Nicaragua: Troops remain deployed to Indio Maíz Biological Reserve April 17 /update 2

Event

As of Tuesday, April 17, the Nicaraguan army remained deployed in the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, working to eliminate remaining heat sources detected by satellites despite a government announcement on Friday, April 13, that a major wildfire that had burned in the area for over a week had been extinguished. On Tuesday, April 10, the army declared the area of the now-extinguished wildfire - south of the Indio and Pejibaye rivers, west of the Caribbean coast, north of the San Juan River, and east of the Bartola River - an emergency zone. The military then cracked down on access to the area, angering local communities. Associated protests have been held in the capital Managua. Access remains restricted and further protests are possible.

Experts have warned of an increased risk of forest and agricultural fires in 2018 because of the higher temperatures and ongoing bad agricultural practices. From the beginning of 2018 through the first week of April, 142 fires had been recorded in the country. As of Monday, officials were monitoring 639 heat sources within the country, including 168 in twelve protected areas - most of which are caused by fires.

Context

Nicaragua's dry season lasts from November to April each year, exacerbating the risk of forest fires throughout the country. One expert had described the Indio Maíz fire as the worst environmental disaster in Nicaragua's history, particularly because it impacted a rain forest region home to a variety of rare and endangered species.

From Monday, April 16, through Friday, May 11, the Nicaraguan government will monitor natural regeneration to determine the full extent of the damage.

Advice

Individuals in Nicaragua are advised to avoid the area and any protests as a precaution and to adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.