Results of Wildlife Trade Policy Review in Nicaragua April, 2008 Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua

POLICY CONTENT A writen policy on wildlife trade as such was not identify, however in practice a number of regulatory instruments issued as Decree, Laws and Administrative Dispositions are applied by the Ministery of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA). These legal instrumentes are derived from different Conventions, mainly CITES. Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua Interview with Indigenous Community Leaders at Lamlaya, Puerto Cabezas

The system of monitoring and research: The lack of development of research and monitoring of CITES species are limiting: first, to define quotas that are credible, reliable and acceptable; and secondly it do not permit the assessement of the status of species and territorial priorities; and thirdly, it makes it difficult to measure and value the conservation status of CITES species. The effectiveness The country has a number of strategies and programmes at the national and regional level with the objectives of enhancing the sustainability of wildlife, and whose implementation will help enhance the effectiveness of a policy for sustainable use of wildlife. However, national entities have serious limitations, because of their low institutional capacity, limited financial and operational resource to put them in place. Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua

POLICY INSTRUMENTS (LEGAL FRAME)  Nicaragua has a General Environmental Law, issued in 06/06/96 and is considered the legal frame that defines the norms and mechanism in regards to the use, conservation, protection and restauration of the environment and natural resources in a sustainable manner. It recognizes the sustainable development concept. Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua  However, Nicaragua Legal frame on sustainaible use of wildlife is not actualized and insufficient in regards to the actual situation. Authority checks ilegal traffic, MARENA and Police, Marzo 2007 Photo: R. Espinoza

 Nicaragua does not have a Wildlife trade Policy as such. There are an array of legal instruments that constitute the elements of a written policy CONCLUSIONS Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua Interview with rural hunter, Siuna Turtle craftmanship, Puerto Cabezas.

It identifies constraints capabilities (personnel, technical and financial resources and logistics), which have limited largely optimal implementation of the legal framework and sustainability of trade. The decentralization of CITES-Ni functions to territorial delegations, without additional technical and operational resources, hampers the effective implementation of the same. Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua

1.To develop a Policy on wildlife trade that respond to the problem of degradation of the species of wildlife and their habitats. The policy must integrate the following key approaches: Recommendations Sustainability of the species, Incentive, Equity, Feasible financial mechanisms Local Governability. It should also incorporate the objectives, principles and goals that is in the General Law of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as other policies as defined in Nicaragua Environmental Policy and the National Biodiversity Strategy. Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua

2. To strengthen institutional capacities in the sustainable management of wildlife trade. Special attention given on the operational monitoring instruments, research, education, publication and dissemination. 3. MARENA must establish strategic alliances with universities, research centres and other entities with the capacity to implement the monitoring, research and education instruments. 4. Design a systems for monitoring and research with standardization of methodologies and indicators to assess the sustainability of the species under CITES list. 5. Design and implement a system of education, communication, and outreach to rural actors to change attitudes in the sustainable use of wildlife. Informe de resultados del Examen de la política de comercio de vida silvestres de Nicaragua