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Protecting Nicaragua’s Coastline

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The pioneers of the surfing industry have also been pioneers in ocean mapping, climate tracking, and ocean conservation. Naturally, surfers were the first group of tourists to venture into Nicaragua, putting its beautiful, undeveloped beaches on the map for ocean lovers worldwide. In the past 20 years, tourism in Nicaragua has increased nearly tenfold, bringing much needed economic development. In the same period, Central America’s most impoverished nation – home to mangroves, turtle nesting beaches, coral reefs, and endless waves – has suffered the effects of climate change more than all but two countries in the world (per the Global 2013 Climate Risk Index).

Surfing has driven much of the tourism and economic growth along the Pacific coast, but a low cost of living has also made Nicaragua a popular destination for retirees who do not surf and for developers who threaten to close surf breaks. The surfing community is uniquely positioned to help the people of Nicaragua protect their raw coastline from the twin threats of overdevelopment and climate change. Firmly rooted in Nicaragua, Paso Pacífico’s work to strengthen ecological and economic resiliency is protecting coastal communities and the coastlines themselves from the extreme weather that comes with climate change. As Nicaragua simultaneously experiences the cultural change that comes with rapid development, Paso Pacífico is also uniquely positioned to help empower surfers locally and illustrate the surfing community’s commitment to ocean conservation internationally.

Economic development and the growth of Nicaragua’s surfing culture are not slowing down. This is why we work with the international surfing community as well as Nicaragua’s local surfers to advocate environmental conservation from ridge to reef. We use the principles of geotourism – combining destination stewardship with cultural exchange – to guide our programs, designed to protect Nicaragua’s natural beauty and biodiversity, strengthen coastal communities, and help international visitors get the most out of their experience.

Protecting Nicaragua’s Coastline: Ocean Conservation Education & Action
Paso Pacífico conducts scientific surveys to assess marine health, employs rangers to protect marine wildlife, engages thousands of people in beach clean-ups, educates children about coastal ecology, and supports a grassroots ocean conservation movement growing along Nicaragua’s coastline.

Promoting Surfing’s Commitment to Ocean Conservation: Surf Ambassadors
Our education and leadership programs strengthen the capacity of surfers and environmental advocates locally and help them champion the surfing community’s commitment to ocean conservation internationally. Building the capacity of local leaders, we are increasing the sustainability of our own ocean conservation programs and gaining the momentum required to ensure a sustainable future for watermen and the marine creatures who share the waves with them. Eager to see young Nicaraguans share the global spotlight with their fellow surfers as ISA returns for the World Juniors and continues its Olympic bid, we are strengthening our focus on local leadership development and international networking. We aim to help the next generation of surf champions share the surfing community’s inspiring stories of cooperation and conservation.

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Over at TreeHugger:

Underwater robots, otherwise known as autonomous underwater vehicles, or AUVs, have been exploring the ocean floor for years, documenting species and habitats and monitoring changes to the seabed, but there are spots in the ocean that are too hazardous even for robots. Deep ravines, steeply dropping canyons and other major obstacles have so far been too much for AUVs to navigate, but thanks to a new software system, that’s all about to change.
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They expect to be running missions with the new system by next year, including monitoring the sea floor for effects of bottom trawling and climate change. They also plan on adapting the system to monitor movement and change in icebergs, where the AUV would not only take photos but samples of the iceberg for study. In general, Houts and her team hope the technology leads to even smarter vehicles for scientific research.

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“This summer, a major coral survey found that some of the islands’ coral communities are showing promising signs of recovery,” the Environment News Service reported last week. The article provides a pretty good overview of how climate change, ocean acidification, and warmer currents affect coral reefs.

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Sea snails’ shells are being eaten by increasingly acidic ocean waters, the first evidence that the changing chemistry of the oceans threatens marine habitat.

Read more on CNN:

The amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere is increasing, mainly because of the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, according to the World Meteorological Organization. That means that the planet’s oceans, natural carbon storage facilities, are absorbing more and more of the gas, which makes them more acidic.

Compounding the potential loss of sea snails is the fact that decreased biodiversity leaves coastal environments less resilient in the face of climate change.

The study is here.

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From ClimateWire:

Beans and corn — the staples of the Central American diet — will become more difficult to grow as climate change progresses, according to a new study.

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Certain “hot spots” that are especially vulnerable are spread throughout the region, especially in Honduras and western Nicaragua. But other spots, including many areas in eastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras, will become good adaptation areas for corn and beans through the 2020s.

However, Eitzinger said, moving production to these easily adaptable areas could create a land conflict with forests and risk the loss of trees.

Hat Tip: Our friends at Climate Action Reserve

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Sunday’s Guardian:

Global warming is likely to shrink the size of fish by as much as a quarter in coming decades, according to a groundbreaking new study of the world’s oceans.
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“Our work shows a very concerning future for the oceans and so it is very important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop better fish management policies to adapt to these changes,” said Cheung.

All the more reason we’re glad to be working to mitigate climate change and establish sustainable fisheries in Nicaragua. Thanks to our friends at Surfrider for binging the article to our attention.

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For the winter/spring edition of PERC Reports, Reed Watson talked to scuba diver and reef restoration entrepreneur, Brett Howell. As the Walker Conservation Fellow at the Georgia Aquarium, Howell hopes to illustrate that Florida’s coral reefs, a hotbed of biodiversity, present opportunity for cooperation and restoration, rather than a source of conflict.

Howell works with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), which grows endangered species of coral in nurseries, to identify parties who benefit from (and are willing to pay for) healthy reefs. Given that reef-related eco-tourism generates $4 billion annually, Howell is well positioned to link the sellers of coral restoration (like the CRF) with potential buyers, such as the dive shops and fishing captains whose businesses depend on healthy reef ecosystems.

With our own commitment to conflict resolution and reef restoration, we are eager to watch Howell’s experiment unfold.

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We echo the Nature Conservancy in saying that our hearts go out to those affected by the wildfires burning up the American West.

Just as we asked for your help raising money to plant trees in the wake of the fire at the La Flor Wildlife Refuge, the Nature Conservancy is asking for your help restoring forests to reduce the risk of megafires.

As the Nature Conservancy’s newsletter points out, “a new study looking back 1,500 years found no evidence for the kind of ‘megafires’ we are experiencing today. These large, severe wildfires are a new modern reality.”

What is to blame for the new reality?

Summarizing last year’s big wildfires, the Nature Conservancy’s Jon Schwedler explained that “changing temperatures have simultaneously dried out forests and extended the living season for bugs that weaken our trees.”

Paso Pacifico founder and director, Sarah Otterstrom, has been studying fires and forests for over a decade. A fire ecologist with an emphasis on climate change, Otterstrom is among the scientists paying attention to the links between carbon emissions and extreme weather events. Otterstrom’s studies and her commitment to protecting wildlife habitat and biodiversity, are why Paso Pacifico works to mitigate climate change through reforestation in Nicaragua.

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