Nicaragua’s mega canal could beecome a mega mistake without a sound scientific basis

In December of last year, the Nicaraguan government began work on the much-debated interoceanic canal. The proposed project would divide Nicaragua’s biodiverse rainforests, coastal reefs, and the iconic Lake Nicaragua. Although construction has not proceeded beyond clearing and paving an access road, on May 31st of this year, the project moved one step closer to reality when the consulting firm ERM presented a 14-volume, 11,000-page Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to the Chinese construction firm HKND and the Nicaraguan government.