Nicaragua cloud forest 'under siege' by illegal loggers.

Bosawas forest - the Bosawas Reserve is a critically important rainforest but native people say it is being destroyed by "colonists"

A famed rainforest in Nicaragua is under growing threat from illegal loggers, say indigenous leaders.

The Bosawas Biosphere Reserve is Central America's largest tropical forest with clouds constantly drifting over the hilly terrain.

But the Mayangna and Miskito people who live there say 30,000 hectares a year are being deforested by "colonists".

They are calling on US president Barack Obama, who is visiting the region, to support their battle.

Described by the United Nations as a global biological treasure, the reserve is located on the border between Nicaragua and Honduras and teems with wildlife.

“We believe that if there is no intervention there will be no Biosphere Reserve in five to 10 years” Taymond Robins, Mayangna people

The two million hectares are said to be home to 150,000 insect species, rare jaguars, eagles and crocodiles as well as the world's last populations of Baird's Tapir and the Central American Spider Monkey.

Landless invaders

The Bosawas reserve also overlaps the homes of indigenous communities who have been there for centuries, living by hunting and fishing.

The Nicaraguan government recognised the full legal title of the Mayangna to their lands in 2007.

Global alliance aims to tackle forest crime

 
Illegal logging damages biodiversity and undermines people's livelihoods.
 

Interpol and the United Nations have joined forces to launch an initiative to tackle global forest crime.

Project Leaf will target criminals involved in illegal logging and timber trafficking.

The scheme will also provide support to enforcement agencies in countries

with the biggest problems, Interpol said.

It is estimated that more than a quarter of the world's population relies on

forests for their livelihoods, fuel, food and medicines.

David Higgins, Interpol's Environmental Crime Programme manager, said that

illegal logging was no longer a issue that was restricted by national

boundaries.

"The international legislation to protect forests and curtail illegal logging

demonstrates this," he commented.

"Project leaf will ensure these global laws are supported by global

enforcement and that the criminals responsible are brought to justice - no

matter their location, movements or resources."

Project leaf (Law Enforcement Assistance for Forests) is a partnership

between the UN Environment Programme (Unep) and Interpol, with funding provided

by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.

About 360 of the lagely monadic tribe have had some contact with the outside world, and about 100 remain uncontacted.

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The Awa are being encroached upon from all sides by loggers, who are clear-cutting and burning the forest that both the Awa and the animals they eat call home. Here, one of the Awa territories is outlined in white, with logging operations throughout the region clearly visible.

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The Awa are hunter-gatherers, and travel in extended family groups of about 30. Families go on gathering expeditions, and extended hunts can last for weeks on end. However, the comparatively small groups are vulnerable to attacks by gunmen hired by loggers and ranchers.