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Assault on the Osa Biological Corridor in South Pacific Costa Rica |
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Osa Conservation |
A Call For Immediate Action
In my condition of founder of the national parks of Costa Rica, and based in legal actions entered by the Ministry of Environment, I have the responsibility to inform the people of Osa and the national and international conservation community, of an assault on this precious corridor that is happening at an alarming rate and with such force that the corridor between Santa Cecilia and Los Pargos could be destroyed within a year - OR LESS. I can imagine this sounds dramatic, but I have been gathering information about some businesses that are proceeding with large development residential tourism projects (condos, houses, lots for sale). It would not take much to create a gap in the corridor and effectively eliminate the free passage of wildlife so important to the concept of a healthy biological corridor between Corcovado and Piedras Blancas national parks.
These projects, according to the ministry legal complaint, are illegal in that they have no permits from the environmental protection agency or MINAE itself. They are proceeding at an incredibly aggressive and damaging rate. So much damage has already been done that we must do anything we can do to halt it now.
I am currently working with leaders, businessmen, scientists, local people, lawyers and many other interested people and organizations, national and international, in hopes we can bring these projects to the public attention and get them stopped permanently.
Thank you so very much for your time in reading this. Please join us in denouncing these projects by signing the attached letter and sending it to the President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias Sánchez.
Project #1 The Laguna Sierpe Development Project
The project is called Finca Lago Manatí Osa
Current Owners: Renaciendo en el Cerro Paraguas Muriseca, S.A.
Plano: P-0843167-1989
This Project is within the Reserva Forestal and also within the Sierpe-Térraba Ramsar Wetlands, a precious, unique and sensitive area.
Friends visited the site via a boat in the lagoon in early September and took photos. Recently they hired a private plane and took aerial photos. I’m horrified that this project was happening as it will have devastating impacts on this lagoon which is so important to the Sierpe River, the wetlands and the local inhabitants. It is one of the primary nursery areas for fish and crocs, is abundant with wetlands and the birds that inhabit them.
The project has put in 2 bridges to access the point where they have been creating their project, rerouting the water flows of the wetlands, and have built roads directly above the edge of the wetlands and lagoon. They are constructing a building and have several building sites levelled, all with views of the lagoon, some within 10-20 meters of the water edge.
Project #2 Development Project in Los Mogos
Owner: Yacamar S.A.
Phone Number (on ‘for sale’ sign): 786-7953, 830-4332 cell
Plano #: 710-784-2001
This Project is entirely within the Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce, and the Osa Biological Corridor.
Conservacionistas,
Mientras los niños y adultos de Costa Rica compramos tatuajes para salvar la Península de Osa, según denuncias interpuestas por MINAE, grandes proyectos turísticos avanzan sin los permisos respectivos, destruyendo todo lo que encuentren a su paso, bosques, humedales, etc. A pesar de las denuncias, los caminos, drenajes, puentes y construcciones avanzan sobre uno de los humedales más delicados del país, la Laguna de Sierpe y sobre el Corredor Biológico Osa.
Actuemos todos ya, no podemos quedarnos callados ante semejantes desastres. Enviemos cartas al Presidente, al ministro, a la municipalidad de Osa, diputadas y diputados, a los periódicos, a los canales de televisión, a quien puedan. Hagamos sentir nuestra protesta de cualquier forma.
Digamos no a la destrucción de uno de los sitios más maravillosos y únicos del planeta y demandemos su protección inmediata a perpetuidad.
Les agradezco de antemano su ayuda a esta maravillosa Laguna Sierpe. Ella no tiene voz ni voto, tenemos que ayudarla. Adjunto ejemplos de cartas para su consideración.
del 2008
Doctor Oscar Arias Sánchez
Presidente de la República
Casa Presidencial
Zapote, San José
Costa Rica
lsolis@casapres.go.cr
Estimado Señor Presidente,
Le rogamos tomar acción inmediata para detener la destrucción de la Laguna Sierpe y del Corredor Biológico Osa, entre los Parques Nacionales Corcovado y Piedras Blancas. Ambos sitios están siendo desvastados para convertirlos en urbanizaciones de turismo residencial u hotelero. Esto no lo podemos permitir, la fragilidad de Osa, no lo soporta.
Con todo respeto le rogamos declarar el espejo de agua de la Laguna Sierpe y alrededores como parque nacional y protegerla a perpetuidad.
Señor Presidente, consideramos que ese sería el mejor legado que usted podrá dejar a las futuras generaciones. Gracias por hacer con esta acción, una realidad su iniciativa Paz con la Naturaleza. Osa, solo una existe.
Con sincero agradecimiento,
Muy atentamente,
Cc: alvarof.ugalde@gmail.com
Article courtesy of Alvaro Ugalde, alvarof.ugalde@gmail.com |
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