AGP Executive Report

Tropical Storm Cristina: Western Nicaragua is already taking a hit as Cristina lingers off the Pacific coast, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, floods, landslides, and major road disruptions—officials warn of up to 300mm in a day and report sinkholes and coastal seawater intrusion. El Niño Watch: NOAA says El Niño is here and could intensify to historic strength, raising fears for Nicaragua and the wider “Dry Corridor” of drought, crop stress, and food insecurity. Illegal Mining & Toxic Spillover: Costa Rica’s Crucitas gold crisis is deepening near the Nicaraguan border as illegal mining spreads over thousands of hectares, with mercury and cyanide raising alarms for forests, soil, and waterways. Invasive Animal Health Threat: New World screwworm has been confirmed in the U.S. again after spreading through Central America, triggering heightened surveillance and quarantine concerns for livestock and wildlife.

Tropical Storm Cristina: Heavy rains and strong winds have been battering western Nicaragua, with floods, landslides, and major road damage reported in León and Chinandega, while Managua and key highways also face disruptions as the storm lingers near the coast. El Niño Watch: Scientists say El Niño has arrived and could intensify into a very strong event by late year, raising fears for Nicaragua’s “Dry Corridor” of drought risk and food insecurity. Invasive Animal Health Threat: New World screwworm has been confirmed in the U.S. (Texas and beyond), a comeback linked to livestock smuggling across Central America, with officials warning wildlife and cattle could be at risk. Illegal Mining Spillover (Region): Costa Rica’s Crucitas gold crisis is deepening as illegal mining spreads into forest and waterways using toxic chemicals, highlighting how cross-border environmental damage and organized crime can escalate near Nicaragua.

Tropical Storm Cristina: Western Nicaragua is getting hammered as Cristina lingers off the coast, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, floods, landslides, and major road damage—reports cite up to 300 mm in a day, with seawater seeping into coastal neighborhoods and a sinkhole swallowing a truck on the highway to Masaya. El Niño Watch: Scientists say El Niño has arrived and could intensify into a very strong event by late year, raising drought fears in Central America’s “Dry Corridor” (including Nicaragua) and boosting the odds of extreme swings in rainfall. Invasive Wildlife Threat: The New World screwworm fly continues its northward comeback, with new confirmed cases in the U.S. (Texas and New Mexico), triggering quarantines and raising concern for animal health and regional spread risk—linked by experts to cattle smuggling and cross-border movement. Illegal Mining & Pollution (Region): Costa Rica’s Crucitas gold crisis is deepening as illegal mining spreads, with authorities warning of toxic contamination from mercury and cyanide and escalating border-and-organized-crime tensions near Nicaragua.

El Niño Watch: NOAA says El Niño is here and could intensify into a very strong event by November–January, raising odds of drought, crop stress, and extreme rainfall across the “Dry Corridor” that includes parts of Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Storm Cristina Hits Nicaragua: Tropical Storm Cristina has been lashing western Nicaragua with heavy rain, flooding, landslides, and major road damage, with authorities warning of life-threatening mudslides and up to hundreds of millimeters in some areas. Illegal Mining Fallout in the Region: Costa Rica’s Crucitas gold crisis is deepening as illegal mining spreads over thousands of hectares near the Nicaraguan border, with reported mercury and cyanide contamination threatening forests, soil, and waterways. Wildlife Health Alarm: New World screwworm is spreading north in the U.S., prompting quarantines and heightened surveillance; experts warn it’s likely not a one-off and could affect animals and livelihoods across the region.

Tropical Storm Cristina Strikes Nicaragua’s West: Heavy rain and strong winds from Cristina have paralyzed parts of western Nicaragua, with floods, landslides, and major road disruptions reported in León and Chinandega; authorities warn some areas could see up to 300 mm in a day, while Managua crews respond to water buildup and a highway sinkhole that swallowed a truck. Storm Track for Central America: The storm is lingering near Nicaragua’s coast and is expected to keep bringing life-threatening flooding and mudslides across Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala as it moves along the Pacific. New World Screwworm Returns, Threatening Wildlife and Livestock: U.S. officials confirmed additional New World screwworm cases after the parasite reappeared in Texas and spread from Mexico/Central America, raising concerns for animals and wildlife; experts link the resurgence to illegal cattle smuggling and warn that outbreaks can trigger quarantines and major economic losses. Conservation Angle on Disease Spread: The screwworm story highlights how cross-border animal movement and deforestation pressures can accelerate harmful outbreaks—an issue Nicaragua’s wildlife and rural communities are likely to feel as regional risks grow.

Tropical Storm Cristina in Nicaragua: Western Nicaragua is dealing with heavy rains and strong winds from Tropical Storm Cristina, with reports of floods, landslides, and major road damage in León and Chinandega, plus seawater seepage into coastal neighborhoods; authorities warn up to 300 mm of rain in a day and urge people to watch for flash flooding and sinkholes as the storm lingers near the coast. Regional storm tracking: Forecasters say Cristina could cross Central America and move toward the Gulf, while Tropical Storm Boris has weakened after landfall in Mexico—both systems keep the main risk focused on dangerous rainfall, mudslides, and flooding. Wildlife and disease risk: The New World screwworm fly continues spreading in North America, with new cases reported in Texas and nearby areas, triggering animal quarantines and raising concerns for livestock and wildlife—an issue that matters for Nicaragua’s broader biodiversity and biosecurity planning. Marine impacts in the region: Costa Rica’s Caribbean is seeing record sargassum arrivals, with monitoring tied to nearby Nicaragua-linked areas and reports of increased turtle strandings.

Storm Watch for Nicaragua: Tropical Storm Cristina is churning along Central America’s Pacific, with a tropical storm warning stretching from the Honduras–Nicaragua border to the Guatemala–El Salvador border; forecasters warn of life-threatening flooding and mudslides as heavy rain builds through Thursday, including coastal Nicaragua. Regional Rain Hazard: Another Pacific system, Tropical Storm Boris, has weakened after landfall in Mexico but is still expected to bring heavy rain and the same flash-flood and landslide risk across southern Mexico. Wildlife Tracking Breakthrough: A falcon recovery project in Wisconsin is using tiny solar-powered location transmitters on peregrine bands to answer where young birds go before they return to nest. Invasive Parasite Alert: New World screwworm cases are spreading in the U.S., triggering quarantines and raising concerns for livestock and wildlife—an extra reminder for Central America’s already vulnerable animal health systems. Sargassum Surge in Costa Rica: Researchers report record-breaking sargassum arrivals on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, with monitoring tied to nearby turtle strandings.

Tropical Storm Cristina: The Pacific system now near Nicaragua is expected to bring several days of heavy rain and flash-flood risk across Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica, with officials warning of landslides and saturated soils as it meanders along the coast. Tropical Storm Boris: Meanwhile, Boris has weakened after landfall in southern Mexico, but its moisture is still expected to fuel flooding rain in the region. New World screwworm threat: U.S. officials report fresh cases of the flesh-eating parasite in Texas and nearby areas, triggering animal quarantines and raising concerns for livestock and wildlife—an alert that matters for Central America’s shared ecosystems and animal health. Sargassum surge in Costa Rica: Costa Rica’s Caribbean is seeing record-breaking sargassum arrivals, with monitoring tied to impacts on beaches and coastal wildlife, including turtle strandings. Wildlife conservation note: A rewilding story from Costa Rica highlights how habitat restoration can bring back biodiversity, including tapirs, after past cattle-driven losses.

Invasive Species Alert: The New World screwworm fly is back in the U.S., with officials confirming five cases total after three more were found on June 9, including livestock in Texas and a dog in New Mexico—prompting quarantines and renewed fears for wildlife and the cattle industry. Regional Biosecurity: The outbreak is tied to spread across Mexico and Central America since 2023, and Canada has already restricted Texas livestock imports, underscoring how fast animal-health risks can cross borders. Storm Watch for Nicaragua: Tropical Storm Cristina has formed near Nicaragua and is expected to bring days of heavy rain and flash-flood risk across Nicaragua and neighboring countries, with officials warning of landslides and evacuations. Coastal Flooding Risk: Forecasters also track Tropical Storm Boris in the Pacific, which is weakening over Mexico but still threatens life-threatening flooding and mudslides from heavy rainfall. Marine Pollution Signal: Costa Rica’s Caribbean is seeing record sargassum arrivals, with researchers linking the unusual surge to ongoing impacts on beaches and wildlife, including turtle strandings.

Wildlife & Livestock Health: The New World screwworm—an invasive, flesh-eating parasite—has been confirmed in Texas for the first time in decades, with new cases in a calf and a dog prompting quarantine zones and tighter livestock movement rules; Canada has temporarily restricted imports from affected U.S. areas, underscoring how quickly a single incursion can disrupt animal health and export markets. Regional Weather & Flood Risk: In the Eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Boris is tracking toward Mexico’s Guerrero coast with warnings for heavy rain and life-threatening flooding, while Tropical Depression Three-E (Cristina) is developing near Nicaragua and raising concerns for Costa Rica’s already saturated Pacific slope. Marine Ecosystems: Costa Rica’s Caribbean is seeing record sargassum arrivals, with monitoring groups reporting surges that are affecting turtle strandings and beach conditions, including hotspots near the Nicaragua border. Conservation & Recovery: A rewilding push in Costa Rica’s Tapir Valley Nature Reserve is helping bring back tapirs and broader biodiversity after past cattle expansion.

Tropical Storm Boris Watch: The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Storm Boris as it heads toward Mexico’s Pacific coast, with a Tropical storm warning from Laguna de Chacahua to Tecpán de Galeana and forecasts of 4–10 inches of rain (up to 12 inches) that could trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Eastern Pacific Storms: Activity is also building near Central America, including Tropical Depression Three-E forming west-southwest of Managua, Nicaragua, raising the risk of heavy rain and dangerous flooding across the region. Invasive Species Alert: A New World screwworm outbreak has been confirmed in Texas after decades of eradication, with officials racing to contain the flesh-eating parasite that can infest livestock, wildlife, and pets—an added conservation and biosecurity concern for Nicaragua and the wider region as the pest spreads north through Central America. Trade & Forced Labor Tariffs: The U.S. is proposing Section 301 tariffs tied to forced-labor import rules across 60 economies, with potential ripple effects for regional supply chains and environmental enforcement priorities.

New World screwworm threat: The USDA confirmed the first U.S. case in 60 years in a 3-week-old calf in South Texas, triggering quarantines and renewed sterile-fly plans—an alarming reminder that this flesh-eating parasite can spread from Central America through the region and threaten livestock, wildlife, and even pets. Regional weather watch: The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic is quiet but is monitoring a Gulf system for next week, while Tropical Depression Amanda has weakened in the Pacific—another nudge for preparedness as storms and drought risks loom across Central America. Humanitarian pressure tied to climate and infrastructure: UN briefings on Cuba describe hospitals suspending surgeries amid severe medicine shortages and power outages, with hotter summer conditions and reduced water access expected to raise public health risk. Nature recovery inspiration: A rewilding story highlights how tapirs and other biodiversity can return when habitat is restored—an upbeat counterpoint to the week’s pest and climate warnings. Local community event: Humboldt Botanical Garden’s summer music series returns Sundays with food trucks and family-friendly access, including Nicaraguan Foods on June 7.

New World screwworm threat: The USDA confirmed the first New World screwworm case in the U.S. in 60 years, found in a 3-week-old calf in South Texas, triggering quarantines and a push to stop the flesh-eating parasite from spreading to livestock, wildlife, and even people. Regional climate risk: In Central America’s Dry Corridor, drought is already drying wells and crops, and fears are rising that El Niño could worsen hunger for Indigenous communities in Guatemala that also depend on farming for survival. Hurricane watch: The National Hurricane Center downgraded Pacific Tropical Storm Amanda to a depression while monitoring new Eastern Pacific and Gulf systems as hurricane season ramps up. Conservation rebound: A rewilding story from Costa Rica highlights how nature can bounce back fast—tapirs and other wildlife returning after habitat restoration near Tenorio Volcano National Park. Governance & environment link: UN briefings on Cuba’s crisis warn heat and water shortages could raise public health risks, underscoring how environmental stress and infrastructure strain ripple into daily life.

Rewilding Success in Central America: A new report highlights how tapirs and other wildlife are returning to Costa Rica’s Tenorio Volcano area after a decade of intensive rewilding, including lagoon restoration, following decades of habitat loss from cattle ranching. Invasive Species Alarm: The U.S. confirmed its first New World screwworm case in 60 years in a calf in South Texas, after the parasite spread north through Panama and Central America—prompting quarantines and sterile-fly releases and raising risks for livestock, pets, and wildlife. Regional Climate Stress: Drought fears are intensifying in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor as El Niño approaches, with Indigenous farming communities warning that failing rains could trigger hunger and crop collapse across parts of Nicaragua and neighboring countries. Agriculture Toxin Watch: New research links glyphosate exposure in Central American farm workers (including Nicaragua) to kidney health problems, adding pressure for stronger environmental and workplace protections.

Invasive Species Watch: The U.S. confirmed its first New World screwworm case in decades after a 3-week-old calf in South Texas tested positive, raising alarms for livestock, wildlife, and even rare human infections as the parasite spreads north from Central America. Regional Climate Risk: In Central America’s Dry Corridor, drought is already biting hard—AFP reports Indigenous communities in Guatemala’s Quiché are fearing hunger as wells dry and El Niño approaches, with similar vulnerability across Nicaragua and neighboring countries. Agrochemical Health: New research links glyphosate exposure in agricultural workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua to kidney health problems, adding pressure on pesticide safety and environmental health rules. Trade & Environment: U.S. moves to impose forced-labor-related tariffs could reshape supply chains across the region, including Nicaragua, with knock-on effects for how goods are produced and monitored.

Invasive Species Alert: The New World screwworm—an animal-killing fly whose larvae feed on living tissue—has been confirmed in a 3-week-old calf in South Texas, after years of containment in Panama and spread through Central America; officials say there may already be more flies in the region, and the response includes quarantines and sterile-fly releases to protect cattle, wildlife, and even pets. Regional Climate Watch: Tropical Storm Amanda and a new system (Invest 91E) are being tracked in the Eastern Pacific, with forecasts focused on whether impacts stay offshore as hurricane season ramps up. Dry Corridor Food Risk: Drought is worsening in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor as El Niño approaches, with wells drying and farmers warning that crop failure could trigger hunger—an area that also includes Nicaragua. Agrochemical Health Concern: New research links glyphosate exposure in agricultural workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua to kidney health problems, raising pressure for stronger farm safety and regulation.