The Nicaraguan Canal environmental impact study has been approved
By Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados

The 14 volume and 11,000 page report, finally endorsed by the government in the past weeks, took two and a half years of work and was produced with advise from the British firm Environmental Resources Management (ERM).
According to HKND, "all significant changes recommended by the government in May have been attended". Among other things, HKND stated that possible deterioration of native forests as a result of slash and burn agriculture will be accompanied by reforestation and an improved water quality for Lake Nicaragua.
Now that the environmental impact study has been approved, it has been announced that construction of ports and locks for the canal will start before the end of 2015. During the construction phase from 2015 to March 2020, the canal will be dug and the locks built along with accompanying infrastructure.
HKND describes the project as the largest civil earthmoving operation in history, with an approximate budget of 50,000 million dollars.
