Conservation Science Interns and Volunteers at Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua

There are 78 protected areas in the SINAP system, managed by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) in Nicaragua. Among the most conflictive of these areas is Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, because of the beautiful views and warm, clear water. This protected area faces many challenges but none is as grave as that of real estate development.
FUNDECI/GAIA maintains a permanent presence in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, through the operation of the biological research station "Estacion Biologica". We conduct a number of environmental studies and conservation actions through our research station there, and we share our knowledge about Nicaragua, its language, culture and great natural heritage through courses and internships offered there.

FUNDECI/GAIA Conservation Science Intern Ruben Pelckmanns participates in bird population monitoring in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo Pablo Somarriba.

Conservation science interns and volunteers are essential to our work in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. We are conducting studies of birds, monkeys, plants and fish during 2014 at this location, in coordination with some universities and MARENA. We are comparing animal and plant surveys to previous years to determine how the forests improve or degrade. Frankly, our initial results have suggested some important loss of habitat in some of the most important areas for biodiversity in this location.

Conservation Science Interns at FUNDECI/GAIA can work on our wildlife monitoring project in the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo Pablo Somarriba. 

We at FUNDECI/GAIA are committed to seeing Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve prosper as a natural area. Obviously, not everyone feels the same, and we have had to deal with some very negative forces in the area, especially coming from people who want to gain riches from investing in property inside the protected area for real estate development. Some of these people really do not like us, and we have recently won an important civil judgment against some of them. There is great opposition to protecting the forest and lake from their greatest enemies, the real estate offices!

These volunteers left us with a poignant and environmental message.  Photo Pablo Somarriba.

The GAIA Program in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve also promotes environmental conservation projects, particularly reforestation in some of the affected areas in the reserve. Our group was instrumental in the production of the first-ever official management plan for the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, with GAIA director Jeffrey McCrary as the coordinator of the project, which involved dozens of work meetings with the community and government officials, reviews of biodiversity, geography, land use, sociological factors, and lots of maps and other information for use in the plan.

The finding of a freshly dead bird led to a skin preparation. Photo Pablo Somarriba.

Our interns can be involved in ongoing studies on the environment in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. We have been conducting studies of bird, bat and butterfly populations in the reserve for several years. We are looking for historical trends in populations which may demonstrate differences in land use in five different sites inside the reserve.

FUNDECI/GAIA volunteers at Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve painted realistic images of some of the wildlife found in the area, along the wall of the entrance to Estacion Biologica. Photo Pablo Somarriba.

Interns may also take on conservation projects. One of our oldest environmental volunteering projects is reforestation. We harvest seeds, plant and grow native trees in our tree nursery, and plant them in deforested areas in the forest. But the most important aspect of our project means the difference between success and failure-it is the continued care of the planted trees for years after planting. Many reforestation projects exist in natural areas, but few of them succeed in recreating natural forest, because tree survival is typically zero for those projects. 

We also rescue wild animals. Interns can work on animal care with our animals, which include two macaws. They can also participate in fundraising for the care and re-introduction of rescued wild animals. 

FUNDECI/GAIA volunteers participate in discussions on the environment and social issues in Nicaragua with guests at Estacion Biologica. Photo Pablo Somarriba.

Click on the "escudo" to contact us.

Los animales silvestres deben vivir y morir en el bosque, no en una jaula

La Asamblea Nacional de Nicaragua se encuentra en el proceso de reglamentar la Ley de Bienestar Animal, también conocida como la Ley 747. Esta ley noble prohibe al maltrato y requiere a todo dueño de animales, que sean de tiro, de alimento o de mascota, que brinde condiciones dignas para el curso de su vida.

Nicaragua, siendo un país con bosques alrededor, se ha acostumbrado a tratar a algunos animales como si fueran domesticables. Todos tenemos algún amigo que tiene un mono encadenado en su patio. Loras y lapas abundan entre la clase media alta, se han convertido en manifestaciones de poder adquisitivo. Y hay quienes en Nicaragua con tigrillos, leoncillos o hasta un jaguar enjaulado en su casa, extraño o perverso que sea.

Los perros y los gatos son animales que derivan de la vida silvestre, pero después de miles de años de acompañamiento a los seres humanos, ya dependen de ellos. Los gatos y perros no pueden sostenerse como especie sin alguna relación con el ser humano. 

Sin embargo, las lapas, las loras, los chocoyos, las culebras, y todos los animales silvestres, no prefieren vivir con el ser humano como si fueran gatos y perros. En jaulas, amarrados con cadenas, o con sus alas cortadas, se encuentran miles de animales de la vida silvestre en Nicaragua. El comercio en estos animales es tan fuerte que casi nadie en este país ha visto una lapa en su vida libre, pero todos hemos visto lapas en jaulas dentro de casas de amigos. 

Los animales silvestres en Nicaragua sí dependen de los seres humanos, para que se acabe con el tráfico de mascotas. Sin una ley y coacción contra las personas que participan en el tráfico de animales silvestres, vamos a seguir perdiendo animales del bosque, como ya ha pasado con la lapa y los monos en gran parte de Nicaragua. 

El Nuevo Diario ha publicado una entrevista sobre los rescates de animales silvestres del tráfico en mascotas. FUNDECI/GAIA maneja un pequeño albergue donde recuperamos animales silvestres heridos o abandonados del tráfico en mascotas. Por nuestra experiencia como voluntarios a favor de los animales silvestres, FUNDECI/GAIA participa con los miembros de la Asamblea Nacional en la formulación del reglamento para esta ley. Quieres ayudarnos a cuidar estos animales y prepararlos para su regreso al bosque? Necesitamos voluntarios, donaciones de comida, servicios veterinarios y buena voluntad! Si deseas donar un paquete de marañones o un día de trabajo, estaríamos nosotros y los animales muy agradecidos. Contáctennos. 

Contaminación Ambiental en la planta embotelladora Big Cola

Varios reportes noticieros han salido al aire sobre el asunto de la Big Cola en los últimos días. Aquí se puede ver, por ejemplo, un reportaje de 100% Noticias (Jackson Orozco):

La Radio La Primerísima también ha participado en la divulgación de los asuntos de contaminación de agua y excesos de sonido en la Big Cola (oprima sobre la foto para el enlace): 

Haga clic sobre la foto para enlace con Radio La Primerísima.

Haga clic en la foto para conectar al reporte de Boletín Ecológico.

Los vecinos reclaman por cumplimiento de leyes ambientales, sobre sonidos, vibraciones, y emisión de líquidos y gases, en un barrio urbano en Managua.
Para participar en las protestas contra la contaminación de agua en el Lago Xolotlán, y la protección contra sonidos en el barrio, escribannos en fundeci@gmail.com. FUNDECI necesita del apoyo de cada persona interesada para proteger el medio ambiente. 

Big Cola Pollutes in Managua II

Just in case anyone doesn't believe the videos and photos demonstrated in an earlier blog entry are real, here are more. Big Cola is considered to be a multinational, receiving the same support for its business as the other Free Trade Zone companies that do business in Nicaragua. These companies submit to strict regulations which control their activities. Nonetheless, policing is difficult for the government, even when relatively few companies are recalcitrant polluters. The case of Big Cola is dramatic, however, as can be seen in the videos below. 

Wastewater from the Big Cola bottling plant in Managua is opaque and foamy. Is this within the standards for wastewater in Managua? 

Water dumped from the Big Cola plant may vary from dark, bright red, or opaque white.

The owners of Big Cola, AJE Group, have promised to invest US$25 million in Nicaragua. This seems like a great plan, because Nicaragua needs investment and employment. Nonetheless, this investment must be placed appropriately, including to clean up the messes made by the company and to protect the neighbors from water pollution, gases, and noise. Additionally, workers in the Big Cola bottling plant must be protected from noise, as well.

Are you offended by these images and videos? Do you want to do something to keep Nicaragua clean and safe for everyone? Contact us. FUNDECI is working with the local community to bring the issue to the attention of local and national government authorities, and the public has much to do to pressure the government to act. We need your help to pressure the AJE Group to comply with Nicaraguan laws.

La planta Big Cola viola leyes ambientales en Nicaragua

Toda actividad comercial debe acatar a un gran número de regulaciones ambientales para asegurar la protección de los suelos, el aire y el agua que nosotros ocupamos. No toda empresa actúa responsablemente. Es desafortunado que hay empresas que abusan de los principios básicos del cuido del planeta y el respeto hacia sus vecinos. Entre las empresas violadoras en Nicaragua, se encuentra la empresa embotelladora conocida por su producto más visible: Big Cola. 

Este líquido rojo fue botada recientemente desde la planta Big Cola, operada por Aje Group, en Managua.

FUNDECI participa en una iniciativa local para exigir a la planta embotelladora Big Cola a acatar a estandares mínimos ambientales. La planta emite líquidos contaminantes en un cauce que corre directamente al Lago Xolotlán. Esta emisión es en violación directa y obvia de la ley en Nicaragua. Los líquidos emitidos son de diferentes colores opacos, como se fueran pinturas. 

Big Cola bota agua severamente contaminada en un cauce en Managua.

Los vecinos de la planta han reportado olores feo, especialmente cuando la planta emite grandes cantidades de gases de sus tanques de alta presión. Nadie sabe precisamente que ellos emiten en esos eventos, pero el alarma provocada por el desinterés que la empresa demuestra, hace que los vecinos sospechen lo peor. 

La maquinaria en esta planta emite mucha ruido, violando los derechos de los vecinos a la paz en su vecindario. Las indicaciones para niveles máximos de ruidos, manejadas por la Organización Mundial para la Salud, no son respetadas en la planta Big Cola, donde los ruidos en las casas de los vecinos llegan a niveles que afectan el bienestar fíisico y emocional de sus habitantes. Estas indicaciones son ley en Nicaragua.

El costado este de la planta embotelladora  Big Cola en Managua.

Maquinaria pesada en la planta Big Cola también provocan vibraciones en la tierra. Los vecinos reportan miedo de un evento sísmico. 

Se convocó una reunión pública en la planta embotelladora Big Cola en Managua, el 27 de junio del 2014. Asistieron oficiales de varios oficinas gubernamentales, la planta Big Cola, y vecinos, y representantes de FUNDECI. Los vecinos presentaron sus quejas sobre la contaminación y el ruido. Como se ve en las fotos y videos, la planta Big Cola produce ruidos que afectan a la salud de sus empleados y vecinos, y bota líquidos no tratados. 

La planta Big Cola supuestamente se ampara en los acuerdos de CAFTA, pero esta protección no brinda ningún derecho de contaminar. 
Deseas apoyarnos en la lucha para hacer que la Big Cola cumpla con las leyes ambientales? Contactanos!

Environmental Contamination at Big Cola

Every commercial activity must abide by a multitude of regulations to ensure that it does not contaminate the air, water and soils with the rest of us also inhabit. Not all businesses act responsibly with respect to the basic principles of taking care of the earth and respecting your neighbors, however. Among them is a bottling plant known for its most visible product, Big Cola.

This red liquid was recently released from the Big Cola plant operated by Aje Group, in Managua.

FUNDECI is participating in a neighborhood initiative to force the Big Cola bottling plant to meet minimum environmental standards. The plant emits contaminating liquids into an adjacent ditch, which run directly into Lake Managua, also known as Lake Xolotlán. This is in obvious, direct violation of Nicaraguan law. The liquids often are of opaque colors, as if they were paints. 

Big Cola dumps severely contaminated water into a drainage ditch in Managua.

Neighbors have reported noxious odors, especially following gas releases which can be heard coming from high-pressure tanks. No one knows precisely what is being released into the atmosphere in these events, but the alarm regarding the disregard for the environment shown by the company leads the neighbors to suspect the worst. 

Machinery in this plant operates at a very high noise level, violating the rights of neighbors to a low levels of background noise. Indications for the adequate maximum noise levels in a neighborhood are developed by the World Health Organization of the United Nations. These guidelines are not respected at the Big Cola factory, where noises fill the surrounding neighborhoods at levels which affect the physical and emotional well-being of its occupants. The WHO indications are guidelines for sound contamination in Nicaraguan law.

The eastern side of the Big Cola bottling plant in Managua.

Heavy machinery in the Big Cola plant also create enormous vibrations of the ground. The neighbors have mentioned that they fear seismic repercussions from all this vibration.

A public meeting was held at the Big Cola bottling plant in Managua, 27 June 2014. The meeting was attended by officials from several Nicaraguan government offices, the Big Cola plant, and dozens of neighbors. In the meeting, the issues of noise and water and air pollution were presented. As can be seen in the photos and videos, the Big Cola bottling plant produces unhealthy levels of noise to its employees and the neighborhood and dumps liquids without proper treatment.

The Big Cola bottling plant is supposedly protected by International Free Trade Zone Laws (see CAFTA Nicaragua), This protection, however, does not provide any allowance for harming its employees, neighbors or the environment!
Would you like to be involved in the struggle to make Big Cola comply with Nicaraguan environmental laws? Please contact us! On the behalf of the neighbors of the Pedro Joaquin Chamorro neighborhood and all who love Managua, we send out an SOS!
Environmental volunteers can be involved in a variety of projects, from reforestation to wild animal rehabilitation, to environmental legal concerns and education. We can provide Spanish training and assign volunteers and interns throughout Nicaragua.

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