HKND engaged Nicaraguan environmental NGO FUNDAR to develop the first Biodiversity Management Plans for the Nicaragua Grand Canal
On 17 June 2016, HKND Group, the concessionaire of the Nicaragua Grand Canal Project, has entered into an agreement with Friends of the San Juan River Foundation (FUNDAR), a Nicaraguan environmental NGO, for the development of the first Biodiversity Management Plans for the Canal Project, including Riverine and Terrestrial Biodiversity Management Plans, Environmental Offset Plans along the Canal route, as well as Freshwater and Terrestrial Biodiversity Action Plans for Brito area in Rivas.
HKND Group has committed to achieving a Net Positive Environmental Impact, which means in essence that in the Canal Project, the negative impacts to the environment that is unavoidable will be more than balanced by the positive environmental benefits. This commitment, in conformity with international best practices, is set out in the Environmental Permit granted by Government of Nicaragua, and also required by international organizations such as the World Bank for projects of this kind.
To honour its commitment, HKND will, in strict accordance with the recommendations made in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) undertaken by the British company Environmental Resources Management (ERM), develop a complete set of environmental management plans for the Canal route, among which, the Biodiversity Management Plans are crucial elements.
As part of the environmental plan for the Canal Project, the Biodiversity Management Plans that FUNDAR will develop will be focusing on providing biodiversity protection procedures and measures for the terrestrial and riverine ecosystems to be impacted by the construction and operation of the Nicaragua Grand Canal, as well as the freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems in Brito area in Rivas, so as to ensure that the Project will have a Net Positive Impact on forests and the wildlife along the Canal route.
FUNDAR has extensive experience in environmental management throughout Nicaragua, including flora and fauna inventories, protected area management, and environmental impact evaluation. FUNDAR served as the national counterpart to ERM during the development of the ESIA, and mobilized over 80 Nicaraguan specialists from relevant fields to work for the program.