●
Feb
12
ReciCaribe’s Announces New Pickup Schedule
February 12, 2010 | Tags: Community News, Environment | Leave a Comment
 The Recycling Center. Photo courtesy of Pachamama |
Courtesy of the folks over at Greencoast, here is the new schedule for recycling pickup:
Monday:
From Playa Negra to Cahuita
Tuesday:
From Manzanillo to Rockin’ J’s
Wednesday:
Puerto Viejo
Thursday:
A day to catch up on routes that were too big to finish on the other day’s of the week.
Friday:
The first and third Friday’s of the month to BriBri
Please recycle your
- squished aluminum cans,
- clean and squished #1 and #2 plastics and
- clean topless glass
Contacts:
Tirza: Cocotir2@hotmail.com
Noemi: zequynoe@hotmail.com
Sonia: soniet4@hotmail.com
ReciCaribe provides a valuable service and cannot survive without community support.
Please Support Recycling in Talamanca by making a donation:
Asociación de Reciclaje del Caribe Ced. Jur. 3-002-356594
Banco Costa Rica colones AHORRO (Savings): 399-638-6
Oct
8
Judge Orders Demolition of Hotel in Protected Area at Punta Uva
October 8, 2009 | Tags: Environment, Government and Politics | 3 Comments
 Hotel Las Palmas is located just off the beach. |
A judge of the administrative court has ruled that the Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) is responsible for the eviction and demolition of Hotel Las Palmas located inside the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge at Punta Uva.
The decision was rendered by the court yesterday after a period of apparent inaction by the Ministry of Environment and SINAC to act on previous orders for the eviction of the hotel.
The judge, Lorena Montes de Oca, absolved of responsibility the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAET) and its chief, Jorge Rodriguez. The information was confirmed by MINAET spokesmen and the Comptroller General of the Republic, which brought the suit.
The judge ruled that SINAC must coordinate with all institutions to ensure that “the demolition of the property proceeds as soon as possible”.
According to the MINAET spokesman, Ricardo Arias, the eviction order was scheduled for last week, but there was “a problem” in coordination with security forces.
The case dates back to 1985 when the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines (MIRENEM) granted an occupancy permit for the Resort Punta Uva, SA. Eight years later MIRENEM withdrew the permission from the owner of the complex, Jan Kalina.
In 2004, the Sala I court ordered the eviction and demolition of the hotel. However, since then a series of legal moves and lawsuits have held up the eviction order.
More: La Nación: Jueza ordena demoler hotel dentro de área protegida
Sep
5
Come Participate in Beach Cleanup Day!
September 5, 2009 | Tags: Community Calendar, Environment | Comments Off
| September 19, 2009 |
Puerto Viejo’s diving community and local residents are being called upon to celebrate International Cleanup Day on Saturday, 19 September.
 Keeping the beach clean keeps the birds, fish and people happy! |
Local dive shop Crocodive Caribe is organizing volunteers to target underwater and shoreline debris in the Parquecito area of Puerto Viejo. Project AWARE Foundation coordinates underwater clean up events and urges divers and volunteers to jump in their wetsuits, pull on their gloves and make a splash for trash!
“Project AWARE is pleased to support Crocodive Caribe. Divers are the guardians of our underwater environments – they often see first hand the effects of marine debris on our delicate ecosystem. This event is the largest single day volunteer event on behalf of our underwater environment. It’s a fantastic example of how people can work together to take action.” said Jenny Miller Garmendia, Director of Project AWARE Foundation.
“It’s not too late to get involved,” said Tania Dunkley, who is coordinating the event for Crocodive Caribe
“If you’re interested in participating, drop by our store or give us a call: 2750-0919 And you don’t have to be a diver to get involved. Bring your friends and family along and help make clean waters a reality.”
“We are working closely with local merchants and some San Jose based organizations to make it a family day with entertainment, education, certificates and lots of fun!” said Dunkley
Activities will start at 9 am on Saturday September 19 on the Parquecito beach, near the Puerto Viejo’s police station. Ground volunteers will be asked to collect and categorize debris on the shoreline, while divers will proceed with an underwater cleanup. Crocodive Caribe is providing for free all certified divers with the necessary equipment. For further information call the Site Organizer: Tania Dunkley at 2750-0919 or 8879-5548.
All divers need to confirm participation before the day and will be required to bring their diver certification card and sign an Underwater Liability Release Form.
| About Project AWARE Foundation Project AWARE Foundation, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Project AWARE Foundation offices located in Australia, United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Switzerland combine efforts to conserve aquatic resources in 175 countries of the world. |
Aug
13
The Stars of the Rainforest
August 13, 2009 | Tags: Environment, Tourism | 5 Comments
 Angelina Jolie as worn by Encar, Jaguar Centre |
Angelina Jolie stretched out a delicate hand and gripped mine tightly. I was enchanted. After all it’s not every day that you meet a star. Impressively beautiful but also graceful, her charisma was palpable.
As she wound her tail around my neck and swung upside down I wondered if her namesake has the same ‘star presence’… For the Angelina Jolie I met lives in Playa Chiquita, not Hollywood, but like her namesake, is surrounded by stars – of the Rainforest.
At Jaguar, Rescue Centre for the Protection and Conservation of Wild Fauna of Costa Rica, orphaned, mistreated, injured and confiscated animals are brought to heal and/or grow before being reintroduced where possible, back into their natural habitat in protected areas.
 Young smiley sloths with Blanca, the famous ‘Barefoot Vet’ |
Angelina Jolie and friends are lovingly looked after by the owners of Jaguar, Encar & Sandro who are ably assisted by this coast’s own ‘Barefoot Vet’, Blanca, and enthusiastic volunteers. Encar & Sandro created Jaguar to fulfill a need and it has become their passion and indeed a way of life. Totally committed to conservation and rehabilitation, Encar & Sandro can be found surrounded by an ever changing ‘galaxy of stars’. For a guided visit please telephone 2750 0710 or you can book a tour online through Gecko Trail Adventures which includes transport and other area spots of interest.
 Amanda, dreaming up some new seductive moves. |
Your donation of minimum US$10 will go in entirety to caring for their stars of the rainforest.
Angelina Jolie may be one of the newer stars, but she shares the stage with an impressive cast. Amanda, a flirtatious kinkajou with an eye for a good looking man, is a permanent resident. With three feet instead of four, she lives at Jaguar and practises her seduction techniques on visiting men.
Hollywood stars often claim that working with children or animals is to sacrifice their share of the limelight and certainly the ‘baby stars’ at Jaguar steal the show.
The baby stars at Jaguar may be adorable but the ‘dangerous’ stars have an appeal all their own. Ever seen a Margay up close? Stunningly beautiful, fantastically feline and deceptively cute, try and resist the temptation to play with them…they’re wilder and stronger than they look!
 Eyelash Palm Pitviper |
And last, but certainly not least, are the creepy, slithery stars that can make the hair stand up on the back of your neck if you come across one unexpectedly…The Snakes.
Venomous and non-venomous, Jaguar’s snakes are reassuringly housed so that you can see them up close without fear. But perhaps after listening to Encar or Sandro you might feel quite differently about the Snaky Stars and applaud their efforts to breed endangered snake species to reintroduce into the wild.
So the next time you’re in the area, give Jaguar centre a ring and visit some of the ‘stars of the rainforest’… you’ll be helping to protect the wildlife of Costa Rica and enchantment is guaranteed.
 Amanda enjoys a snack from a volunteer and Sandro |
 A baby raccoon cuddling up with brothers and sisters |
 Baby Ginger monkey with cool dude hairdo |
 Tigrili, the Margay, on the lookout for a game at Jaguar Centre |
 Gianni the owl at Jaguar Centre |
 Terciopelo / Fer de Lance at Jaguar Centre |
All photos taken at Jaguar Centre and used by kind permission.
| Article by Zoë Courtier. Zoë is the proprietor of Geckoes Rainforest River Lodge. Two luxurious holiday houses with private plunge pools in a magnificent rainforest and river setting minutes from Playa Cocles. More information at www.geckoeslodge.com |
Aug
9
Recycle Clean Plastic Grocery Store Bags at ATEC
August 9, 2008 | Tags: Community News, Environment | Comments Off
ATEC will now accept clean plastic grocery bags for recycling at their office. Look for the box near the entry.
They will be used by a women’s group that weaves them into handbags and other products for sale and then further support of their activities.
Bags that look like this:
Will be transformed into this:
The finished product can also be purchased at ATEC.
Thanks to Greencoast News for the heads up.
Jun
26
Recycling in the South Caribbean
June 26, 2008 | Tags: Environment | Comments Off
 Aluminum cans are ReciCaribe’s #1 revenue source. Please don’t throw them out! |
Did you know that ReciCaribe is a model recycling association for all of Latin America, even the world? We’ll soon have more options in recyclable materials in our little corner of the world than in New York City! Currently we recycle most plastics (#1, #2, #5), all kinds of glass (minus light bulbs,) and aluminum!
Did you know that ReciCaribe is a non-profit association that owes it success to the support of individuals and businesses in Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo, Cahuita, BriBri and other surrounding communities? Their financial and material support keeps the operation running. “Reci” currently employees six employees, all Costa Rican. Everyone else that works with Reci is an unpaid volunteer working to make Talamanca a healthier place.
Right now ReciCaribe is working with a grant* to expand the recycling center located in Patiño-between Hone Creek and BriBri. They’ll get a larger work space, a materials compactor, a glass breaker, and a washing station. This new equipment will allow them to increase greatly the amount of materials processed, to recycle All types of plastics, and soon to run a test project for recycling cardboard!
Don’t start sending in the new materials yet, they’ll let you know when they’re going to want to start collecting everything recyclable, to let nothing recyclable go to the open air dump in Olivia.
*The grant is solely for the purposes of this expansion, there’s not a dime for purchasing gasoline or paying salaries, so your generous support is still GREATLY appreciated.
They are working on a lot of other projects too – you can read the rest of this article updating you on the happenings of ReciCaribe on the GreenCoast News.
May
23
Greenpeace Denies Endorsing Marina
May 23, 2008 | Tags: Economic Development, Environment | Comments Off
Greenpeace has denied any endorsement of the marina project proposed for Puerto Viejo.
The newspaper Seminario Universidad of the Universidad de Costa Rica had quoted Walter Coto, an ex-government minister who now acts as the lawyer for Grupo Caribeño Internacional S.A., saying that the company projects “a design and use of construction techniques certified by the ecological organization Greenpeace.”
The article was first published in February, but got the attention of Greenpeace when it was referenced by the Argentinian news source Argenpress.info Tuesday.
“Greenpeace does not have, nor has had, any kind of relationship with the Grupo Caribeño Internacional S.A.,” said Milko Schvartzman, the ocean campaign co-ordinator for Greenpeace Latin America.
“Greenpeace has not certified any project of that corporation and does not dedicate itself to certifying projects,” he added
The organization’s statement also said that it opposes projects that have a negative effect on the environment. After analyzing documents by scientists and environmentalists about the marina, it continues, Greenpeace manifests its opposition to the marina project.
Due to pressure from environmentalists, who say the five-star marina resort will damage nature reservations near Puerto Viejo, the company has already said it will only be constructing a marina with 100 slips for yachts rather than the originally planned 398.
Source: A.M. Costa Rica: Greenpeace denies it has approved Puerto Viejo marina plan
Apr
19
Marina and Environmental Concerns Draw National and International Media Attention
April 19, 2008 | Tags: Community News, Economic Development, Environment | 5 Comments
 Tourists watch for monkeys along the canals of Tortuguero National Park. Government reports released last fall revealed that 97 percent of Costa Rica’s sewage flows untreated into rivers, streams, or the ocean. Photo by David Sherwood, courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor |
The hot issues of development and the environment and the way they are being played against each other continue to draw a lot of media attention to the Puerto Viejo area.
The Tico Times again features the story this week as their Top Story. The article, entitled Puerto Viejo Marina Plan Eyed Warily by Natives, discusses the effect that the marina project would have on the local Bri Bri people. The article proposes that the project could not only damage the low-key ecotourism that the area has developed on but could also herald the disappearance of Talamanca’s other resource, the indigenous culture.
Timoteo Jackson, a native Bribrí leader, is quoted as saying, “for us indigenous, this is only a bad thing.
“Right now, we have tourists coming to see nature, conservation and the indigenous way, but this will stop if the marina comes.”
The influential Christian Science Monitor recently weighed in on the struggle to find a balance between sustaining nature and continuing economic development in Costa Rica. The article, entitled Costa Rica sees tourism’s environmental dark side, goes into the water quality problems that recently caused the shutdown of several large hotels on the Pacific and the loss of blue flag status for a number of Costa Rica’s beaches, including our own Playa Negra.
The article strikes an alarming tone: “In the past decade, construction of hotels, second homes, and condominiums has surged in coastal regions, taking advantage of a vacuum in planning and enforcement. The total land area that has been developed grew 600 percent in that time, according to a government report. As a result, the biodiversity that has long lured visitors is disappearing, say scientists. Monkey and turtle populations are plummeting, and infrastructure is strained to a near breaking point.”
But it does go on to acknowledge that, despite all the problems, ”Costa Rica remains decades ahead of its neighbors” in environmenal protection and that the goverment “seems increasingly willing to listen.”
Televison news has not shied away from coverage either as this TV news report shows:
If you can’t view the video on this page, click here to see it on YouTube.
Apr
15
Environmental Inspectors Shut Down Construction at Several Hotels
April 15, 2008 | Tags: Economic Development, Environment | 6 Comments
 Inspectors confirm logging is occuring in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge. Photo courtesy La Nación. |
The inspectors from the environmental tribunal who arrived in a large group last week have shut down several construction projects.
The construction on a new hotel in Puerto Viejo was shut down with the inspectors saying that the construction was infringing upon the restricted maritime zone of Playa Negra. The property, owned by a lawyer whose name has not been reported, was apparently about to start operations.
Two other hotels, both located in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge protected zone, had their expansion construction projects halted.
At the hotel Villas del Caribe at Playa Cocles, inspectors said that the expansion of the hotel was not respecting the maritime zone boundaries. The hotel was apparently also using coral to line paths and gardens.
The inspectors also shut down the construction of a concrete building by Hotel Almonds and Corals (located between Punta Uva and Manzanillo). Apparently 2,500 square meters of forest had been cleared to build the project which is located at the entrance to the hotel.
The hotel is denying that the construction project is theirs.
The chairman of the Tribunal, Jose Lino Perez, lamented the disorder found in the area. “The Wildlife Refuge is not being respected. There are houses inside, logging and construction in public areas occuring without permits,” he said.
Still, Perez said the situation is not as serious as in the Pacific, where the same court closed three hotels with 380 rooms.
“Here there is less investment and it shows. Yet our intervention is timely to ensure that the tourism development begins to take off in the area is sustainable. We must try to preserve this paradise.”
Reporting from: La Nación: Tribunal Ambiental frena obras en Limón.
Apr
10
Environmental Court Inspects Area
April 10, 2008 | Tags: Environment, Local Business News | 1 Comment
The Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo (Environmental Administrative Court) began on Apr 7 their program “Barrida Environmental Limon”, with 14 experts inspecting the developments and projects in Limon Province. According to La Nación, the inspections are to take place in the mountains, in farms, in the centre of the province and in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge.
One local hotel owner reported “1 van load and 2 SUVs of MINAE inspectors” arriving unannounced at his hotel yesterday to ask questions.
This is the second of its kind. The first campaign was conducted on the Pacific coast.
The Talamanca News welcomes this effort to root out the few bad apples who are not treating our tropical paradise with the respect it deserves.
Apr
6
Marina Foes Launch Website
April 6, 2008 | Tags: Economic Development, Environment | 3 Comments
 Site of the proposed marina. Graphic courtesy of La Nacion |
Opponents of the Playa Negra marina have launched a website, www.salvemospuertoviejo.com, to act as an information source for those wanting to take action about the marina.
The website, in Spanish, links to several news stories on the marina as well as links to different government agencies where letters opposing the project can be sent.
Mar
31
Current Puerto Viejo Weather and Forecast now Available! Surfing too
March 31, 2008 | Tags: Environment, Site news | Comments Off
We’ve just found a weather service which is providing current weather conditions and forecasts for Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Manzanillo! See the Weather Page.
Used to be the closest information we could get was for Limon which as we all know despite just being 75 minutes driving north, could have very different conditions.
No idea where AccuWeather is getting their information. The weather forecasts from Costa Rica’s Instituto Meteorólogical Nacional still show their closest forecasts are for Limon and Sixaola.
They even offer 15 day forecasts on their site although we know that the potential accuracy of a 15 day forecast for this area has to be rather limited with the quickly changing weather we have.
We’ve also updated the weather page to add more information about surfing conditions in the area. Check out surfing conditions.
Mar
30
Update on Wastewater and Blue Flag Certification
March 30, 2008 | Tags: Environment | Comments Off
 Untreated grey water runs down a street in Mexico. |
We received a letter (below, translated from Spanish) from Rolando Soto, of the Caribe Sur Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, giving us an update on the ongoing efforts of his group and the community with regards to two important related issues facing our community that have been reported recently in the Talamanca News: Playa Negra losing its blue flag certification and the lack of municipal wastewater treatment facilities in Puerto Viejo.
The chamber has continued for more than 2 years to insist with the municipality and the Minister of Health that the 3 creeks which drain grey water (*editor: see note below) from the town of Puerto Viejo into the sea, must be treated. The treatment of grey water is neither very complicated nor expensive. In our case it would require only political will and action on the part of our authorities. It is for this reason that our beautiful Playa Negra beach in front of Puerto Viejo lost its blue flag. The chamber has again offered its collaboration with the Development Association and other persons interested in this problem to try to resolve this problem soon. The chamber can be contacted at turismocaribesur@yahoo.com.
*In much of Costa Rica and in much of the world (but not so familiar to North Americans), ”black water” (from the toilet) and “grey water” (from sinks and showers) are separately drained with the black water flowing to a septic system and the grey waters being sent in a separate direction. A properly constructed grey water field will treat these waters properly without contaminating creeks, the sea or ground water. But unfortunately many grey water systems are just drains which flow where they will. In this case, it is clear that this is the cause of the problem in Puerto Viejo.
Mar
29
Puerto Viejo’s Playa Negra loses Costa Rica Blue Flag Certification
March 29, 2008 | Tags: Environment | 1 Comment
 Map of Costa Rica Beaches with the Blue Flag designation and those that recently lost it. Map courtesy of La Nación. Click the image for a larger copy. |
Eight beaches this week were defrocked of their Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag) designation.
Recognizing that three-quarters of visitors to Costa Rica make a beach excursion, the national water utility, Aqueductos y Alcantarillados, in conjunction with the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, began evaluating and ranking water and environmental quality in coastal communities in 1996. Beaches that achieved a 90 percent score were awarded a Bandera Azul Ecológica (ecological blue flag) to fly as a symbol of excellence.
In Puerto Viejo, Playa Negra the beach on the North side of downtown Puerto Viejo has lost its certification. Local business owners have speculated whether the source could be the 2 creeks that run out of town into the beach area and have welcomed efforts by health officials to more closely monitor wastewater outflows from local businesses.
But Playa Negra also stretches all the way North to Cahuita National Park and presumably the area which was tested was the area close to town. Unfortunately the part close to town is also the most popular beach for both swimmers, due to its proximity to town, and for surfers, due to its wave break, which is excellent for beginning surfers.
 The Blue Flag continues to fly at Punta Uva as well as other area beaches. |
The other area beaches with the blue flag certification: Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Mile Creek and Gandoca/Manzanillo all retained their blue flag status. The 3 Cahuita beaches with the certification: Playa Blanca, Playa Negra de Cahuita and Puerto Vargas also all retained their blue flag status.
All the other beaches which lost their certifications were on the Pacific in the Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces. They were: Arenilla, Ocotal, Tamarindo, Manzanillo, Agujas, Pelada de Nosara and Dominical.
Tamarindo’s beach did not regain certification, even though Mayor Jorge Chavarría said that the test he ordered in February showed the beach was much better than August 2007 tests conducted by the National Water and Sewer Institute. The August test results led to that beach losing its designation and a wave of inspections by the Health Ministry that resulted in 65 sewage citations and 11 business closures. The daily La Nación reported that Tamarindo received the worst rating from the Blue Flag program, which is run out of the National Water Laboratory, because of fecal contamination.
More on this story:
La Nación: Ocho playas pierden Bandera Azul por contaminación
Tico Times: 8 Costa Rican beaches lose Blue Flag
Mar
4
Health Officials to Monitor Wasterwate on Caribbean Coast
March 4, 2008 | Tags: Environment, Health, Tourism | 6 Comments
 The public restroom at the beach in Puerto Viejo |
The Ministerio de Salud has announced that every establishment catering to tourists and travelers will be asked to open its doors to inspectors who will assess the businesses sewage systems and whether they are contaminating the environment.
The announcement of the inspections comes in the aftermath of the closures of a number of businesses on the Pacific Coast after dangeoursly elevated fecal levels were discovered in the waters of the popular beach resort Tamarindo. Eleven businesses were closed as a result of the ministry of health investigation that followed.
Instances of hotels contaminating everything from rivers to the ocean have been popping up with alarming frequency along the Pacific Coast since this discovery. February saw the closure of Hotel Allegro Papagayo, located on Playa Manzanillo in Guanacaste (not to be confused with our local village Manzanillo just southeast of Puerto Viejo). This hotel was accused of lacking adequate facilities to treat the wastewater produced by the four-star, 600-capacity operation. Instead it was depositing it in nearby streams and in under-equipped treatment plants.
The most recent offense discovered was in Jacó, in a pool known as “Charco Anita.” Blame has fallen on Condominiums Tropical and Paradise, which had not been turning in operational reports to the ministry of health for a year. Owner Randall Van Patten was ordered to block the pipes that carry the wastewater to the site, and has been given 20 days to correct the problems.
The health ministry has promised a national review and the study in the Caribbean is part of that process.
The study in Limón Province only has 30 days for completion, and Inez Muñoz, the departmental environment officer, said that it lacks adequate personnel and transport facilities.
“Each region within the province is helping by making an inventory of hotels and tourist facilities within their area,” said Ms. Muñoz. “We do not yet have these so we do not have an exact idea of how many establishments we will be investigating. Our aim is to make sure everything is in order, and at this point I am quite sure that we will find some things that are not.”
Limón province has not seen a study like this before. In the past, the department of health for Limón dealt with each case of contamination as it occurred.
Since the government had already recognized that the growth in Puerto Viejo had outstripped the capacity of the systems and pledged money to deal with it (see Government Announces Money to Improve Puerto Viejo Water and Sewer, Talamanca News, Sept 21, 2007), it is not clear what action the government will take and whether that could include closures.
Read more: A.M. Costa Rica: Health officials to survey businesses on Caribbean
|
|
| |
