NICARAGUA – PASO DEL ISTMO 16 December 2016

Rehabilitation and maintenance of the Paso del Istmo corridor, the fragile link between North and South America.

Rivas Isthmus, the spit of land between the Pacific Ocean and the enormous Nicaraguan lake, is made up of a mosaic of different landscapes (forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands and mangroves). This strip of land is of utmost importance to both the local populations and wildlife as it is a key source of water. The last shreds of forest that are left ensure the continuity between the North and South parts of the American continent. They are essential to the survival of several mammals, such as Jaguars, Pumas and Coatis, as well as to other endangered species, including Spider Monkeys and the Yellow-headed Amazon Parrot. The beaches along the shore of the Pacific Ocean also provide a nesting area for four species of marine turtle.

The biological integrity of the corridor is under threat. Farming, particularly the practice of industrial mono crops, hastens the fragmentation of the Nicaraguan coastal forests. 46% of the local population are living under the poverty line, even though the vast majority of them are landowners, and therefore find themselves forced to sell their land in order to cope with increasing economic difficulties. This then leads to the destruction of numerous forests, which in turn leads to further fragmentation of the natural areas, a loss of biological connectivity and the isolation of animal populations.

The NGO Paso Pacifico, founded in 2005 by an American and a Nicaraguan, works with the local populations and organizations. So far, six village communities located along the banks of the two main rivers that cross the Rivas Isthmus have joined together in order to save their environment. Some 2000 people from the Mestizo population have thus volunteered to participate in efforts to rehabilitate and maintain the Paso del Istmo forest corridor.

Olivier BEHRA visited this area for the first time in 2011 with the aim of seeing on the ground the need to provide financial assistance to this association’s projects. The diversity of the landscapes is so incredible that it is easy to see the potential of this enormous diversity of plants. The local flora could be developed by the local populations who would then more easily be able to switch to food and commercial production practices that ensure the conservation of their natural resources.

Paso Pacifico was able to put in place a surveillance system to track the most endangered species of wild fauna. They also worked with the local inhabitants to start agro-forestry reforestation efforts essential to maintaining biodiversity. 25.000 trees have been successfully planted over 38 hectares and more than 30.000 seedlings have been planted in nurseries. 29 men and 6 women have been trained in intensive biological agriculture and a manual on the extension of cocoa farming (under forest cover) has now been finalised. In addition, conservation awareness programs have been followed by more than 1.200 children.

Aceituno is a plant found in this area that produces a vegetable oil of considerable interest to both international cosmetics and local use.