Jaco Will Benefit from Added Vigilance and Community Clean-up Efforts.

Costa Rica’s reputation as eco-paradise has left it with big shoes to fill: it’s difficult to balance first class tourism (and, therefore, development) with perfectly clean beaches, undisturbed wildlife, and protection of the environment. In fact, Costa Rica has seen its fair share of environmental stumbling blocks, but its constantly evolving environmental and development policies continue to aid in keeping the country clean, the environment healthy and the tourists happy.

Costa Rica’s Blue Flag program, which grants distinction to the country’s cleanest beaches, works together with national organizations and entities to monitor Pacific and Atlantic-coast beaches. During a recent study, Jacó Beach, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, was found to have too-high fecal coliform levels. To combat this discovery, a group of Jacó residents, developers, politicians, and public health agencies has gotten together to clean up the beach.

The proactive group will work together to monitor 35 area water treatment facilities. In the meantime, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment will work together to search for the major contamination sources. The Ministry of Health will also gather together all health ordinances from 2007 and 2008, so that the group may continue monitoring business’s progress. The mayor of Garabito, Jacó’s county, Marvin Elizondo, expressed contentment and motivation for the new plan. For the first time, all involved agencies will work together to improve Jacó, and their combined efforts come at a crucial time when they are still able to bring positive change and improve the future outlook of the town.

Traveling further south, the Costa Rica government is also working to protect the Osa Peninsula’s precious environment. In June 2007, Golfito neighbor Leví Marchena reported a large residential project to the authorities. In June 2008, the Environmental Administration Tribunal had ruled against Hacienda El Dorado, and fined the developer for cutting down 173 mangrove trees to develop the land for its new project, the Marina Bahía Escondida in Puerto Jimenez. Hacienda El Dorado will pay ¢160,000 ($291,500) as part of a conciliatory agreement with the Environmental Administration Tribunal.

In addition, the company will donate 5,000 square meters to create a mangrove protection zone - the donated land has a real estate value of approximately $91,000. Another $18,000 will be set aside to compensate for reforestation, and 4,200 native forest seedlings will be planted. Hacienda El Dorado’s total fine equals approximately $400,000, or $2,312 per tree. Mangrove trees are essential to preventing the erosion of beach front property, and their removal is not taken lightly.

Continuing development of Costa Rica real estate and increased tourism in the country are a reality. No matter how stringent its laws and policies, the nation will always see infractions, setbacks, and problems. However, new, stronger policies and more efficient enforcement are put in place every day in order protect the environment and the country’s natural heritage. Costa Ricans, in addition, are becoming increasingly vigilant, and everyday citizens now work to help enforce the laws and protect the trees, plants and animals around them. With such strong teamwork and an interested government, Costa Rica heads towards a future of eco-friendly developers, cleaner environs, and even happier tourists.

Photo courtesy of Adam Baker.

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Filed under: Travel on September 23rd, 2008