Costa Rica’s Newest National Park will Protect the Resplendent Quetzal.

Costa Rica, one of the world’s most ecologically-friendly countries, is covered in biological reserves, national parks, wildlife refuges, and forest reserves. In fact, with almost 3 million acres classified as such, more than 25 percent of Costa Rica’s entire landmass is protected by law. Adding to the growing area, 4,117 hectares (more than 10,000 acres) of Los Santos moors, located San Jose province’s Dota canton, have just been classified as a national park.

The new national park was aptly named Parque Nacional Los Quetzales, after the famously reclusive bird, which is native to the area. Los Quezales National Park will serve as a refuge for local fauna, as well as a protected area for fourteen endemic species, which include birds, pumas, and peccaries (similar to wild boars). In addition to serving as protection to the area’s animals, the new national park’s oak trees, a major part of the flourishing flora in this section of the Cerro de la Muerte, one of Costa Rica’s highest mountain peaks, will no longer be in danger of disappearing.

Over the last four years, the Agency for Spanish Cooperation has directed its help and support specifically to developing projects in the Dota canton. A major part of these projects has been to secure support from the local communities.

“It has been very important to accept the concept of involving the communities; that allows us to take intiatives forward, with the support of the people that live in the areas of impact,” the director of the Agency for Spanish Cooperation, Manuel Velásquez, said.

Currently, the Los Quetzales National Park covers about 4,117 hectares, though it will soon grow to include a total of 8,000 hectares (almost 20,000 acres, or about 31 square miles). “Its [the park's] birth has been very different from others, because we have had the blessing of the communities,” new director of the national park, Arsenio Agüero, said.

Indeed, the surrounding towns of San Gerardo, Jaboncillo, Copey and División already see themselves as benefiting from the newest addition to Costa Rica’s national park registry. “The fact that you can see endemic species of birds and flora here attracts many visitors. Those of us who live in the region know that the park has a lot of potential, and the more that we take care of it, the better it will be for all,” local guide, Marino Chacón, affirmed.

Both the local communities and employees for the Ministry of Tourism that work at Los Quetzales National Park agree that it is absolutely necessary for all protected areas to receive government resources, to keep the areas in good condition. Currently, to help maintain all national protected areas, all funds (entrance fees, donations, etc.) are collected by the Caja Unica del Estado, and redistributed fairly to each park or reserve. In this way, all parks, regardless of popularity, receive the help and funds that they need.

San José province’s newest national park is a central gem, offering sweeping forests and timid Costa Rica wildlife. Together with the help of surrounding communities, the parks and their administrators hope to offer incredible tours and experiences to all Parque Nacional Los Quetzales visitors.

Photo courtesy of Brettocop at flickr.com.

This post's rating:

Related Stories

Filed under: Travel on July 10th, 2008