History of Conservation in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Conservation History
27 percent of Costa Rica is designated as national parks, or other forms of protected areas. Alone in the world in having these staggering conservation statistics, Costa Rica stands as an example of how conservation can benefit both the economy and the people. Yet this example is not perfect, and there are growth related issues that threaten the fine balance that Costa Rica finds itself in.
Costa Rica’s Conservation History is one of both heroes and villains caught in a drama of ideals and sacrifice. In the onset, one of the earliest conservationists was Nils Olaf Wesseberg and his wife Mongensen Fischer, who came to Costa Rica in the mid 1950’s. Coming from Sweden and looking for a life more connected with nature, they purchased a farm in Nicoya near Montezuma. Committed to the naturalist way of life, they built their home out of palm leaves to reinforce their determination to live in harmony with nature. But even in this remote part of the world, progress still caught up to them. They watched in dismay as virgin forest began to be cut down around them. As a response, Nils became an activist, working ferociously to raise money to buy land and preserve it.
After 3 years of hard work and over 1,000 pages of letters, he raised the money ($30,000 USD) he needed to buy the 3,000 acres that constitute the Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve in Nicoya, Costa Rica. The success he experienced here was short lived. In the process of trying to start another Nature Reserve in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, he was murdered by those who would benefit from stopping his work. Today a plaque inside the Cabo Blanco Strict Natural Reserve honors the ultimate sacrifice he made as he pursued the ideals of conservation. In 2004, a new reserve was established near Montezuma, and was named after his wife, Karen Mogensen Fischer, who was also a fervent naturalist.
Another hero in Costa Rica’s Conservation History was Mario Boza. A student of forestry in Costa Rica, he put his conservation ideas to work in the founding of Costa Rica’s first National Park in Santa Rosa. In 1969 the new forestry law created the Santa Rosa National Park, as well as the Department of National Parks. But challenges still were present. With little funding available and a shortage of personnel to enforce the new laws, the land continued to be used in the manner it had been in the past. Ranchers hungered for more land for pasture. Squatters looked for places to establish their homes. Both used the technique of slash and burn to clear the land, which continued to diminish the newly established National Park and the laws set in place to protect it.
Because of his inability to stop the destruction through the established bureaucratic channels, Mario Boza pleaded directly to the people for support. By using the press he was able to generate public outrage at the burning of he newly formed national park. The outcome was that the national park officials received the authority needed to move out squatters as well as to protect the land from the growth needs of the ranchers and agriculturists.
Precedence began to be established of a culture that valued their natural parks. The Costa Rican President, Rodrigo Carazo (1978- 1982), called the countries national parks “splendid natural laboratories which we offer tot the international community and also to children, young people and adults who should not be denied the joy of direct contact with nature in its pristine state. All of this represents the contribution of the Costa Rican people to peace among men and goodwill among nations.”
Through out the years great effort has been taken to take conservation directly to the people through education. The truth is that cooperation is essential for the survival of these natural habitats. Education and support was needed to be provided to the people most directly affected by the turning of land into National Parks. For example, the custom of hunting species that are now protected had to be changed. Large animals such as jaguars and pumas, need a lare amount of territory to survive. Imagine he challenge of convincing people not to kill them even though they constitute a constant threat to livestock. This is an enormous undertaking, and often a thankless task.
Still new hope has been provided by the support of the international community, who provide revenue to these conservation efforts by visiting and staying in the National Parks, as well as learning the inner working and needs of these conservation efforts. Also support comes through many national and international foundations working on Costa Rica to further the cause.
Yet the future is still as unclear as when Neil Olaf Wesseberg set out to make history. Because of Costa Rica’s reputation as a safe democratic place, there is an overflow of foreign and domestic investments pushing for greater economic growth. In the end who will win… the conservationists or the economic-development-at-all-costs forces? The balance between the two is fragile, and only constant vigilance and cooperation will ensure the future of this amazing naturalist experiment which is Costa Rica.
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