jean -michel maes is one of nicaragua's leading scientists. he was asked to help document this area of the canal route for the canal's environmental impact report. and like me, he is an entomologist. we have a bit of history together. >> 15 years ago when i was a kid i wanted to come here and collect some butterflies and i asked around who can help me with that. and it was you. >> i think what is difficult is seeing all the country being destroyed. >> so right now we're looking at the brito river. this thing is meandering through here. it's beautiful here but that might change. >> if they make the canal that will change. they will make it straight, they will not go meandering with the ships. >> as we made our way down the road, our guides tell us to hide our cameras. the go pro on the front of our vehicle keeps rolling. just down the river stands a nicaraguan army post. a single soldier standing guard. enough to send a message. >> knowing nicaragua's history i worry that this situation and that the authoritarian way the government is pushing f