ISSN -1 - 409 -

- The Wetlands ofCentral America

- Crisis in the Gulfcontinues

- Miskitos clamor forseeds of hope

- The Wetlands ofCentral America

- Crisis in the Gulfcontinues

- Miskitos clamor forseeds of hope

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This edition was prepared by theCommunications Department of “WWF-Centroamérica” Published in 1999. The partialor total reproduction of the material andillustrations contained in this publication ispermitted, provided the source is mentionedand a copy of the publication is sent to:

WWF Central AmericaApdo. 70 - 7170 CATIE Turrialba, Costa Rica

Phone: (506) 556 1383 / 556 1737;Fax: (506) 556 1421

Email: arios@catie.ac.cr

Editorial Committee: Miguel Cifuentes,Matt Perl,Oscar Brenes,Laura Vilnitzky

Graphic Design andProduction: Laura Vilnitzky,

Laura C. Cerdas

The authors are responsible for their own articles. The opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of WWF.The photographs provided are the property of their authors. WWF has the right to publish them in this edition only.

ContentsCurrent events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Wetlands of Central America:their ecological and economic importance

In the field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Crisis in the Gulf continuesMiskitos clamor for seeds of hope

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13The benefits of investing in wetlandsWhat, where, when?

The World of WWF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Uncertain future for the biodiversity andwater of Latin America and the Caribbean

Our guest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Small but great

Useful tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Turtle Poster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Center pages

Dear readers and friends:

As on previous occasions, this edition of the WWF Central America magazine isdedicated to a central theme of conservation efforts in the region: wetlands. In thisway, we hope to underscore the ecological, economic and social importance ofthese aquatic environments in Central America and highlight the fact that thisyear all the Governments that have signed the Ramsar Convention are attending aconference in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The International Convention for the Conservation of Wetlands was signed inRamsar, Iran, in 1971 and came into force in 1975. The Seventh Conference ofParties (COP7) brings together representatives of more than one hundredcountries that are interested in the conservation of wetlands. WWF is present atthis imp ortant conference to shar e our work experi ences i n coastal andcontinental wetlands and to coordinate actions with our colleagues from everycorner of the world.

WWF Central America is also promoting the protection and management ofwetlands. We are working to strengthen community management of coastal lakeson the Miskito Coast of Nicaragua, and to ensure the protection of important areasof mangrove in the Gulf of Fonseca in Honduras. In addition, we are promotingintegral planning for the use of natural resources in the Arenal ConservationArea, the strategic hub of Costa Rica’s hydroelectric production. Finally we havelaunched a regional initiative to protect the Reef System in the MesoamericanCaribbean, which includes the coasts of southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala andHonduras. All these actions imply coordination between different actors at manylevels: i n local communit ies, wit h pri vate companies, local and nationalgovernments and even regional institutions.

With the contributions of our colleagues and collaborators from other sisterorganizations in the region, we have prepared an edition that highlights both theecological and economic importance of the wetlands, and presents concretemanagement experiences in the region as well as the effects of natural disasters,such as storms and hurricanes, upon these ecosystems. We hope that the articlesin this edition of WWF Central America will generate increased levels of interestand foster a renewed commitment to work on the conservation of wetlands.

With best wishes,

Sylvia Marín v.K.Regional Policy Adviser and

Coordinator of the Coastal-Marine ProgramWWF Central America

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C U R R E N T E V E N T S

* By Jorge A. Jiménez

The Wetlands of Central America:their ecological and economic importance

Despite the fact that Central America covers only500.000 Km2, it is home to an impressivedi ver si ty of wetl ands. The r egi on’s steeptopogr aphy means that thi s di ver si ty i sconcentrated mainly in lowland areas and coastalplains, though there are lakes of glacial originamong the fr ozen peaks of the Tal amancamountains, whose fauna and ecology are littleknown. Large areas of peat bogs are also commonin the mountainous areas of the Central Americaisthmus.

Numerous lakes and lagoons are found in CentralAmer i ca’s l owl ands and coastal pl ai ns. Ofparticular importance is Lake Nicaragua, thelargest body of fresh water located between theGreat Lakes of North America and Lake Titicaca inSouth Amer i ca. I n nor ther n Guatemal a, thelimestone plain of the Peten is the cradle of ani mpor tant networ k of l akes, r i ver s andwetlands, particularly the Laguna del Tigre, avast expanse of palm forests, flooded forests,grasslands and mud flats, which together formthe largest wetland area in Central America. The diversity of the wetlands along the coast of

Belize is well known. Not only does it boast thelargest coral reef in the Western hemisphere,but it is also endowed with a chain of salt waterand fresh water lagoons, surrounded by floodedforests, mangroves and swamp forests, alongmuch of its coastline.This network of estuaries is home to one of thela rgest communit ies of aquatic bir ds i n thecontinent as well as large populations of manatee. This network of estuaries is home to one of thela rgest communit ies of aquatic bir ds i n thecontinent as well as large populations of manatee.

On the Caribbean coasts of Honduras, Nicaraguaand part of Costa Rica, there are tidal lagoonswher e mangr oves, swamp for ests and pal mswamps domi nate the l andscape for manykilometers inland. This almost permanently flooded territory hasserved to limit the expansion of the agriculturalfrontier in the region, ensuring the survival ofmany of these natural environments.The coastal plain, with its very shallow waters,gives way to large banks of marine phanerogamswhich extend over an area of hundreds of square

Photo: LVS -

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Another functi on of wetl ands, whi ch i s ofpr i mor di al i mpor tance, i s thei r r ol e i n thereproductive cycles of many species of aquaticfauna. Wetlands - whether these are mangroves inestuaries or grasslands and swamp forests aroundlakes and lagoons - provide a breeding ground formany speci es of fi sh and cr ustaceans. Taki ngadvantage of the large amounts of plant material inthese envi r onments, the j uveni l e fi sh andcrus taceans feed and are pr otected during thiscritical period of their life cycle, before theymigrate to lakes or to the sea.

C U R R E N T E V E N T S

these areas, along with reptiles such as caimansand cr ocodi l es. Even mammal s i n danger ofextinction, such as manatee, are dependent on theexistence of these wetlands.

I n addi ti on to bei ng the natur al habi tat ofhundr eds of speci es of fauna and fl or a, thewetlands of Central America perform a number ofecol ogi cal functi ons that ar e of the utmostimportance to the region. The close relationshipbetween these envir onments and hydrologicalpatterns is well known. Wetlands retain surfacewater and are therefore capable of regulating itsflow downstream. This ensures a regular andmore constant supply of water, without drasticfluctuations in the volume of water discharged.

During periods of heavy rain, wetlands absorb thesudden increase in surface water, releasing itgr adual l y and ther eby pr eventi ng sudden orviolent flooding in lowland areas.

During periods of drought, the water that has beenstor ed i n the wetl ands i s sl owl y r el easeddownstr eam, maki ng i t avai lable when othersources of surface water have been considerablyreduced in volume. The regulation of the watersupply is of vital importance to the surroundingfl or a and fauna and to human popul ati onsdownstream. This process of regulating waterflow provides benefits, since superficial water isavailable during the months of drought and therisk of flooding during periods of heavy rain isreduced.

kilometers. Both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central America are bordered by extensive mangroveforests, with the largest concentratios found in the Gulfs of Fonseca, Nicoya and Panama. The ecological andsocial importance of these wetlands is such that they are indisputably essential elements of anymanagement plan for the coastal region.The diversity of wetland environments in the Central American isthmus translates into an impressivediversity of fauna communities associated with these ecosystems: several hundred species of birds live in

Photo: LVS - WWF

The carrying capacity of most wetlands has beenreduced and if curr ent l evels of exploitationinc rease substantially, the fr agile balance ofthese systems could be altered permanently.

Central America is still burdened with serioussoci al and economi c pr obl ems and ther efor estrictly protectionist policies are unsustainablein the region’s political context. However, it isimportant that to exploit and manage wetlandsresources be carefully designed and monitored.The preservation of the natural functions of theseecosystems shoul d al ways be taken i ntoconsideration in any plan, since these functionsare of vital importance to the well-being of ruralcommunities.

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C U R R E N T E V E N T S

* Jorge A. JiménezDirectorOrganization of Tropical studies (OTS)Apdo. 676 - 2050 San Pedro de Montes deOcaSan José, Costa RicaPhone: (506) 240 - 6696 / (506) 240 -5033Fax: (506) 240 - 6783E-mail: oet@cro.ots.ac.crPhoto: WWF

This function is not only of vital importanceto maintaining the populations of

fi sh and cr ustaceans ofadjo i ni ng habi tats,

but is al so ofgr eat soci aland economi cval ue to ther e g i o n ’ sr u r a l

popul ati ons.Most of the

species caughtby smal l- scale

and commer ci alfi sher men al ong

the coasts and l akes ofCentr al Amer i ca spend

their j uvenil e phases in thewetlands.

Changes i n the r egi on’s economi c andpolitical conditions have had a major impact on

wetlands. Most wetland areas are public placesthat are not properly regulated by governments.Small-scale fishing, the harvesting of mollusksand crustaceans, the cutting of firewood and theproduction of charcoal are the most commonextractive uses. However, these practices mayoccur at dangerously high levels in places wherepoverty and the lack of productive alternativesfor ce l ocal popul ati ons i nto the excessi veexpl oi tati on of wetl and r esour ces. Humanmigrations associated with social and economicpr obl ems, and, unti l r ecentl y, tr i gger ed byarmed conflict, have had direct repercussions onthe wetland resources.

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The Gulf of Fonseca is a large marine and coastalarea covering a distance of approximately 266km. along Central America’s Pacific coast, and itis shared by El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.The l ar ger por ti on of the Gul f l i es wi thi nHonduran territory, in the departments of Valleand Choluteca. The area contains a wide variety ofterrestrial and coastal ecosystems that includedry forests, coastal plains, seasonal lagoons andestuaries. This diversity generates resources thatconstitute the social and economic foundation formany coastal communities and contribute to theeconomies of the nations that share the Gulf.

As a result of the environmental catastrophecaused by Hur r i cane M i tch, whi ch poundedCentral America for three days at the end of1998, the ecol ogi cal , economi c and soci alconditions in the Gulf of Fonseca were seriouslydisrupted. Prior to Hurricane Mitch, the area wascovered with large tracts of mangrove forestcontaining mainly crustaceans, mollusks and fish.However, many of these areas were devastated bythe strong winds and torrential rains that dumpedmore water in the region in just one week thanusually falls during an entire rainy season.

In Honduras, the wetlands of the Gulf of Fonsecasuffered considerable damage, particularly in thearea around the mouth of the Rio Choluteca, thelargest of several rivers that drain into the Gulf.

Crisis in the Gulf continues

* By Edas Muñoz

In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch, which struck CentralAmerica at the end of October of 1998, the problems caused by the disaster continue

to affect

I N T H E F I E L D

Photos: Edas Muñoz - WWF

In the estuaries that filter the Bays of SanLor enzo and Chi smuyo, i t i s esti mated thathundreds of hectares of mangrove forest weredestroyed by the huge volumes of sediment (mudand si lt ) dragged down by the forc e of thecurrents.

After Hurricane Mitch, pollution levels in thewaters of the gulf increased substantially becauseof the large number of human corpses that, alongwith solid and liquid wastes such as fertilizers,fungi ci des, pl asti c mater i al s and medi calr esi dues, had accumul ated i n the r i ver s.Nevertheless, according to the results of a waterquality study conducted afterwards by the Centerfor the Study and Control of Pollutants (CESCCO)of the Honduran Ministry of Natural Resourcesand the Environment, the present concentrationsof pollutants do not constitute a major risk tobiodiversity or a serious hazard to human health.

The shrimp industry, which has grown steadilyin the Gulf since 1972 and now consists of14,214 hectare s of shri mp far ms, sufferedmajor losses in to its infrastructure, productionand raw material reserves. This has had seriouseconomic repercussions for the country and forlocal communities that depend on shrimp farmingfor thei r l i vel i hood. Shr i mp i s als o one ofHonduras’ main export items and in 1997 alone,this industry earned the country 100 million

dollars in foreign exchange with a production of13,181 metr i c tons. Although the r ecoveryprocess has been fairly rapid compared withother activities, it is estimated that the totallosses caused by Mitch were very significant.Most shrimp farms have now been “replanted”wi th shr i mp l ar vae pr oduced i n l ocall abor ator i es or suppl emented wi th l ar vaeimported from the United States and the rest ofthe Central American countries, as well as withwild shrimp caught in the estuaries of the Gulf.

The r egion’s agr icul tur al export s wer e alsoaffected because near l y al l the mel on,watermelon and sugar cane plantations werelocated on the coastal plains.

As a result of the environmental damage suffered,changes have taken place in some patterns of useof marine resources. Small-scale activities thatare the mainstay of family incomes in the coastalcommunities of the Gulf of Fonseca, such asshrimp farming and non-industrial fishing, arenow concentrated in specific areas where thewaters are not so muddy and it is easier to catchfish.With the depletion of marine resources in thewaters around San Bernardo and close to theNicaraguan border, many fishermen who used tofish in these areas are now concentrating theiractivities in the Bay of Chismuyo. The immediate

I N T H E F I E L D

Photo: Edas Muñoz -

result has been to increase the pressure onfish resources in the bay thus jeopardizing,the ecosystem’s sustainability.

It was not until 1999 that scientific researchon bi odi ver si ty l osses began. Someenviro nmental exper ts have begun to askwhether the effects of Hurricane Mitch in theGulf of Fonseca could have an impact on thebiodiversity of Latin America, since the Gulfprovides a natural habitat for a large numberof species and serves as a temporary refugeand br eeding ground for many migra torybirds.

I n anal yzi ng the si tuati on cr eated byHurricane Mitch, it is essential to strengthenlocal capacities for the conservation of soilsand river basins in the Gulf of Fonseca andother par ts of the r egi on wi th si mi l archara cter is ti cs, i n or der to mi tigate theadver se im pacts of natur al disasters andrespond more effiectively.

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I N T H E F I E L D

If you wish to obtain more information, please contactdirectly the PROARCA/Costas Integrated CoastalManagement Project in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras,headed by Edas Muñoz, Program Officer, WWF CentralAmerica.

E-mail: munozwwf@gbm.hn

Photos: Edas Muñoz - WWF

We congratulate our Honduran colleague Jorge Varela, Director of theCommittee for the Defense of the Flora and Fauna of the Gulf of

Fonseca (CODDEFFAGOLF), who was one of the winners of the TenthAnnual Environmental Prize awarded by the Goldman Foundation on April 19 1999.

Jorge deserves this Award for his tireless work and dedication to the protection of naturalresources and the human rights of coastal communities in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras. Thishonor makes Jorge an exemplary model for those who work for the conservation ofbiodiversity in Central America.

Miskitos clamor for seeds of hope* By Fausto Cepeda

I N T H E F I E L D

The Mi skito communit i es along Nicar agua’s Atl anti c coast are sti l lstruggling to recover from the effects of Hurricane Mitch. When disasterstruck at the end of October of 1998, the initial impact was not critical. Butnow many coastal communities find themselves in a terrifying situation,and the Miskitos have not yet been unable to recover from their losses.

Hurricane Mitch blasted through the region, wreaking havoc in northernNicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

The catastrophe brought with it a substantial increase in the volume ofsediments that were dragged downstream by the swollen rivers andaccumulated in river basins and areas along the coast. The vegetation coverwas devastated by heavy rains, floods and high winds, and most of the crops,the only source of food and income for these communities, were destroyed.

As a direct result of the pollution and destruction in the area, there havebeen outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhea, skin infections and malaria. Atthe same time, many families who were unable to plant their fields are nowwithout food. Malnutrition among children has increased considerably, andmany attend school without the necessary work materials because theirparents have no crops to sell and therefore cannot afford to buy schoolsupplies.

Mrs. Juana Tomson of the Association of Indigenous Women of the AtlanticCoast (AMICA), who has toured the communities of Rio Coco, explained:

“We’re very worried. We don’t have seeds. We haven’t been able to

Photos: LVS, Edas Muñoz -

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plant anything so this summerwe won’t have any food togive to our children. Weask God to gi ve us thestrength to go on, and thatthose who are able will sendus seeds so that we willhave food for our childrenagai n.” The r esour cesthat were once providedby the l and andgeography of the regionare gone and everyday problemshave grown because there are no seeds toplant.

I N T H E F I E L D

Thr ough a smal l emer gencyfund, WWF has beensupporting efforts by AMICA,to di str i bute cl othi ng andseeds among the communitiesof Rio Coco. WWF also hopesto conti nue col l abor ati ngwith the Coastal Committeefor National and InternationalSuppor t for Vi cti ms ofHur r i cane M i tch i n the

Atl anti c Coast of Ni car agua(the body that is coordinatingassistance to disaster victims),and to support other initiativesand efforts that benefit these

Miskito communities.

The main effects of Hurricane Mitch were feltin the basins of the rivers Coco and Grande inMatagalpa and, to a lesser extent, in the basinof the Prinzapolka river. Many communitieswere forced to abandon their homes for longperiods, losing their traditional crops. Inmany cases, people left the area and headed formore accessible places.

Source: University of the Autonomous of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua (URACCAN)

Data on areas and populations affected by Hurricane MitchREGION Municipalities Sectors Comunities Population Number of Dead Missing Homes CropsAnimals

families destroyedaffected afected

Waspan Río Coco arriba 42 23.245 4.111 8 1 3.239

100% 80%

RAAN Waspan Río Cocoabajo 20 10.173 1.611 0 0 44

100% 80%

Puerto Cabezas North coast 10 5.433 1.155 0 0 -100% 80%

Prinzapolka Río Prinzapolka 14 4.643 791 0 0 -100% 80%

Sub total 86 43.494 7.668 8 1 3.283100% 80%

RAAS Paiwas Paiwas 4 1.905 476 0 0 0100% 80%

Cruz de Cruz de Río Grande Río Grande 16 4.199 1.205 0 0 37

100% 80%

Mouth of the MouthRío Grande 12 632 136 0 0 0

100% 80%

Photos: LVS -

The report on the “Rapid Restoration of the Damage by Hurricane Mitch in the Basins of the RioCoco, Rio Bocay- Bosawas Biosphere Reserve”, describes the disaster that occurred (economic,social and demographic), makes a sectoral evaluation and explains the various efforts undertaken.This document was prepared by GTZ/ MARENA/ BOSAWAS and can be consulted at the followingaddress: uraccan@ibw.com.ni

Through the PROARCA / Costas Project, WWF continues to carry out trainingactiv it ies and design coastal management plans to contr ib ute to the

restoration of the river basins and the appropriate use and sustainabledevelopment of the natural resources in Nicaragua’s northeasterncoastal area.

I N T H E F I E L D

WWF Central America Apdo. 70 - 7170CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica Phone: (506) 556 -1737

(506) 556 -

Referedarea

Central America

Sra. Elizabeth EnriquezPresident, AMICABilwi, Puerto Cabezas,RAAN, NicaraguaTelefax: (505) 282 -2325

Fausto Cepeda Program OfficerWWF Central AmericaManagua, Nicaragua

Telefax: (505) 278 -5230

If you would like to obtain more information orwish to collaborate with relief efforts, pleasecontac:

Photo: LVS - WWF

Thank you for helpingto maintain a Living Planet

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The natura l r esour ces suppl i ed bywetland areas, such as fish, firewood,charcoal, transport, minerals, energyand water are vital to the subsistenceof many local communities. More thaneconomic value, these natural areashave gr eat soci al and ecol ogi calimportance. Mindful of the need topr eser ve these wetl and ar eas ofCentral America that are at risk frompol l uti on and over - expl oi tati on ofresources, a project has been wayunder for more than two years to trainr ur al teacher s. I t i s bei ngimplemented through the WWF CentralAmer i ca tr ai ni ng pr ogr am i nassociation with the Regional WildlifeManagement Program of the NationalUniversity in Heredia, Costa Rica.

One of the obje cti ves of the j oin tproject is to promote a change of attitude to appreciate the benefits provided by wetland environments andtheir importance for local communities. Thanks to this initiative, in areas such as La Union, in ElSalvador, Coyolito in Honduras and Tonala, Sandy Bay, Wawa and San Miguelito in Nicaragua, schools arecarrying out different activities focusing on wetlands. The most interesting aspect of the trainingwork shops that have taken place in these communitie s was that this experi ence enabled r uralschoolteachers to create didactic materials with the children. This in turn is helping to foster awareness,from childhood on, of the need to protect and preserve these natural areas.

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* By Oscar Brenes

T R A I N I N G

The benefits of investing in wetlands

Photos: LVS -

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T R A I N I N G

Oscar BrenesProgram OfficerWWF Central AmericaApdo.70 - 7170 CATIE, Turrialba, Costa RicaE - m a i l :

Elier Tabilo ValdiviesoRegional WildlifeManagement ProgramPRMVSUniversidad NacionalApdo. 1350 – 3000Heredia, Costa RicaE-mail: etabilo@una.ac.cr

Throughout the duration of the project, eight training workshopswere organized and more than 140 people participated. The focusof these courses was to train teachers to define, identify andclassify wetlands, appreciate the benefits that can be obtainedfrom these areas and be aware of the threats, and in this way plantheir teaching activities, both in the classroom and in wetlandareas.

The proj ect has worked with 104 communities, and it isestimated that approximately 12,800 children from all overCentral America (200 individuals per school) have participatedin activities in wetland areas. This initiative not only has animmediate effect but also represents a promising step forward inpromoting the sustainable development of wetland areas, over thelong-term.

As a result of various workshops, the teachers themselvesorganized seminars in their respective communities on variousissues related to wetlands, such as the follow-up workshop heldin Coyolito, Honduras and a second workshop in San Miguelito,Nicaragua organized by the Association of Ecology Teachers(AME). This project also has inspired the creation of theNeotropical Center for Training on Wetlands, which will becoordinated by Elier Tabilo with support from the Wetlands forthe Future Program of the RAMSAR Convention.

This type of program with rural teachers undoubtedly helps tocr eate awar eness of the im port ance of wetl ands and theirecosystems to local communities. The project would not have beenpossi bl e wi thout the suppor t of the Swi ss Agency forDevel opment and Cooper ati on ( COSUDE) , and the effor tsunder taken by the “ PROARCA Coasts” I ntegr ated CoastalManagement Project.

* Or for more information, contac:

Photo: WWF

For a copy of the new book,“The Benefits of Wetlands in

Central America”By Elier Tabilo

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What, where and when?

T R A I N I N G

Thank you for helpingto maintain a Living Planet

For information on all University For Peacecourses please contact:

UPAZ, Felipe Matos, Apdo. 138, 6100 Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica

Phone: (506) 249 - 1512Fax: (506) 249 - 1929

Email: Upaznego@sol.racsa.co.cr

UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE

MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTALCONFLICTSDate: 14 - 30 June 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Rolain BorelCost: US $2300

BUFFER ZONE MANAGEMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS Date: 12 - 30 July 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Jim BarborakCost: US $2500

SERVICES PROVIDED BY FOREST AREAS:EVALUATION, QUANTIFICATION AND INCLUSION INNATIONAL POLICIESDate: 13 - 25 September 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Gerardo BudowskiCost: US $2300

AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES,SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTDate: November 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Ronnie de CaminoCost: US $2200

TROPICAL SCIENCE CENTER

TROPICAL DENDROLOGY Date: 21 June - 3 July 1999 (English)Place: Costa RicaCost: US $1800Information: Tropical Science CenterDr. Humberto Jiménez-SaaTropical Science CenterApdo. 8 - 3870 - 1000San Jose, Costa RicaPhone: (506) 253 - 4963E-mail: hjimenez@sol.racsa.co.cr

REGIONAL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION OFBLUMENAU, BLUMENAU / BRAZIL

50o National Botany CongressDate: 18 - 23 July 1999Place: BrazilInformation: Instituto de BotánicaCaixa Postal 400501061 - 970 Sao Paulo - SP - BrazilPhone: (001) 5584 - 6300Fax: (001) 577 - 3678E-mail: conbot99@furb.rct-sc.br

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CATIE

TRAINING FOR AGROFORESTRY INSTRUCTORS

• MODULE I: INTRODUCTION TO AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMSDate: 19 - 23 July 1999

• MODULE II: AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS WITHPERENNIAL

CROPSDate: 26 - 31 July 1999

• MODULE III: FARM FORESTRY SYSTEMSDate: 2 - 6 August 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinators: Alberto Camero / Muhammad Ibraim Cost: US $500 per module.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I:

• MODULE I: BASIC (IDRISI FOR WINDOWS & ARCVIEW)Date: 2 - 13 August 1999

• MODULE II: APPLICATIONS IN NATURAL RESOURCES WITH IDRISI FOR WINDOWS & ARCVIEWDate: 16 - 27 August 1999

• MODULE III: INTRODUCTION TO TELEDETECTION Date: 30 August - 10 September 1999

• MODULE IV: APPLICATIONS OF TELEDETECTION IN THE MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURALRESOURCES Date: 13 - 24 September 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Sergio VelásquezCost: US $1650

• Special rates for GIS CoursesFor people who register for two or more modules the

costs will be:

- Two modules: US $3000- Three modules: US $4200

ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALGOODS AND SERVICESDate: 2 - 13 August 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Robert HearneCost: US $1250

IDENTIFICATION, FORMULATION AND ECONOMICAND FINANCIAL EVALUATION OF FORESTRY ANDENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTSDate: 18 - 29 October 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Juan. A. Aguirre Cost: US $1200

PARTICIPATORY PLANNING OF FORESTRYPROJECTS WITH A GENDER PERSPECTIVE Date: 25 October - 12 November 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinators: Cecile Fassaert / Bastian Louman Cost: US $1500

RURAL DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THEMANAGEMENT OF NATURAL TROPICALECOSYSTEMS (III)Date: 1 - 26 November 1999Place: Costa RicaCoordinator: Gabriel RoblesCost: US $2000

T R A I N I N G

Anyone interested in publicizing training courses in Biodiversity Conservation and Management of NaturalResources please contact: WWF Centroamérica, Apdo.70-7170 CATIE Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Phone: (506) 556 1383/556 1737 Fax: (506) 556 1421 E-mail: lvinitz@catie.ac.c

Photo: WWF

For information on all CATIE coursesplease contact:

Outreach ProgramTraining department CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa RicaPhone: (506) 556 - 6021 Fax: (506) 556 -0176

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17

* By Miguel Jorge

In the last 20 years, and especially since the Rio

Summit in 1992, much more is understood about

valuing and conserving biodiversity to benefit the

quality of human life today and

i n the futur e. But

people often sti ll

t h i n k

“ r ai n for es t”

when they think of

bi odi ver si ty. And

while issues related

to cora l r eefs and

fi sh stocks

depletion have been

in turn helping to

r ai se awar eness

about mar i ne

bi odi ver si ty

i n gener al ,

the focus

r emai ns weak on

numerous speci es and

ecosystems in the world’s rivers, lakes

and wetlands. As a result, this collection of

rivers, lakes and wetlands known as freshwater

ecosystems remain more poorly understood, more

degr aded and thr eatened than ter r estr i al

ecosystems.

Biodiversity and Water in Latin America and theCaribbean - An Uncertain Future

T H E W O R L D O F W W F

Photo: LVS - WWF

This is especially unfortunate for Latin Americanand the Caribbean where fresh water systemsharbor some of the most distinctive, unique andthreatened species in the world. Of the world’sestimated 20,000 - 30,000 fish species (bothfreshwater and marine), the Amazon basin aloneis said to contain between 3,000 and 9,000species (Olson, et.al, 1997).

Bi odi ver si ty i n fr eshwater systems i sdistributed in a fundamentally different way fromthat in marine or terrestrial systems. Unlikeland and sea, freshwater habitats are relativelydi scr ete and i sol ated, and many fr eshwaterspecies cannot disperse easily across the landbarriers that separate river or lake basins intodiscrete units (WRI, 1994). Lakes are likesmall islands in the middle of the ocean exceptthat they are small bodies of water surrounded byland. Like islands, lakes are known to be centersof endemism - often harboring species foundnowhere else in the world. In the small pools ofCuatr o Ci énegas, Mexi co, some fi sh andinvertebrates have a range of a few square feetand numerous fish species exist nowhere else onearth.

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T H E W O R L D O F W W F

Fotos: LVS - Photos: LVS - WWF

Lake Nicaragua — the largest lake in Central America and the world’s 10th largest freshwater lake (8624km2) — is the only one in the world to provide habitat for both freshwater sharks and sawfish.

Rivers, lakes and wetlands are also important to species besides their resident fish, amphibians, andinvertebrates. Central American wetlands, including those inland and along the shore, play a critical rolein the migration of birds between north and south America. Each year, millions of individuals of close to40 species travel from their breeding grounds in northern North America in search of the rich and highlyproductive wetlands of the south. They use Central American wetlands as destinations and critical stopoverpoints. The uniquely high productivity of the wetlands in areas such as the Gulf of Panama, provide thesemigratory birds with abundant food during the non-breeding periods of their life cycles.

Unfortunately freshwater species and habitats tend to become extinct as easily as those found on land.Many species, both aquatic (that live in water) and terrestrial, that depend on freshwater habitat fortheir survival, have nowhere to go when threats emerge and their habitats are degraded or destroyed.

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T H E W O R L D O F W W F

Photos: LVS - WWF

Moreover many fr eshwater systemsconti nue to beperceived as useless,and weak policies haveonl y pr omoted thei rdestruction. Marshesand swamps have beenfilled, drained or usedas dumps for pollution.The flow regime, watertemperature, and waterqual i ty essenti al forecosystem maintenancein many rivers havebeen altered due todammi ng, whi l ei ntr oduced speci es foraquaculture, grazing or pestcontrol have wiped out native species. Between1967 and 1972, an Afr i can ci chl i d fi shintroduced into Gatún Lake in Panama wiped out

si x of the ei ghtpr evi ousl y commonfi sh speci es,

d r a s t i c a l l yr e d u c i n gpopul ati ons of aseventh, and

taking a toll upand down the

food chai na m o n g

i nver tebr ates,al gae, andf i s h - eat i n g

bi r ds ( WRI ,1992).

To save freshwater biodiversity, we must expandour under standi ng of fr eshwater ecosystem

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T H E W O R L D O F W W F

Citations:

Mitchell, Mark J. and William B. Stapp. 1990. Field Manual for Water QualityMonitoring: An Environmental Education Program for Schools, 4th ed. Thomson-Shores, Dexter, Michigan, 1990), p. 153.

Noble, G. and W. Wolff. 1984. “The Ecological Importance of Wetlands,” paperpresented at the Conference of the Contracting Parties of the Convention onWetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Goningen,May 1984. Cited in M. Marchand and F.H. Toornstra. 1986. Ecological Guidelinesfor River Basin Development (translated from Dutch) (Commission for Ecology andDevelopment Cooperation, Leiden, the Netherlands, p. 12.

Olson, D.M., B. Chernoff, G. Burgess, I. Davidson, P. Canevari, E. Dinerstein, G.Castro, V. Morisset, R. Abell, and E. Toledo, editors. 1997. Freshwater biodiversityof Latin America and the Caribbean: A conservation assessment. Proceedings ofa workshop. World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC., USA. 100 pp.

World Resources Institute, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), and the UnitedNations Environment Programme in consultation with the Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations and the United Nations Educational Scientificand Cultural Organization. 1992. “Global Biodiversity Strategy: Guidelines forAction to Save, Study, and Use Earth’s Biotic Wealth Sustainably and Equitably.”260 pp

For more information, contact:

*Miguel JorgeWorld Wildlife Fund1250, Twenty Fourth Street.N.W.Washington, D.C. 20037USA

Phone: (001) 202 - 7789624

Photo: LVS -

Central America has some 567 km2 of mangroves and more than 6,600 km of coasts that represent around12 % of the coastline of Latin America and the Caribbean. There are more than 1,600 km of coral reefs,mainly off the coasts of Belize and Honduras, which form the second largest barrier reef in the world afterAustraliaís.

Among the regionís most important continental wetland areas are Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca), LakeManagua, Lake Izabal in Guatemala, volcanic lakes such as Ilopango in El Salvador and Lake Atitlan inGuatemala, and the large flood plains of Mosquitia in Nicaragua and Honduras. Since the regionís naturalecosystems extend across political boundaries, many river basins are shared by two or more countries.One example is the San Juan river basin, which lies between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and the Sixaolariver basin shared by Panama and Costa Rica. These characteristics make Central America is a key areafor the conservation of wetlands and coastal areas.

All the Central American nations have ratified the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, incorporating 19 ofthe regionís wetland areas that are considered to be of international importance. These wetlands coveraround 1% of Central Americaís land surface and in percentage terms, account for 30%, of the number ofwetlands declared to be of international importance in the whole of Latin America and the Caribbean. Given the need to conserve the regionís wetland areas, many local, governmental and non-governmentalorganizations have instituted efforts for the protection and sustainable use of wetland resources. One of

Small but great

* By Rocío Córdoba

Despite its small size,Central America contains 8% of the world’s mangroves

O U R G U E S T

Photo: LVS -

these organizations is IUCN - ORMA (the CentralAmer i can Regi onal Offi ce of the Wor l dConserva tion Union), which since 1989 hasworked to conser ve the wetl ands of Centra lAmerica and Mexico through the Thematic Area ofWetl ands and Coastal Zones. Thi s task i sundertaken through five fields of action:

1. Establ i shment of nati onal and r egi onalpriorities for the management and conservationof wetlands and coastal zones in Central America:j oi nt effor ts wi th nati onal wor ki ng gr oups,professionals in the field and the support of aTechnical Advisory Committee.

2. I nsti tuti onal str engtheni ng: pr omoti on oftechnical support and training of professionalsand organizations interested in this field throughtechnical assistance, courses and workshops andthe provision of small incentives for research.

3.Strategic and integrated planning for wetlandsand coastal zones: based on the principles ofsustainable use of wetland resources, strategiesfor integral management are designed and tested.Local communities are provided with practicaltools so that they can mobilize their capacities.Results and information is systematized.

4. P r omoti on of a r egi onal networ k anddi ssemi nati on of i nfor mati on: setti ng upnetworks and working groups as mechanisms fordiscussion, systematization and dissemination ofcase studies sponsored by the IUCN through itsthemati c ar eas, associ ates and member s. I naddition, a communicati ons strategy i s beingi mpl emented, whi ch i ncl udes per i odi cpublications and a Document Center on Wetlands,with more than 10,000 worldwide references onthis subjec.

5. Support of international treaties and policiesfor the conservat ion of wetlands and coastalareas: IUCN-ORMA promotes international andr egi onal agr eements r el ated to wetl andecosystems. I t col l abor ates wi th si gnator ycountries in the fulfillment of their obligationsunder these treaties, and assists the Secretariatsof each treaty in the implementation of actionplans for the region. Special emphasis is placedon the Ramsar Convention.

Sources:

Windevoxhel, N.J., J. Rodríguez y E.J. Lahmann. En prensa. Situationof integrated coastal zone management in Central America:experiences of the IUCN Wetlands and Coastal Zones ConservationProgram.

CCAD. 1998. Estado del ambiente y los recursos naturales enCentroamérica 1998. 1a Edición. Comp. Jorge Rodríguez.

O U R G U E S T

For further information on the IUCN-ORMAThematic Area of Wetlands and CoastalZones please contact:

*Rocío Córdoba-MuñozPhone: (506) 236 - 2733 / Fax: (506)240 - 9934E-mail: rocio.cordoba@orma.iucn.orgWeb site: www.uicnhumedales.org

Foto: LVS -

Sources:”How to Protect Nature from our Homes” (1991) published by ADENA /

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Re-useand

recyclebags.Let’s

conserveour

environment.

Our obje ctiv e is to halt and, in tim e,revers e the growing degradation of ourplanet’s natural environment and help tocreate a future in which human beings willlive in harmony with Nature.

WWF CentroaméricaApdo. 70 7170 CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Telephone: (506) 556 1383 / 556 1737 Fax: (506) 556 1421 E-mail: arios@catie.ac.cr

WWF is the worl d’s l argest and mostexper i enced i ndependent conser vati onorganization. It has 4.7 million regularsupporters and a global network active in96 countries.

WWF aims to conserve nature and ecologicalprocesses by:• preserving genetic, species, and ecosystemdiversity

• ensuring that the use of renewable naturalresources is sustainable both now and in the longerterm, for the benefit of all life on Earth

• promoting actions to reduce to a minimum pollutionand the wasteful exploitation and consumption ofresources and energy