The Instituto Nacional de BIodiversidad (INBio) celebrates this week the 20th anniversary since its founding in 1989.  Since then INBio has worked to catalogue and save the distinct species that exist within Costa Rica and learn what knowledge this vast array of life might impart to the benefit of humanity.  The goal for the next twenty years?  According to Rodrigo Gámez, the organization’s acting president, it is to convert the theme of biodiversity into the axes of Costa Rican culture, including its educational and business processes.  INBio was began by a group of concerned Costa Ricans in an old warehouse located on a coffee farm in Santo Domingo de Heredia.  Over the years that initial humble operation was converted into a highly sophisticated research center as well as a “biodiversity theme park” of sorts, which thousands of locals and tourists now visit annually.  In addition, over the last 20 years, the researchers of INBio have catalogued over 3.5 million different species of flora and fauna.  All this can be viewed at the INBio web site (http://darnis.inbio.ac.cr/).  INBio has also been instrumental in certain legislative processes such as the Ley de Biodiversidad.  Over the years INBio and its programs have been given numerous awards, such as the Príncipe de Asturias en Investigación y Técnica in 1995.  INBio is now recognized around the world for the level of its researce and efforts to protect Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity.  Gámez cited global warming as one of the future centers of focus, as well as “biomimetismo,” which he described in La Nación as the immitation of natural processes without actually extracting anything from nature.

Link to Article in La Nación

Sustainable tourism experts from around the world are gathering this week at the Hotel Herradura in San Jose, Costa Rica for the First International Conference for Sustainable Tourism.  Costa Rica was chosen since it is a model for developing a robust tourism industry that is in harmony with the environment that spawned it.  Topics that will be discussed include the role that tourism related businesses play in combating global warming, management of protected areas, sustainable construction and environmental certifications. The conference is this week from the 26th to the 29th at the Hotel Herradura and was organized by the Cámera Nacional de Ecoturismo de Costa Rica (Canaeco).  Other organizations involved include ICT (Costa Rican Tourism Ministry), CANATUR (Costa RIca Chamber of Tourism), The Association of Professionals in Tourism and The International Ecotourism Sosciety.  The conference is meant to enlighten hoteliers, tour operators and others linked with tourism about concepts related to sustainable tourism.  One of the topics will be the CST certification (Certificate in Sustainable Tourism) that Costa Rica has had in place for a decade.  Currently 101 tourism related businesses (mostly hotels) in Costa Rica have the certification.  That number has more than doubled in the last six years.  The CST is awarded to those establishments that can demonstrate a level of proficiency in such areas as use of water and energy, programs for waste management, and implementation of good practices in protecting the environment.  Other countries that seek to implement similar programs are looking to the CST program in Costa Rica as a solid working model that has exhibited great success.

Link to Article in La Nación

Being from the south I am well acquainted with the prejudices that exist there.  These days are nothing like those of the past, but every once and a while, that backwards thinking rears its ugly head.  I remember traveling with my then girlfriend to the Carolinas from Costa Rica back in, I guess it was, 2005.  Her passport and all other papers where in complete order. However, the immigration official for some inexplicable reason, decided to detain her, as well as every other Latino on the plane, in a room for the next two and a half hours. It was humiliating and it made me furious.  Yesterday I read in La Nación about similar treatment a Costa Rican family received at the hands of a Hillsborough Country Florida police officer during a U2 concert.  Seems the concert was about to end and Giannina Segnini, a tica who was attending the concert together with her boyfriend and son of ten years, stopped in the balcony to watch the final song.  A police officer asked them to leave and I guess their reaction wasn’t sufficient for him because he grabbed Giannina by the arm and arrested her, placing her in the holding cell of a “paddy wagon” like some drunken rebel rouser.  Well Giannina is not taking all of this laying down and has demanded an apology as well as reparations for damages.  Bruno Stagni, Costa Rica chanciller of exterior relations, has also gotten involved calling the unjustified police action a violation of the tica’s basic human rights.  The attitude of the police during the incident was apparently, “we can do whatever we want.”  That is the exact same attitude my girlfriend received at the hands of overly zealous immigration officers back in 2005. No you can’t “do whatever you want.”  These kind of incidents are what give the U.S. a black eye in terms of worldwide reputation and they should not be tolerated in the least respect.  The police officer that treated Giannina this way should be fired!  I know tico culture and the very notion that she was acting aggressively towards this officer is nothing short of absurd. I also know southern rednecks and the actions of this officer show that he certainly fits the description.

Link to Article in La Nación

According to an article that appeared in La Nación that details a study done by scientific researchers at the University of Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional and Universidad de Ciencias Médicas.  The researches first began studying the monkeys in 2001 and since then have studied 1,000 individuals.  The research reveals that in estimation there are 104,000 monkeys in Costa Rica of the four species endemic to the country.  Those are the Congo, Cariblanco, Araña and Tití.  The researchers estimate that of the 104,000 total, there are remaining 34,000 Congos, 7,000 Arañas, 9,000 Titís and 54,000 Cariblancos.  The scientists noted that while it helps that 25% of the country’s territory is environmentally protected, the problem is that the protected areas are dispersed in segments that are almost completely autonomous from one another.  They are like small islands in themselves.  This means that monkeys residing in one area have virtually no contact with monkeys in another.  The result is less genetic variability and this can lead to serious health threats as the monkeys have little immunity against new diseases.  The scientists found cases of malaria, yellow fever, and various parasites.  In many areas, such as Manuel Antonio, the monkeys live in close proximity to humans and can easily pass diseases and parasites along to their human neighbors.  The animals also exhibit a high level of immunity to antibiotics, which makes treatment of diseases difficult.  The scientists are sure that what is occurring in Costa Rica is likely happening in other countries as well and stressed the need for a network throughout Central America with the goal of helping these primates get back to good health.

Link to Article in La Nación

Just six kilometers from where their scenic little pueblo was washed away by the torrential landslides provoked by the earthquake of January 8, 2009, former residents of CInchona are building a new, model community.  The “new Cinchona” will be populated by the 80 families that lost their homes, many their loved ones, and for the past year have been completely displaced and dispersed by the devastation wrought from this horrible tragedy.  The new Cinchona will be located in Cariblanco, Sarapiquí on a farm of 600 hectares and at a cost of around $1 million.  They hope to have the new location ready by June of next year.  The money will come from a variety of locations, including donations from local and international persons and businesses.  In addition to homes for the families, the new Cinchona will have a fútbol field, a church and areas for recreation and commercial establishments.  Each family will receive between 300 and 500 square meters of land on which to build a house of around 54 square meters.  Ana Cambronero, a community leader who lost her husband and three children when they were swept away in a landslide during the quake, has been instrumental in the effort.  She told La Nación that what this tight-knit community wants is to stay together and not have to “pull up roots.”  The new Cinchona will be a “model community” with environmentally friendly homes and structures.  Agriculture and tourism will be the main economic forces supporting the new pueblo.

Link to Article in La Nación

If you have been to Costa Rica and haven’t visited INBioparque in Santo Domingo de Heredia, you should.  It is a Costa Rican biological theme park.  One can spend hours learning about the various flora and fauna of Costa Rica.  It is truly a remarkable place for someone who really has a desire to learn about the biodiversity of this little country.  Now the folks who brought you the park have added a room dedicated to explaining the reasons behind global climate change.  The new exhibit opened its doors to the public just this week.  Costa Rica invested $40,000 in creating the exhibit, which is geared toward explaining to folks in simple terms the reasons behind climate change, the looming threat imposed by it and simple things that we can do in everyday life to combat it.  The exhibit features three dimensional figures and a documentary film prepared specially for INBioparque that shows the way climate change is particularly affecting Costa Rica biodiversity.  Recently the Sapo Dorado, one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated rain forest frogs was declared extinct from the cloud forests of Monteverde.  Scientists attribute its disappearance, as well as the threat to many such amphibians, to climate change.  The documentary ends by suggesting various ways you and I can fight against the effects of climate change.  Acts such as reforestation, using less paper and plastic products, turning off electric appliances when not in use, walking more and driving less, changing incandescent bulbs for new varieties that consume far less energy, are among the specific actions mentioned.  There is even a song dedicated to fighting climate change featured in the film that is performed by some of Costa Rica’s most celebrated musicians.

Link to Article in La Nación

The Río San Juan, that is.  That’s why the Canadian-owned Las Crucitas Mine Project wants to mine for gold there.  However, environmentalists aren’t so enthused about the idea.  Seems that in order to extract gold from the rock, the miners use a substance called “cyanide.” Yea, that’s the same stuff the double-naught spies use to “bite the bullet” when captured.  Even a grain of the stuff will kill a human in seconds.  The mine will store tons of it.  If there is a leak into the river, well, I guess you can get the picture.  The Río San Juan forms the northern border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  Nicaragua actually controls the river and it is a potential tourism hot spot abounding with stunning natural beauty and rich biodiversity.  The river itself is considered a clean body of water with contamination levels below international standards for domestic use.  So, Nicaragua is a little bit up in arms about the whole deal.  Oscar Arias on the other hand appears to be all for it.  The mine will actually be on Costa Rican soil and a while back Arias declared the mine project “of public interest,” which cleared the way for its construction and the destruction of trees in protected forests.  Environmentalists say that Costa Rica has not had a great track record when it comes to giving the green light for mining operations.  The Bellavista Mine in Miramar, Puntarenas, operated less than two years before it was closed in 2007 after a major landslide.  Mining of this nature is normally done in higher altitudes like the Andes region of South America.  Many claim that these mining companies don’t have the expertise to operate in low-lying jungle areas.  The Canadian firm behind the project, Infinito Gold LTD, was suspended from continuing construction due to legal challenges related to the clearing of 50 hectares of forested land.  In the next few weeks the court will issue another ruling that could give the company a green light to continue with construction.  In that case, the mine could be up and operating within 9 to 12 months.  The company claims that none of the forest on the 50 hectares is virgin, but secondary, and of the 1,500 hectares purchased, 1,200 will be protected or replanted forests.  Further, they claim that all environmental impact and feasibility studies were previously approved by Costa Rican authorities.  But my question is this…then why was it necessary for Arias to issue the controversial “of public interest” decree?  The controversy over the project has actually united Nicaraguan and Costa Rican youths that live along the border and who usually view each other with distrust and animosity.  They have instead come together to form coalitions against the mine project.  In my thinking, all the gold in the world could not pay for the stunning natural beauty and biological diversity of this area.  If there is even a potential threat, shut it down!  The economic benefit from tourism in the area can offset any benefit that the mine could possibly bring to the people that live here.  The only ones to really benefit are the fatcats who are financially backing the project.  In short, the reward is not worth the risk for Nicaragua, nor Costa Rica.

Unlike the U.S., where they give cash for “clunkers” (or old gas-guzzling cars) in order to stimulate the economy, here in Costa Rica they give cash for trees, or at least not to cut them down.  The program is called the Pago de Servicios Ambientales (PSA) and is part of the Fondo Nacional de Financiamiento Forestal (Fonafifo).  You see at one time Costa Rica was not so green and beautiful as it is today.  Once upon a time wealthy landowners got it into their heads to all become “Hoss Cartwright” wannabes and turn their forested land into cow pastures.  That idea didn’t work out so well and the country suffered as a result.  Upon until the last twenty years or so, when the trend began reversing, Costa Rica was less than 25% covered by the beautiful green forests that now so predominate the landscape here.  The reason for that turnaround is the PSA program listed above wherein those same landowners were paid to maintain their land forested.  Now over 50% of the country is covered with trees.  This has had a great benefit in launching Costa Rica as one of the prime eco-tourism hot spots, but also as a model for environmental sustainability.  Recently Costa Rica vowed to be “carbon neutral” by the year 2021.  But maintaining and even increasing the amount of land covered with trees is one of the primary keys in accomplishing that goal.  All that could be in jeopardy according to an article today in La Nación.  It seems that the Ministerio de Hacienda (or Treasury Department) wants to cut back 35% of the funding for Fonafifo.  The program that will be most affected by the cuts will be the PSA. In the budget for 2010, Fonafifo is allotted about 3 billion colones (about $5 million) less than what it says that it needs to carry forward its plans.  The money to fund Fonafifo comes from the Ley de SImplificación y Eficiencia Tributaria, which establishes a 3.5% combustibles tax in order to fund the PSA.  If the cuts go into effect there will barely be enough to pay for protection of 23,358 hectares in private forested land, which is only 33% of the 57,600 hectares that Costa Rica made a commitment to protect in an international agreement with the World Bank known as Ecomercados II.  Sebastián Ugalde, director of the Costa Rican Chamber of Forestry, stated in the article that the PSA is the most important program for reforestation and putting it at risk puts the entire commitment towards carbon neutrality in peril.  Things get even worse in 2011, whereby if the cuts go into effect, a deficit is actually projected to arise in that year.  There is still time to make adjustments in the 2010 budget to protect the program and hopefully lawmakers will heed to warnings of experts who say this is a very bad idea!

Link to Article in La Nación

So claimed the marine biologists of Expedition NatGeo about the clear blue waters off Costa Rica’s famed Isla del Coco.  Isla del Coco is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems known to man with some 1,400 species of marine animals and plants.  For three weeks these scientists made daily dives in these waters, searching for new species and studying this habitat that so attracts the thousands that are teaming in these warm Pacific waters.  They currently believe to have found at least ten new species, never before know to man.  The reaction of the scientists is that Isla de Coco is an absolute marvel of nature.  Why?  They give two specific reasons. First is the incredible number of large predator fish that inhabit these waters, especially sharks.  Virtually every type of shark that swims in the Pacific can be found there and in great quantities.  This signifies an ecosystem that is extremely healthy and robust because these predators, being at the very top of the marine food chain, have to have something to eat.  And here they never go hungry!  Secondly, the scientists note the mind-boggling abundance of species of small fish, medusas, corals, micro-organisms and algaes.  As healthy as the ecosystem of Coco is, it is not immune to risk. The chief among them is the illegal fishing that goes on there, despite the strenuous efforts of park guards, and marine conservation organizations like MarViva.  Although the main thrust of the expedition was to explore the submerged mountains located about 35 kilometers off the coast of Coco, known as Las Gemelas, weather allowed only four dives to take place there.  The team hopes to return to learn more about this amazing area.

Link to Article in La Nación