Solid Steps towards the creation of the Playa Caletas/Ario National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica
Area considered critical leatherback sea turtle nesting habitat
(San Jose, Costa Rica. 13/9/04). Last week (September 3-5, 2004),
the first of a series of workshops was held at the Cabo Blanco National
Park, Costa Rica, to consolidate the creation of the "Playa
Caletas-Ario National Wildlife Refuge" on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa
Rica.
The area under consideration includes large expanses of
wetlands and mangroves which play host to a wide variety of flora and
fauna, including numerous species of endangered plants, birds, reptiles
and small mammals. All 7 mangrove species that grow in Costa Rica (5
of which are endangered) can be found within the refuge borders, along
the Ario and Bongo rivers. Examples of animals that can be found
within the refuge include roseate spoonbills, storks, jaguarondis,
crocodiles, arboreal ant eaters, howler monkeys, marine snakes, and 4
species of sea turtles, including critically endangered leatherback
(Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles.
Government representatives of
the Ministry of the Environment of Costa Rica MINAE, local conservation
organizations Sea Turtle Restoration Program PRETOMA, Association of
Volunteers in Protected Areas ASVO, as well as land owners and
community members from the neighboring towns of Manzanillo, Bello
Horizonte, Quebrado Nando, and San Francisco de Coyote came together to
discuss concerns, plans and strategies.
Playa Caletas may be
the Eastern Pacific's second most important remaining nesting beach for
the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle. "Leatherback
populations are so depleted in the Eastern Pacific that this particular
nesting habitat merits official protection as a vitally important step
in avoiding their extinction" states Alexander Gaos, PRETOMA's Beach
Projects Director.
The proposed refuge area would also include a
marine protected area (MPA) to promote sustainable fishing practices
within its borders. The proposed MPA is an important nurseries for
many marine species such as sea bass, snapper, snook, shrimp, lobster,
oysters and clams. Large scale industrial fishing operations would be
banned, and responsible fishing practices would be fostered among local
artisinal fishermen.
"There are misunderstandings by some of
the local fishermen who believe that creating a Marine Protected Area
would mean an end to fishing," expressed local fisherman Terencio
Carbona Cruz from Manzanillo. "However, it is necessary to protect
and manage these resources so they will around for us in the future,"
stated Cruz.
The refuge is considered to have the potential to
provide economic opportunities for local community members, as the area
could quickly become a desired destination for eco-tourists. As in
other eco-tourism programs, locals would serve as guides leading
eco-tourists to observe nesting sea turtles or on nature walks through
the wetlands and mangroves. Other entrepreneur opportunities include
sport fishing tours, small restaurants, small hotels and markets, and
sales of local handicrafts.
Managed development around the
refuge has the potential to create and improve basic infrastructure and
public services for local communities such as potable water, sewage,
electricity, garbage collection, education and medical services.
"The
Playa Caletas-Ario Refuge has tremendous potential, both for nature
conservation and for the livelihoods of local community members,"
commented PRETOMA's President Randall Arauz.
For more information, contact PRETOMA.
PRETOMA
is a Costa Rican non-profit, non-governmental, environmental protection
organization that works to promote responsible fisheries and protect
sea turtles, sharks and marine biodiversity. Contact
/
www.tortugamarina.org
