Terrestrial Mammal Occupancy in the Context of Widespread Forest Loss and a Proposed Interoceanic Canal in Nicaragua's Decreasingly Remote South Caribbean Region

Abstract

Central America is experiencing rapid forest loss and habitat degradation both inside and outside of protected areas. Despite increasing deforestation, the Caribbean region of Nicaragua plays an important role in the survival or extinction of large mammal populations in Central America given that it still retains core areas of habitat for large mammal species. The proposed interoceanic canal project that would bisect the southern half of this Caribbean region represents a new threat that, combined with an advancing agricultural frontier, could affect populations of large mammal species such as jaguars, white-lipped peccaries, and Baird’s tapirs. We used occupancy models to examine the relative occupancy probabilities for an assemblage of terrestrial mammals in the south Caribbean region of Nicaragua to identify current core areas for our study species and conduct a preliminary evaluation of the potential impacts of the proposed interoceanic canal. We modeled a community level distribution of eight species with varying levels of sensitivity to human encroachment and a range of habitat associations. Our model results reveal three priority areas for terrestrial mammal conservation in our study area. The mapped predictions show that the only remaining area of suitable habitat for large mammals in the path of the proposed interoceanic canal is a relatively thin strip of forest that runs along the Caribbean Coast. In light of these findings, we propose five recommendations that will help ensure the conservation of this area of the proposed canal route as suitable habitat for our study species.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Mesoamerican Jaguars (Panthera onca): Implications for Conservation and Management

“…Large-scale movement of jaguars along the corridor has not yet been studied, but Petracca, Hernández-Potosme [82] identified two areas of conservation concern within the corridor, and stated that agricultural encroachment limited the presence of jaguars and several larger prey species at these sites. Jaguar movement and resultant gene flow through Nicaragua is additionally threatened by the construction of a navagable canal and other associated infrastructures (e.g., highways) connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in southern Nicaragua (e.g., [16, 93]). A recent study [16] stated that the proposed canal zone currently has low occupancy for jaguars and other large mammals, and that the completion of this project has high potential to extirpate jaguars and other species from this area, which would most likely also have ramnifications for jaguars beyond the canal zone.…”

“…Mesoamerica has experienced one of the highest deforestation rates worldwide caused by illegal logging, drug trafficking, and agricultural development (e.g., [14, 15]). Additionally, shipping corridors such as the Panama Canal and the current construction of a similar waterway in Nicaragua, pose further threats to connectivity of Central American wildlife such as forest-dependent jaguars (e.g., [16]. Large-scale conservation efforts, including the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC, [17]) and Panthera’s Jaguar Corridor Initiative (JCI, [6]) have been implemented in response to these threats, seeking to maintain connectivity between protected areas for wide-ranging wildlife species.…”

An Open-Data Based Assessment of Expected Changes in Land Use and Water Availability as a Result of the Construction of the West Segment of the Nicaragua Interoceanic Canal

“…Ecological studies on the canal's impact have focused on the East Canal Segment crossing the Caribbean region of Nicaragua [9,10], which is ecologically less disturbed. Apart from comments, essays, and opinion papers [11][12][13][14][15][16] only a general comparison with the Panama Canal [17] and an analysis on the canal's potential impact on international sea-borne trade patterns [18] can be found in the scientific literature.…”

Frank Golley’s Perspectives on Environmental Ethics and Literacy: How to Avoid Irreversible Impacts of Hydro-Power and Inter-Oceanic Canal Development on Mesoamerican Tropical Ecosystems

“…The canal dredging would disrupt protected Ramsar wetland sites near the eastern lakeshore. The eastern section of the canal would also intersect the currently protected areas and lands occupied by indigenous and Afro-American groups (e.g., Jordan et al, 2016). If completed, this canal project would be the largest civil excavation ever undertaken.…”

“…Large environmental impacts on the Brito River Estuary and unique western tropical dry forest ecosystems are also highly likely (Muñoz Ardila et al, 2017). Moreover, the eastern locks and canal construction would intercept migratory species that rely on the MesoAmerican Biological Corridor and the various river drainages that connect with Lake Nicaragua (e.g., Jordan et al, 2016).…”