The role of mountain conservation in Costa Rica
24.08.2015
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) develop relevant work for the conservation of mountains and are of great significance to Costa Rica. This topic was discussed with Mr Carlos Hernández Hernández Executive Director of the Tropical Science Center (TSC), a non-profit NGO with 54 years of experience, and 50 associates. Issues related to the role of of TSC compared to other NGOs in the country on the issue of the mountains, as well as future actions and challenges were addressed.
They are motivated by the study, the interrelationships with the communities around the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (private category), the research on mountain ecology, without differentiating between areas, or whether it is inside a Protected Wilderness Area (PWA), or outside them; precisely these studies are helping to determine the gaps and which species should be protected.
The TSC may require of its associates (experts in different areas of work), support, collaboration with other NGOs in financial affairs, help with logistics, as well as coordination to ensure the sustainable development needed for the country.
Conservation and sustainable development are the objectives that will guide the balance between social, environmental and economic aspects pursued by TSC in the coming years . Since 1962, TSC has among its objectives, to analyze the relationship between humans and the sustainable use of natural resources; during the years, one of the most important actions has been to collaborate with governments in decision making on the management of natural resources, for example in the creation of the PWA, as was the case the National Park Braulio Carrillo, proposed by the TSC.
TSC consults on projects with governments, such as that of Costa Rica, in order to know what actions should be taken to minimize impacts of major development projects such as: hydropower. Training is provided for different target groups in different subjects such as environmental education, aimed at children, youth, adults and universities.
On the other hand, the spearhead is the protection of natural resources through the establishment of a network of private reserves, where the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is the biggest one (4000ha). It is self-sustaining financially, and it is perceived as a management model in PWA management where efforts are linked to a management plan containing five programs in development (research, environmental education, conservation, management and operations). The general principle of this reserve is to use it for research, as a living laboratory. The results are disseminated through the environmental education programme. In the past 20 years it has handled between 70 – 80 000 visitors a year and the funds are used to implement the mission of the programs listed above.
The environmental education programme is one of the most important. It is not only aimed at children and young people but also at adults from the community of Santa Elena, who are as a consequence much empowered. They know precisely that the TSC management of the reserve allows tourism, a source of livelihood for many local families. Many of the tourists wish to visit the country and therefore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, so it was necessary to train young people as tour guides. This is something that has been recognized by the community, since some work directly with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and about 60 trained guides can enter freely the reserve being hired by hotels. It also works with the Municipality, the Chamber of Tourism, the Biological Corridor, allowing it to be seen as an integral part of the community. Tourism made the change for community activity, i.e. they were no longer just farmers but became tourism entrepreneurs, not selling their land to third parties, thus recognizing the impact by the creation of the reserve 42 years ago.
What are the challenges that TSC has for the next five years?
The TSC wants to go in two directions, one is supporting governments, in all the studies of environmental impact, reducing environmental damage, contributing in part to policy makers decisions; consultancies; the other one is to support the National Protected Areas System (SINAC, for its acronym in Spanish). The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a model worldwide, which people come to see from around the world and nationally is valued by the same SINAC; TSC aims tobut to train rangers and decision makers, multiplying lessons learned.
What is it like working with the community of Santa Elena?
The community of Santa Elena is the nearest community and so the reserve works with them; TSC, now wants to replicate this model work in the new paradigm of biological corridors and that is why we want to involve other communities included in the Biological Corridor "BellbirdThe idea is to use the 70 commercial establishments that are located there that can either be suppliers and recipients of products such as vegetables, rice, etc; theeh communities can do business with each other, including developing sustainably the the Biological Corridor. They are also planning to take into account the coastal sector, so that fishermen do not have to go to San Jose (capital of Costa Rica) to sell their fish.
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Photo: Flickr/jchal
News by Magda Campos - National Meteorological Institute of Costa Rica
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