The central and western highlands are pine-covered, and the eastern lowlands and north coast grow tropical hardwoods. A vibrant forest products industry and pressure to clear lands for pasture have often produce conflicts over the best policy for forest management. A government agency has the responsibility of overseeing the exploitation and conservation of this major renewable resource. People Among themselves Hondurans are known affectionately as catrachos . Generally they live concentrated in the central and western upland valleys and along La Costa Norte.
Population is more sparse to the south and east.
Almost two-thirds of the people live in rural communities. The official language of Honduras is Spanish, with certain dialects spoken by the indigenous Misquitos, Payas, and Sumo tribes disseminated throughout the eastern part of the country. English, Chinese and Arabic are also spoken by immigrants who have settled in Honduras. Economy Honduras is normally considered the poorest country in Central America. The north coast towns of Tela, La Ceiba and Trujillo experienced tremendous growth in the early years of banana exportation, as they were the only outlets for shipping abroad.