Reforestation in Laguna de Apoyo II

A view of almost any part of our planet by airplane demonstrates the dramatic effects humans have on it. The number and sizes of places where wild animals rule and humans do not make dramatic alterations are far exceeded by those where trees are removed, buildings are built, concrete is poured, and roads are built. There are more people on our planet every day, and fewer places for wild animals to live.

Wilderness areas are under attack, especially in places like Nicaragua. Land is cheap, and laws to prevent forest destruction often don't get enforced. When land is scenic, such as at Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, wilderness might not stay wild long, regardless of laws and regulations. Cutting trees, hunting wildlife, clearing land, and building houses are all illegal here, but many of these activities occur anyway, because vigilance and enforcement is insufficient.

The dream of many US citizens is to own a little corner of paradise, and places like Laguna de Apoyo appeal to lots of them. Although many honest real estate agents can be found in Nicaragua, Laguna de Apoyo is overwhelmed by unscrupulous agents, investors and speculators, often advertising "ready to build" for lots where construction is not permitted. These people entice foreigners to drop their money on property with a great view, a gorgeous, warm lake before it, basically by fooling them. At Estacion Biologica Laguna de Apoyo, we often receive visitors who have bought land in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve under deception, and these people are always regretful of their purchases.
It is a shame to watch people discard their lifetime savings on something too good to be true, which, alas, is not true.

What is sadder than watching drama unfold in the lives of many, unwitting US citizens who experience buyer regret, however, is the terrible implications on the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Almost daily, we witness the unnecessary and illegal destruction of natural areas around us. Rather than just sit and watch helplessly as this wild area vanishes, we work closely with the Nicaraguan Police, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MARENA), the local municipality of Catarina, environmentalist organizations and the local community to keep Laguna de Apoyo wild. Among the actions we take to save our beautiful surroundings is to plant trees and shepherd them on their way to regeneration of good forest.

Lots of trees were donated to the Laguna de Apoyo Reforestation Project by CARUNA, and Movimiento Ambientalista Guardabarranco provided strategic support and lots of energy in planting them. Photo by Jeffrey Munguia.

September 7, 2012 became a big day for us in our attempt to plant the most trees possible. We had thousands of small trees in our nursery at Estacion Biologica Laguna de Apoyo, and two more good months of rain on their way made the date ideal for planting these trees in the forest.

Nicaraguan volunteers carrying saplings of native trees converge on the reforestation site in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo by Jeffrey Munguia. 

MARENA and Movimiento Ambientalista Guardabarranco organized local participation from Masaya, along with our friends and neighbors inside our area. We moved more than 2500 trees to the planting sites, and people were digging holes with shovels, machetes, and even sticks. More people than implements were available, but there was plenty to do.

Trees, trees, and more trees. Photo by Jeffrey Munguia.

Volunteers responded to the call, from Masaya, Granada, San Juan de Oriente, Catarina, and Masatepe, and lots of foreigners visiting in the area came, too. We were amazed by the massive participation in our reforestation activity, which reflected local interest in protecting and caring for Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Many Nicaraguans want to participate actively in caring for the environment, and this location is deep in the hearts of many of them.

Enthusiastic participation of Nicaraguan volunteers made our tree-planting day a tremendous success. Photo by Jeffrey Munguia.

A road which was once used to enter La Abuela Lodge was blocked, and we planted hundreds of trees along its length. The land, owned by the municipality, was deemed to be no longer a route for vehicular traffic, so we helped to reconvert it to part of the forest!

Local schools, neighborhood organizations, and many agencies from Masaya helped with our tree-planting activity. CARUNA and the Ministry of Family Economics also aided by bringing refreshments which were welcome after a few hours of hard work by all. Photo by Jeffrey Munguia. 

Our neighbors came and helped, including the children and teachers of the local high school. Our local teachers want their students to learn by doing and to contribute to their community. We enjoy working to save nature in Laguna de Apoyo even more when we see how much Nicaraguans also enjoy this work.

Stakes made from branches made excellent implements for digging small holes to place saplings. Thanks to Elmer Nicaragua for devoting extra time from his day for making these stakes. Photo by Jeffrey Munguia.

We always feel rewarded when Nicaraguans are grateful for what we do and want to share their effort with us. This day showed clearly that Nicaraguans care about keeping Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve wild, by the hundreds of people who came with energy and a smile to the reforestation activity. Everyone can help to plant a tree, young and old, and many helped without expecting any kind of recompense beyond the knowledge that they have worked to protect wild nature in their country.

While some hammed it up for a photo opportunity, others moved large rocks to block the former road to vehicular traffic. Photo by Jeffrey Munguia. 

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Un-real Estate III: Developers threaten Laguna de Apoyo

Once again, developers are trying to build more houses in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Friday, October 28, the staff of FUNDECI/GAIA attended a presentation of a proposed construction of twelve houses in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. The people making the presentation wore nametags "Huellas del Camino", but questions were raised regarding whether this was yet another attempt on the part of the developers who destroyed many hectares in the failed attempt to build houses in "Finca Los Congos". Although the developers were stopped by unanimous decision of the National Assembly and the Ministry for the Environment, they continue to sell lots in their website.

The local community was outraged by the prospect of more houses in the reserve, and they made their voices heard:

You can read more about this meeting in La Prensa and in El Nuevo Diario.

Nicaragua real estate is subject to foreign influences which do not always respect issues such as protected areas. Laguna de Apoyo needs more protection, not more houses for foreigners!

If you would like to keep Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve pristine and natural, please contact us and help us make our opinions a united force against the attacks of unscrupulous real estate developers. There are conscientious real estate agents, so check carefully. Does your real estate agent tell you that building is not permitted in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve? 

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Un-real Estate II: "Developers" Threaten Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve

This article appeared in El Nuevo Diario November 3, 2010. The other side of Nicaragua real estate is not always pretty. Many investors have Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve in their crosshairs, and they won't stop unless the government and the civil society keeps their position clear. It is unfortunate that a few developers insist on destroying natural areas for their personal gain, when many potential investors would be willing to be involved in Nicaragua if controls were stronger.

Otro atentado contra el patrimonio natural

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El pasado viernes, asistí a una presentación final de consulta pública para un propuesto proyecto habitacional en la Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo. Nuestro respetado colega Giovanny Carranza explicó detalles de construcción, planes arquitecturales y tratamiento de aguas servidas por más de una hora a una audiencia de unos cuatrocientas personas, en el pueblo San Juan de Oriente, acompañado por música, ahuizotes y refrescos a un pueblo que casi nunca tiene tanta ocasión por fanfarrón.

Me parecía un proyecto idóneo para Nicaragua. Muchos detalles se habrían tomado en cuenta: materiales, diseños, caminos, promesas de compromiso social y ambiental, progreso, y empleo. Todo se veía demasiado bueno. Se habló de cumplimiento de leyes, códigos y reglamentos, pero en ningún momento, se quedó sin mencionar que el proyecto es propuesto dentro de la Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo, por lo cual aplican severas restricciones sobre el uso de la tierra, incluyendo la prohibición de construcción de habitaciones. En vez de hablar de cómo se cumple el propuesto proyecto con las normas que pertenecen a la Reserva, se prometió dedicar gran parte de la propiedad del área del proyecto a una reserva ecológica privada.

Mientras se presentaron datos, dimensiones, colores de paredes, materiales de construcción, yo reflexioné en la reciente historia de este sitio. Una vez un sitio de retiro para los antepasados de los nicaragüenses, se encontró bajo la lupa de Somoza en los 1960, cuando él y unos cuantos más construyeron un camino vehicular y las primeras casas en su orilla. Como siempre, se prometió progreso y desarrollo, pero cada vez más, los riachuelos se secaron, las costas se alejaron, haciendo más difícil el acceso del pueblo a sus aguas. A pesar de las buenas intenciones del Dr. Jaime Incer cuando el sitio fue nombrado parte del Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas en 1991, llegó otro gran proyecto habitacional, permitido por el alcalde de San Juan de Oriente y bendecido por el otrora presidente Bolaños, otra vez prometiendo empleo y progreso.

Las propiedades de la laguna de Apoyo comenzaron a caer en picada, víctimas de la sensibilidad ambiental de las faldas volcánicas y la sistémica injusticia legal que perjudica a los pobres en este país. Los dueños de lotes y parcelas, en su mayoría campesinos de los Pueblos Blancos, fueron prohibidos de construir casas o hacer casi cualquier “mejora” a su propiedad. Sin embargo, algunos especuladores, principalmente (pero no en su totalidad) extranjeros, lanzaron una estrategia comprensiva en comprar las propiedades de la laguna de Apoyo en precios bajos. Los pobres no tienen acceso a la justicia, pero los “cheles”, sí. De repente, aparecían páginas web con precios de venta de las mismas propiedades, con promesas de construir. Casas aparecieron mágicamente, nadie sabía quien dio permiso a quien. Un muro de dos kilómetros de largo por la costa, un bajadero lujoso, rótulos de lotes en venta aparecía en el sector de Granada. Celadores armados comenzaron a rodear con radios. Otro proyecto prometedor en Diriá, y un estudio de impacto ambiental que parecía mentira, porque la era. Los de Diriá prometieron sembrar cincuenta mil árboles, pero en verdad, mandaron a cortar igual número sin ningún permiso, por lo cual los acusamos delante de MARENA y la Asamblea Nacional.

El problema con el proyecto presentado es que ya estamos cansados de escuchar promesas que no se pueden cumplir. Si de verdad quieren no dañar el medio ambiente, ¿porqué no comenzaron con el Plan de Manejo que ha sido aprobado para la Reserva? Ahí pueden observar que el sitio donde han propuesto construir es designado de alto valor a la naturaleza, y de pendientes inapropiadas para construir, por lo cual ha sido declarado NO APTO para construcciones. El Plan de Manejo para la Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo amerita especial mención por la cantidad de consultas públicas y técnicas que se hicieron, cubriendo un período hasta de cuatro años entre el inicio de su elaboración hasta su aprobación.

Si en verdad los inversionistas quieren hacer un proyecto social y ambientalmente favorable, lo pueden hacer y nadie los impide. Hay tres opciones factibles. Pueden hacer el mismo proyecto en la zona de amortiguamiento de la Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo, donde se encuentra los cascos urbanos, comarcas y fincas de cuatro pueblos. O bien si lo quieren hacer dentro de la Reserva, pueden comprar cualquier cantidad de casas vacías y en abandono total en la orilla de la laguna, y rehabilitarlas con todas las normas que fueron presentadas el viernes. Desde la Estación Biológica donde trabajo, al norte, se encuentran ocho casas consecutivas, abandonadas, con rótulos ”For Sale”. Sería muy interesante reactivar estas casas y ponerlas todas las nuevas tecnologías verdes que se hablaba en la presentación. Así no tendría que cambiar un solo metro cuadrado de techado.

Igualmente, pueden comprar las 65 casas en el desarrollo habitacional que se encuentra triste, vacío, sin vida. Los dueños extranjeros en su mayoría quieren vender sus casas y olvidar de las promesas no cumplidas que les dieron al comprar. Esta idea me parece fabulosa. El potencial de convertir las “cabañas ecológicas” en estructuras con nueva vida tiene mucho potencial.

Pero cómo pueden venir a decir a la gente de ahí, los locales que han caminado y arado esas tierras por generaciones, que “no vamos a cortar un solo árbol”? Por favor! No hay lugar en la Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo que se encuentra naturalmente sin árboles a distancia de aproximadamente un metro, o si no, es porque alguien haya alterado la faz de la tierra. Si no hay árboles sobre dichas tierras, es porque algún obrero fue mandado a cortarlos y mantener las tierras limpias.

Los comentarios de los ciudadanos incluyeron la preocupación por la economía local. Me parece que los consejos municipales, Marena y la Asamblea Nacional deben seguir buscando cómo recaudar y distribuir tributos en una manera equitativa. Es cierto que Catarina beneficia más por razones históricas, y otros pueblos no pueden gozar de los mismos beneficios económicos. Hacen falta herramientas fiscales justas para que San Juan de Oriente pueda percibir progreso sin destruir sus bosques.

Al final, me pregunto: ¿porqué siguen insistiendo en construir donde Marena y la Comisión de Medio Ambiente de la Asamblea Nacional ya concluyeron que no? La misma respuesta dada a los otros inversionistas se aplica aquí. Construir una casa más en la Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo es un atentado contra el patrimonio natural. Nada ni nadie lo puede justificar. La laguna de Apoyo es para todos los nicaragüenses.

FUNDECI/GAIA
apoyo@gaianicaragua.org

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Un-real Estate I: "Developers" Provoke Landslide in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve

As the photos show, a plot inside Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve had been deforested, with the intention to sell the land in plots for a housing development. The Discover Real Estate sign was strategically placed along the road, although no permission had even been requested or given to subdivide land for plots in the area. Signs around the reserve selling Vistalagos, Los Congos, and others promise beautiful mini-mansions in paradise. 

This sign shows the way to a residential development for which land use approval had never been applied.  Photo by Belen Camino.

Developers without any permits for destroying land inside Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve had built a wall without permission, cut trees, cleared land, began forming roads, and even had signalled the area with a sign from Discover Real Estate. All this was learned by accident, when the cleared land gave way under a heavy rain and a landslide ensued.

A long, high wall was built without approvals nor applications, blocking the property development from view of the  adjacent community. This wall ruptured after retaining a large volume of water during a heavy rain.  Photo by Belen Camino.

The water which had been held back by the retaining wall rushed over deforested land inside the crater interior of the Apoyo volcano. No authorization had been given or requested to build this wall nor to cut the trees. Photo by Belen Camino.

No one approved the cutting of trees in this photo, either. Note the contrast between the natural forest in the background and the razed land in the foreground. Photo by Belen Camino.

No one approved of this landslide, either, but thanks to the other illegal activities on the part of  the developers. Photo by Belen Camino.

The environmental damage was enormous. Trees were uprooted, soils on fragile slopes crashed into Lake Apoyo, and rocks littered the path. The path is subject to repeated landslides with every rain, now that large trees no longer hold the tephra soils in place and protect the ground from wind and rain.

Destruction was absolute all along the path of this landslide, from the top of the crater all the way to the shore of Lake Apoyo. Photo by Belen Camino.

Although some real estate companies in Nicaragua carry names and logos of US companies, they do not abide by any of the ethics guidelines to which the US real estate companies are obliged to adhere. "Let the Buyer Beware" is the universal policy in Nicaragua, even in the offices with US-sounding names, even when the agents speak English with American accents. There are honest real estate agents, but unlike in the US, the business community does not police them and force the bad agents and companies out.

The photos from this event were taken after the razed property suffered an environmental disaster. A landslide developed after a heavy rain, taking soil and rocks from the top of the Apoyo volcanic crater, all the way to the lake, about four hundred meters lower in elevation. The access road to the lake was blocked, requiring thousands of dollars of expenses on the part of the municipality of Catarina. When the authorities arrived, they found the Discover Real Estate sign signalling the entrance to a property with an illegally constructed wall blocking the view from the community, dozens of illegally cut precious hardwood trees, cleared land without permission, and the beginnings of an access road which had never been authorized. The evident intention of the developer was to perform the land development in a plot inside the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve before anyone would notice, and real estate agents did not scrutinize the legality of the process.

The developer did receive a fine for this violation, and although the court costs were small, they set an important precedent: Nicaragua is not a banana republic to be bought off by carpet baggers! The government has held fast to their position regarding building inside the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Subdividing, land clearing, real estate development of all kinds, and building are all closely regulated in the reserve. As this event demonstrated clearly, the Nicaraguan laws are considered a joke by many developers with an eye toward US retirees as potential buyers.

There are ethical real estate companies and agents in Nicaragua, who don't hold a "circle-the-wagons" mentality regarding environmental concerns and full disclosure on property sales. If a real estate agent tries to sell you a plot of land in or near Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, listen carefully, then check your information. Simply put, properties in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve can not be developed.

Is the property inside the nature reserve boundaries? Did your agent tell you this up front? Does the property have all the permits for building? Don't count on your agent to answer this-find out in the Ministry of Natural Resources office and the corresponding local municipality. FUNDECI/GAIA has received dozens of complaints from buyers and prospective buyers regarding unfounded claims on the part of the sellers of property which the prospective buyers later learned were false.

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