Artículos de revistas
Scientists Raise Alarms about Fast Tracking of Transoceanic Canal through Nicaragua
Fecha
2015Registro en:
Environmental Science & Technology, Volumen: 49 Número: 7 Páginas: 3989-3996 Apr 7 2015
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00215
Autor
Huete Pérez, Jorge A.
Álvarez, Pedro J. J.
Schnoor, Jerald L.
Rittmann, Bruce E.
Clayton, Anthony
Acosta, María L.
Bicudo, Carlos E. M.
Arroyo, Mary T. K.
Brett, Michael T.
Campos, Víctor M.
Chaimovich, Hernán
Jiménez Cisneros, Blanca
Covich, Alan
Lacerda, Luiz D.
Maes, Jean-Michel
Miranda, Julio C.
Montenegro Guillén, Salvador
Ortega Hegg, Manuel
Urquhart, Gerald R.
Vammen, Katherine
Zambrano, Luis
Institución
Resumen
Seeking economic growth and job creation to tackle the nation's extreme poverty, the Nicaraguan government awarded a concession to build an interoceanic canal and associated projects to a recently formed Hong Kong based company with no track record or related expertise. This concession was awarded without a bidding process and in advance of any feasibility, socio-economic or environmental impact assessments; construction has begun without this information. The 278 km long interoceanic canal project may result in significant environmental and social impairments. Of particular concern are damage to Lake Cocibolca, a unique freshwater tropical lake and Central America's main freshwater reservoir; damage to regional biodiversity and ecosystems; and socio-economic impacts. Concerned about the possibly irreparable damage to the environment and to native communities, conservationists and the scientific community at large are urging the Nicaraguan government to devise and reveal an action plan to address and mitigate the possible negative repercussions of this interoceanic canal and associated projects. Critical research needs for preparation of a comprehensive benefit-cost analysis for this megaproject are presented.