Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

The faunal wealth of Nicaragua is composed of 14,287 species, of which 86 per cent are invertebrates and 14 per cent vertebrates [ ] 169 Integrating the values of biodiversity Nicaragua is in the process of updat- ing its National Biodiversity Strategy and Plan of Action. Although the definition of specific indicators has not been finalized in the framework of the implementation of the Strate- gic Plan of the CBD (2011–2020), the country has reached the definition and implementation of national goals, indicators and instruments that are contributing to the conserva- tion of biodiversity and the objectives of the Strategic Plan of the CBD (2011–2020). The following highlights are the advances that Nicaragua has been developing in this field: • The National Human Development Plan establishes specific guidelines for the protection of our Mother Earth and mandates the involve- ment of both government institu- tions and local actors in the search for the common good • In compliance with these man- dates, Environmental Education for Life has been promoted. With this, hundreds of communities have be- come aware and a new vision of the conservation of natural resources has been created • Nicaragua has national and sec- toral strategies and policies that integrate the values of biodiversity • During the period corresponding to this report, the legal framework for the protection of Biodiversity has been strengthened through the approval of the following: Law of Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biological Diversity of Nicaragua; Law for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Animals and Domesticated Wild Animals; and Law of Promotion of Agroeco- logical or Organic Production • Through the implementation of alternative productive projects, work is being done on the recovery of ecosystems; implementation of life corridors for biological connec- tivity; conversion of farms through the promotion of agroforestry and silvopastoral activities; protection of watersheds; management of protected areas; and the rescue of genetic resources • Incorporation of the private sector under shared responsibility in the processes of biodiversity conser- vation. Some examples of this are: the declaration of Private Wild Re- serves, the production of biomass, and the establishment of forest plantations • Local communities, indigenous peoples and Afro-descendant com- munities and local governments are also making efforts to protect and conserve biodiversity. Ometepe Island rising out of Lake Nicaragua Nicaragua N icaragua has a geographical position that gives favourable conditions for the development of biodiversity, since it represents a transition zone from tropical to subtropical climate, where different distribution ranges of globally important species converge. Nicaragua has 68 ecosystems, a figure that represents 60 per cent of the 114 ecosystems identified in the Central American Isthmus. The country’s biological wealth reported to date is 20,485 species, distributed as 29.35 per cent flora, 9.75 per cent vertebrate, 59.98 per cent invertebrate, and 0.89 per cent fungal. Voy_Tec on flickr