Deforestation
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Around 75 percent of Nicaraguan forests have already been transformed into crop and pasture land, and at least 50 percent of that deforestation has occurred since 1950. Yet there is still hope for preservation. The Atlantic Coast region in Nicaragua has the largest remaining rainforests in Central America.
The Nicaragua Network Environmental Committee points out, "As was demonstrated by the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch, deforestation in Nicaragua is not only an environmental issue, but is also an urgent social issue … the hurricane's damage was greatly exacerbated by previous deforestation. The severe floods and landslides in both Honduras and Nicaragua occurred mainly in regions with steep slopes that had been denuded of their forest cover" (NNEC, 1999).
The Nicaragua Network Environmental Committee points out, "As was demonstrated by the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch, deforestation in Nicaragua is not only an environmental issue, but is also an urgent social issue … the hurricane's damage was greatly exacerbated by previous deforestation. The severe floods and landslides in both Honduras and Nicaragua occurred mainly in regions with steep slopes that had been denuded of their forest cover" (NNEC, 1999).