Nicaragua - Overview

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Comprising more than half of Nicaragua’s 12 million hectares, the Atlantic slope contains outstanding biological diversity and habitats recognized nationally and globally. The area includes the largest remaining area of relatively pristine forest in all of Central America. Apart from its rich fauna and flora, the area also serves as a vital link in a chain of humid forests stretching from Mexico to Colombia, known as the Atlantic Biological Corridor... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

The total protected land area is 2,810ha, which accounts for almost 21.8% of the total land surface area. 320ha are given over to Nature Reserves, 130 ha to marine and littoral zones and 2,182ha to the only Biosphere Reserve. As of 2003 there exists 88 protected areas.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was initiated in February 2000. The national strategy is based on 6 identified, immediate objectives. These objectives are further broken down into sub-targets with actions to achieve these sub-targets, the indicators to be used as well as the parties responsible for implementing the measures... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Cooperation with Costa Rica and Honduras has led to the creation of two major, transborder incentives: The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor Project and the San Juan River Restoration Project. The Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry are developing investigative measures for the conservation of biodiversity and genetic resources, in order to create a database and generate information on the different fields and objectives of the national strategy... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Several priority actions were identified for the development of a National Protected Areas network, which include things such as: planning, strengthening and management of the national protected area systems; create and strengthen regional networks, transboundary protected areas and collaboration between adjacent protected areas; guarantee the financial sustainability of protected areas and the national and regional systems of protected areas; assure that scientific knowledge contributes to the creation and efficiency of protected areas and national and regional protected area systems... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

The Government of Nicaragua has generated a draft bill, the Biodiversity Law, which includes a chapter exclusively for the protection, respect, preservation and maintenance of the knowledge, practices and innovations of the indigenous peoples, ethnic communities and the local populations. They also included, in the Law 290, to the duties of the Minister of the Environment the responsibility of regulating these aspects... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Sr. Carlos Ramiro Mejía Urbina	CBD Primary NFP
Lic. Freddy Rivera Umanzor	SBSTTA NFP, Protected Areas NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Ing. MSc. Edilberto Duarte López

Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP, BCH NFP