Policy and Investment Priorities to Reduce Environmental Degradation of the Lake Nicaragua Watershed (Cocibolca) : Addressing Key Environmental Challenges

World Bank

Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO WATER;    ACTION PLANS;    ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT;    ACTUAL RAINFALL;    ADVERSE EFFECTS;   

RP-ID  :  76886

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This study, policy and investmentpriorities to reduce environmental degradation of the LakeNicaragua watershed, has assessed the sources and themagnitude of the pressures that threaten Lake Cocibolca. Itwas accomplished by applying a hydrological and land usemodel to the lake's watershed and by conductingadditional estimates of nutrients generated from wastewatersources and tilapia farming. The study has confirmed thatsediment loads are very high, and has estimated theirmagnitude in each sub-watershed. The key results of thestudy are the estimation of sedimentation levels in thewatershed and the identification of erosion hotspots. TheLake Cocibolca watershed is a globally unique cradle ofbiodiversity with major importance not only to the globaland local environment, but also to the 750,000 people livingwithin its boundaries. Several fish species are endemic tothe lake, and the watershed's location within theMesoamerican Biological Corridor has made it a meetingground for fish, bird and mammal species from North andSouth America. Apart from its importance for fishing andrecreation industries, the lake is beginning to be used as asource of water supply for some coastal towns; its role as asource of drinking water may grow in the future. LakeCocibolca and its watershed are under pressure from multiplesources but, in the absence of reliable monitoringinformation, the extent of the environmental degradation isunclear. Environmental deterioration in the watershed ishigh on the government's agenda.