'Las Baulas National Park to be downgraded'

Las Baulas National Park to be downgraded

Costa Rica is considered to be one of the drivers of environmental preservation and sustainable development. It has effectively preserved its biodiversity and at the same time making it profitable for the nation as a top tourist destination. The effective development of national wildlife parks and sanctuaries contribute to this success.

Last May this year, President Oscar Arias said that the Las Baulas will be downgraded from being a National Park to a 'mixed property wildlife refuge'. This will allow certain developments to arise in the area, a move that environmentalists claim to be detrimental to the welfare of the leatherback turtle, the national park's most popular resident.

The leatherback turtle is the world's largest sea turtle and classified to be a Criticulaly Endangered species by the IUCN Red List. Las Baulas, meanwhile, is considered to be a very vital nesting ground for the sea turtle in the Pacific.

Costa Rica is now facing a problem here. For years now, Costa Rica has been looked up to by its peers for showing how to become a real ecotourism destination. This recent proposition by the Costa Rican President, however, may spell the end for this reputation. Aside from the developments to rise in the area, the protected area along the beaches where leatherbacks nest will be reduced from 120 meters to 50. This, along with the developments mentioned above, may lead to an increased number of tourists, vehicles, and construction that may damage the leatherback's habitat.

In its defense, the government said that the downgrade was due to the expensive price of the land set aside for the park. Environmentalists, however, are quick to argue that it will be very easy for the government to acquire this land by simply increasing its taxes.

More of that news here at TheCostaRicaNews.com. How about you? Do you think that it is only right to downgrade the Park's status?

Look deeper. Read some of the other Costa Rica blogs and you'll find that people seem to be moving OUT of Costa Rica as fast as they are moving TO Costa Rica.

Evil lurks in the shadows, but you don't see it when you visit on a "vacation".

Look deeper. Read some of the other Costa Rica blogs and you'll find that people seem to be moving OUT of Costa Rica as fast as they are moving TO Costa Rica.

Evil lurks in the shadows, but you don't see it when you visit on a "vacation".

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