Nicaragua

C

Plants and Animals

The vegetation of Nicaragua is of a tropical and subtropical nature. Dense rainforests are found along the Caribbean coast and on the eastern slopes of the highlands. Oak, pine, cedar, balsam, mahogany, rosewood, and wild rubber trees, and some 50 varieties of fruit trees abound. Deforestation, however, is a major problem, especially along the eastern coast.

Nicaragua’s wild animals include puma, deer, several species of monkeys, and alligators as well as a variety of other reptiles. Parrots, hummingbirds, and wild turkeys are abundant. The liberal use of pesticide poses a problem for some of the country’s wildlife.

D

Environmental Concerns

Access to basic services is severely limited in Nicaragua. Only 52 per cent (1990-1998 estimate) of the rural population has access to safe water—by far the lowest figure for any country in Central America. Proper sanitation is available for only 85 per cent (1990-1998 estimate) of the total population. Only 68 per cent (1990-1998 estimate) of the country's rural residents, and 96 per cent (1990-1998 estimate) of the urban residents, have access to sanitation facilities.

Pressure to increase agricultural output in Nicaragua has fuelled deforestation, as more land is cleared for agricultural use. The country has one of the highest percentages of agricultural land in Central America. As a consequence, 2.5 per cent (1990-1996) of the nation's forests are lost each year. Problems that accompany a loss of forestland include severe soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. Nicaragua is home to 16 species threatened with extinction. The country protects 7.4 per cent (1997) of its land in parks and other reserves. During the early 1980s, under the Sandinista government, environmental degradation in Nicaragua briefly slowed due to the government's progress on social issues, including environmental protection. Among the efforts of the Sandinista government was the establishment of the Nicaraguan Institute for Natural Resources and Environment (IRENA). The remainder of the decade, however, brought civil war, political change, and economic hardship to Nicaragua. This time of turmoil was accompanied by a relative neglect for the environment that continued into the 1990s.

Nicaragua is party to international treaties on biodiversity, climate change, endangered species, ozone layer protection, and whaling.

III

Population

About 69 per cent of the Nicaraguan population is mestizo (people of mixed white and Native American descent), about 17 per cent is white, and the remainder is either Native American or black.

A

Population Characteristics

Nicaragua has a population of 5,891,199 (2009 estimate). The population density (based on land area) is about 49 people per sq km (127 per sq mi). Approximately 60 per cent of the population is concentrated in the west, and about 58 per cent is urban.

B

Political Divisions

Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions.