WWF country conservation profiles : Central America

The report reviews the status of natural resources in each country, with reference to the nation"s biological significance, major environmental threats, and conservation efforts. The report then outlines an integrated set of proposed WWF-supported activities that address these issues. Deforestation is continuing at a shocking pace in the area (the fastest in Nicaragua at 1,000 sq km per year), while many of the countries are also plagued by overhunting and overfishing. These problems are exacerbated by political unrest in the area, which has led to burgeoning refugee populations and environmentally destructive military practices. WWF objectives in these countries are to promote: institutional self-sufficiency; development of conservation skills, cultural conservation ethics, and an ecological information base; systematic conservation of important biological resources; and integration of development with conservation. WWF strategies focus on improving wildlands management, conducting community environmental workshops, building strong nongovernmental conservation organizations, and assisting conservation groups in securing support from international donors.