No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessRamsar delegation arrives in Nicaragua to survey wetlands along proposed canal route

Ramsar delegation arrives in Nicaragua to survey wetlands along proposed canal route

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – A delegation representing the Ramsar Wetlands Convention has arrived in Nicaragua to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of construction of a massive interoceanic canal through the San Miguelito wildlife refuge in the southern region of the country, Nicaragua’s Environment Minister Juana Argeñal said Wednesday.

The delegation is headed by Ramsar’s Americas adviser, María Rivera, and responds to an invitation by the government of Daniel Ortega, Argeñal told local state-run media.

After meeting with government officials and representatives of the canal concessionaire, HK Nicaragua Development Invesment (HKND), Rivera said it is “very, very positive that Nicaragua has called the convention” to study the San Miguelito wetlands. According to the Ramsar adviser, all signatory countries are obligated to inform the convention about “any type of threat to a Ramsar site.”

The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that seeks national and international cooperation to protect wetlands across the globe. The delegation will present its findings and recommendations after visiting the refuge.

San Miguelito, in the southern department of Río San Juan, spans 43,000 hectares and houses 30 percent of the country’s bird species, as well as a large number of amphibians. It is located along the proposed 278-kilometer canal route, which officially broke ground on Dec. 22, 2014 with the start of a few access roads.

The canal will cross Lake Cocibolca, Central America’s largest freshwater lake, despite growing opposition from environmentalists and other opponents, who accuse the government of irresponsibly launching the massive project without completing a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. That study currently is directed by the British firm Environmental Resource Management (ERM), which promised to issue conclusions in March or April.

The Great Canal of Nicaragua will require a minimum investment of $50 billion, according to  HKND.

Related: Journalists harassed, detained in latest chapter of Nicaragua canal saga

Trending Now

Guatemala Makes History as They Face USA in Gold Cup Semifinal Showdown

Desperate to show progress under Mauricio Pochettino, the United States is looking to secure a return to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Wednesday...

Costa Rica Identified as Key Maritime Route for Cocaine Trafficking

Costa Rica appears among the main maritime and aerial routes for cocaine trafficking between South and North America, according to the World Drug Report 2025 published...

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

Costa Rica Extradites David Ochy to Panama for Alleged Money Laundering

Costa Rican authorities have extradited David Ochy, a former Panamanian presidential candidate, to Panama, where he faces charges of money laundering tied to the...

2025 Gold Cup: Honduras Advances After Dramatic Shootout, Mexico Ends Goal Drought

Honduras, with a surprising and dramatic penalty shootout victory over Panama, and Mexico, with a lackluster win against Saudi Arabia, advanced Saturday to the...

Obesity in Costa Rica: A Growing Health Crisis After 35 Years of Change

Recent studies claim that about one-third of adults in Costa Rica are considered obese and another third overweight. Which means about two-thirds of adults...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica