Nicaragua cloud forest ‘under siege’ by illegal loggers
Originally reported on BBC News
The Bosawas Reserve is a critically important rainforest but native people say it is being destroyed by “colonists”
A famed rainforest in Nicaragua is under growing threat from illegal loggers, say indigenous leaders.
The Bosawas Biosphere Reserve is Central America’s largest tropical forest with clouds constantly drifting over the hilly terrain.
They are calling on US president Barack Obama, who is visiting the region, to support their battle.
Described by the United Nations as a global biological treasure, the reserve is located on the border between Nicaragua and Honduras and teems with wildlife
The two million hectares are said to be home to 150,000 insect species, rare jaguars, eagles and crocodiles as well as the world’s last populations of Baird’s Tapir and the Central American Spider Monkey.
We believe that if there is no intervention there will be no Biosphere Reserve in five to 10 years” Taymond Robins Mayangna people
The Bosawas reserve also overlaps the homes of indigenous communities who have been there for centuries, living by hunting and fishing.
The Nicaraguan government recognised the full legal title of the Mayangna to their lands in 2007.
Since then, they say they have been subject to what they term an “invasion” by landless people from other parts of the country.
The Saslaya National Park is found within the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve
They claim to have documented 11,500 “colonists” who have deforested around 150,000 hectares since 2009.
Arisio Genaro, president of the Nacion Mayangna, told BBC News that this was an extremely serious threat to the future of the forest.
“The problem is that in the parts of our territory that we have zoned to be conservation forest, they are being invaded by settlers.”
“Even we the Mayangna don’t touch these forests, that’s where the animals we hunt reproduce. If they destroy that, they will destroy our people.”
“The world needs to know that we are in crisis because of our efforts to defend the natural resources that we survive on,” he added.
Scientists are also concerned that the struggles between natives and colonists will have a detrimental impact on the region’s biodiversity.
Leading researcher, Dr Thomas Lovejoy, who first coined the term back in 1980 said that protecting the Bosawas reserve was critical.
“Nicaragua has one of the three great blocs of remaining tropical rain forest in Central America,” he said.
“As a consequence, the struggle to protect this precious and unique part of biological diversity is of hemispheric, indeed global, importance.”
The Mayangna number around 40,000 people and have made numerous representations to the Nicaraguan government. But according to community leaders, not enough is being done to protect their rights.
Tensions between the in-comers and the natives have spilled over into violence leading to the death of a Mayangna leader on 24 April.
Mr Genaro believes the authorities are afraid of the political consequences of supporting the native peoples.
Critically endangered spider monkeys and other rare species continue to live in the Bosawas reserve
“It seems they don’t want to do this because they are worried about losing votes,” he said.
“There are many invaders. They think that if they take strong action to protect our property they will lose political support.”
His views are echoed by Taymond Robins, who is also Mayangna and organises the defence of the forests.
“We are very sad because they are contaminating our rivers and it is affecting the climate in our areas,” he said.
“We are losing land, and we are losing our cultural values. We are very worried.”
The invaders are not all just poor, landless peasants he said.
“Really these people are land speculators. They come in, they burn the forest and put in pasture, then sell it and move to another area.”
The Mayangna are calling on President Obama, who is meeting with regional leaders in Costa Rica, to support their battle against invaders. They say the forest is critical for the whole world and not just Nicaragua.
Next week, indigenous peoples from all over the country will bring their demands for better protection for their forests to the capital Managua.
“We are going to have a march here in Managua so that the government can see it has a responsibility to comply with the laws and the property rights of the country,” said Mr Genaro.
“We believe that if there is no intervention, there will be no Biosphere reserve in five to 10 years.”
Plastic or real, with needles or not, there’s an alternative Christmas tree out there for you this year – and it’s in Nicaragua.
This comes in the form of Oxfam Cymru’s partnership with Welsh organisation Size of Wales, in a unique project to help sustain an area of tropical forest twice the size of Wrexham county borough – one thousand square kilometres. This area of tropical forest is in the Boswas Biosphere reserve in Nicaragua, the largest forest reserve in Central America. A total of 3000 people will be helped through the project.
Oxfam Cymru has taken on the challenge of raising money for this project and every pound raised will be generously matched by Size of Wales.
Julian Rosser, Head of Oxfam Cymru, said, “Consider this gift as an extra Christmas tree this year! A perfect way to spread the spirit of generosity overseas and into the future by investing in a project that will help people and a rainforest to survive for generations to come”.
The Bosawas reserve contains the homelands of indigenous peoples for whom the forest is a source of life, food and medicinal herbs. Over the last ten years, their way of life has been threatened by massive deforestation caused by the rapid and unsustainable clearing of land for agriculture and intensive livestock farming, which has lead to soil erosion, water pollution and the loss of animal and plant species.
Through this Oxfam Unwrapped gift, communities will be educated and trained to protect the forests in which they live as a vital part of the bigger climate change and environmental protection picture.
Rosser added, “This Christmas people in Wales can play a vital role in helping to protecting one of the world’s most vulnerable communities by raising funds for Oxfam Cymru’s project – money which will be doubled by Size of Wales. It really is a win-win for all involved and will make a really original gift for friends or family.”
‘Green Maker’ Cyril urges West Wales to Go Green for the rainforest
A small part of Aberystwyth was today, turned tropical by university students.
The world’s rainforests absorb almost a fifth of the world’s man-made carbon dioxide emissions. Size of Wales aims to help protect an area of tropical forest equivalent to Wales, and, in turn, inspire other countries to do the same.
As a ‘Green Maker’- an environmental version of the London 2012 Games Makers- the 19 year old is encouraging the people of Aberystwyth to ‘go green’ on Friday 19th October and help the charity achieve its fundraising goal of £2million. Events are already being planned in Lampeter by University of Wales Trinity St. David students and in Machynlleth.
The money raised from Aberystwyth will help fund a range of actions that will help protect the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua, the largest forest reserve in Central America, and the second largest rainforest in the Western Hemisphere after the Amazon in Brazil.
Cyril, who was one of the 2010 Climate Champions for Wales, is deeply concerned over the preservation of the rainforest. His hope is that his role as a ‘Green Maker’ will encourage others in Aberystwyth- be they a business, shop, school or individual- to wear green to raise money for the good cause.
International Politics student Cyril said “We’ve all seen the positive effect the ‘Games Makers’ had on the London 2012 games. As Aberystwyth’s ‘Green Maker’, my role is to get as many people from the town involved in Go Green Day. There are so many easy ways to get involved- from getting your colleagues or classmates to wear green for a small donation, to buying a wristband and painting your face or setting up events like cake sales. It only takes a small action to send a big message.”
The town of Lampeter, along with students from University of Wales Trinity St David are also planning a day of Go Green events on October 19th. Mayor of Lampeter, Kistiah Ramaya said: “With ‘Go Green’, University of Wales Trinity St Davids is playing its part in protecting the rainforest. This is something we should all be aware of, safeguarding the future for our children and grandchildren. Lampeter Town Council is fully supportive of this initiative.”
Size of Wales has so far raised £1,327,760 towards the £2m target to help protect 2m hectares of tropical forest – the size of Wales. The money raised will be spent on a range of actions that will help protect the forests – from buying tree seedlings to funding rangers, supporting local people and lobbying for land ownership and management rights.
Donate to this project, and find more information on Go Green Day
MANAGUA, 14 may 2013 (IPS) - Indígenas de la etnia mayangna libran una crucial batalla en defensa de su ancestral asentamiento en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Bosawas, en el norte de Nicaragua, gravemente amenazada por la depredación de colonos invasores. El presidente de la nación indígena mayangna, Aricio Genaro, narró a Tierramérica* que la lucha de los pueblos autóctonos por esta reserva, que aún constituye la selva más grande de América Central, se intensificó a partir de 2010 ante el incremento de la presencia de campesinos proveniente del este y centro del país. Genaro aseguró que la invasión se ha tornado violenta y descarnada contra los recursos naturales y la propia comunidad aborigen, estimada en unos 30.000 integrantes. En ese marco, indicó que 13 indígenas han muerto desde 2009 en defensa del territorio.
