ABSTRACT
During the past 25 years, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and the frequency and intensity of ‘natural’ disasters, including those resulting from extreme and severe weather events, have exposed the fragility of the region’s ecosystems as well as its social and economic vulnerability. In the context of increasing levels of urbanization, poverty and inequality, the environmental risks confronting Central America, especially those associated with climate change, can no longer be ignored or addressed simply as economic growth problems related to the technology used in intensive agriculture activities or in the exploitation of natural resources. Environmental change has emerged as a key strategic issue in developmental and political debates on the region’s future; as a result, a serious discussion on the spatial scale as well as the appropriate levels of governance needed to address these challenges has become more urgent than ever.
