Overview:
Nicaragua occupies a landmass of 130,967 km2. It is between latitudes 10° and 15°N, and longitudes 79° and 88°W. Filling a space about the size of the state of Alabama.
In Nicaragua, almost one fifth of the territory is national parks, nature reserves, and biological reserves. Nicaragua is surrounded by different countries: Honduras is located to the north, the Caribbean is located to the east, Costa Rica is located to the south, and the Pacific Ocean is located to the west.
Nicaragua also has three distinct geographical regions: the Pacific lowlands, the North-central highlands, and the Atlantic lowlands. The low plains of the Atlantic Coast are 60 miles wide in area.
What is Tropical Dry Forest?
Tropical dry forests are located at tropical and subtropical latitudes and is defined as forest in frost-free regions with annual precipitation between 500-2000mm and a pronounced dry season of four to seven months with less than 50mm of precipitation (Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific; Wiki).
Climate & Biodiversity
Tropical dry forests occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive several hundred centimeters of rain per year; however, they deal with long dry seasons which last several months and vary with geographic location. These seasonal droughts have great impact on ecosystems in the dry forest.
Deciduous trees predominate dry forests. Because these types of trees lose moisture through their leaves, the shedding of leaves allows them to conserve water during dry periods. Interestingly, the newly bare trees open up the canopy layer and enable sunlight to reach the ground level and facilitate the growth of thick underbrush. Although tropical dry forests have less biologically diversity than rain forests, they are still home to a wide variety of wildlife including monkeys, large cats, parrots, various rodents, and ground dwelling birds. Many of these species display extraordinary adaptations to the difficult climate.
Species in tropical dry forests tend to have wider ranges than moist forest species, although in some regions many species do display highly restricted ranges. Most dry forest species are restricted to tropical dry forests, especially in plants (http://wwf.panda.org).
Sensitivity to Disturbance
Dry forests are highly sensitive to excessive burning and deforestation. In addition, overgrazing and exotic species can also quickly alter natural communities. Although restoration is possible,it is challenging if degradation has been intense and persistent.
Nicaragua occupies a landmass of 130,967 km2. It is between latitudes 10° and 15°N, and longitudes 79° and 88°W. Filling a space about the size of the state of Alabama.
In Nicaragua, almost one fifth of the territory is national parks, nature reserves, and biological reserves. Nicaragua is surrounded by different countries: Honduras is located to the north, the Caribbean is located to the east, Costa Rica is located to the south, and the Pacific Ocean is located to the west.
Nicaragua also has three distinct geographical regions: the Pacific lowlands, the North-central highlands, and the Atlantic lowlands. The low plains of the Atlantic Coast are 60 miles wide in area.
What is Tropical Dry Forest?
Tropical dry forests are located at tropical and subtropical latitudes and is defined as forest in frost-free regions with annual precipitation between 500-2000mm and a pronounced dry season of four to seven months with less than 50mm of precipitation (Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific; Wiki).
Climate & Biodiversity
Tropical dry forests occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive several hundred centimeters of rain per year; however, they deal with long dry seasons which last several months and vary with geographic location. These seasonal droughts have great impact on ecosystems in the dry forest.
Deciduous trees predominate dry forests. Because these types of trees lose moisture through their leaves, the shedding of leaves allows them to conserve water during dry periods. Interestingly, the newly bare trees open up the canopy layer and enable sunlight to reach the ground level and facilitate the growth of thick underbrush. Although tropical dry forests have less biologically diversity than rain forests, they are still home to a wide variety of wildlife including monkeys, large cats, parrots, various rodents, and ground dwelling birds. Many of these species display extraordinary adaptations to the difficult climate.
Species in tropical dry forests tend to have wider ranges than moist forest species, although in some regions many species do display highly restricted ranges. Most dry forest species are restricted to tropical dry forests, especially in plants (http://wwf.panda.org).
Sensitivity to Disturbance
Dry forests are highly sensitive to excessive burning and deforestation. In addition, overgrazing and exotic species can also quickly alter natural communities. Although restoration is possible,it is challenging if degradation has been intense and persistent.
Conservation of the tropical dry forest in Nicaragua:
All forests around the world are disappearing rapidly and dry forests in Nicaragua are among them. The main reason for this is because people want to turn the forests into agricultural usage; with cattle ranches contributing to most of the destruction. The figure below shows the dramatic changes in the forest cover in Nicaragua since 1983 and predicts the forest cover in 2050.
(photo from http://www.sonati.org/en/naturalreserve_leon.html#1)
All forests around the world are disappearing rapidly and dry forests in Nicaragua are among them. The main reason for this is because people want to turn the forests into agricultural usage; with cattle ranches contributing to most of the destruction. The figure below shows the dramatic changes in the forest cover in Nicaragua since 1983 and predicts the forest cover in 2050.
(photo from http://www.sonati.org/en/naturalreserve_leon.html#1)
Impacts of reduction of forest cover on the environment and human:
- Landslides during the rainy season. For example, there were over 2,000 people died in a single mudslide at Casitas volcano in 1998 in northwestern Nicaragua.
- Floods during the rainy season as well. People, livestock, houses and other equipment vanish in floods in different parts of Nicaragua every year.
- Drought during the dry season. Rivers that used to maintain running water year-round become dry and many people don't have access to drinking water.
Sources:
http://wwf.panda.org
http://www.lost-canyon.org/TropicalDryForest/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua
http://www.iucnredlist.org
http://www.sonati.org/en/naturalreserve_leon.html#1
http://wwf.panda.org
http://www.lost-canyon.org/TropicalDryForest/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua
http://www.iucnredlist.org
http://www.sonati.org/en/naturalreserve_leon.html#1