stierman - dstierm@...

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Listeros:

I'm looking for information on damage to the geoscience infrastructure
in Central America resulting from Hurricane Mitch.  Please let me, and
others on this list, know about damage to:

1)  Seismic Networks or monitoring equipment,
2)  Government Ministries housing geoscience programs,
3)  The Institutos Geograficos Nacionals (maps, aereal photography, ect)
4) Universities (damage to classrooms, offices, collections, etc)
5) Mining operations (specifically are the El Mochito tailing piles
siting in Lago Yojoa?)
6) Other

Jackie E. Stephens of Maya Gold Corporation relates the following about
the Instituto Geografico Nacional In Tegucigapla:

"My contacts told me that the Map Department building was left unharmed,
as an island, with total destruction in three directions from the site."

I will compile this information and get it on the internet as it will no
doubt be useful for the reconstruction.  I encourage you to forward this
email to interested parties.

Please let the list know about damages to geosciences in Central America
by responding to: cenamgeology@egroups.com
You can also reach me directly at: krautara@...

Thank you for your help and perhaps we can find a way to assist with the
rebuilding.

Rob Rogers
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Dear e-groups:

Since 1977, El Salvador did´nt have real problems with wheather likes
days ago; Mitch´s changes direction that the Miami Central of Hurricanes
was confused until Mitch come throw Honduras.

At October 30th. the expectative of Mitch was turn at the South, over
Honduras and pass between two Mountain chains in the border of Guatemala
and El Salvador.

El Salvador´s disaster can be resumed in 250 death, 48,000 homeless and
over 1500 Millions US Dollars in Agriculture lost; mostly at the
South-East of the country. Really low comparised with Honduras and
Nicaragua.

I´m trying to obtain more information about this phenomeno, and I´ll
send to the group.

Regards

JC Aguilar

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Dear Friends and Colleagues;

Please forward this email.

By now you are aware of the magnitude of the disaster in Central
America.  Mitch brought between five and six feet of rain that fell in a
week.   While the rain has stopped, the suffering continues.  The
attached email describes the situation along the Patuca River in eastern
Honduras where I worked in 1992.  I ask for your help.  Please make a
donation of either money or food and clothing designated specifically
for the Misquito and Tawahka indigenous communities of the Middle
Patuca.  As the attached email describes, the Patuca region will not
receive relief except through Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's).
This requires that the NGO's have the resources.  You are a source of
their funds.

NGO's such as MOPAWI and FITH (Tawahka Indigenous Federation) are
coordinating aid for this area.  They very reputable and your donations
will get to those needing it the most.

Mainstream relief agencies such as the Red Cross, World Vision, CARE,
Catholic Relief Services, etc. are coordinating efforts to get the most
aid to the greatest number of people.  The situation in places such as
Tegucigalpa, El Progreso and Comayagua is horrendous.  However,
starvation will likely be averted due to the efforts of the
international relief organizations and a concentration of resources and
distribution efforts.  Remote areas, such as the Patuca, are in danger
of being overlooked because they are sparsely populated and tremendous
efforts are required just to gain access to the region.  This appeal is
for these areas.

I spent several nights in Yapuwas schoolhouse mentioned in the attached
email.  It sat 20 feet ABOVE the top bank of the Patuca River, elevated
on stilts 3.5 feet above the ground.  For this building to be washed
downstream requires that the Patuca River was 25 to 30 feet ABOVE
bankfull.  At this stage, the Patuca is miles wide.  The villages of
Komakosne, Yapuwas, Krautara, and Don Gedoy's refuge at the mouth of the
Wampu River are gone.  Krausirpe, where I returned to the hospitality of
the Tawahka's, is mostly gone. The fate of Dionesio Cruz, his wife
Tomasa and daughter Doris, Benjanim Dixion, Lauro, and many others are
unknown.

A list of relief organizations can be found at the following website:
http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/Mitch.html

Thank you,

Robert Rogers, editor
Honduras Geology

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NEWS FROM THE PATUCA & MONTREAL-BASED RELIEF EFFORT

Dear Friends of the Patuca:

Based on conversations with MOPAWI, FITH, and Biosfera Rio Platano workers in
Tegucigalpa who have had constant radio contact with communities on the
Patuca, the following is known:

MOPAWI estimates 50,000 people in the Mosquitia have lost their subsistence
base.  12,500 are estimated to be on the move, searching for food.

Hardest hit are communities situated along rivers.  Apparently the Rio Coco
zone was wiped out, and families there are still clinging to their rooves.
Nothing has been heard from the Upper Patuca.  A census taken earlier this
year found at least 120 homes between Piedra Azul and the Tawahka area, all
were perched close to the river and are assumed to have been swept away.  In
the Mid-Patuca Tawahka communities, the following is known:
	 2 houses left in Parawas, Kamakasna, and Yapuwas.  The Yapuwas school
was seen floating past Krausirpi.  Krausirpi has half of its homes intact.
Diarrhea and respiratory infection already rampant.
	 Community of Tukrun totally destroyed; Pimienta, Kuhrpa, Wawina, Waxma
assumed lost also.  Residents (no reported fatalities) are walking to bigger
towns at Krausirpi, Wampusirpi, and Ahuas.
	 Wampusirpi has been totally cut off (except by radio) and has received
no outside help as of 6 November.  Residents have completely run out of food
and have nothing for incoming waves of people.  As of Friday, the river is
unnavigable; a boat that attempted to leave Wampusirpi flipped over as soon as
it entered the main channel.
	 According to radio communication, what residents in these areas
desperately need is food; batteries, bullets, and fish hooks are also much
asked for.
	 Here in Montreal, we have organized a group to respond to those needs.
  The Honduran government has appealled to private groups to 'se
responsibaliza' for  particular remote areas.  FITH/MOPAWI are committed to
the Municipio de Wampusirpi and Ahuas.  We are confident that we can get
supplies down to Teguc., through Honduran consulate-organized flights on TACA
out of Toronto.  From Teguc, MOPAWI/FITH will ship the goods out in chartered
Alas de Socorro flights to Wampusirpi.  Apparently there are committees there
waiting to equitably distribute whatever arrives. (No helicopters are expected
to be available for weeks.) These planes are tiny Cessnas, so our aid will be
restricted to high-value, compact goods such as powdered milk, vitamins,
bullets, medicines, water purification tablets, high-energy foods, etc.   We
will be buying these here in Canada.  Reports from Tegucigalpa suggest there
is NOTHING to be bought there, or indeed in the entire region.
	 It is clear from all reports that individualized,
specifically-targetted aid is the only way to get help to remote areas like
the middle-Patuca.
	 We are assured by contacts in Tegucigalpa that the type of aid we will
send IS what's necessary.  They can't get it soon enough.
	 If you would like to contribute specifically to this Patuca-based
relief, let us know via this e-mail address (kmcswe@...).  Leave
your number and we'll work out a way to get your contribution here.  [NB: As
we are not a registered charity, we cannot offer receipts for tax purposes].

Kendra McSweeney
Derek Parent
Sarah Dalle
Students of McGill University, Montreal
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Item 1) I have set up a second email group.

Caribbean Plate Evolution Group

"This email group is setup in support of the proposed International
  Geological Correlation Programme project, entitled Caribbean Plate
  Tectonics, Origin and Evolution of the Region. This project, proposed
by
  Dr. Manuel A. Iturralde-Vinent of the Cuban Museo Nacional de Historia
  Natural, is aimed as a five-year evaluation of existing Plate Tectonic
  Models for the Caribbean Realm in order to encourage a critical review
of
  those models and to reach an agreement concerning the basic facts that
  should serve as a framework for the formulation of new set of improved
  models."

A description of the project can be found at:
http://www.wolfenet.com/~krautara/cariborigin.html

  To subscribe, send a message to egroups.com-subscribe@carib or go the
  this e-group's home page at http://www.egroups.com/list/carib


Item 2) Caribbean Plate Bibliography containing more than 4300
references can be found at:
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/plates/biblio/carib/carib.htm

Lisa Gahagan maintains the site and notes that "Contributions are
welcome. This bibliography is also available as an EndNote file and a
REFER-formatted text-only file. Please send contributions or requests
for a digital version of the bibliography to plates@....

Special thanks to Paul Mann and Eric Rosencrantz for their help in this
compilation.  Other major contributors include: Manuel Iturralde-Vinent,
Mark Gordon, Radim Kolarsky, Jairo Lugo, Gyorgy Marton, and Stacy
Tyburski."


Item 3)  Sorry for any confusion from the multiple welcome and
invitation messages.  I am still learning how to work this software.  I
can be reached directly at krautara@...  Remember that if you
"reply" to this message you will reach the entire group (96 members).
Yes, a few of you belong to both groups.

Nos Vemos,

Rob Rogers
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Subscribe, unsubscribe, opt for a daily digest, or start a new e-group
at http://www.eGroups.com -- Free Web-based e-mail groups.

Welcome to the Central American Geology email group.  If you receive
this message, you are subscribed to this group.  My apologies if anyone
is included in this group who does not wish to be.  If you need help
unsubscribing, please email me directly at krautara@... and I
will remove you from the group within a day.

To post a message, simply send it to cenamgeology@egroups.com

A brief note on the policies of this email group.

I’m Rob Rogers.  I set up this group and will serve as the moderator, at
least initially.  I want to let you know of the “rules” of this groups
as it is flexible in a number of regards.

Group Policies
1. Anyone may join.  Can be restricted and controlled by moderator.
2. Anyone may post messages.  This can be restricted to a) group members
(you), b) the moderator (me), and c) nobody.
3. Posted messages are sent directly to the subscriber group (you).  The
option exists to have posted messages routed through the moderator for
approval. You also have the option to receive a daily digest of postings
instead of every posting.
4. Posted messages stored at the group website
(http://www/egroups.com/liste/carib/main.html) can be viewed by anyone.
This can be restricted to group members.
5. When you reply to a posting, the reply is sent to the entire group.
It can be set up to reply only to the sender.  Be aware of this.  If you
wish to reply ONLY to the sender of a message, DO NOT use the “reply to”
command on your email software.
6. Membership listing is available to group members at the website.
Currently this is restricted to your email address.
7. The eGroups.com company states that they will attach advertising to
the end of postings to the group as a condition for this service.  They
also state that your email address will not  sold or given away.  I have
not experienced any unsolicited email as a result of membership in
another group.

I hope this answers some of your questions.  If you have others, you can
email me directly at krautara@....

Regards,

Rob Rogers
______________________________________________________________________
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