Protected Areas

They are geographically defined areas, consisting of lands, wetlands and portions of the sea. Have been declared as such to represent special meaning for their ecosystems, the existence of endangered species, the impact on reproduction and other needs and their historical and cultural significance . These areas will be dedicated to conservation and protecting biodiversity, soil, water resources, cultural resources and ecosystem services in general, "Article 58 of biodiversity Act No. 7788.

The creation, maintenance, administration, development and monitoring of protected areas shall be to:

1. Preserve natural environments representing different biogeographic regions and fragile ecosystems, to ensure balance and continuity of ecological and evolutionary processes.

2. To safeguard the genetic diversity of wild species to which the evolutionary continuity, particularly the endemic, threatened or endangered.

3. Ensure sustainable use of ecosystems and their elements, encouraging the active participation of neighboring communities.

4. To promote scientific research, the study of ecosystems and their balance as well as the knowledge and technologies for sustainable use of natural resources and conservation of the country.

5. Protect and improve water areas and watersheds, to reduce and avoid the negative impact that can cause poor handling.

6. Protect the natural environment and landscape and historic sites and architecture, national monuments, archaeological sites and places of historical and artistic importance to culture and national identity.

7. SINAC has proposed to develop a series of actions to strengthen the administration and promote the development of Protected Areas.

8. Develop policies for the management of protected areas in order to achieve efficient management of these in your environment.

9. To promote tourism within protected areas, as a generator of economic resources directed to finance conservation activities as a means to disseminate knowledge on the dynamics of ecosystems.

10. Encourage the conduct of research and technical studies, which have immediate utility for the management of protected areas.

11. Promote the development and implementation of environmental education activities within and outside protected areas, to promote conservation of natural resources.

12. Develop planning policies that are the foundations for the establishment of new areas promised and defining strategies for land acquisition and demarcation of the wild.

13. Establish programs for site interpretation of public use of wilderness areas, to provide quality service to visitors.

14. Promote the procurement of services and the granting of concessions to the attention of visitors.

Definitions of Management Categories for Protected Areas in Costa Rica

Biological  Reserve

Essentially unchanged area containing ecosystems, features or species of flora and fauna extremely vulnerable, where ecological processes have been able to follow its natural course with minimal human interference; it will only develop research and education,
development and consolidation.

National Park

Area with unique character traits of national or international interest. The area should include representative samples of ecosystems of national significance, show little evidence of human activity, offer important attractions for visitors and be capable of recreational and educational use in a controlled.

National Monument

Area that has a cultural resource, whether historical or archaeological outstanding national and international importance,  due to its unique characteristics or special interest. Its size depends on the size of the resource to be preserved and how much land adjacent needed to ensure appropriate protection and management.

Wildlife Refuge

It is an area of ​​special and diverse ecosystems and unique biodiversity, and researches for the protection of flora and fauna, in particular those who are in danger of extinction.

There are the three kinds of national wildlife refuges:

1. State-owned or Shelters: Those in which the areas declared as such all belong to the State..
2. Joint ownership or Shelters: Those in which the areas declared as such belong in part to the state and others are privately owned.
3.  Private property Shelters: Those in which the areas declared as such all belong to individuals. In shelters and Mixed Nationals, is common coexistence of communities embedded within the declared area. By law prohibits removal of flora and wildlife, continental and island, the national wildlife refuges.

    

Forest Reserve

Land most suitable for forestry, suitable for timber production, in which management actions are implemented with sustainability criteria.

Protection Zone

Area consists of forests and lands suitable for forestry, where the main objective is the protection of soil, hydrological regulation and conservation of the environment and watersheds.

Wetland

Its ecosystem has dependence on aquatic systems, natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, lentic or lotic,  sweet or salty, including marine extensions to the posterior limit of seagrass or coral reefs or in his absence, up to six meters depth at low tide. In our country there are about 350 classified wetlands as protected areas according to Law 7554 Article 32.

Natural Monument

Its areas contain one or more natural elements of national importance. They consist of places or natural objects, which is unique or exceptional scenic beauty or scientific value, is resolved to incorporate a system of protection. This management category will be created by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and administered by the respective municipalities.

Private Nature Reserves

There are defined as any property that includes, at least partly owned natural areas and sustainably preserve or take advantage of these areas and ensuring their preservation. Natural areas include: primary forests, secondary forests, and natural forests in sustainable management, forests planted exclusively with indigenous species to increase biodiversity, moorland, wetlands including mangroves, lagoons, rivers, coastlines and estuaries. The Natural areas are not considered agricultural land, pastures unnatural tree plantations for use, or orchards.

National Parks and Protected Areas

1. Isla Bolaños National Wlidlife Refuge
2. Santa Rosa National Park
3. Guanacaste National Park
4. Rincón de la Vieja National Park
5. Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
6. Tortuguero National Park
7. Las Baulas National Marine Park
8. Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve
9. Palo Verde National Park
10. Barra Honda National Park
11. Peñas Blancas Wildlife Refuge
12. Poas Volcano National Park
13. Braulio Carrillo National Park
14. Ostional Wildlife  Refuge
15. Cocos Island National Park
16. Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve
17. Curú National Wildlife Refuge
18. Guayabo, Negritos and Pajaros Island Biological Reserve
19. Carara National Park
20. Irazu Volcano National Park
21. Guayabo National Monument
22. Manuel Antonio National Park
23. Ballena Marine National Park
24. La Amistad International Park
25. Cahuita National Park
26. Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
27. Caño Island Biological Reserve
28. Corcovado National Park
29. Golfito National Wildlife Refuge
30. Juan Castro Blanco National Park
31. Arenal National Park
32. Tapantí  National Park
33. Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve
34. Isla Bolaños Wildlife Refuge

Recommendations to visit Protected Areas

1. Respect general and specific regulations.
2. Meet the schedule.
3. Remove the waste deposit area in containers for this purpose.
4. Keep clean and tidy and leave the premises and facilities they can use.
5. Visitors can travel only on routes and trails authorized by the National Park Service intended for public use.
6. Respect the location of signals, signs, fences and boundary markers.
7. No smoking in areas of high fire risk.
8. Visitors to the Conservation Areas, assume the risks that may arise during their stay and the use of the facilities that exist in them.
9. It is strictly forbidden to cause damage to infrastructure, vegetation, animals or other resources of the area.
10. To enter the area and remain in it is required to cancel the daily quota of admission and the corresponding, according to the services received and retain your receipt.
11. It is forbidden to remove firewood from the forest and around campfires and purposes of any kind.
12. Not allowed to exceed the volume of stereos, tape recorders, radios or other sound equipment.
13. It is forbidden the consumption of liquor and other drugs, it is apparent that a person is under the effect of these products will be denied entry or ejected will affect the area.
14. It is prohibited to enter national parks and biological reserves with weapons of any kind, knives or other implements for the extraction of gold or other products or interests.
15. Not allowed to enter areas with pets of any kind.
16. Not allowed to hunt or remove any object or material.
17. It is prohibited to cause scandal or moral miss.
18. It is forbidden to throw waste of any kind garbage, sewage or sewage, oil, etc… that could damage the environment (rivers, sea, forest, moor, facilities, etc.).
19. The safety standards for visitors, both written and verbally to impart the officials of the areas are obligatory.