biblioteca - Organization for Tropical Studies

Transcripción

BIBLIOTECA
BIBLIOGRAF
ÍA: ECOTURISMO EN COSTA RICA
BIBLIOGRAFÍA:
(Actualizada
(Actualizada al
al 22
22 de
de Junio
Junio de
de 2005)
2005)
Gilbert
Gilbert Fuentes
Fuentes
ORGANIZACIÓN PARA ESTUDIOS TROPICALES
BIBLIOTECA
BIBLIOGRAFÍA: ECOTURISMO EN COSTA RICA
(Actualizada al 22 de Junio de 2005)
Gilbert Fuentes
Consultor Base de Datos BINABITROP
FUENTE: BINABITROP
http://www.ots.ac.cr/en/rdmcnfs/binabitrop.shtml
Estudio inicial del turismo naturalista y científico en La Selva, Marenco y Monteverde
y sus beneficios económicos en Costa Rica / Rojas-González, C.M. Turrialba: Universidad
de Costa Rica - CATIE, 1988. 247 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc, Universidad de Costa Rica, Sistema de
Estudios de Posgrado en Ciencias Agrícolas y Recursos Naturales de la Universidad de Costa
Rica - Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, San José (Costa Rica).
Naturalist and scientific tourism is an important new and growing activity in Costa Rica, from
cultural and economic points of view. However, the country lacks necessary and sufficient
information on the extent of this phenomena, as well as on its relation to the carrying capacity
of the most popular protected natural areas. This thesis addresses the first of these two
problems, based on studies of selected private biological stations and reserves. One of the
institutions which has done the most to promote the increase in scientific and naturalist
tourism is the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). OTS is a consortium of 45 institutions
in the United States and Costa Rica dedicated to research and education related to natural
resources of the tropics. The economic impact of OTS for one year was calculated as $
3.562.370, using the conceptual model of J.G. Laarman. Based on information provided by
visitors to OTS research stations in 1986 and 1987, it is concluded that OTS is experiencing
notable growth in its budget and number of visitors. The latter come principally to visit the La
Selva Biological Station, as scientists, students or recreationists. A survey was conducted of
scientific and naturalist tourists at three private areas, the La Selva Biological Station, Marenco
Biological Station, and Monteverde Biological Reserve, from February to August, 1987. It was
found that 1) the average naturalist tourist was 41 years old; 2) the great majority came from
the United States (followed by Canada and Europe; 3) more than half traveled in a group or
with relatives or friends; 4) it was the first visit to Costa Rica for most of them; 5) most of
them had not purchased a tourist package; 6) a high percentage traveled on the national
airline (LACSA); and finally, 7) the primary activity of most of them was to observe and
photograph flora and fauna. In general the tourists were satisfied with regard to management
and characteristics of the areas. It was found that the average total expenditures of a
naturalist tourist in CR was about $ 543 (not including expenditures for tourist packages and
the average total stay was 17 days. The average total expenditure of a researcher or student
was about $ 1.306 and average stay was 50 days. The average daily expenditure of a
naturalist tourist was about $ 32, and for a researcher or student about $ 27. Both categories
visited other protected wildlands and biological stations in the country, or they were interested
in them. The results of this study and additional considerations suggest that naturalist and
scientific tourists actively participate in the conservation of tropical natural resources, scientific
studies and education. These influences are more evident and quantifiable to date than a
direct effect on economic development in Costa Rica.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: Tesis 36. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis R741eu.
El Jardín Botánico Robert y Catherine Wilson como polo de atracción para el
desarrollo turístico en la zona de San Vito / Castro-Jiménez, A.; Solano-Obando, A. San
José: Universidad Panamericana, 1995. 118 p. Tesina, Bachillerato en Turismo, Universidad
Panamericana, San José (Costa Rica). El trabajo se realizó en la Zona de San Vito de Coto
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Brus, ubicada al sur de Costa Rica, entre las faldas de la Cordillera Talamanca y la Fila
Brunqueña. Limita al norte con Talamanca y Panamá, al oeste con el Cantón de Buenos Aires,
al sur con Corredores, al sureste con Golfito y al este con Panamá. Es una zona rica en
recursos naturales; cuenta con tres áreas protegidas de suma importancia a nivel nacional e
internacional; el Jardín Botánico Robert y Catherine Wilson, considerado como el mejor a nivel
centroamericano, con una rica colección de plantas, lugar magnífico para la observación de
aves, flora y fauna en donde se permiten realizar estudios e investigaciones del bosque
tropical entre muchas otras, además es comparado con el Fairchild, Florida, Estados Unidos y
con el Jardín Botánico de Río de Janeiro, en Brazil. Además el Parque Internacional de La
Amistad y la Zona Protectora Las Tablas, éstas dos últimas declaradas en 1982 Reserva de la
Biosfera de La Amistad y en 1998 Patrimonio Mundial por la UNESCO. La zona cuenta con una
gran riqueza cultural ya que fue colonizada por italianos y además se encuentra la Reserva
Indígena Guaymíe que conserva sus tradiciones y costumbres. Dado que el recurso natural y
cultural de San Vito posee un gran potencial, se requiere ampliar la planta física,
infraestructura y otros servicios para la satisfacción del visitante y el desarrollo turístico de la
zona. La falta de conocimiento acerca del turismo por parte de los habitantes, la distancia de
la ciudad capital, el desconocimiento del potencial turístico de la zona por parte de las
Agencias de Viajes, al no darse a conocer por el Instituto Costarricense de Turismo y el mal
estado de las vías de comunicación, son las principales debilidades para el desarrollo del
turismo en la Zona de San Vito. Con base en lo anterior se plantearon las propuestas para dar
a conocer algunos lugares y su potencial turístico por desarrollar. La zona tiene las
características para atraer a cualquier tipo de turismo, también puede aprovechar el potencial
del Depósito Libre Comercial de Golfito y luchar por la creación de la Zona Franca de turismo
entre Costa Rica y Panamá, lo cual facilitaría que el turista pueda ingresar al país vía Panamá,
evitando trámites migratonios tediosos, así como el potencial que traería el Proyecto
Hidroeléctrico Boruca que se convertiría en el más grande de Centroamérica con 250.000 ha.
San Vito necesita conocer sobre turismo, así como capacitar y concientizar a la gente del
potencial turístico y no cerrarse solo al monocultivo del café.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: Tesis 306.
Economic consideration in nature-oriented tourism: the case of tropical forest
tourism [Consideración económica en el turismo naturalista: el caso del turismo del bosque
tropical] / Healy, R.G. (Duke University. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies,
Durham, NC 27706, US). Research Triangle Park, N.C: Southeastern Center for Forest
Economics, 1988. 57 p. (FPEI Working Paper; no. 39). Nature-oriented tourism, defined as
'tourism based directly on the use of natural resources in a relatively undeveloped state,
including scenery, topography, water features, vegetation and wildlife', is experiencing growth
in many developing countries. The study focuses on the economic considerations in natureoriented tourism. It seeks to answer the following questions: who benefits economically from
this form of tourism; the magnitudes of impacts, and how they are distributed geographically
and by size and type of firm; how economic impact translates into job creation; and the extent
to which revenues derived can be used for the conservation of natural resources. Tropical
forest tourism in specific locations in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador and Dominica is
examined. Tourism development in each of these locations is discussed from an economic
viewpoint.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 H434e; AD 451.
A survey of return visits to Costa Rica by OTS participants and associates [Encuesta
de las visitas de regreso por parte de los participantes y asociados con cursos de la OET] /
Laarman, J.G.; Perdue, R.R. (Programa Ambiental Regional para Centroamérica, 10a calle 640, Zona 9, 01009, GT <E-mail: [email protected]>). Research Triangle Park, N.C:
North Carolina State University, 1987. 32 p. (Southeastern Center for Forest Economics; no.
29). The Organization for Tropical Studies, Inc. (OTS) is one of the world's leading institutions
for instruction and research in tropical science. A study was conducted to assess the direct and
indirect economic impacts of professional and personal contacts with Costa Rica through
courses and research projects. A simple random sample of OTS participants and associates
indicates that almost 60% have made return trips to Costa Rica since their first OTS
2
experiences in that country. The most frequently cited reason for returning to Costa Rica is a
professional assignment. Over half of these professional assignments are directly connected
with the programmes of OTS. Over two-thirds of return visits to Costa Rica are oriented to
natural history. Many return visits are lengthy, and a few are very lengthy. Almost one-half of
return visits are for 15 or more nights. Expenditures per return trip are highly variable, with
$760 the estimated mean of expenditures in Costa Rica for return trips in the years 1985-87.
OTS participants and associates perceive themselves to be highly influential in persuading
other persons to visit Costa Rica. Some 69% claim to have definitely influenced other persons
to travel there. These other persons are mainly friends, professional colleagues, and students.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: AD 449.
Tropical tourism as economic activity: OTS in Costa Rica / Laarman, J.G.; Perdue, R.R.
(Programa Ambiental Regional para Centroamérica, 10a calle 6-40, Zona 9, 01009, GT <Email: [email protected]>). Research Triangle Park, N.C: North Carolina State
University, 1988. 25 p. (Southeastern Center for Forest Economics; no. 33). Expenditures in
support of tropical science may have measurable impacts on certain small economies. The
study tests this hypothesis through estimation of spending attributable to the Organization for
Tropical Studies, Inc. (OTS), with field stations in Costa Rica. Although simplified and
containing wide margins of uncertainty, the model suggests that annual transactions in Costa
Rica attributable to OTS are between US $2.9 and $10.2 million. A maximum of pounds
sterling 3.4 million is direct injection, and the remainder is secondary spending through an
economic multiplier. OTS accounts for perhaps 2%-3% of Costa Rica's national tourist
receipts. Spending by students and junior scientists apparently exceeds that of senior
scientists and other categories of OTS visitors and users. Low daily spending is more than
outweighed by long stays. The economic contribution of OTS is perhaps greatest in its
qualitative dimensions. Favourable attributes include rapid growth, sustainable activity, and
the likelihood of relatively small economic leakages. OTS plays a major catalytic role in
environmental education and in laying a base for management of and visits to Costa Rica's
wildlands. Hence, the direct economic contribution may be less than the indirect.
Tropical science and tourism: the case of OTS in Costa Rica [Ciencia tropical y turismo:
el caso de la OET en Costa Rica] / Laarman, J.G.; Perdue, R.R. (Programa Ambiental Regional
para
Centroamérica,
10a
calle
6-40,
Zona
9,
01009,
GT
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Tourism Management (ISSN 0261-5177), v. 10, no. 1, p.
29-38. 1989. Expenditure in support of tropical science may have a measurable impact on the
tourist sectors of certain small economies. This hypothesis is tested through estimation of
spending attributable to the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), with field stations in
Costa Rica. Although containing wide margins of uncertainty, a simple expenditure model
suggests that OTS accounts for perhaps 2-3% of Costa Rica's national tourist receipts.
Important qualitative dimensions of OTS expenditure are rapid growth, sustainable activity,
and relatively small economic leakages. Indirectly, OTS generates additional tourism exports
by laying a technical-scientific base for management of Costa Rica's national parks and other
wildlands.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: S511.
Science tourism in Costa Rica / Laarman, J.G.; Perdue, R.R. (Programa Ambiental Regional
para
Centroamérica,
10a
calle
6-40,
Zona
9,
01009,
GT
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Annals of Tourism Research (ISSN 0160-7383), v. 16, no.
2, p. 205-215. 1989. Natural history is an important special interest sector of Costa Rica's
small tourism industry. International visitors who travel to Costa Rica for natural history
include a substantial number of tropical biologists from the USA. Many are students,
researchers, and professors who undertake training and research in Costa Rica under the
auspices of the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). A survey of OTS participants and
associates determined a high incidence of return visits to Costa Rica, mainly for professional
reasons. Return visits appear related to some measure of professional seniority combined with
freedom to travel. Individuals in OTS claim to influence many other persons to visit Costa
3
Rica. The results suggest that science tourism, regarded as a subcomponent of nature
tourism, merits serious attention in certain small countries like Costa Rica.
Localización: Non available.
Impactos del ecoturismo y comunidades rurales / González-Pacheco, H. (Organización
para Estudios Tropicales. Estación Biológica La Selva, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, CR). In:
Aportes, Febrero 1991, p. 15-17. 1991. Durante la década pasada el turismo se convirtió en la
tercera fuente de divisas de Costa Rica. En 1986 por ejemplo, representó un 16% de nuestra
balanza comercial; en 1989, el país recibió aproximadamente 375 mil turistas y la tendencia
de crecimiento es evidente. Por otra parte, la deforestación y el desempleo son dos graves
problemas que afectan a los trópicos; para enfrentarlos parcialmente los países de estas zonas
han venido impulsando el ecoturismo como alternativa de uso sustentable de los recursos
naturales. El mundialmente reconocido Sistema de Areas Protegidas de Costa Rica favorece en
buena medida esta tendencia: casi una cuarta parte del país está incluida bajo alguna
categoría de protección, mientras que un 12% esta completamente protegido como Parque
Nacional o Reserva Biológica. La relación entre ecoturismo y áreas silvestres es muy estrecha.
En 1986 el 36% de los turistas que transitaron por el aeropuerto, mencionaron el ecoturismo
como la razón principal de su visita mientras que un 87% citó la "belleza natural" como su
principal motivación. La mayor difusión del tema ambiental ha motivado a más costarricenses,
en especial en los estratos medios y altos de las zonas urbanas, para hacer ecoturismo. Esto
se refleja en el incremento del número de visitantes a los parques nacionales, que pasó de 43
mil en 1981 a 70 mil en 1986. Si entendemos a la naturaleza como 'capital' del ecoturismo,
concluiremos que para que esta actividad sea sustentable debe estar basada en la
conservación y el manejo adecuado de los recursos naturales. Mantener el bosque intacto, es
la condición indispensable para concretar cualquier proyecto de desarrollo de turismo
naturalista. No obstante, crear y mantener esta oferta de recursos naturales tiene varias
implicaciones en la economía, el ambiente y el entorno social. Estos impactos son de diversa
índole y sin duda requieren mayor documentación. La conservación de áreas silvestres ha
sustentado directamente el incremento de ingresos por ecoturismo. El apoyo de organismos
internacionales ha logrado provechosos canjes de deuda externa. La creación y mantenimiento
de estas áreas es costosa y está altamente subsidiada; los Parques Nacionales y Reservas
equivalentes no generan ingresos de forma suficiente para autofinanciarse. Las reservas
privadas, por su naturaleza y condiciones, suelen tener mayor capacidad de gestión que las
instancias gubernamentales y absorben en la actualidad una buena parte de la demanda.
Existe sin duda un buen potencial para la generación de empleo especializado, el desarrollo de
infraestructura y servicios, la promoción de ocupación marginal (artesanías) y el incremento
en la demanda de productos locales. La especulación local en el precio de bienes y servicios
son por otro lado, una posibilidad. Las oportunidades que existen están condicionadas por el
rumbo que tome la administración y manejo de áreas protegidas, y la infraestructura y
servicios relacionados y deben verse en el contexto de la situación política, económica y
jurídica del país, en particular en cuanto al uso y tenencia de los recursos naturales y la
gestión de los mismos. La mayoría de los beneficios económicos del turismo se concentran en
las áreas urbanas; típicamente las comunidades rurales reciben pocos beneficios económicos
de las áreas protegidas cercanas. Incrementar estos beneficios es una manera obvia de
aumentar el apoyo local a la conservación. De los turistas que visitaron Costa Rica en 1987,
aproximadamente la mitad lo hizo comprando paquetes turísticos en su país de origen que
representaron principalmente gastos en el sector privado (hoteles, restaurantes, agencias de
viajes, guías profesionales, transporte. etc.). La otra mitad, los que viajan individualmente,
son más propensos a gastar en dinero en zonas rurales, pero esto no ha sido cuantificado
adecuadamente. Además los turistas (cuya principal razón para visitar el país fueron las áreas
silvestres) gastaron diariamente más dinero que otros turistas y en promedio permanecieron
más tiempo. Si bien el dinero no puede ser el único criterio para proteger y desarrollar áreas
silvestres, también debe notarse que en la mayoría de los casos los turistas no tienen
suficientes oportunidades para gastar su dinero: se cobran muy bajas cuotas de ingreso a las
áreas del Estado, las que además poseen una limitada infraestructura. Socioculturalmente los
impactos han sido poco estudiados. Podemos citar la interrupción de la vida comunal, la
concentración de beneficios, brotes de tensión con las comunidades por malas políticas de
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manejo y conflictos en el uso de los recursos y la tierra. Si bien puede haber efectos culturales
nocivos, existe también la posibilidad de transformarlos en positivos por medio de programas
y dinámicas de intercambio. Los impactos ambientales incluyen el mejoramiento de las
perspectivas de conservación y educación ambiental y el posible aumento en la generación de
desechos, la alteración del suelo en los senderos, los problemas con vida silvestre (colectas,
alteraciones de comportamiento) y la afluencia de visitantes sobre la capacidad de carga de
las áreas. Es necesario contar con mecanismos para evaluar los impactos y determinar la
capacidad de carga según las particularidades de cada área. Se debe enfatizar la preparación
del personal para el manejo de visitantes y la recolección de información y estadísticas. La
educación de comunidades locales alrededor de áreas protegidas es una forma directa de
apoyar el ecoturismo, de manera que, puedan valorarlo en contraste con otras opciones
económicas, entender sus impactos positivos y negativos y tomar su propias decisiones. Este
proceso de evaluación puede llevar tiempo pero es vital para la consolidación de la actividad.
Aparte de estas considera ciones las comunidades locales deber cumplir una activa función en
la planificación, desarrollo y manejo del ecoturismo, por razones que son enteramente
pragmáticas. Si estas comunidades no son incluidas en la industria ecoturística, van a
competir con ella por el uso de los recursos, pugna que probablemente estén en posición de
ganar. El involucramiento de las comunidades puede ser arduo y requerir un gran esfuerzo de
trabajo ya que con frecuencia están dispersas y desorganizadas. Un ejemplo es la zona de
Sarapiquí, área en la que predominan la ganadería y la extracción de madera, que tiene los
asentamientos más viejos y nuevos de la zona, y ha sufrido un intenso cambio en el tipo de
actividades productivas y aspectos poblacionales. Cuenta con amplias zonas de asentamientos
parceleros, cultivos de banano, cítricos, plantas ornamentales, así como significativas áreas
protegidas y bellezas naturales, como el Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, la Estación Biológica
La Selva y el Refugio de Fauna Silvestre de la Barra del Colorado.
Magnitude of ecotourism in Costa Rica and Kenya / Weaver, D.B. (Griffith University Gold
Coast Campus. School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Gold Coast Mailing Center,
Queensland 9726, AU <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Annals of Tourism Research
(ISSN 0160-7383), v. 26, no. 4, p. 792-816. 1999. An examination of ecotourism patterns
within Costa Rica and Kenya reveals differential magnitudes across an array of relevant
criteria. If measured in terms of specialized accommodations, visits by specialist ecotourists,
direct social and economic impact, activity space, or government investment, ecotourism is a
relatively minor activity. More congruent with the popular image of these two countries as high
profile ecotourism destinations are total tourist activity time, ecotourism as a visitor
motivation, and indirect revenue generation, all of which are substantial or major. It is argued
that this touristic form of development and practice exists in a symbiotic relationship with
mass tourism, and the more intensive types should be considered as a type of the latter.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: BINA-182.
Cuencas del país se ahogan en el caos / Cordero-Pérez, C. (<E-mail:
[email protected]> ). In: El Financiero, no. 462, p. 10. 2004. El volumen de
agua del río Tempisque disminuyó 13,38% (unos cuatro metros cúbicos por segundo) durante
los últimos 17 años. Pero esto no es lo único que afecta a las cuencas del país. Los principales
ríos reciben anualmente un promedio de 1,6 millones de toneladas de sedimentos (materiales
del suelo desprendidos por la erosión). En el caso del Tempisque las responsabilidades se
reparten. Ahí, Luis Antonio Cascante, quien transporta turistas en una embarcación, cree que
los causantes de la disminución de la cantidad de agua en ese río en verano son las grandes
agroindustrias de arroz, caña de azúcar y melón ubicadas en la region. Para los empresarios,
el problema es e1 crecimiento de la demanda de agua y los problemas en el manejo de las
concesionesde extracción de agua del río para riego. "El agua es la misma y los usuarios
somos más", dijo José Alvaro Jenkins, director corporativo de Azucarera El Viejo. Tanto La
caída de los caudales de algunas cuencas como la contaminación (por químicos, sedimentación
y aguas negras) están disminuyendo la disponibilidad de agua para consumo humano,
producción y recreación, afectando a comunidades, pequeñas empresas y agroindustrias
vecinas de los ríos, así como a los pescadores y la industria turística en la costa. Aunque
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todavía se tiene fe en la posibilidad de recuperación de las cuencas, el caos que las afecta las
sitúa -según las autoridades y expertos- en la cuerda floja, a punto de salirse de control. "En
el país quedan pocas cuencas sin el régimen alterado", apuntó Jorge A. Jiménez, director de la
Organización para Estudios Tropicales (OET). La solución podría depender de un adecuado
manejo de las cuencas que abarque todos sus componentes: ríos, afluentes, bosques y áreas
dedicadas a producción, vivienda o recreación. El principal problema de la disminución del
caudal se presenta en la cuenca del Tempisque, en Guanacaste, en la época de verano,
cuando los productores de la zona necesitan el recurso para el riego de las plantaciones y para
las plantas de procesamiento agroindustrialcs. Evidentemente el clima de la region incide en la
disponibilidad de agua. Pero también las concesiones exceden la capacidad del caudal, no
existe control sobre si cada concesionario está extrayendo la cantidad de agua que se le
permitió y hay extracciones ilegales de agua del río. Esta afecta la cantidad disponible para
riego y para las plantas agroindustriales. La situación llevó a las haciendas El Viejo, El Pelón,
El Cortés y a la Central Azucarera del Tempisque S. A. a invertir US$2,8 millones en un canal
de riego. Pero además de esas empresas hay otras víctimas. Sin embargo, el Tempisque no es
el único río con problemas de caudal. Según Alexander López, director del Centro
Mesoamericano de Desarrollo del Trópico Seco,de la Universidad Nacional (UNA). Los vecinos
de San Juan del Norte (en la orilla de Nicaragua) han planteado quejas sobre la disminución
del volumen de agua en el río San Juan. En distintos puntos de ese río (que tiene como
afluentes al San Carlos y Sarapiquí) en algunas épocas del año hay zonas en las cuales no se
puede navegar. Pero tanto el Tempisque como el San Juan también enfrentan otros problemas
comunes, al igual que las cuencas del Parismina, Tárcoles y Térraba. En especial, se destacan:
la contaminación por agroquímicos de plantaciones y fincas y por derrames de plantas
agroindustriales. En el caso de la sedimentación, el Térraba arrastra más de cinco millones de
toneladas al año (ton/año) de materiales del suelo, mientras que el Reventazón y el Tárcoles
alcanzan niveles de hasta tres millones y un millón de ton/año, respectivamente. Un informe
del Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) reconoció, precisamente, que esta entidad no
cuenta con medidas adecuadas para prever el impacto de las descargas de agua en los
embalses hidroeléctricos, para limpiar los sedimentos acunmulados. Otra situación, sobre la
que alertan los investigadores, es la Contaminación por aguas negras y servidas que empieza
a plantearse en las diferentes cuencas por el crecimiento de ciudades como Liberia, Ciudad
Quesada, Turrialba, Cartago y San Isidro (Pérez Zeledón). La situación es especialmente grave
en el caso del Tárcoles que recibe e1 96% de las aguas residuales sin tratamiento. Las
consecuencias son sentidas en los sitios ubicados en la parte baja de cada cuenca y en las
costas. donde se afecta al sector pesquero -como en el Golfo de Nicoya- y turístico. Pero los
efectos también empiezan a sentirse río arriba. Según Juana Coto, Decana de la Facultad
deCiencias Exactas y Narurales de la UNA, los estudios recientes en la cuenca alta del Virilla
detectaron problernas en afluentes ubicados entre San Isidro de Heredia y Moravia. Con este
panorama no es casual la cadena de incidences producida en los últimos años, donde
diferentes comunidades han denunciado desastres ecológicos producidos por contaminación y
derrames. Tampoco sería una sorpresa que las siguientes víctimas de esta crisis sean los
acueductos rurales y los pozos que se dieron en concesión para consumo doméstico y
producción agropecuaria.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: NBINA-1559.
Ecotourism and conservation: a review of key issues [Ecoturismo y conservación: una
reseña de temas claves] / Brandon, K.E. (Conservation International. Center for Applied
Biodiversity, 1015 18TH Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C, US). Washington, D.C.:
World Bank, 1996. 83 p. (Environment Department Papers; no. 033). Ecotourism is a subset
of the spectrum of tourism types which make up nature-based tourism. Ecotourism is often
viewed and promoted as being consistent with conservation objectives because it is smallscale with limited ecological and social impacts. In contrast, nature-based tourism, because of
its larger scale, is often used to promote national development objectives rather than
conservation objectives. This review of some of the key issues of ecotourism and nature-based
tourism highlights the complexity of using tourism as a tool for conservation. One of the
advantages claimed for ecotourism is that it is seen as more ecologically and culturally
sensitive and less likely to bring the negative impacts associated with mass tourism. Tourism
6
has become Costa Rica's second greatest source of foreign income. In 1991, tourism
generated $336 million; by 1993 it had climbed to $506 million. By 1994, tourism has become
the country's most important foreign exchange earner. Between 1991 and 1994, tourism
revenue grew at an annual rate of 25%, despite the fact that the number of visitors increased
at a rate of only 14.5%. The population of Costa Rica is about 3 million; nearly half a million
tourists visited in 1991. Over three-quarters of all tourists to Costa Rica visit at least one park
during their stay. Tourism development has benefitted all sectors of the economy. Much of the
growth in tourism has been in small enterprises: 85% of the hotels have less than 50 rooms
and 75% of the country's tourism enterprises are small to medium size. Moreover, at least
75% of all licensed tour agencies are owned by nationals and long-term foreign residents. The
boom in tourism has been attributed to Costa Rica's international reputation for natureoriented tourism. Thirty- five of the leading travel writers in the U.S. named Costa Rica as the
number one ecotourism destination in the world. Costa Rica has also received a tremendous
amount of international support for the innovations which have taken place in the conservation
arena. It is one of the primary training areas for tropical biologists; The Organization for
Tropical Studies (OTS) represents a consortium of over 40 U.S. and Costa Rican universities
that brings over 30,000 person-days per year of visiting researchers and students. Costa Rica
was one of the pioneers of debt-for-nature swaps and it has developed an innovative and
decentralized system of protected area management. It is the home of INBio, the National
Biodiversity Institute, which is attempting to catalogue and discover the chemical properties of
all life forms in the country. Yet despite its international reputation for conservation, and the
obvious link between the high revenues from ecotourism and the large amount of land (about
24%) that is protected in conservation areas, ecotourism revenues are not yet generating
sufficient benefits to provide significant financing for parks or to widely change destructive
activities in buffer areas surrounding parks. The reasons for this are numerous. One problem
is that entry fees to parks have been so low that they contribute almost nothing to park
maintenance and protection. For example, of the total $12 million National Parks budget for
1992, only $2.8 is provided by the Costa Rican Government, and only 0.5% of this comes
from entrance fees to the parks. To remedy this, Costa Rica established a two-tiered pricing
scheme and dramatically raised the entry fee of $1.50 for foreigners to $15.00 in September
1994. The high levels of visitation to selected parks, coupled with the visitation to parks
nationwide, had completely strained the capacity of the park service. In response, the GOCR
had cut park protection and services, and had threatened to close some parks, despite the
fourfold increase in visitation between 1992 and 1994. Restrictions on visitation to the most
visited parks was instituted since they were exceeding their carrying capacity. For example,
tourism to Manuel Antonio Park has been restricted to 800 visitors at any given time. A change
in policy allows regional conservation areas to retain 75 percent of the earnings from park
entrance fees to fund park and regional activities. There are also localized examples of places
where local people have changed their practices. Similarly, the type of tourism and the
importance of the parks were an issue during the elections in 1994. The lack of infrastructure
at many of the parks has spawned the creation of numerous private nature reserves, with
both positive and negative consequences for the parks themselves. Monteverde is a rural
community in northern Costa Rica that is home of the most famous private reserve in the
country. Drawn to Costa Rica because it had just abolished its army, Quakers settled there,
bought 1,400 ha, divided it into parcels, set aside some land for watershed protection, and
converted much of the forest into pasture for dairy cows. Eventually they began a small
cheese business, which was tremendously successful and led to increased growth. Biologists
began to visit the region to study some of its unique wildlife. The most famous resident of
Monteverde was the golden toad, a small, shiny, golden frog [Bufo periglenes] found nowhere
else in the world, which disappeared in the late 1980s. In 1973, private donations were used
to set up the private Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, now operated by the Tropical Science
Center in San José. The Reserve straddles the continental divide in the Tilarán mountains and
includes seasonal rainfall on its Pacific size and a wet Atlantic side. The reserve spans six life
zones, and the quetzal, bell-bird, and umbrella birds are some of the more unique inhabitants.
Jaguars, ocelots, macaws, agoutis, and kinkajous roam among immense oak trees. In all, the
area has about 600 tree species, 300 orchids and 200 ferns, 100 mammals, and more than
2,000 flowering plants and over 500 different types of butterflies. The 10,500 ha reserve is
7
one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica for ecotourists because of its cloud forest
reserve. The number of tourists increased from about 300 in 1973 to nearly 13,000 in 1987,
and by 1994, Monteverde was drawing 15,000 tourists per year. Tourism earnings are now the
second largest source of income for local residents after dairy production. The increase in
tourism has increased pressure on the area, especially new tourist developments such as
restaurants and hotels. The area is threatened by subsistence agriculture, logging, and land
speculation. Monteverde, as a private reserve, was able to.
Nature-oriented tourism in Costa Rica and Ecuador: diagnosis of research needs and
project opportunities [Turismo naturalista en Costa Rica y Ecuador: diagnóstico de las
necesidades de investigación y oportunidades de proyectos] / Laarman, J.G. (Programa
Ambiental Regional para Centroamérica, 10a calle 6-40, Zona 9, 01009, GT <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Research Triangle Park, N.C: North Carolina State University,
1987. (Southeastern Center for Forest Economics; no. 6). The concept of nature-oriented
tourism is widely perceived to be one in which the tourist is drawn to a destination because of
his or her interest in one or more features of that destination's natural history. The visit
combines education with recreation. Opportunities for research and the promotion of this type
of tourism are sought by examining: nature-oriented destinations both countries, their natural
history image and attractions, the rationale for encouraging nature-oriented tourism, structure
of supplier firms (tour operators), growth opportunities and constraints, statistics, marketing,
and relations between private and public sectors. Recommendations are itemized under 3
headings: promotion, marketing surveys, and management.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 L111na; AD 450.
On the need for a system of cloud-forest parks in Middle America and the Caribbean
[Sobre la necesidad de un sistema de parques de bosques nubosos en Centroamérica y el
Caribe] / La Bastille, A.; Pool, D.J. In: Environmental Conservation (ISSN 0376-8929), v. 5,
no. 3, p. 183-190. 1978. Cloud forests are unique biological entities providing a natural
irrigation system for land at lower elevations. They are being destroyed in the search for new
agricultural lands and pressures from mounting human populations. The forests are of high
touristic value. This is demonstrated in countries such as Costa Rica and Puerto Rico which
already have cloud-forest parks.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton.
Influencia del turismo en los patrones de comportamiento del mapachín en el Parque
Nacional Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica [Tourist influence on racoon behavior patterns in
Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica] / Carrillo-Jiménez, E. (CATIE. Area de Manejo de
Bosques Tropicales y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, 7170 Turrialba, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 1989. 70 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en
Manejo de Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Heredia
(Costa Rica). El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el impacto de la presencia de turistas
en los patrones de comportamiento del mapachín cangrejero (Procyon cancrivorus) en el
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. El P. N. Manuel Antonio tiene una extensión de 683 ha y está
ubicado en la costa Pacífica de Costa Rica. El Parque recibe la visita de más de 50.000 turistas
al año, principalmente en diciembre, enero, febrero y marzo. Tres mapachines hembras
adultas fueron marcadas con radio collares; y desde abril hasta diciembre de 1987 fueron
ubicadas 2105 veces. Adicionalmente se colectaron heces frescas en las áreas de actividad de
cada animal. Los días de la semana se dividieron en dos períodos: fin de semana "FS"
(viernes, sábado, y domingo: visita turística alta) y entre semana "ES" (lunes, martes,
miércoles, jueves: poca o ninguna visita turística). Se estimó el radio de acción (RA), distancia
media horaria recorrida (DMHR) y patrones de actividad promediados por: 1) períodos de
semana a) FS: fin de semana, días con mucha visitación turística (viernes a domingo), b) ES:
entre semana, días con poca a ninguna visita turística (lunes hasta jueves) y 2) estaciones bimensuales (intervalos de dos meses). No hubo diferencia en el tamaño de RA entre los
períodos FS y ES (p0.26). El RA de la estación julio-agosto (época de parición de las
mapachines) fue menor que durante las otras tres estaciones (p0.13). No se encontraron
8
diferencias en la DMHR por los mapachines entre FS y ES (p0.51). Durante la época de
parición de cachorros (julio-agosto), la DMHR fue mayor con respecto a las otras tres
estaciones bi-mensuales. En FS los mapachines fueron más activos en la noche que en ES
(P0.001). El bosque fue utilizado pero no preferido. El principal alimento en las heces fue
cangrejo (C. crassum y G. cuadratus) (85%), seguido de frutos (6%) y otros (9%).
Localización: Biblioteca OET: Tesis 55. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis C317if.
Biblioteca Joaquín García M.: Tesis 1444.
Environmental contamination in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica [Contaminación
ambiental en el Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica] / Whelan, T. (Communications Consultant, 345 E
93, Apt. 115, New York, NY 10128, US). In: Ambio (ISSN 0044-7447), v. 18, no. 5, p. 302304. 1989. The Gulf of Nicoya is an estuarine embayment, special in formation, essential for
the artisanal fishing industry of Costa Rica, and a popular tourist attraction. Unfortunately,
pervasive environmental contamination and overfishing have lowered the productivity and
tourism appeal of the Gulf tremendously. Costa Ricans are just now beginning to look seriourly
at the management of the area, despite many years of studies showing high levels of
contamination.
Wildlife conservation in Costa Rica: ecological, sociological and behavioral science
contributions in policy making [Conservación de la vida silvestre en Costa Rica:
contribuciones de las ciencias ecológicas, sociológicas y de comportamiento en en la
construcción de política] / Vaughan-Dickhaut, C.; Solís-Rivera, V. (University of WisconsinMadison. Department of Wildlife Ecology, Madison, WI 53706, US <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Advances in
Comparative Psychology, v. 1, p. 93-117. 1988. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca OET: A. LS.
Eco-enterprises: ecotourism and farming of exotics in the tropics [Ecoempresas:
ecoturismo y agricultura de plantas exóticas en los trópicos] / Young, A.M. (Milwaukee Public
Museum.
Invertebrate
Zoology
Section,
Milwaukee,
WI
53233,
US
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Ambio (ISSN 0044-7447), v. 15, no. 6, p. 361-363. 1986. The
potential role of 'ecotourism' (tours to rain forests and other ecosystems) as a significant
industry in the economy of tropical countries is discussed, and existing programmes in Costa
Rica briefly described. Tropical countries are also taking part in another 'eco-enterprise' - a
combination of ecotourism and the export of exotic plants and animals to foreign markets. A
particular example is the introduction of government-promoted butterfly farming to the
villages of Papua New Guinea.
Localización: Museo de Insectos (UCR).
The search for solutions: research and education at the La Selva Biological Station
and their relation to ecodevelopment [La búsqueda de soluciones: investigación y
educación en la Estación Biológica La Selva y su relación con el ecodesarrollo] / Clark, D.B.
(Organization for Tropical Studies. La Selva Biological Station, Apdo 676, San Pedro de Montes
de Oca 2050, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Tropical rainforests: diversity
and conservation. Almeda, F.; Pringle. C.M. (eds.) San Francisco, CA: California Academy of
Sciences, 1988. p. 209-224. (California Academy of Sciences Memoir; no. 12). ISBN: 0940228-19-X. The history and development of the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica are
reviewed. La Selva is the principal field station of the Organization for Tropical Studies, an
international consortium of more than forty universities and museums, with the primary
mission of encouraging research and teaching in tropical biology. Tropical deforestation and
the maintenance of tropical biological diversity are serious global issues. Much of the research
carried out at La Selva is directly or indirectly contributing solutions to these problems. La
Selva is also a center for teaching tropical biology to a diverse array of students, from school
children of the community to graduate-level biologists from many countries. Biological stations
in the tropics can contribute in important ways to ecodevelopment. The La Selva synergism of
9
research, teaching, ecotourism, and a broad base of institutional support offers one model for
the development of a tropical biological station.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.7516 T856t.
Diagnósticos de la zona este del Tempisque / Raabe-Cercone, C. (Consultoría
Agroeconómica, Apartado 153, Cañas, CR). Cañas: Fundación Friedrich Ebert / Consultoría
Agroeconómica, 1987. 31 p. El presente documento ha sido elaborado, en calidad de
propuesta, por el Proyecto Asesoría Económica Internacional de la Fundación Friedrich Ebert,
como apoyo a la Presidencia de la República. Constituye uno de cinco diagnósticos
microrregionales, correspondientes a igual número de zonas, en que se dividió -para efectos
de análisis- al área constituída por la Provincia de Guanacaste y por los distritos de Lepanto,
Paquera y Cóbano del Cantón Central de Puntarenas. Cada uno de los diagnósticos
microrregionales, así como el que analiza globalmente toda el área bajo estudio, han sido
generados como documentos independientes. Para la elaboración de estos diagnósticos, se
hizo uso de la información existente en diversas instituciones públicas y privadas. En forma
especial, se han utilizado los datos aportados por los Censos de Población, Vivienda y
Agropecuario de 1984, los cuales no han sido adecuadamente explotados hasta la fecha. La
subdivisión del área bajo estudio en cinco zonas o microrregiones, tuvo como objetivo efectuar
análisis más profundos y específicos. Para la definición de dichas zonas se tomaron en cuenta
aspectos tales como las áreas de influencia de los principales centros urbanos, las
características del poblamiento de los diversos sectores geográficos, los aspectos básicos
sobre la producción y algunos de los condicionantes naturales más importantes (suelos,
pendientes y clima). La metodología utilizada para la subdivisión del área, se describe en el
capítulo 11 del documento resumen. La zona concreta analizada en este documento, está
constituida por la parte este del Valle del Tempisque y su entorno inmediato: parte baja de
Bagaces y la mayor parte de Cañas y Abangares. Entre las variables que se han considerado
prioritarias en los análisis efectuados, se cuentan las relacionadas con el empleo; esta decisión
se fundamentó en el hecho de que el desempleo, el subempleo y el escaso dinamismo en la
absorción de mano de obra son algunos de los problemas básicos de la región. También se le
ha dado gran importancia a la utilización de la tierra, variable que, a su vez, explica en buena
medida la situación en el empleo. Otros aspectos analizados son los condicionantes naturales,
especialmente en su papel explicativo de la problemática agropecuaria, así como algunos
indicadores de la situación socioeconómica de la población.
Diagnóstico de Guanacaste y el extremo sur de la Península de Nicoya / RaabeCercone, C. (Consultoría Agroeconómica, Apartado 153, Cañas, CR). Cañas: Fundación
Friedrich Ebert / Consultoría Agroeconómica, 1987. 47 p. El presente documento ha sido
elaborado, en calidad de propuesta, por el Proyecto Asesoría Económica Internacional de la
Fundación Friedrich Ebert, como apoyo a la Presidencia de la República. Constituye un
resumen de cinco diagnósticos microrregionales, correspondientes a igual número de zonas,
en que se dividió -para efectos de análisis- al área constituída por la Provincia de Guanacaste
y por los distritos de Lepanto, Paquera y Cóbano del Cantón Central de Puntarenas. Dichos
diagnósticos han sido generados como documentos independientes. Para la elaboración de
este estudio, así como de los diagnósticos microrregionales, se utilizó información existente en
diversas instituciones públicas y privadas. En forma especial, se han utilizado los datos
aportados por los Censos de Población, Vivienda y Agropecuario de 1984, los cuales no han
sido adecuadamente explotados hasta la fecha. La subdivisión del área bajo estudio en las
cinco zonas antes indicadas, tuvo como objetivo efectuar análisis más profundos y específicos.
Para la definición de dichas zonas se tomaron en cuenta aspectos tales como las áreas de
influencia de los principales centros urbanos, las características del poblamiento de los
diversos sectores geográficos, los aspectos básicos sobre la producción y algunos de los
condicionantes naturales más importantes (suelos, pendientes y clima). La metodología
utilizada para la subdivisión del área, se describe en el capítulo 11 de este documento. Entre
las variables que se han considerado prioritarias en los análisis efectuados, se cuentan las
relacionadas con el empleo; esta decisión se fundamentó en el hecho de que el desempleo, el
subempleo y el escaso dinamismo en la absorción de mano de obra son algunos de los
10
problemas básicos de la región. También se le ha dado gran importancia a la utilización de la
tierra, variable que, a su vez, explica en buena medida la situación en el empleo. Otros
aspectos analizados son los condicionantes naturales, especialmente en su papel explicativo
de la problemática agropecuaria, así como algunos indicadores de la situación socioeconómica
de la población.
Estrategia nacional de desarrollo turístico, 1984-1990. Tomo 1; Tomo 2 [National
tourism development plan, 1984-1990. Volume 1; Volume 2] / Costa Rica. Instituto
Costarricense de Turismo, San José, CR. San José: ICT, 1984. 129 p. (v. 1); 118 p. (v. 2). An
analysis is made of the tourist industry in Costa Rica and proposals for development
suggested. Volume 1 includes an analysis of the existing situation (the economy and tourism
at the national and regional levels, tourist attractions, infrastructure, supply and demand of
tourist goods and services), and a marketing strategy for tourism development. Volume 2 is
concerned with obstacles and opportunities for tourism development, and presents a tourism
development strategy which includes sectoral and regional proposals and specific action
programmes. The plan defines guidelines by which the Costa Rican government can stimulate,
promote and direct the development of the tourism sector at various levels.
Costa Rica / Panama. National report no. 140 / Bywater, M. In: International Tourism
Reports (ISSN 0269-3747), no. 3, p. 63-82. 1987. Tourism is a well established industry in
Costa Rica but has been depressed since the late 1970s when it was overtaken by the
intensive resort development in the Caribbean and by a deteriorating economic and political
situation in Central America. Arrivals in 1985 were only 260,000. Panama has recently realised
its tourism potential but shares with Costa Rica the difficult problem of dissociating itself in
tourists' minds from the region's conflicts. Both countries are now pursuing new marketing
strategies, with increased funding.
Metodología descriptiva para determinar los posibles usos de las áreas de
manglares, y su aplicación en Coronado-Sierpe, Costa Rica / Sánchez-Peña, R.O.
Turrialba: Universidad de Costa Rica / CATIE, 1986. 216 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc., Programa de
Posgrado Convenio Universidad de Costa Rica / CATIE, Turrialba (Costa Rica). En las regiones
tropicales, los manglares proporcionan diversos bienes y servicios a la humanidad. Estos
bienes y servicios comprenden desde alimentos proteicos hasta la recreación en áreas
naturales. Así, en los países latinoamericanos un gran número de personas dependen de su
aprovechamiento. Sin embargo; en tales países se carece de estudios tendentes a la
integración de sus distintas formas de explotación. Tomando en consideración a tal carencia
de estudios, y consciente de la presión social ejercida por la población hacia el uso de los
recursos provenientes del manglar, se realizó el presente trabajo con miras a proponer una
metodología descriptiva que pueda guiar sobre las estrategias a seguir a fin de determinar la
capacidad de uso y el uso potencial de las áreas de manglares. Su contenido posee dos partes
fundamentales: la descripción y aplicación de los pasos consecutivos para determinar los usos
que podría soportar una zona de manglar, así como también, consta de una descripción de los
aspectos que deben ser estudiados para determinar la factibilidad de explotación de dichos
usos. El presente trabajo pretende mostrar las características biofísicas indispensables que
debe reunir una porción de manglar, para soportar cada uno de los siguientes usos:
aprovechamiento forestal, acuicultura, pesca y cacería, producción estacional de miel,
educación-recreación y turismo, y conservación in situ. La aplicación parcial de la metodología
se llevó a cabo en cuatro zonas de ambientes diferentes correspondientes a los manglares
Coronado-Sierpe, Costa Rica. En tal aplicación, la determinación de la capacidad de uso de
dichos manglares requirió el empleo de matrices cualitativas. Para las cuatro zonas en
conjunto donde se aplicó la metodología, los resultados de estas matrices indicaron la
siguiente capacidad de uso: aprovechamiento forestal, acuicultura, pesca, y recreacióneducación y turismo.
11
Localización: Biblioteca Luis D. Tinoco: Tesis 9315. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis
S211s.
Nature-oriented travel to developing countries [Viaje orientado hacia la naturaleza a los
países en vías de desarrollo] / Ingram, C.D.; Durst, P.B. (USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box
12254, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709, US). Research Triangle Park, N.C: Southeastern
Center for Forest Economics Research, 1987. 19 p. (FPEO Working Paper; no. 28). A variety of
nature-oriented activities in developing countries are offered by U.S.-based tour operators.
However, only a few countries are visited frequently. Average firm size is less than 200 clients
per year. The majority of nature-oriented tourists are between 31 and 50 years old
representing various interests. Nature-oriented tour operators often utilize rural
accommodations for their clients. Marketing is one of the major limitations to business growth.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 I44n; AD 453.
Proyecto colectivo de investigación y extensión en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Dr.
Rafael L. Rodríguez Caballero ("Palo Verde"), Costa Rica. Heredia: Universidad Nacional,
1988. 213 p. El presente trabajo consta de tres capítulos: I. Evaluación preliminar de hábitat;
II. Estimación de densidades poblacionales y III. Extensión y factibilidad turística. En cada uno
de ellos se presentan los resultados obtenidos del trabajo de campo, así como un análisis y
discusión de los mismos. De igual forma, se da una serie de recomendaciones dirigidas al
mejoramiento de las condiciones del Refugio, tanto para el aprovechamiento humano como
para la fauna del lugar. Este documento puede tomarse como un respaldo práctico del Plan de
Manejo que en conjunto permitirán delimitar las directrices del manejo y el aprovechamiento
de la fauna silvestre.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: AS 50868. Biblioteca del BIODOC.
Antología para el curso Ordenación de Áreas Silvestres / Chaverri-Polini, A, (comp.).;
Jiménez-Marín, W, (comp.). (Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales;
Programa ECOMA; Apdo. 86-3000, Heredia, CR. Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 1981. 289 p.
(Serie de Ordenación de Areas Silvestres - Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias
Ambientales (Costa Rica); no. 3). (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.9507 C512.
La diversidad como recurso natural [Diversity as a natural resource] / MendozaHernández, R. (Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Heredia, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Biocenosis (ISSN 0250-6963), v. 3, no. 2, p. 4-6. 1986. La
diversidad física, biológica y cultural de un país son factores que lo enriquecen. En el trópico
húmedo existe diversidad de ambientes, paisajes, suelos, bosques. La diversidad biológica es
un factor de equilibrio natural, fuente de información genética y un motivo de solaz e
inspiración para el hombre. En este trabajo se discuten las diversas manifestaciones de la
diversidad: 1. Diversidad biológica y genética. 2. Diversidad biológica y domesticación. 3.
Diversidad y control biológico. 4. Diversidad e investigación científica. 5. Diversidad y
recreación. 6. Diversidad y turismo naturalistas. 7. Diversidad cultural.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: B.
Ecoturismo en Costa Rica [Ecotourism in Costa Rica] / Mendoza-Hernández, R. (Universidad
Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In:
Biocenosis (ISSN 0250-6963), v. 3, no. 1, p. 14-16. 1986. Turismo y áreas silvestres
protegidas: dos elementos que, para muchos, son incompatibles. Sin embargo, durante los
últimos años y sobre todo en países en desarrollo, se ha comprobado que el turismo nacional
y extranjero dentro de estas áreas naturales es posible, que encierra un gran valor como
recurso educativo y además, que es altamente rentable como actividad productora de divisas.
Parques nacionales / Place, S. (California State University. Department of Geography and
Planning, 400 West First St., Chico, CA 95929-0425, US <E-mail: [email protected]>).
In: Geoistmo (ISSN 1016-8176), v. 2, no. 1, p. 87-99. 1988. This document explores the
12
relationship between the Tortuguero National Park and the local community in the
Northeastern of Costa Rica. Based essentially on a detailed survey at the household level, the
study considers the effects of the creation of the Park on the subsistence and commercial
activities of the people of Tortuguero. The impact of tourism in the Park, and its potential role
in the economic development of the community, are also taken into account and analyzed. The
results of the survey seem to indicate that there has occurred a gradual deterioration in the
livelihood system of the inhabitants in the decade that has followed the creation of the Park
and with the increase of tourism, which benefits directly to but a few, and indirectly to a good
many.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: G.
OSA 2000: biological conservation and community development for Corcovado
National Park and buffer zone on the Osa peninsula, Costa Rica [OSA 2000:
conservación biológica y desarrollo de la comunidad para el Parque Nacional Corcovado y su
zona de amortiguamiento en la Península de Osa, Costa Rica] / Fundación Neotrópica, Apdo.
236-10002, San José, CR E-mail: neotropol.racsa.co.cr. San José: Fundación Neotrópica,
1989. 85 p. (No abstract).
Manejo de áreas protegidas costeras tropicales. Taller Internacional sobre Manejo de
Areas Protegidas, Monte Cristi RD20-24 JulL 1987. Santiago: FAO / Oficina Regional para
América Latina y el Caribe; Proyecto FAO/PNUMA sobre Manejo de Areas Silvestres, Areas
Protegidas y Vida Silvestre en América Latina y el Caribe, Santiago (Chile); Red
Latinoamericana de Cooperación Técnica en Parques Nacionales, otras Areas Protegidas, Flora
y Fauna Silvestres, 1988. 64 p. (Documento Técnico - Proyecto FAO/PNUMA FP 6105-85-01;
no. 5). (No abstract).
Localización: Centro de Documentación OTUS (INBio).
Diagnóstico de los recursos turísticos geográficos de los cantones Barva y San Rafael
de Heredia y la porción sur oriental del Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. Heredia:
Universidad Nacional, 1985. 168 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Geografía Física, Universidad
Nacional, Escuela de Geografía, Heredia (Costa Rica). Hipotesis: "La falta de incentivos para
desarrollar en forma óptima la zona turística Barva, San Rafael y el Parque Nacional Braulio
Carrillo, ha producido un lento desarrollo en el sector, desaprovechándose el potencial turístico
del área". Sus objetivos son: 1. - Dar a conocer los recursos turísticos del área, por medio de
un inventario de los mismos. 2.- Evaluar los atractivos turísticos y compararlos con otros
estudios del país para conocer el potencial turístico de la zona. 3.- Aplicar el método
"CICATUR" en la región complementándolo con un enfoque biofisico. Se utilizó el método
CICATUR, una compilación de información relacionada con el área y algunos trabajos de
campo. Algunas de sus conclusiones son: 1.- El método"CICATUR", resulta un tanto específico,
con el afán de dar una visión más amplia sobre un atractivo turístico. 2.- El valor turístico de
la zona es alto, tiene un patrimonio de la zona de 54,.9, mientras que la evaluación del
patrimonio turístico de la provincia de Heredia en total dio un patrimonio de zona de 132,2.
3.- El método."CICATUR" es aplicable en Costa Rica, siempre y cuando existan instituciones
que brinden el apoyo económico y asesoría técnica. Algunas recomendaciones 1.- Al emplear
el método "CICATUR", es importanteconocer la realidad que rodea la zona mediante un
análisis de los recursos biofísicos para fundamentar, en caso de desarrollo turístico, la
importancia del mismo. 2.- Es necesario que los gobiernos municipales, impulsen proyectos
que tiendan a ofrecer unmayor desarrollo económico y turístico del área. 3.- Disponer de
terrenos apropiados para la instalación de servicios al turista. 4.- Incluir dentro del desarrollo
turistico para la zona a toda la población interesada, ofreciéndoles ayuda técnica y económica,
para que se incorporen a estas actividades.
Localización: Biblioteca Joaquín García M.: Tesis 1005.
La pesca de la trucha: posibilidad para el desarrollo del turismo y la recreación en
montañas tropicales / Leininger-Mehrhoff, A. Heredia: Universidad Nacional / Escuela de
Ciencias Geográficas, 1985. 88 p. (No abstract).
13
Localización: Biblioteca Joaquín García M.: FOT.972.86 L531p.
Desarrollo socioeconómico y el ambiente natural de Costa Rica, situación actual y
perspectivas / Ramírez-Solera, A, (ed.).; Maldonado-Ulloa, T, (ed.). San José: Editorial
Heliconia, 1988. 160 p. (Serie Informes Sobre el Estado del Medio Ambiente (Costa Rica)).
ISBN: 9977-969-00-0. Este documento permitirá sentar las bases para enfrentar el complejo
problema del desarrollo socioeconómico y la conservación, entendida como el uso sostenible
de los recursos naturales. Contiene un análisis comprensivo y actualizado, basado en cifras
estadísticas, de las condiciones ambientales y sus principales tendencias en el país. Sus tres
objetivos principales son: Mejorar el conocimiento general sobre el estado del ambiente
nacional y sus cambios en el tiempo, para así poder evaluar los resultados de las iniciativas
públicas y privadas anteriores que han incidido sobre él, y poder contribuir al desarrollo y
armonización de las políticas ambientales; integrar los aspectos ambientales en el proceso de
toma de decisiones y crear un sistema de información pública sobre el estado del ambiente. El
informe se encuentra organizado en siete capítulos. En los Capítulos I al IV se describen los
antecedentes y se da explicación sobre las causas que originan la situación actual del
ambiente en Costa Rica. El Capítulo V es de vital importancia en el desarrollo del informe, ya
que en él se identifican y señalan las áreas críticas derivadas de la paulatina disminución y
degradación de la base de recursos naturales a consecuencia de su irracional explotación, y se
destaca lo que esto representa para el futuro desarrollo económico y social de Costa Rica. El
Capítulo VI, identifica los principales obstáculos que presenta el marco institucional y jurídico
vigente en materia de recursos naturales, para lograr una efectiva reorientación de acciones,
en procura del adecuado manejo de la base de recursos naturales en forma integral. En el
Capítulo VII, se exponen las conclusiones principales de este informe, así como las causas
adyacentes de dichas conclusiones.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.7097286 D441.
Propuesta de manejo forestal, planeamiento e utilización integrada de los recursos
de mangle en la Reserva de Térraba-Sierpe Costa Rica: informe técnico preparado
para el Gobierno de Costa Rica por la Organización para la Agricultura y la
Alimentación de las Naciones Unidas [FAO] / Chong, P.W. Roma, 1988. p. irr. (No
abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca UICN-Mesoamérica: 1063.
Recovery of trailside vegetation from trampling in a tropical rain forest / Boucher,
D.H.; Avilés, J.; Chepote, R.; Domínguez, O.E.; Vílchez-Alvarado, B. (House of
Representatives. Office of Rep. Bernie Sanders, Washington, DC 20515, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>).
In:
Environmental
Management (ISSN 0364-152x), v. 15, no. 2, p. 257-262. 1991. Practically no information
exists on the impact of human trampling on tropical rain forest vegetation. Three trails with
varying periods of use and recovery were studied in a tropical rain forest in Costa Rica. Human
impact on trailside plants was curvilinearly related to use, as found by other workers in
temperate zone vegetation. Recovery in a period of two years and eight months has been
rapid, and herbs and seedlings were more abundant along the recovering trail than in
undisturbed forest. The results imply that a shifting mosaic of trails, analogous to the mosaic
created by light gaps, may be the best management technique to minimize the impact of
human visitors in tropical rain forests.
An integrative methodological framework for sustainable environmental planning
and management [Un sistema metodológico integrador para la planificación y manejo
ambiental sostenible] / Armitage, D. (41 Roosevelt Avenue, Waterloo, ON N2L 2N2, CA). In:
Environmental Management (ISSN 0364-152x), v. 19, no. 4, p. 469-479. 1995. Sustainable
environmental planning and management require effective integration of ecological,
socioeconomic, and institutional elements. This paper presents an integrative methodological
framework for sustainable environmental planning and management which seeks to delineate
and synthesize essential ecological information utilizing an integrative resource survey
14
method. This method generates classifications of environmental significance and constraints.
Areas of environmental significance and constraint are then linked to appropriate and
acceptable resource management actions, implementation tools (e.g., education, technical
assistance), and institutional and organizational arrangements. The integrative methodological
framework was developed for application in the Rio Fortuna watershed in Costa Rica's Arenal
Conservation Area. The watershed is characterized by a variety of land and resource uses,
including biologically diverse and ecologically fragile protected areas, small-parcel agriculture,
cattle ranching, and tourism.
Ecotourism: an economic analysis [Ecoturismo: un análisis económico] / Steele, P.
(Economics for the Environment Consultancy (EFTEC Ltd), 16 Percy Street, London W1P 9FD,
GB). In: Journal of Sustainable Tourism (ISSN 0966-9582), v. 3, no. 1, p. 29-44. 1995.
Ecotourism refers to tourists travelling to a nature site because of the amenity and
recreational value derived from having contact with some aspect of the natural world. While
ecotourism is a rapidly growing phenomenon, very much of this growth is unsustainable. This
article reviews why this unsustainability arises and how it can be avoided. The first section
sets out an economic model of ecotourism as the utilization of open access to renewable
natural sites. This model is used to demonstrate how open access can lead to both economic
and environmental inefficiency. The second section examines management solutions to the
open access problem. This involves determining an owner of the site, either the state, or the
local community, or a private group. This owner must then choose policy instruments to
restrict open access. This involves choosing between price and quantity instruments, deciding
how to reduce rent dissipation and determining whether to restrict total numbers of tourists or
damage done per tourist. The third section introduces case studies. State ownership is
illustrated by the coral reefs of Koh Phi Phi, Thailand and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Community ownership is demonstrated by Annapurna, Nepal, and private ownership is
illustrated by the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica.
A tropical 'ski' lift [Un telesquí tropical] / Erickson, N. In: Ski Area Management (ISSN
0037-6175), v. 34, no. 2, p. 74-76, 89. 1995. This article examines the utilization of a ski lift
in the Costa Rican rainforest as a way to help people, scientists and tourists alike, experience
the wonders of a rainforest with the barest minimum of human impact on the environment.
Ecotourism for sustainable development: oxymoron or plausible strategy?
[Ecoturismo para desarrollo sostenible: ¿oxímoron o estrategia recomendable?] / Place, S.E.
(California State University. Department of/ Place, S.E. (California State University.
Department of Geography and Planning, 400 West First St, Chico, CA 95929-0425, US <Email: [email protected]>). In: Geojournal (ISSN 0924-5499), v. 35, no. 2, p. 161-173.
1995. This paper examines the rapidly growing phenomenon of ecotourism, focusing on a case
study, the village of Tortuguero in Costa Rica, whose transformation reveals many of the
conflicting interests in the development process. The local and national economic benefits of
foreign tourism are evaluated in relation to the total costs of such tourism. It asks whether a
high proportion of the tourist dollar goes to outsiders: hotel and tour operators, airlines and
foreign travel agents; and establishes the proportion of the tourist dollar that remains in the
actual destination, largely in the form of wages of hotel and restaurant employees and tips.
The paper argues that its costs may be borne disproportionately by poor people, because not
only do local people lose their resource base for farming, lumbering and mining, but they may
also lose the subsidy from nature upon which their livelihood was based. Furthermore the
funding of basic services such as health care, education, food, and nutrition programmes may
stagnate or shrink. Cultural degradation may also occur, as formerly isolated populations come
into contact with affluent foreigners. While the Costa Rican government may have successfully
protected endangered species and environments in the Tortuguero National Park, it has not
been as successful at easing local people's transition from an economy based on resource
extraction to one based on the preservation of ecosystems without the physical exploitation of
15
them. Ecotourism can provide an alternative economic base, but community participation in
the planning process is also essential for identifying the negative impacts on the people who
live in areas undergoing ecotourism development. In Tortuguero, the income generated by the
non-consumptive use of local resources now flows to the outsiders who bring the tourists to
Tortuguero and provide their accommodation and other services.
Ecotourists to paradise [Ecoturistas al paraíso] / Burnie, D. In: New Scientist (ISSN 02624079), v. 142, no. 1921, p. 23-27. 1994. Tourism, particularly ecotourism, can play a positive
role in both economic development and conservation. Instead of accelerating habitat
destruction, this form of tourism can sometimes slow it down. Ecotourism is a boom industry.
Wherever wildlife exists in a relatively undisturbed state, today's environmentally aware
tourists are willing to pay large sums to see it. They also demand less in most cases in terms
of facilities and are more prepared to adapt to local conditions. The article looks at the
situation in Costa Rica which has a rich variety of plant and animal life and topography
covering a relatively small area. It is home to at least 1000 species of tree, 8000 species of
flowering plants, 200 species of mammal, 800 species of bird, more than 150 species of
amphibian and an estimated 35 000 insect species. In order to protect the natural resources,
flora and fauna, a system of national parks was set up by the government in the mid-1960s
and about 12% of the country's land area is now protected by the state. A further 15% has
partial safeguards. These protected areas are what ecotourists can help to save. The national
parks are run by the government in close cooperation with the Costa Rica Tourist Board.
Pressure on land is intense, and the national parks are defended on the grounds that they
attract tourists. In 1993, ecotourists brought in $506 million. However, despite the fact that
about 76% of foreign tourists visit at least one park during their stay, the income is
insufficient to maintain the park network. Ecotourism has a short history in Costa Rica and is
far from fully exploited. More than 100 tour companies already exist, but only a fraction of
their earnings are ploughed back into the national parks because the entrance fees are too
low. The industry is also hampered by a shortage of suitable accommodation. The situation
looks set to change now, however, with a change of government imminent. There are plans to
finance conservation more directly through tourism and to use tourism to preserve biological
wealth, but it will be some time before the effects of this change of policy are seen.
Ecotourism development in protected areas of developing countries [Desarrollo del
ecoturismo en áreas protegidas de países en desarrollo] /Hummel, J. In: World Leisure and
Recreation, v. 36, no. 2, p. 17-23. 1994. In this paper the processes characterizing the
concept of 'ecotourism development' are outlined. Specific reference is made to the relevance
of this theory to developing countries. Two case studies are examined within this context: the
Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal and the Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica. The
paper puts forward a thesis in which the transformation processes that occur within tourist
areas are described as 'power play' scenarios. It is suggested that in these situations the
numerous actors involved in tourism development use concepts like 'ecotourism' and
'sustainability' to defend or satisfy their own interests. The case studies reveal that amongst
these actors, there is no consensus about the precise meaning of the terms. This reveals the
importance of the social organization of decision making processes in determining the eventual
outcome of these 'power plays'. In conclusion the paper attempts to relate the processes
involved in ecotourism to the wider community and it is postulated that this outlook is to be
commended, despite the ideological differences between the various actors involved, since it
puts the issues of tourism impact firmly on to the planning agenda.
Biological impacts of ecotourism: tourists and nesting turtles in Tortuguero National
Park, Costa Rica [Impactos biológicos del ecoturismo: turistas y las tortugas anidantes en el
Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Costa Rica] / Jacobson, S.K.; Figueroa-López, A. (University of
Florida. Department of Wildlife and Range Sciences, 118 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL
32611-0430, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Wildlife Society Bulletin (ISSN
16
0091-7648), v. 22, no. 3, p. 414-419. 1994. Many conservationists and wildlife managers
have embraced ecotourism as an economic incentive for protecting species and ecosystems in
developing countries. Ecotourism destinations often involve extremely fragile ecosystems or
endangered or threatened wildlife. Yet ecotourists may be potentially more damaging to
wildlife than other tourists since they actively seek and approach wildlife. Information is
needed to identify, monitor and mitigate the negative effects, both individual and cumulative,
on the fauna and flora. The article reports on a study which was designed to help develop a
programme to minimize the potential tourist impacts on nesting turtles in Tortuguero National
Park in Costa Rica. Over the past decade, the park has seen a 24-fold increase in visitor
numbers. Data for the study were derived during 1990 from resource managers and scientists,
hotel owners, community members and tourists to determine human activity patterns on the
nesting beach and to quantify the effects of high and low levels of human activity on the
behaviour of nesting turtles. Results indicated that the presence and behaviour of tourists on
the beach during the green turtle nesting season caused disturbance of nesting turtles. Tourist
visits were concentrated at weekends, correlating with the times that a third fewer turtles
came to the beach. However, specific nesting behaviours did not differ on segments of the
beach exposed to different levels of human disturbance. A tour guide programme was
developed to control tourist activity on the beach.
Ecotourism: a sustainable option? [Ecoturismo: ¿una opción sostenible?] / Weaver, D.B.;
Cater, E.; Cater, E, ed.; Lowman, G. (Griffith University Gold Coast Campus. School of
Tourism and Hotel Management, Gold Coast Mailing Center, Queensland 9726, AU <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Ecotourism in the Caribbean Basin Chichester: John Wiley
and Sons, 1994. p. 159-176. ISBN: 0-471-94896-9. This chapter examines ecotourism within
the Caribbean Basin by distinguishing between the insular Caribbean (defined as the islands of
the Caribbean Sea) and the mainland. For each group, the outline of present trends and future
prospects in ecotourism is preceded by an overview of the traditional tourism product.
Dominica and Costa Rica are presented as case studies of the insular and mainland Caribbean
respectively. It is concluded that it is unlikely that ecotourism will ever come to dominate the
large majority of destinations in the insular Caribbean region, since the natural resources,
marketing image and infrastructure are already geared towards sun, sea and sand tourism
products. In contrast, although the ecotourism potential for the mainland is considerable,
several factors currently militate against the long term success of this sector, including
political instability, rampant deforestation and the negative impacts that are evident in many
of the so-called 'ecotourism' facilities and activities already established there.
Environmental assessment and development [Valoración medioambiental y desarrollo] /
Goodland, R, (ed.).; Edmundson, V. (The World Bank. Environmental Department,
Washington, DC 20433, US). Washington, D.C: World Bank, 1994. 159 p. (World Bank
Country Study). ISBN: 0-8213-2762-3. This book presents selected papers presented and
discussed at the twelfth annual meeting of the International Association for Impact
Assessment (IAIA) held at the World Bank in August 1992. The conference on environmental
assessment (EA) covered a wide range of issues from economic valuation theory to
comparisons of EA procedures in industrial and developing countries to practical assessments
of case studies. The 13 contributions presented help to clarify how the management of the
environment can be improved through a better understanding of the interplay between
environmental quality, economic performance and social welfare. The papers are organized
around four themes. Part I (two papers) discusses priorities of sustainable development and
introduces specific methods for achieving them, such as environmental accounting,
environmental assessment, and strategic environmental assessment. Part II presents five case
studies of (i)comparisons of EA in industrial and developing countries; (ii) EA in Thailand and
Canada; (iii) managing tropical forest development; (iv) rapid urban EA in developing
countries and (v) GAP and analysis in Costa Rica. Each study uses environmental assessment
as a major instrument in environmental planning and management in developing institutions,
with attention to building EA capacity. Part III (four papers) discusses the application of the
17
environmental assessment process to specific issues and types of development projects
reviewing impact assessment of dams and reservoirs; public participation in EA in Africa; flood
participation in Bangladesh; and public involvement in EA of tourism. Part IV (two papers)
examines how the concept of sustainability can be used in the economic analysis of projects
and programmes, including the treatment of the depletion of natural capital. It is argued that
the application of environmental assessment has improved project appraisal and development
planning and decision making in general. The project-by-project approach is no longer
adequate, however, for the broad environmental policy, institution building, and other aspects
of resource management now needed.
Localización: Biblioteca del CINPE (Centro Internacional de Política Económica para el
Desarrollo Sostenible).
The Los Santos Forest Reserve: A buffer zone vital for the Costa Rican La Amistad
Biosphere Reserve [La Reserva Forestal Los Santos: Una zona de amortiguamiento vital
para la Reserva de la Biósfera La Amistad costarricense] / Kappelle, M.; Juárez, M.E.
(Chaverri-Polini, A. (The Nature Conservancy. Mesoamerican and Caribbean Region, P.O. Box
230-1225, San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Ecology of mature and
recovering Talamancan montane Quercus forests, Costa Rica Amsterdam: University of
Amsterdam, 1995. Dissertation, Doctoraan, Tropische Oecologie, University of Amsterdam
(The Netherlands). Se discuten varias opciones para un desarrollo socioeconómico sustentable
en la Reserva Forestal Los Santos. Esta reserva, que abarca un área de 62,000 ha, sirve como
zona de amortiguamiento para los bosques megadiversos, que se encuentran en la Reserva de
la Biósfera La Amistad, sitio de patrimonio mundial. En términos prácticos, se recomienda
promover la regeneración natural de los bosques secundarios en áreas deforestadas y
abandonadas en la Reserva Forestal Los Santos. Esto con el fin de restaurar la ecología en la
frontera boscosa-agrícola en el límite suroccidental de la Reserva de la Biósfera de la Amistad,
y de crear a la vez un nuevo recurso forestal para que sea utilizado de una forma sustentable:
tanto la producción de madera y leña en los bosques secundarios, como el desarrollo del
ecoturismo en áreas de recuperación son fuentes potenciales de ingreso adicional para los
residentes de esta zona marginalizada. Sin embargo, para llevar a cabo tal alternativa es de
suma importancia tanto la participación activa de la población local, que vive en la Reserva
Forestal Los Santos, como de los políticos, que toman las decisiones a nivel local, regional y
nacional.
The economics of global ecotourism [La economía del ecoturismo global] / Filion, F.L.;
Foley, J.P.; Jacquemot, A.J.; Munasinghe, M, (ed.).; McNeely, J. (<E-mail:
[email protected]> ). In: Protected area economics and policy: linking conservation and
sustainable development Washington, D.C: World Bank, 1994. p. 235-252. ISBN: 0-82133132-9. This chapter examines three key questions in the debate surrounding ecotourism. It
determines: the size of the international tourism industry, and what portion of this could be
considered to be ecotourism; the size of the domestic tourism industry, and what proportion of
it could be considered ecotourism; and the implications for global tourism, and whether this
form of sustainable development can offer promise for conservation. It reviews a number of
studies on nature related tourism from within the five United Nation-World Tourism
Organization regions, including Canada (North America); Mexico, Belize, Dominica, Ecuador,
Costa Rica (Latin America); Kenya and Zimbabwe (Africa); Australia and New Zealand
(Oceania); and Europe. It concludes that ecotourism and wildlife related tourism probably
have much more economic significance than many conservationists had originally imagined.
An important opportunity thus exists for conservationists to employ this form of sustainable
development to justify the major investment required to conserve the environmental
amenities on which this form of tourism depends, and to maintain the well being of local
communities.
Localización: Biblioteca del CINPE (Centro Internacional de Política Económica para el
Desarrollo Sostenible).
18
Tourism [Turismo] / Young, G.; Brown, P.; Boag, A, (ed.).; Lamond, C, (ed.).; Sun, E.
Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies (ANZALS): Proceedings inaugural
conference, Griffith University, Brisbane AU14-16 April 1993. Nathan: ANZALS (Australian and
New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies), 1993. p. 446-480. ISBN: 1-86365-128-4. This
collection of papers examine prominent issues in tourism research. The opening paper
addresses the degree to which the marketing of Australia promotes specific images of
Australian men and women, and which do not accurately reflect their respective roles and
status in society. The second paper examines and determines the need for the development of
an attitudinal training programme for hotel staff, in order to illustrate a greater understanding
of the needs of guests with disabilities. The role that environmental education and
interpretation can play in quality nature-based tourism is discussed in the next paper,
preceded by a study of an initiative that has sought to develop ecotourism in the Santa Elena
rainforest in Costa Rica. A concluding paper reveals how the field of educational tourism allows
a re-examination of the theories of the authenticity of the tourist experience. It argues that
even an authentic experience has elements of a lie, or staged space contained within it, since
the educational tourist is being equiped to evaluate these elements of their experience as a
result of the educative process they are involved in.
Ecotourism: the Santa Elena rainforest project [Ecoturismo: el proyecto del bosque
lluvioso de Santa Elena] / Wearing, S. (University of Technology at Sydney, PO Box 123,
Broadway, NSW 2007, AU). In: The Environmentalist (ISSN 0251-1088), v. 13, no. 2, p. 125135. 1993. This paper outlines an ecotourism project undertaken in the Santa Elena
community in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. The community is seeking to establish a
rain forest reserve on a parcel of land that has been permanently leased to their high school
by the Costa Rican government. The Community and Youth Challenge International are
developing an ecotourism project that will provide a wider economic basis for the area and
employment for students graduating from the high school. This project seeks to achieve
sustainable development and fulfil the development requirements of the population
surrounding the project. This is in the belief that it is only when conservation projects benefit
local communities, and are set up with an infrastructure that vests control within local
communities, that genuine ecotourism is achieved.
Rain forest entrepreneurs: cashing in on conservation [Empresarios del bosque lluvioso:
sacando provecho de la conservación] / Carr, T.A.; Pedersen, H.L.; Ramaswamy, S.
(Middlebury College. Economics Department, Vermont, US). In: Environment (ISSN 00139157), v. 35, no. 7, p. 12-15, p. 33-38. 1993. Mounting evidence shows that the conventional
and industrial uses of the rain forest are not only ecologically devastating but also
economically unsound. Environmental groups are now targeting their efforts toward
developing commercially viable and sustainable uses of the rain forest. Three applications of
environmental entrepreneurship in the rain forests have been particularly successful.
Conservation International's "The Tagua Initiative", Shaman Pharmaceutical's search for useful
drugs in the rain forest, and the management of ecotourism in Costa Rica. A number of
common challenges confront these environmental entrepreneurs and these are discussed in
the paper. Such projects can be seen as a response to deforestation, moving the costs of
preservation away from the local inhabitants. Each of the three initiatives is discussed,
describing its business plan and method of operation. The paper suggests that the key to
preservation may well be the further development of environmental entrepreneurs.
Investment incentives as a means of encouraging tourism development: the case of
Costa Rica [Incentivos para inversión como un medio para estimular el desarrollo del
turismo: el caso de Costa Rica]/ Coffey, B. (State University of New York at Geneseo.
Department of Geography, Geneseo, N.Y, US). In: Bulletin of Latin American Research (ISSN
0261-3050), v. 12, no. 1, p. 83-90. 1993. In recent decades there has been considerable
debate about the contribution tourism makes to the development process. Costa Rica has
19
adopted a programme designed to encourage the development and expansion of tourist
facilities. The programme consists primarily of economic benefits to the private sector in the
form of tax abatements. This paper examines recent changes associated with Costa Rica as a
tourist destination, outlines the incentive programme intended to improve services for the
country's tourists, and identifies some problems associated with the programme. Given that
Costa Rica's incentive law has only been recently implemented, and the relative dearth of
tourist facilities, it remains to be seen to what degree the incentives will work.
Tourism and development in Latin America [Turismo y desarrollo en Latinoamérica] /
Schluter, R.G. (Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Turísticos, Ave. Del Libertador 774-6°
'W', 1001 Buenos Aires, AR). In: Annals of Tourism Research (ISSN 0160-7383), v. 20, no. 2,
p. 364-367. 1993. The article briefly traces the nature of tourism development in Latin
America. During the first decades of this century, Latin Americans viewed European tourism
development as a model to be copied. After World War II, Latin America realized that tourism
could contribute to the fast recovery of economies. Initially tourism was considered as a useful
tool to foster the development of their weak economies and to get the necessary resources to
implement social programmes that would improve the quality of life of the local population.
The emergence of tourism in the Caribbean, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico
and Costa Rica is briefly traced. While Latin American countries have attempted to model their
tourism development on that of European countries, they have relied on the American market
to implement the development.
Conservation in action: past, present, and future of the national park system of
Costa Rica [Conservación en acción: pasado, presente y futuro del sistema de parques
nacionales de Costa Rica] / Boza-Loría, M.A. (The Leatherback Trust Fideicomiso Baulas, Ap.
11046, 1000 San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Conservation Biology
(ISSN 0888-8892), v. 7, no. 2, p. 239-247. 1993. An account is given of the history, current
status and plans for the future of the national park system in Costa Rica. The parks include
almost all the diverse habitats (and many of the species of plants and animals) of the country.
Current activities include planning and consolidating the national parks system, creating a
system of national forests and encouraging commercial reforestation and management of
private natural forests, and raising funds.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: S1968. PVB.
Management of ecotourism in the protected areas of Costa Rica [Manejo del ecoturismo
en las áreas protegidas de Costa Rica] / Courrau, J.A.; Martin-Willison, J.H, (ed.).; BondrupNielsen, S, (ed.).; Drysdale, C, (ed.).; Herman, T.B, (ed.).; Munro, N.W.P, (ed.).; Pollock, T.L,
(ed.). (The Nature Conservancy's PROARCA/CAPAS Project, P.O. Box 230-1225, San José,
CR). Science and the management of protected areas: proceedings of an international
conference, Acadia University, Nova Scotia CA14-19 May 1991. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science
Publishers, 1992. p. 519-521. (Developments in Landscape Management & Urban Planning;
Vol. 7). ISBN: 0-444-89163-3. Global attention is increasingly focused on tropical ecosystems.
Because of its political stability, tremendous biodiversity and extensive network of protected
areas, Costa Rica has experienced a surge in ecotourism. The National Parks Service has
responded to this increase by incorporating a programme to monitor and manage ecotourism
in and around protected areas. This forms part of an innovative regional management
approach that integrates activities in protected areas and their neighbouring communities.
Localización: Biblioteca del BIODOC: 1271.
Ecology and development in the tropics [Ecología y desarrollo en los trópicos] / Gaupp, P.
In: Swiss Review of World Affairs (ISSN 0039-7490), v. 42, no. 6, p. 14-19. 1992. This paper
offers a specific examination of the ecological problems facing one tropical developing country,
viz. Costa Rica. This Central American country provides graphic examples of poor handling of
natural resources, and projects aimed at environmental protection, reforestation, and
20
sustainable use of tropical forests. Case studies are presented and an overall picture derived
of changes in land use and future land and tourism development policy requirements.
Tourist hotels in environmentally sensitive areas [Hoteles turísticos en áreas
ambientalmente sensibles] / Gunatilleke, N. In: Loris (ISSN 0024-6514), v. 19, no. 5, p. 162165. 1992. Ecotourism, where tourists, mostly from the developed countries, visit places of
natural beauty, scenic landscapes enriched with wildlife, reserves, rain forests and other
natural and wilderness areas, is a growing phenomenon. Countries in Central and South
America, including Costa Rica, Venezuela and Brazil, and in Africa and Asia, such as Tanzania,
Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal and India, have already moved
strongly into ecotourism. Sri Lanka, although lagging behind in promoting tourism in the
recent past, is now also in demand by tourists wishing to see its beautiful landscapes,
spectacular natural scenery, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, many of which are as yet
unprotected by any form of legislation and are categorized locally as environmentally sensitive
areas. Sri Lanka therefore has much to offer ecotourists and there is great potential for
tourism development. As a result of current trends, private hotel sector developers are
proposing to develop hotels in many of these environmentally sensitive areas. Several such
projects are already in the pipeline, but while this kind of development may be beneficial to
the country's overall economy, it may destabilize the fragile ecological equilibrium and the
sociocultural infrastructure and livelihood of the rural villagers, leading to social unrest and
conflict. These positive and negative impacts are examined, and the importance of careful
planning, sound decision making and community participation in tourism development projects
of this type ishighlighted.
The quetzal and the macaw: the story of Costa Rica's national parks [El quetzal y la
lapa: relato de los parques nacionales de Costa Rica] / Wallace, D.R. San Francisco, CA: Sierra
Club Books, 1992. 222 p. ISBN: 0-87156-585-4. Costa Rica lost almost half its forest cover
during 1950-90. In the last 2 decades, however, millions of acres have been saved by the
national park system. This book traces the development of the Costa Rican national park
system, which now shelters about 10% of the nation's land from exploitation.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.780097286 W225q.
Rainforests: A guide to research and tourist facilities at selected tropical forest sites
in Central and South America [Bosques lluviosos: Una guía para investigar y servicios
turísticos a lugares escogidos de bosque tropical en Centro y Suramérica]/ Castner, J.L. (1930
NW
40th
Terrace,
Gainesville,
FL
32605,
US
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). Gainesville, FL: Feline Press, 1990. 300 p. ISBN: 09625150-2-7. The book describes and evaluates select locations in a number of Central and
South American countries, providing the information a visitor would need in order to select a
site for tourism or research facilities. The book is divided into four chapters followed by
appendices. Chapter one provides specific information about selected rainforest sites and their
facilities in Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Panama, Trinidad and Venezuela. As
well as general and geographical information, the evaluation and description of each site
includes data on: contacts and addresses; location; logistics; forest type; seasonality;
facilities; trail system; costs and general comments. Chapter two deals with rainforest
information sources, including a partly annotated rainforest bibliography and a list of
organizations that are primarily conservation-oriented and involved in rainforest related work.
The following chapter gives a list of organizations which offer opportunities o visit and 'work' in
tropical forests through various programmes. Chapter four supplies sources of funding.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 639.95 C353r. LS. LC.
Ecoturismo en Costa Rica: ¿Un espejismo tropical? / Vargas-Mena, E. (Universidad
Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In:
Ciencias Ambientales (ISSN 1409-2158), v. 7, p. 49-63. 1991. El período enero 1989 - julio
1991 se ha visto especialmente caracterizado en Costa Rica por una mayor presencia del
21
llamado "ecoturismo". Tanto la prensa nacional como algunos otros documentos y eventos de
la coyuntura socioambiental (Keckadon et al., 1990 y ECODES, 1991) abren espacio a otro de
esos vocables que tienen la propiedad de constituirse rápidamente en moda (v.g. "desarrollo
sostenible"). El hecho de que este tipo de turismo tome tanta fuerza en este período, está
claramente vinculado al apoyo de fuentes externas: el ecoturismo, de acuerdo con sus
defensores y apologistas, es consistente con las políticas económicas neoliberales que
dominan el panorama mundial y, además, vendría a ser también compatible con la
conservación. Lo primero se expresa en las iniciativas para privatizar la administración de las
áreas protegidas en el país y para crear condiciones que atraigan las inversiones extranjeras,
lo segundo es en este momento motivo de disputa y está en realidad por verse.
International ecotourism and the valuation of tropical rainforests in Costa Rica
[Ecoturismo internacional y la valoración de los bosques tropicales lluviosos en Costa Rica] /
Menkhaus, S.; Lober, D.J. (Duke University. School of the Environment, POB 90328, Durham,
NC 27708, US). In: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management (ISSN 0301-4797), v.
47, no. 1, p. 1-10. 1996. Tropical rainforests have many values beyond the timber they hold
and their potential as sites for agriculture and cattle grazing. This study examined one of these
additional values, rainforests as places for ecotourism. The study determined the value that
tourists from the U.S. place on Costa Rican rainforests as ecotourism destinations, using the
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve as a sampling site for tourism to Costa Rica's protected
areas. The valuation method used was the travel cost model, a non-market valuation approach
which uses travel expenses as a proxy for the value of the park. Data were collected by a
survey of 240 U.S. tourists. This study found that the value placed by U.S. ecotourists on
visiting Costa Rican rainforests was $1150 per visit. This value can be used in policy making to
better assess all the alternative land uses available.
Nature tourism: managing for the environment [Turismo naturalista: manejo para el
ambiente] / Whelan, T, (ed.). (Communications Consultant, 345 E 93, Apt. 115, New York, NY
10128, US). Washington, D.C: Island Press, 1991. 223 p. ISBN: 1-55963-036-1. The book
explores the potential benefits and pitfalls of nature tourism, an innovative concept that links
natural resource conservation with local economic development, providing a viable economic
alternative to environmental exploitation. The first of two parts looks at key ecotourism
destinations in Kenya, Costa Rica, USA (Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the American
West), exploring the evolution of ecotourism, management approaches and the benefits and
negative impacts of tourism development. Part two, a framework for developing
environmentally beneficial tourism, includes chapters on planning, economic evaluation, local
participation, and marketing which outline specific steps for maximizing benefits and
minimizing potential damage.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 N285n.
Private reserves, parks and ecotourism in Costa Rica [Reservas privadas, parques y
ecoturismo en Costa Rica] / Rovinski, Y.; Whelan, T, (ed.). In: Nature tourism: managing for
the environment Washington, D.C: Island Press, 1991. p. 39-57. ISBN: 1-55963-036-1. The
popularity and rapid emergence of ecotourism in Costa Rica are the result of a mixture of
circumstances: an astounding and extensively studied biological diversity, sites of extreme
natural beauty and easy access, stable political conditions, and an extensive system of
protected areas. The chapter traces the development of ecotourism in Costa Rica. It examines
the creation of the National Parks Service in 1970 and the growth of private sector
involvement in the tourist industry. The growth of ecotourism in Costa Rica has been greatly
facilitated by the presence of the Organization for Tropical Studies which owns three research
sites: the La Selva and Palo Verde Biological Field Stations and the Robert and Catherine
Wilson Botanical Garden. These function as open-air classrooms and laboratories for tropical
science students and professionals. The number of students and scientists arriving at La Selva
in 1989 surpassed 20 000 person days. The spectacular growth in the ecotourism industry has
had a downturn and there is concern about the damage caused both to the environment and
22
to wildlife by uncontrolled ecotourism. Some of the regulations being introduced are described
but for the most part, compliance is self-monitored, and ecotourism continues to grow without
planning.
Ecological basis for sustainable development in tropical forests [Bases ecológicas para
el desarrollo sostenible en los bosques tropicales] / Hartshorn, G.S. (Duke University, Box
90630, Durham, NC 27708-0630, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Annual Review of
Ecology and Systematics (ISSN 0066-4162), v. 26, p. 155-175. 1995. Unless sustainable
development becomes much more prevalent in tropical forests, appreciable areas of
unprotected tropical forests will not survive far into the 21st century. Sustainable tropical
forestry must integrate forest conservation and economic development. Key ecological factors
discussed here include reproduction, natural regeneration, growth, ecosystem functions and
biodiversity conservation. Four models of sustainable tropical forestry are described: (a)
industrial timber production based on the PORTICO company in Costa Rica that owns and
manages it production forests and makes a substantive investment in research; (b)
community-based timber production using the Yanesha Forestry Cooperative in the Peruvian
Amazon as an example of local empowerment over the protection and use of forests - this
coop has a local processing facility that enables most of the timber to be marketed, and it uses
an innovative strip-cut management system that promotes excellent natural regeneration of
native tree species; (c) community-based production of nontimber forest products - this
depends on right of access or tenure, but more information is needed on harvest levels and
management in the move from subsistence to commercial production; and (d) locally
controlled nature tourism, which is touted as the most benign use of tropical forests, but local
communities receive minimal economic returns and have little say in prioritizing development
objectives.
Knowledge and perceptions in Costa Rica regarding environment, population, and
biodiversity issues [Conocimiento y percepciones en Costa Rica en asuntos relacionados con
el ambiente, población y la biodiversidad] / Holl, K.D.; Daily, G.C.; Ehrlich, P.R. (University of
California at Santa Cruz. Department of Environmental Studies, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, US <[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
mail:
[email protected]>). In: Conservation Biology (ISSN 0888-8892), v. 9, no. 6, p. 1548-1558.
1995. Public understanding of general environment and population-related issues is critical for
successful conservation efforts. We interviewed 300 residents of Costa Rica, distributed among
three socioeconomic groups, to survey knowledge and perceptions about the environment. We
focused on Costa Rica because it is an international model for sustainable development and
because of its direct economic interest in biodiversity preservation for ecotourism. Our results
indicate that Costa Ricans generally have a limited awareness of environment- and populationrelated problems. In all socioeconomic groups environmental problems were considered less
important than various other problems, but 91% of respondents indicated a willingness to pay
more for water or electricity if the extra money were used to protect biodiversity. Residents of
San José's lower-class neighborhoods more strongly perceived the effects of population growth
and environmental degradation than did residents of urban, upper-class, or rural
neighborhoods. Of those interviewed 69% thought the rate of population growth should
decrease. Only 52% of those surveyed, however, perceived any link between population size
or growth rate and environmental quality; of those, 33% could not describe the link. Our
findings and others suggest a number of ways to enhance the effectiveness of environmental
education programs worldwide. (1) include information on the relationship between population
and environmental quality; (2) explain the socioeconomic implications of environmental
degradation; (3) in addition to formal education, utilize the mass media more (4) tailor
messages to local circumstances.
Análisis de capacidad de carga para visitación en las áreas silvestres de Costa Rica /
Maldonado-Ulloa, T.; Hurtado de Mendoza, L.; Saborío, O. (Fundación Neotrópica. Centro de
23
Estudios Ambientales y Políticas, Apdo. 236-10002, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). San José: Fundación Neotrópica, 1992. 104 p. Costa Rica tiene
algunos factores a su favor para desarrollar la industria del ecoturismo. El sistema de áreas
protegidas ofrece muchos lugares distintos, dentro de un perímetro reducido, haciendo posible
que los turistas puedan ver la diversidad de la fauna silvestre en un período de tiempo corto.
El desarrollo de esta actividad bien manejada, puede reportar importantes ingresos al país al
mismo tiempo que contribuye a la conservación de las áreas silvestres. Pero, mal manejada se
puede transformar en un factor más de deterioro de ciertas áreas que están siendo
impactadas por los cambios en el uso de la tierra y actividades económicas intensivas que se
desarrollan alrededor de ellas. A nivel nacional deben existir directrices generales que
reglamenten la visitación a las áreas silvestres protegidas, pero cada área debería tener reglas
específicas si las directrices generales son insuficientes para dar protección debida a sus
recusos. En el manejo del área, los guardaparques a cargo han de tener poder de decisión
real, y así ejecutar las acciones pertinentes cuando corresponda para cumplir con los objetivos
del área. Con respecto a los visitantes es necesario caracterizarlos y categorizarlos, y
establecer tipos, tendencias y proyecciones de visitantes en términos cualitativos y
cuantitativos y planificar de mejor manera el manejo de la demanda (visitante) y de la oferta
(áreas o sitios de visitación). Los parques y las reservas biológicas deben contar con centro de
visitantes, equipamiento básico y senderos adecuados, para así maximizar la calidad de visita
y minimizar los impactos negativos distribuyendo los visitantes en diferentes sitios. Es
necesario establecer tarifas diferenciadas por la entrada y se debe exigir la entrada en grupos
con la presencia de un guía autorizado. La capacidad de carga se debe estableerr para cada
sitio específico dentro de las zonas determinadas para visitación. Finalmente, a manera de
recomendación, se sugiere establcer un área piloto (algún parque nacional o reserva biológica)
para aplicar los conceptos e ideas aquí presentados. El Servicio de Parques Nacionales tendría
la responsabilidad de asignar tal área.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 F981a. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton:
333.95097286 M244.
Carrying capacity for tourism in the Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco, Costa
Rica: a preliminary study and discussion paper [Capacidad de carga para el turismo en la
Reserva Natural Absoluta de Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica: estudio preliminar y discusión] /
Mensik, M.E.; Tiemersma, J.; van Wee, L.T.C. Wageningen: Wageningen Agricultural
University, Forestry Department, 1991. 59 p.
Localización: Biblioteca ULACIT: 658.159.37 M548c.
Determinación del potencial turístico orientado hacia la naturaleza de una región
húmeda tropical en Costa Rica / Franco, E.; Salazar-Figueroa, R, (ed.). (Centro
Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza. Programa Manejo Integrado de Recursos
Naturales, Turrialba, CR). Resúmenes de la Semana Científica, Turrialba CR8-10 de diciembre,
1993. In: Semana Científica Turrialba: CATIE, 1993. v. 2, p. 109-110. This study adapted a
methodology to identify natural attractions and to determine the potential for nature based
tourism, using a site classification based on the intrinsic value and the visitor preferences. The
study was carried out in a humid tropic region located near Turrialba, Costa Rica. Sites were
rated using 20 biophysical and socio-economic variables and assigned global values for
tourism potential. The scores were used to divide the sites in towo groups, one showing
mainly scientific educational potential and the other educational recreation potential. Sites
were also ranked by visitor preference, and geographically related to define the "tourism
space".
Localización: Biblioteca José Figueres F.: 333.72 M533s.
Sustainable ecotourism in Costa Rica: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
[Ecoturismo sostenible en Costa Rica: la Reserva del Monte Nuboso Monteverde] / Aylward,
B.A.; Allen, K.; Echeverría-Bonilla, J.; Tosi-Olin, J.A. (4231 SW Collins Way, Lake Oswego, OR
97035, US <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Biodiversity and Conservation (ISSN 0960-3115), v. 5, no. 3, p. 315343. 1996. The paper discusses the sustainability of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in
24
the context of Costa Rican ecotourism. While the history of the Preserve is somewhat unique,
the analysis of visitation, financial, ecological and economic factors provides a convincing case
that tourism at the Preserve is sustainable. The experience of the Preserve is also put in the
context of Costa Rican ecotourism, particularly to the national parks. The paper concludes that
the Preserve has played a very important role in the development of Costa Rica as an
ecotourism destination. Nonetheless, the failure of experience at the Preserve to inform recent
changes in national park pricing policy reveal that Costa Rica has yet to fully capitalize on the
experience gained and lessons learned at the Preserve.
Estudio de los patrones de visitación y las oportunidades recreativas en una área
protegida de Costa Rica / Calvopiña-Oñate, L. Turrialba: CATIE, 1992. 99 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc,
Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba (Costa Rica). El estudio
describe los patrones de visitación turística en la Reserva Biológica Carara, Costa Rica. Se
analizan las características del uso turístico del área y las características y actitudes de los
visitantes. Se elabora un sistema de segregación de grupos para facilitar el manejo. Los
visitantes llegan a la reserva principalmente en auto rentado, propio o vehículos de tours
organizados. La estancia promedio por visitante en la época alta fue de 2.6 horas y de 1.6
horas en la época baja. El tamaño promedio de los grupos de visitantes fue de 7.8 personas
por grupo en la época alta y de 5.9 en la época baja. Sin embargo, en ambas épocas en el 50
por ciento de los casos fueron grupos pequeños (¾ 4 personas por grupo). El 93 por ciento y
86 por ciento de visitantes fueron extranjeros en la época alta y baja respectivamente. La
mayoría (60.5 por ciento y 57 por ciento), según la época) procedían de los Estados Unidos de
América. La mayor parte de los visitantes están entre los 20 y 40 años de edad. El 70 por
ciento de los visitantes de la reserva tiene formación universitaria completa y la mayoría
tienen ingresos económicos entre 10 y 50 mil dólares anuales. Los atractivos principales para
la visita a la reserva durante la época alta fueron: la fauna silvestre (32.1 por ciento) el
bosque natural (29.4 por ciento) y las aves (28.8 por ciento). Una figura similar se produjo en
la época baja. En las dos épocas la experiencia de los visitantes fué muy satisfactoria o
satisfactoria (79 por ciento y 66 por ciento, época alta y baja respectivamente). La calidad de
los senderos, la señalización, el estacionamiento de vehículos y la información fueron
calificadas como muy buenas o buenas. En cambio, los sitios de descanso, servicios sanitarios
y agua potable recibieron calificación dividida. Por las preferencias se llega a identificar dos
tipos de visitantes: los naturalistas que prefieren la naturaleza como el punto focal de su visita
y los excursionistas, que prefieren actividades recreativas. Los visitantes respaldaron las
alternativas de tener giras guiadas y también autoguiadas y contar con un centro de
visitantes. Un número mayor de visitantes no respaldan las ofertas de pic-nic, camping,
cabalgatas, venta de plantas e incluso de refrescos y souvenirs. El 31 por ciento y el 38 por
ciento (según la época) opinan como deseable que los extranjeros paguen más que los
nacionales por el ingreso a la reserva y entre el 40 por ciento y el 43 por ciento (según la
época) opinan lo contrario. Tres modalidades de llegada a la reserva permiten clasificar a los
visitantes en: 1) Grupo Modalidad Libre, 2) Grupo Modalidad Auto Rentado y, 3) Grupo
Modalidad Tour. Estos grupos presentan características distintivas en cuanto a nacionalidad,
edad, ingresos económicos y tamaño de grupos.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis C169est.
Determinación del potencial turístico orientado hacia la naturaleza de una región
húmeda tropical en Costa Rica / Franco-Matos, E.M. Turrialba: CATIE, 1993. 103 p. Tesis,
Mag. Sc, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba (Costa Rica). El
presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo adecuar una metodología para la identificación de sitios
con atractivos naturales y determinar su potencial para el desarrollo del turismo orientado a la
naturaleza. Se realizó una clasificación de sitios con base en el valor intrínseco de los
atractivos y en función de las preferencias de los visitantes. La metodología se aplicó en una
región del trópico húmedo en los alrededores de la ciudad de Turrialba, Costa Rica. Para
calificar los sitios se aplicaron veinte parámetros, diez de carácter biofísico y diez de carácter
socioeconómico. Los parámetros se agruparon en cinco categorías: microrrelieve,
accesibilidad, valor ecológico, intervención antrópica del paisaje y equipamiento. Se les
25
ponderó según su importancia para desarrollar turismo de naturaleza. Los puntajes totales
obtenidos por categorías para todos los sitios permitieron clasificarlos en dos grupos, uno con
potencial científico educativo y otro con potencial educativo recreativo. El primer grupo hace
referencia a ecosistemas representativos del ambiente natural. Poseen rasgos geofísicos de
gran valor estético o científico, tienen interés para la conservación de cuencas hidrográficas
y/o constituyen sitios de patrimonio cultural, histórico y arqueológico, son relictos de bosques
en diversos estados de regeneración. En el segundo grupo se incluyen aquellos sitios que
poseen paisajes relevantes, característicos de intervención armónica entre el hombre y la
naturaleza. Los sitios poseen condiciones para proporcionar oportunidades de disfrute público
mediante la recreación y el turismo, enmarcados en un estilo de vida local y vinculados con las
actividades económicas propias de los sitios. El estudio de las preferencias de los visitantes
permitió ordenar los sitios en un gradiente desde los más solicitados (atractivos naturales)
hasta los menos preferidos (atractivos culturales). Al comparar este ordenamiento con el
agrupamiento de sitios según su potencial de uso (Científico-educativo y educativorecreativo), se aprecia que existe una relación estrecha entre la demanda de los visitantes por
atractivos naturales y la oferta de estos recursos en el área de estudio. Se definió la estructura
del espacio turístico analizando la distribución de los atractivos, las redes viales que los unen,
la ubicación de la planta turística y la infrestructura de transporte y comunicaciones.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis F825dt.
Tourism, economics, and the canopy: the perspectives of one canopy biologist
[Turismo, economía y el dosel: las perspectivas de un biólogo del dosel] / Perry, D.R.;
Lowman, M.D, (ed.).; Nadkarni, N.M. (Tropical Treetop Exploration, Branchport, NY 14418, US
<E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Forest Canopies
San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1995. p. 605-608. ISBN: 0-12-457650-8. A brief discussion is
presented of nature tourism and its role in the economy of Costa Rica, the need to inform
Costa Ricans of the importance of an intact forest canopy for their economy, and the
construction of an aerial tram that will allow environmentally acceptable access to the canopy
for tourists, scientists and the local population.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 574.52642 F716.
La biodiversidad y el manejo de los recursos naturales / Budowski, G.; OcampoSánchez, R.A, (ed.). (Universidad para la Paz, Apdo. 138-6100, Ciudad Colón, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>)./ CATIE/UCR-CIPRONA/FAO. OLAFO, Turrialba, CR. Actas de la
Reunión Centroamericana celebrada en CATIE, Turrialba, CR. 7-10 de noviembre, 1994. In:
Potencial de Quassia amara como insecticida natural Turrialba: CATIE. Proyecto Conservación
para el Desarrollo Sostenible en América Central, 1995. p. 3-8. (Serie Técnica. Informe
Técnico / CATIE; no. 267). ISBN: 9977-57-229-1.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 632.951 P861p. Biblioteca José Figueres F.: 632.951 R444p.
Costa Rica: a natural destination [Costa Rica: un destino natural] / Sheck, R.S. Santa Fe,
N.M: John Muir Publ., dist. by Publishers Group est, 1996. 398 p. ISBN: 1-56261-291-3.
Emphasis is on environmental tourism with discussions of national parks, biological reserves,
wildlife refuges, and nature tour companies.
The new key to Costa Rica [La nueva llave para Costa Rica] / Blake, B.; Becher, A.
Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press, 1994. 373 p. ISBN: 1-56975-071-8. What began as a modest
guide by Blake's mother in 1978 has become the veritable bible of the ecotourist movement in
Costa Rica. In the 11th edition (1991) they began to survey hotels practicing "sustainable
tourism". For this outstanding edition 79 hotels are accorded special recognition, ranging from
one to three "suns". There is also advice for disabled travelers, women, gays and lesbians, and
students. A chapter on nightlife in San José highlights bars and discos. A final chapter
discusses residency options.
26
Gringos in paradise [Gringos en el paraíso] / Tikkala, B. In: American Forests (ISSN 00028541), v. 99, no. 7/8, p. 42-43, 59. 1993. Thirty-one American Forests members find that
Costa Rica is a spectacular zoo from coast to cloud forest.
Ecotourism, sustainable development, and conservation education: development of a
tour guide training program in Tortuguero, Costa Rica [Ecoturismo, desarrollo sostenible
y educación en la conservación: desarrollo de un programa de guías turísticos en Tortuguero,
Costa Rica] / Jacobson, S.K.; Robles-González, R. (University of Florida. Department of
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 303 Newins-Ziegler Hall, P.O. Box 110430, Gainesville, FL
32611-0430, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Environmental Management (ISSN
0364-152X), v. 16, no. 6, p. 701-713. 1992. A tour guide training program was developed for
rural communities near Costa Rica's Tortuguero National Park to respond to the impacts of the
24-fold increase in park visitation in the past decade, to involve local communities in resource
management, and to provide regional environmental education. The development of the
training course involved a survey of scientists and park managers to ascertain resource
management needs, priorities for information to be disseminated, and impacts of tourism on
the resource base. Current and potential tour guides were surveyed to identify their
information needs, solicit their input in the training program, and to determine their
knowledge and skills. Written questionnaires were developed and given to examine the
economic feasibility of a local guide program. A pilot training course and guide program
involving 12 Tortuguero residents demonstrated that a tour guide program: (1) helped
mitigate negative tourism impacts on Tortuguero National Park's 35-km beach used for
nesting by endangered sea turtles; (2) provided environmental education to an important
segment of the local community not traditionally reached through school or government
development projects; (3) provided environmental information to tourists, thus enhancing
their visit; and (4) provided local economic benefits through lucrative part-time employment,
thereby allowing local people to participate more fully in the tourism system. An extended
training course is being planned to provide further environmental education programming and
to increase year-round employment opportunities for the tour guides.
Training rural residents as naturalist guides: evaluation of a pilot project in Costa
Rica [Capacitación de residentes rurales como guías naturalistas: evaluación de un proyecto
piloto en Costa Rica] / Paaby-Hansen, P.; Clark, D.B.; González, H. (Universidad de Costa
Rica. Escuela de Biología, San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Conservation Biology (ISSN 0888-8892), v. 5, no. 4, p.
542-546. 1991. Two of the most serious problems facing the tropical world today are
protection of conserved areas and rural unemployment. To partially address these issues
tropical countries are encouraging natural-history-oriented tourism (ecoturism) as a
sustainable use of natural resources. For example, in 1988 approximately 265,000 people
visited the Republic of Costa Rica, and in 1989 the number approached 375,000 (personal
communication, departamento de Estadistica, Instituto Costarricense de Turismo). Many of the
tourists come to enjoy the country's natural beauty and spectacular diversity of protected
areas (Boza 1986; Boo 1990). Tourism is an important sector of Costa Rica's economy.
Laarman and Perdue (1989) calculated that in 1985 tourism earnings equalled 13% of total
export earnings. The conomic benefits of tourism, however, are concentrated in urban areas.
In many cases rural communities receive relatively little direct return from neighboring
protected areas. Increasing the economic benefits from protected areas to rural communities
is an obvious means to increase local support for these areas (Boo 1990; Quesada-Mata
1990). At present mist international tourists in Costa Rica are guided by bilingual residents of
urban areas or by foreigners. Although these job are relatively well-paid, this money remains
in the cities. In this article, we describe a pilot project to increase the economic returns of
natural history tourism in rural areas by training local residents as naturalist guides. Our
object was not to replace the current guide system, but rather to create local specialists who
could work in concert with the existing bilingual guides. Because many ecotourists are Englishspeaking birdwatchers, one alternative for training local naturalists could have been to focus
27
on birds and the English language. However, an additional goal of this project was to develop
a local body of conservation advocates. Thus, the course design included basic issues in
natural resource management, as well as local natural history, ecology, and field guiding
techniques (Table 1).
Ecotourism: the potentials and pitfalls: country case studies [Ecoturismo: capacidadles
y escollos: estudios de caso de países] / Boo, E. Washington, D.C: World Wildlife Fund (WWF),
1990. v. 1. ISBN: 0-942635-14-0. Very little information is available about the phenomenon of
ecotourism, also known as nature tourism, or its impacts on protected areas, and there have
been few efforts to date to promote ecologically sound tourism in Latin America or the
Caribbean. This study, prepared by World Wildlife Fund staff and several tourism consultants,
seeks to encourage such efforts by documenting the status and impacts of nature tourism in 5
representative countries in the region. It also evaluates economic and environmental impacts
in 2 protected areas in each of the 5 countries. The report is divided into 2 volumes. Volume 1
outlines the objectives of the study, describes the status of nature tourism in each of the
countries, highlights critical issues emerging in nature tourism, and makes recommendations
for tourism planning and management. Volume 2 presents separate country studies for Belize,
Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, and Mexico.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 B724e.
Valuing ecotourism in a tropical rain-forest reserve [Valorando el ecoturismo en una
reserva de bosque lluvioso tropical] / Tobias, D.; Mendelsohn, R. (The Nature Conservancy.
Lower Hudson Chapter, 223 Katonah Ave, Katonah, NY 10536, US). In: Ambio (ISSN 00447447), v. 20, no. 2, p. 91-93. 1991. This study measures the value of ecotourism at a tropical
rain forest site in Costa Rica (the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve) using the travel
cost method. By observing travel behaviour, the study shows that Costa Rican visitors are
willing to pay considerably for the experience of visiting the site. The present value of the site
per hectare, based on domestic and foreign use alone, is found to be 1-2X greater than the
purchase price currently paid by the reserve for acquisition of new lands. This estimate does
not include other potential preservation values such as harvesting of commodities (fruit, latex,
etc.), protection of watersheds, or protection of wildlife habitat and rare species.
Localización: Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical: AP3.12.
The stony side of Costa Rica [El lado rocoso de Costa Rica] / Robins, A.W. In: The New
York Times (ISSN 0362-4331), Sec. 5, p. 8, col. 5. 1995. The sites and attractions of Costa
Rica are discussed for potential travelers.
Treasure Island: the uninhabited island of Cocos, off Costa Rica, is to divers what
Pebble Beach is to golfers [La Isla del Tesoro: la inhabitada Isla del Coco, lejos de Costa
Rica, es para los buzos los mismo que la Playa de Guijarros es para los jugadores de golf] /
Harding, J. In: Forbes (ISSN 0015-6914), v. 156, no. 10, p. 354-355. 1995. Declares that the
uninhabited Cocos Island, off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is as memorable to divers as the
Pebble Beach course is to golfers. Harding describes his scuba-diving adventures studying
hammerhead and white-tip reef sharks. Cocos allegedly the inspiration for Robert Louis
Stevenson's book 'Treasure Hunter', which make regular trips to the islands; Cost for ten days
on either boat.
Between the sea and the jungle [Entre el mar y la selva] / Davison, P. In: Atlantic Monthly
(ISSN 1072-7825), v. 276, no. 1, p. 32-36. 1995. Davison recounts a journey to the Lapa Rios
hotel in Costa Rica. The hotel is designed to educate and inspire visitors with the wonders of
the nearby tropical rain forest.
28
Betsy's sloth [La pereza de Betsy] / Holleran, A. In: Christopher Street (ISSN 0146-7921),
no. 227, p. 2-5. 1995. Holleran recounts an eco-trip taken with friends to Costa Rica. He
discusses the tourism involved in the trip, but also a few experiences where the safety and
beauty of Costa Rica were extremely memorable.
Saving Costa Rica [Rescatando a Costa Rica] / Tzimoulis, P. In: Skin Diver (ISSN 00376345), v. 44, no. 6, p. 14-15+. 1995. The efforts of Costa Rican President José María Figueres
to restore, preserve and enhance his country's most valuable national treasure, the ocean
environment, are discussed. Figueres is a veteran diver and is passionate about the sea.
Branching out: science meets tourism in the Costa Rican rain forest [Diversificándose: la
ciencia congrega al turismo en el bosque lluvioso costarricense] / Caragata, W. In: Maclean's
(ISSN 0024-9262), v. 108, no. 20, p. 58. 1995. Tourists can visit a privately owned patch of
rain forest in Costa Rica. It is owned by American biologist Donald R. Perry, who uses it to
study the canopy of the rain forest. He says it is home to an astounding number of plants and
animals. Gives information on an aerial tram in operation sinnce October 1994 in the Costa
Rican rain forest. Improbable union of capitalism and environmental zeal created by
transplanted American biologist Donald Perry; His devotion to the study of the canopy of the
rain forest, the treetop level that shelters an astonishing diversity of life.
HIV/AIDS in Costa Rica: Epidemiological and sociological features, 1993 [SIDA/VIH
en Costa Rica: Rasgos epidemiológicos y sociológicos, 1993] / Mata-Jiménez, L.; Ramírez, G.;
Quesada, J. (Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud; Infect. Nutr.
Sect.; POB 212, Guadalupe 2100, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Cellular and
Molecular Biology (ISSN 0145-5680), v. 41, Suppl. 1, p. S53-S63. 1995. Acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first detected in Costa Rica in 1983. For four years
most known cases were in hemophiliac men. Thereafter, AIDS in homosexual and bisexual
men predominated. By December 31 of 1993, 563 persons had been diagnosed with the
syndrome, 71% of them homosexual and bisexual men, 10% heterosexual men and women,
6% hemophiliacs, 2% intravenous drug abusers (IVDA's), 2% women and men who had blood
transfusions, 1.4% infants born to HIV-infected mothers and 7% unknown. The epidemics in
homosexual/bisexual men and in heterosexual women and men are rising; cases in infants
and in persons who received blood or coagulation factors, are stagnant. The steady increase in
AIDS among women is linked to exposure to bisexual partners. The moderate nature of the
national epidemic reflects, in part, the low incidence of IVDA, the universal screening of blood
donors for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since 1985, and the prompt
banning of unsafe coagulation factors. The projection of AIDS for the year 2000 is 2,304 cases
(606 accumulated incidence per million inhabitants). A national educational campaign, radio
and television programs and other preventive actions, apparently did not influence the rate of
receptive anal intercourse without condom (about 80%) during 9 years of the epidemic.
Persons with HIV/AIDS often are deprived of social and medical benefits or are subjected to
harassment and exploitation by the health sector. More efficient prevention must target
children, adolescents and adults in reproductive age, to promote safer lifestyles, through
education and counseling effected through primary health care.
Ecoturismo en el bosque lluvioso: Horquetas de Sarapiquí / Pérez-Mata, E.; SalazarMonge, O. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1991. 121 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en
Arquitectura, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Arquitectura, San José (Costa Rica). (No
abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Luis D. Tinoco: Tesis 12835.
29
Diagnóstico sobre el desarrollo turístico de las playas en Costa Rica: el caso de Santa
Cruz, Guanacaste / Hitz, W.G. (Asociación Costarricense para la Conservación de la
Naturaleza. Fundación la Gran Chorotega, San José, CR). San José: ASCONA, 1991. 63 p.
Localización: Biblioteca del BIODOC: no. 1036.
La lapa roja (Psittacidae: Ara macao): Ecología, turismo y pautas para su manejo en
la Reserva Biológica Carara, Costa Rica / Marineros-Sánchez, L. Heredia: Universidad
Nacional, 1993. 122 p. Tesis, Maestría en Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional,
Programa Regional de Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Heredia (Costa Rica). Artículo I: La lapa roja
que habita la Reserva Biológica Carara y las áreas adyacentes se alimenta de diferentes partes
de al menos 28 especies distintas de plantas entre árboles, orquídeas y bromelias. Los árboles
más importantes aparentemente son: Hura crepitans, Anacardium excelsum, Brosimum
alicastrum, Schizolobium parahybum y Scheelea rostrata. Artículo II: Mediante conteos
mensuales desde Agosto de 1992, hasta Abril de 1993 se estimó que la población de Ara
macao, que habita en la región del Pacífico Central de Costa Rica, fue de 209 individuos. A
través de recorridos por toda la región se entrevistó a 395 personas en 133 localidades, y
utilizando imágenes de satélite (SPOT marzo, 1991 y enero 1993) para determinar los
fragmentos boscosos, se estimó que el área que ocupan estas aves, es de unos 560 km². La
zona de mayor frecuencia para la observación de lapas rojas, ocupa 160 km² de superficie, en
donde se ubican la Reserva Biológica Carara (RBC), la Reserva de Manglares Guacalillo, la
Fundación Pro-Iguana Verde, parte de la Zona Protectora Turrubares y las localidades vecinas
a éstas. Además,se ubicó un total de 34 nidos, nueve de ellos, dentro de RBC, y el resto, en
sus áreas aledañas. Para anidar, esta guacamaya usó más árboles vivos que muertos (x²=4,2,
p=0,03, g.l=1). Los árboles más utilizados como nido fueron Schizolobium parahybum y Ceiba
pentandra, y la altura media a la que se ubicó el hueco fue de 21 m (s = ± 9m). Artículo III:
Basado en 580 encuestas, se determinó que el turismo interesado en observar lapas rojas en
la Reserva Biológica Carara (RBC produjo gastos aproximados en $1,05 millones dentro de
Costa Rica. Los más beneficiados del producto económico turístico fueron los hoteles y las
agencias de viajes. La mayoría de los visitantes llegaron para observar monos y en segundo
lugar la lapa roja. Con excepción de los costarricenses ue laboran en los reataurantes, en el
transporte, en las cabinas u hoteles (en especial en Playa Jacó) y los operadores de turismo, el
resto de los miembros de las comunidades no tienen ningún beneficio económico tangible por
parte del turismo. Las encuestas realizadas a las comunidades vecinas, manifiestan interés en
la conservación de la lapa, pero existen personas que se dedican al saqueo y venta de los
pichones de esta ave, dificultando su conservación. Cada pichón, puede ser vendido entre
$154 a $384. Los pobladores comentaron que los árboles más importantes usados por la lapa
roja para anidar y/o alimentarse, aparentemente son: Hura crepitans, Schizolobium
parahybum, Ceiba pentandra, Anacardium excelsum, Scheelea rostrata y Rhizophora mangle.
Localización: Biblioteca del BIODOC: Tesis 1163.
Precedents: the management of nature areas for protection and education
[Precedentes: el manejo de áreas de la naturaleza para la protección y educación] / State
University of New York at Buffalo. School of Architecture and Planning / Monteverde
Conservation League, Buffalo, NY, US. Buffalo, NY: State University of New York at Buffalo,
School of Architecture and Planning, 1991.
Adventuring in Central America: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama [Aventurando en Centroamérica: Guatemala, Belice, El
Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá] / Wallace, D.R. San Francisco, CA: Sierra
Club Books, 1995. 512 p. ISBN: 0-871-56473-4.
El derecho a un ambiente sano: ecología y desarrollo sostenible / Salazar-Cambronero,
R. (Fundación AMBIO, Apdo. 1487-1002, San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>).
San José: Libro Libre, 1993. 310 pp. ISBN: 9-977-89034-X. Este libro es una continuación de
Legislación y ecología en Costa Rica, obra en la que se dio un paso importante al analizar el
30
marco jurídico del tema ambiental en Costa Rica. Se presenta un análisis de la situación de
algunos de los recursos naturales y el ambiente incluyendo su esfera jurídica. En primer lugar
se analiza el tema del Derecho Humano a un ambiente sano. El tema de los convenios
internacionales, centrado en la contaminación marina, nos permite dar a conocer un marco
legal que busca proteger el medio marino a través de convenios regionales o internacionales.
Luego analiza la reestructuración del sector hídrico, planteada para mejorar el
aprovechamiento de este recurso. La planificación urbana es uno de los tópicos más
importantes de cualquier agenda ambiental. El control ambiental, en lo rferente a la calidad de
vida, requiere una visión diferente por parte de los entes rectores de nuestra salud pública y
está enmarcada en el campo específico de los plaguicidas. El manejo adecuado de los
desechos se analiza dentro del Plan Nacional de Manejo de Desechos sobretodo en lo referente
al nuevo marco legal y administrativo. Uno de los temas más delicados es el derecho a la
propiedad, su garantía constitucional y limitaciones en cuanto al establecimiento de áreas
silvestres protegidas. Otra actividad denominada ecoturismo requiere de un nuevo
planteamiento legal y político lo mismo que la llamada zona marítimo-terrestre obliga a
plantear la recuperación del derecho a disfrutar de bienes que se han dispuesto para el
beneficio de la colectividad, pero que están en franco deterioro. Además se incluye un análisis
sobre la normativa relacionada con el patrimonio arqueológico y cultural de nuestro país
adicionando un breve comentario sobre las reservas indígenas.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.72026 S161d. Biblioteca Joaquín García M.: 346.044
S161d.
Costa Rica: mapa-guía de la naturaleza [Costa Rica: Nature atlas-guidebook] / Herrera,
W. (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. Gestión Social, Apdo. 33, 3100 Santo Domingo de
Heredia, CR). San José: Incafo, S.A, 1992. 214 p. ISBN: 8-485-38992-1.
Localización: Biblioteca OET.
La diversidad biológica de Costa Rica [The biological diversity of Costa Rica] / ValerioGutiérrez, C.E. (Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Biología, Ciudad Universitaria, CR <Email: [email protected]>). , 156 p San José: Editorial Heliconia, 1991. ISBN: 9977-96902-7. El autor describe el sorprendente y rico mundo de la diversidad natural de Costa
Rica. El libro es de utilidad para el lector no especializado, permitiendo además una ubicación
clara en el contexto de los recursos naturales costarricenses. Constituye además un valioso
instrumento para aquellos lectores especializados, dada su actualidad en cuanto a las últimas
investigaciones realizadas en el entorno de los fenómenos naturales de Costa Rica.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 574.097286 V164d. Biblioteca Joaquín García M.: 574.5
V164d.
Costa Rica's national parks and preserves: a visitor's guide [Los parques nacionales y
reservas de Costa Rica: guía para el visitante] / Franke, J. (The Mountaineers, 1001 SW
Klickitat Way, Seattle, WA 98134, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). Seattle:
Mountaineers, 1993. 223 p. ISBN: 0-898-86-321-X. The tiny country of Costa Rica is
incomparable in its biological and geographical diversity. Translation? Great adventures! Costa
Rica's Natiional Parks and Preserves: A Visitor's Guide show you the best way to enjoy one of
the most fascinating and unspoiled natural areas in the world. Whether you're a hiker seeking
a panoramic view from a volcanic summit, a kayaker longing to glide downriver under a jungle
canopy, or a naturalist eager to observe an incredible array of exotic wildlife, this guide is your
key to exploring Costa Rica's national parks and preserves. The first book to provide a truly
comprehensive guide that will permit the ardent visitor easy access to Costa Rica's natural
wealth and a great basic guide to preparing your trip to the tropical rainforest, and a first-rate
source for the Costa Rica park system.
Localización: Biblioteca OET
Demand for an annual pass to Costa Rica's National Parks [Petición de una entrada
anual a los Parques Nacionales de Costa Rica] / Laarman, J.G.; Baldares-Carazo, M.J.
(Programa Ambiental Regional para Centroamérica, 10a calle 6-40, Zona 9, 01009, GT <Email: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). 1990. 27 pp.
31
The current price of access to national parks and other protected areas in Costa Rica is a
nominal daily fee generating inadequate revenue for parks management. An alternative to
elevating fees is sale of an annual pass to capture willingness to pay in excess of the daily fee.
A visitors survey at four protected areas revealed considerable tentative interest in pass
purchase. Reported willingness to pay is at levels sufficient to allow the pass to increase net
revenue when compared with daily fees alone. Demand for the pass is related to residence,
household income, familiarity with Costa Rica's parks, and other explanatory variables.
Demand patterns appear too complex to permit uniform strategies of pass promotion.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: DOC 597.
Sustainable tourism initiative: The Eco Institute, Costa Rica [Iniciativa de turismo
sostenible: El Eco Instituto, Costa Rica] / Sadler, B. 9 pp. s.l, 1990. Costa Rica's natural
wonders and political stability have made it into a hot new destination for tourists. Four years
ago, there were 60,000 visitors; this year there were over 500,000 in a country smaller than
West Virginia, and with a population of only 3,000.000. The result has been a frenzy of
development. Hotels, resorts and attractions are springing up all over the place, as both the
public and private sector rush to cash in on the economic opportunities that Costa Rica's
current popularity presents. The delicate ecologies of the rain forests and national parks that
attract the visitors are increasingly under stress, and new social divisions are beginning to
emerge in a country renowned for its social balance. It's like a sugar rush--a short-term
response with no view to the long-term consequences. As development experts are beginning
to realize, the world is full of examples of disasters caused by tourism gone mad: the
environmental catastrophe of Spain's Costa del Sol, the displacement of the native Hawaiians,
the rape of Thailand, and the selling off of Turkey's coastline, to name just a few. These are
early days yet for Costa Rica's tourism industry, and things don't have to go so badly. But it's
worth learning from the mistakes made in the service of tourism by developing countries,
mistakes that often result in social, environmental and economic damage and spoil the
potential long-term benefits of tourism. The Eco Institute wants to bring a sustainable
development approach to Costa Rica's tourism industry, before it's too late. Our approach puts
us at the cutting edge of current development practice, as proponents of sustainable
development are only just beginning to think of tourism as an appropriate vehicle for
developing countries to create autonomous, self-supporting economies.
Costa Rica's resource challenges [Desafíos de los recursos de Costa Rica] / Thrupp, L.A.
(World Resources Institute, 10 G Street, NE (Suite 800), Washington, DC 20006). In:
Hemisphere (ISSN 0018-0300) , p. 20-21. 1990. With a remarkable 27% of its national
territory protected in national parks and in forest, biological, and Indian reserves, Costa Rica is
widely considered a successful model for environmental policy. Among its most effective
conservation initiatives are fiscal incentives for reforestation and debt-for-nature swaps, where
international environmental organizations absorb small portions of the foreign debt in
exchange for the maintenance of parks or reserves. The nation's environmental laws, whose
reach extends from pesticide use to waste disposal, are elaborated and ambitious in principle.
Its universities and US-linked research institutes, such as the Organization for Tropical
Studies, are addressing environmental issues on a growing scale. Moreover, Costa Rican
"ecotourism" has blossomed into a multimillion-dollar business. Costa Rica's long-standing
efforts are indeed significant. Yet a deeper look into its environmental problems and policies
raises fundamental questions: How effective are the country's conservation initiatives and
groups? And are they confronting its most urgent problems?
Aspectos a ser considerados en estudios de impacto ambiental de proyectos
hidroeléctricos / ICE, San José, CR. San José: ICE, 1990. 3 p. Presenta el siguiente
esquema: I- Introducción (1- Ubicación Geográfica, 2- Descripción breve de la obra, 3Finalidad del E.I.A); II- Alcance del Estudio; III- Análisis ambiental (1- Ecología, 2- Vida
Silvestre, 3- Aspectos físico-geográficos; 4- Aspectos socio-económicos; 5- Paisaje y turismo;
32
6- Contaminación ambiental); IV- Conclusiones, V- Recomendaciones; VI- Bibliografía y VIIAnexos.
Estrategia para la implantación del ecoturismo: el caso de Costa Rica / Rodríguez de la
Guardia, J.M. (Organización para Estudios Tropicales. Programa de Política Ambiental, Apdo.
676-2050, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). II Congreso Nacional
sobre Especies Nativas, Sao Paulo BRMarzo de 1992. San José: Organización para Estudios
Tropicales, 1992. 11 p. El turismo motivado por el deseo de admirar las maravillas de la
naturaleza no es una novedad. Sin embargo, en años recientes ha adquirido características
específicas y el número de quienes lo practican está en rápido aumento. Bajo la denominación
de "ecoturismo", que se ha difundido internacionalmente, hoy es reconocido como un nuevo
segmento dentro del fenómeno turístico y se ha convertido en sujeto de estudio, sobre el cual
se multiplican las reuniones especializadas y las publicaciones. El análisis de la experiencia de
Costa Rica en este campo puede ser interesante, pues lo que ahí acontece es en cierta forma
precursor y puede ser estudiado entonces como un modelo o caso de referencia, aunque no
necesariamente positivo en todos sus aspectos.
Ecotourism and buffer zone management at Monteverde Reserve, Costa Rica (Trip
Report) [Ecotourismo y manejo del área de amortiguamiento en la Reserva de Monteverde
Reserve, Costa Rica (Informe del Viaje)] / Williams, W.T. (USAID/ROCAP. Regional
Environmental Advisor, Ciudad de Guatemala, GT). Ciudad de Guatemala: USAID / ROCAP,
1992. 14 p. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is one of the oldest private nature reserves
in Central America. It is owned and administered by the Tropical Science Center of San José,
Costa Rica. Its primary purpose is to preserve the flora and fauna of the area, to protect the
headwaters of the rivers arising in the Reserve and to ensure optimal and stable conditions of
nature. Its secondary goal is to allow judicious scientific and educational research into its
ecology. The purposes of the visit were to see how a successful private biological reserve
operated, what effects ecotourism was having on the reserve and surrounding communitie,
and to interact with reserve personnel on such important matters as reforestation, future
acquisitions of land, and zoning and planning processes which could be applied to other USAID
projects on park management and buffer zone management in Central America. The trip also
afforded me the opportunity to see the AID tourism project at Monteverde. Through its private
sector program, USAID guaranteed a $1.5 million loan to build a large tourist hotel at
Monteverde and donated $50,000 for trail improvement at Monteverde. The hotel caters to
upper income tourists and the trails are used by all. In a joint effort, the Canadian and
Sweedish agencies for international development have embarked on a 4+ year project of
reforestation in the buffer zones below Monteverde.
Primate population decline at Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve, Costa Rica
[Disminución de la población de primates en la Reserva Absoluta de la Naturaleza Cabo
Blanco, Costa Rica] / Lippold, L.K. (San Diego State University. Department of Anthropology,
San Diego, CA 92182, US). In: Brenesia (ISSN 0304-3711), no. 34, p. 145-152. 1990. Human
disturbance of primate populations and their habitats is an increasingly common problem in
tropical forests. Although many studies have enumerated the impact of hunting, trapping and
logging, none have considered what effects high numbers of tourists might have on these
populations. As part of a long-term study, known primate groups were censused in Cabo
Blanco during the 1990 dry season, and evidence of decline from totals prior to opening of the
reserve to tourism (in 1988) was found; the reserve was established in 1963. Census data are
reported for Alouatta palliata (howling monkeys) and Cebus capucinus (white-faced monkeys).
In addition, the paper reports that two groups of A. palliata originally residing within the
reserve moved outside its borders. The changes in numbers and location of groups are
correlated with the recent introduction of ecotourism.
33
Perspectives on the educational programs and policies underlying natural resources
development in the Canton of Coto Brus: a case study of a rural Costa Rican
community [Vistazo a los programas educativos y políticas relativas al desarrollo de los
recursos natural en el Cantón de Coto Brus: estudio de caso de una comunidad rural
costarricense] / Leier, R.D. (Pennsylvania State University. RK 4 Box 355B, Tyrone, PA 16686,
US). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University, 1991. 288 p. Dissertation, Ph.D,
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (USA). This case study is an inventory,
description, and collection of perceptions on the educational programs and policies underlying
natural resources development in the canton of Coto Brus, Costa Rica. The objective was to
reveal local perspectives on the forms, problems, and possible solutions of natural resource
development in Coto Brus and its relationship to the quality of life, degree of contentment and
hopes for the future of the community. Data are intended for use by development planners
and implementers to link social, agricultural, and environmental activities within the
development and implementation of integrated natural resources educational programs and
policies.
Costa Rica's national strategy for sustainable development: a summary [Estrategia
nacional de Costa Rica para el desarrollo sostenible: un resumen] / Quesada-Mateo, C.A.;
Solís-Rivera, V. (Universidad de Costa Rica. Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo
Sostenible, Ciudad Universitaria, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Futures (Guildford) (ISSN 0016-3287), v. 22, no. 4, p. 396-416.
1990. The Costa Rican National Conservation Strategy for Sustainable Development (ECODES)
is an official programme of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines within the
Costa Rican government. It began as a conservation strategy, but has been greatly enlarged
in both methodology and scope. ECODES integrates many of the sectors typically found in
national 21st century studies, including economics, urbanization, agriculture, water resources,
demography, industry, mining, tourism, energy, and science and technology. The programme
began with the identification of national objectives and then proceeded to the identification of
specific policies which the nation must adopt if it is to reach those objectives. In the
programme, sustainable development is seen not just as an integration of environment and
economics, but as the search for a whole way of life based on individual and group
responsibility, social justice, and peaceful civil and international relations.
The political ecology of environmental policies in Central America: Lessons from the
Costa Rican case [La ecología política de políticas ambientales en Centroamérica: Lecciones
del caso costarricense] / Thrupp, L.A. (World Resources Institute, 10 G Street, NE (Suite 800),
Washington, DC 20006). The International Conference on "The ecological economics of
sustainability", Washington, D.C1990. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1990. 15 p. Costa
Rica is populary known as a "successful model" for environmental policies. However, even
though the country has made significant conservation efforts, this reputation is somewhat
illusive. Many problems of environmental degradation have not been ameliorated and are
worsening in Costa Rica, as in all of Latin America, despite a great deal of rhetoric about
overcoming the crises. The resource strategies have constraints and contraditions explained
below, such as failing to address the political-economic roots of problems, giving insufficient
attention to the "human" environmental needs of the poor, and continuing the hegemony of
U.S. interests which are imposed by ecologists and eco-tourists. Alternative approaches,
emphasizing major socio-economic changes and political actions, are needed for equitable
sustainable development.
Ecotourism in Latin America and the Caribbean: strategies and implications for
development [Ecoturismo en Latinoamérica y El Caribe: estrategias e implicaciones para el
desarrollo] / Marajh, O.; Meadows, D.R. "Envirotour-Vienna'92", Annual Conference of
International Society for Environmental Protection, Vienna, AU; November 10-12, 1992. East
Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 1992. 33 p. Introduction: There is no doubt that in this
34
decade the environment is once again on the agenda, similar in some respects to the
environmental consciousness that was a hallmark of the 1960s but infused with new concerns
and global participation. The United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development
in June of this year was an unprecedented global event in which 178 participating. nations,
118 heads of state and over 10,000 environmentalists from around the world focussed on
producing guidelines for a sustainable future. The formation of Agenda 21 as a result of this
conference is certain to greatly influence any future development and environment
interactions. In this respect, ecotourism, one of the "new" concepts of the 1990s, is a good
example of the development/environment dilemma that will challenge differently developing
nations. In recent years, the notion of "ecotourism" or "nature tourism" has surfaced as a
means of economic development and natural resources conservation. The World Wildlife Fund
defines ecotourism as: "tourism to protect natural areas, as a means of economic gain through
natural resource preservation." Ecotourism, like a chameleon, assumes different meanings
depending on the context in which is placed. The literature contains such variations as "soft,"
"alternate," "nature," "sustainable," "adventure," "green,%- all of which hint at the
environment/development interface associated with ecotourism activity. Scientists from
differently developing countries have touted the concept as a means for conserving
biodiversity (Boo, 1990). Policy-makers in some countries are embracing this idea as a
strategy for rural development while reducing the national debt (Whelan, 1991). Ecotourism.
entrepreneurs are attempting to capture their portion of expanding worldwide tourism
revenues (Farrell & Runyan, 1991), which have increased from $83.3 billion in 1979 to $208.7
billion in 1989 and represent about 7 percent of world trade (cited in Waters, 1990). Those
concerned with design and environmental protection from a developer's perspective, may view
it as a chance anew to apply Ian McHarg's "design with nature" (McHarg, 1969). However,
fundamental questions surface when ecotourism is critically examined as a form of
"sustainable development." Many believe ecotourism. exemplifies "sustainable development"-a
process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the
orientation of technological development, and institutional change are made consistent with
future as well as present needs (VCED--Brundtland, 1987)." Others believe that especially for
poor, rural people in close proximity to fragile ecosystems which provide their subsistence,
this environment/development interface raises issues of poverty, power and social justice
intertwined with issues of environmental preservation and resource control and accessibility
(Axinn, 1991; Adams, 1990; O'Riordan, 1988; Redclift, 1987). This paper will examine
ecotourism 1) as a component within the field of tourism 2) and its relationship to sustainable
development and conservation strategies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Specific
examples from this region will be used to illustrate the dilemmas being confronted in
ecotourism development and some considerations that need to be made as ecotourism
policies, planning and projects move forward.
El sistema agroecológico regional: oportunidades y desafíos para la agricultura y el
turismo / Hagnauer, W. (La Pacífica Ecological Centre, Cañas, CR). Seminario-Taller sobre
Modernización de la Agricultura y Turismo con Desafío Ecológico "Los Desafíos para Cañas,
Guanacaste", Cañas, CR; Abril 2-5, 1992. 15 pp. (No abstract).
Conservation and local naturalist guide training programs in Costa Rica [Conservación
y programas de capacitación de guías naturalistas locales en Costa Rica] / Paaby-Hansen, P.;
Clark, D.B.; Jacobson, S.K, (ed.). (Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Biología, San José,
CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Conserving wildlife: international education & communication
approaches New York: Columbia University Press, 1995. p. 263-275. (Methods & Cases in
Conservation Science Ser.). ISBN: 0-231-07966-4. Conservation areas in the tropics are
receiving increasing world attention. This interest has led to a marked increase in ecotourism
to these areas. We describe a mechanism to integrate the population living in or near these
conservation areas into the ecotourism activities and economy by providing training for local
naturalist guides.
35
Estudio geográfico-turístico de la subregión de Sarapiquí / Leininger-Mehrhoff, A.;
Vindas-Carballo, J. (Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Geográficas, Heredia, CR).
Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 1991. 62 p. Introducción: El presente proyecto de extensión
pretende realizar un diagnóstico y evaluación del potencial turístico de la subregión de
Sarapiquí y consta de los capítulos siguientes: El primero, define el problema e incluye
aspectos como la ubicación geográfica del área de estudio, la división administrativa, el
enfoque metodológico, los objetivos y la hipótesis. El segundo, es un resumen histórico de la
subregión. El tercer capítulo trata de aspectos generales con la finalidad de que los turistas
que visitan el área conozcan de antemano tanto los aspectos físicos como humanos. El cuarto
constituye el grueso de este trabajo y presenta una evaluación de los atractivos turísticos más
sobresalientes tales como: el Río Sarapiquí, la Catarata de La Paz, el conjunto de lagunas
Bosque Alegre, la laguna de Río Cuarto y la Estación Biológica La Selva. En el quinto capítulo,
se formulan conclusiones generales y específicamente, se recomienda la puesta en marcha de
un circuito turístico, el mejoramiento de la infraestructura turística, impartir cursos de
capacitación turística a la población local, impedir la tala legal de los bosques y promover el
turismo ecológico de las lagunas del complejo Bosque Alegre y la laguna de Río Cuarto.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 972.864 L531e.
Por las sendas escondidas / Griffith, L. In: Noticias WWF, v. 21, p. 13-14. 1993. (No
abstract).
Turismo ecológico, desarrollo o deterioro de los recursos naturales / Solórzano-Soto,
R. (Tropical Science Center, Apdo. 8-3870, 1000 San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>).
San José: Centro Científico Tropical, 1993. 4 p. (No abstract).
Actividad turística y explotación ecosistémica: ¿desarrollo económico o destrucción
del medio? / Villalobos-Rodríguez, V. (Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales,
Heredia, CR). In: AMBIEN-TICO (ISSN 1409-214X), no. 6, p. 1-2. 1993. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca OET: A.
Avestruces, agro-turismo, fiebre de oro y turbulencia ecológica / Mora-Castellano, E.
(Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Heredia, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: AMBIEN-TICO (ISSN 1409-214X), no. 2, p. 1-2. 1992. (No abstract).
The paradox of tourism in Costa Rica [La paradoja del turismo en Costa Rica] / Hill, C. In:
CS Quarterly, v. 14, no. 1, p. 14-19. 1990. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca OET: S1507. LS.
Economics, objectives, and keys to success for private nature reserves in SubSaharan Africa and Latin America [Economía, objetivos, y éxitos de las reservas de la
naturaleza privadas en el África Subsahariana y América Latina] / Langholz, J.A. (Monterey
Institute of International Studies. Program of International Environment Policy, MIIS IEP, 425
Van Buren Street, Monterey, CA 93940, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). College
Park, MD: University of Maryland, 1994. 30 p. A written survey of privately owned nature
reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America was undertaken to identify their economic
attributes, initial objectives, and factors necessary for attaining those objectives. Data from
twenty-six respondents revealed that private reserves are a profitable venture. By 1993, over
half were realizing a profit, and profitability among their ranks had risen 16% since 1989.
Additionally, private reserves are motivated more by conservation goals than by personal or
economic objectives. As a group, management factors ranked more important than
geographic, social/political, financial, or stochastic factors for accomplishing reserves'
objectives. The presence of "interesting ecological attractions" was rated the single most
36
important factor, and those factors relating to government involvement were considered least
important. The results show private reserves to be a useful, albeit little known, example of
private sector involvement in sustainable conservation. Furthermore, the results provide a
model not only for those wishing to establish a private reserve in the future, but also for those
already operating one.
Ecotourism Costa Rican style [Ecoturismo al estilo costarricense] / Budowski-Palma, T.;
Barzetti, V, (ed.).; Rovinski, Y, (ed.). In: Toward a green Central America: integrating
conservation and development West Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press, 1992. p. 48-62. (No
abstract).
Propuesta de una metodología de evaluación rápida para determinar el potencial
ecoturístico de una zona del bosque húmedo tropical / Paredes-Valverde, F. Ciudad
Colón: Universidad para la Paz, 1993. 107 p. Tesis, Maestría en Recursos Naturales y
Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad para la Paz, Ciudad Colón (Costa Rica). The main goal of
this investigation was to establish a methodology for rapid evaluation of a geographical area
for the purpose of determining the potential for tourism in an activity of increasing importance
in Costa Rica. Although this methodology was developed using data from the tropical rain
forest of the North Atlantic zone of Costa Rica, it is believed that the methodology could be
applied in other ecosystems that in which it originated. The methodology has clearly defined
the following steps: 1- Definition of the geographical area of interest. 2- Field trips for data
collection. 3- Using of a matrix an the equation with the numerical information derived from
the matrix. 4- Follow up, evaluation, and dissemination of findings. Data for analysis and
formulation of this methodology were gathered from interviews with professionals in this field,
a review of relevant literature, field trips to evaluate the natural resources of the study area,
and discussions with persons connected with ecoturism, hotel management and municipal
activities. Main findings of this study were the following: a- Three current activities threaten
the ecological stability of the area: deforestation, extensive cattle raising, and expansion of
banana production b- Some sectors of tropical rain forest remain, even very near urban areas
of the three main towns, which it is believed necessary to preserve in order to facilitate
biodiversity restoration. Legal protection could help the development of the ecotourist activity
in the County of Sarapiquí, and at the same time contribute to the creation of a biological
corridor between the Central Volcanic Range Biosphere Reserve and the protected areas of the
Southeast Nicaragua, as well as for future ecotourism uses c- The area along the San Juan
River national border, where wetlands are located, seems to have a tremendous possibilities
for being declared Maquenque National Park, wich fits perfectly into the Si-A-Paz and proposed
mesoamerican biotic corridor. d- There exists among people in the region a high level of
awareness of the necessity of preserving environmental resources, as well as willingness to
conduct responsible tourism. Some general recommendations that emerged from this study
are: 1- In addition to regulating environmental issues, the State agencies charged with this
responsibility should consider establishing guidelines and methods to enable and require
private companies to perform first, an evaluation of the location they intend to develop, prior
to the second phase, in wich environmental impact is assessed. 2- The additional perspectives
offered by nongovernmental organization which already exist in the study region and which
already work in conjunction with state agencies such as the National Park Service or the
Forestry Direction of MIRENEM, should be better used in order to improve and facilitate the
environmental restoration plans within the Municipality of Sarapiquí. It is hoped that the
methodology developed in this study can contribute to the acquisition of more accurate
knowledge and non biotic elements located in a natural area. It is believed that the practice of
this methodology would contribute to the goal of responsible tourism, even better defined as
"sustainable tourism". It is encouraging to note that several tour operators in Costa Rica are
already highly concerned about their responsibility to the management of well-balanced
ecotourism, even without governmental pressure.
37
La Organización para Estudios Tropicales y su contribución al desarrollo del
ecoturismo en Costa Rica / Molina-Guadamuz, F. San José: Universidad Internacional de las
Américas, 1994. 131 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas Turísticas,
Universidad Internacional de las Américas, Carrera de Turismo, San José (Costa Rica). (No
abstract).
La Flaminea: at La Selva Biological Station [La Flamínea en la Estación Biológica La Selva]
/ Weekes, A.A. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 1992. 58 p. Thesis, Master of Land
Architecture, University of Florida, Graduate School, Gainesville, FL (USA). This study aims to
be both a design project and a research paper. The goal is to produce a site design for La
Flaminea at La Selva Biological Station based on the characteristics of the site and the
program elements, and to investigate the role of interpretive programming in shaping the
physical site. The analysis of La Flaminea's physical and social character is organized along the
lines of 1-7 the design process. Traditional issues of physical, historical and cultural context,
site analysis and conceptual development introduce the project. The preliminary site plan
derives from this information. Next comes a description of La Flaminea's potential audience
and a review of current interpretive theory. The preliminary site plan is then evaluated against
this information to determine whether or not it meets all interpretive needs. Finally,
modifications to the preliminary site plan, based on audience needs and interpretive theory,
are incorporated into the final master plan. Recognizing that a master plan is only the first
step in the process of building a successful facility at La Flaminea, this paper concludes with a
chapter outlining action steps and tools for evaluation of the project. The project demonstrates
that if handled sensitively, La Flaminea can buffer globally imperiled habitat and contribute to
development of a lasting conservation ethic among Costa Rican nationals.
Quantifying trail-related soil erosion at two sites in the humid tropics: Jatun Sacha,
Ecuador, and La Selva, Costa Rica [Cuantificando la erosión del suelo en senderos de dos
lugares en los trópicos húmedos: Jatún Sacha, Ecuador, y La Selva, Costa Rica] / Wallin, T.R.
(University of Tennessee. Department of Geography, Knoxville, TN 37996, US). Knoxville, TN:
The University of Tennessee, 1995. 77 p. Thesis, M.Sc, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville,
TN (USA). Using McQueen-type portable rainfall simulators, we simulated rainfall on trail
surfaces and adjacent, off-trail forest sites at two reserves in the humid neotropics. Our
results confirm that rates of runoff generation and soil particle detachment are significantly
higher on trails and that runoff occurs frequently on trails, but only rarely off-trail. We
estimate that 15 mm of rain falling in 30 minutes would detach 3186 kg . km² of soil from
trails at Jatun Sacha (11 . 10(4) kg . km² and 4716 kg on trails at La Selva (6.0 . 10(4) . kg .
km². Off-trail, the same rain would detach 0.075-1.1 . 10(4) kg . km(-2) at Jatun Sacha and
0-1.1 . 10(4) kg . km² at La Selva. The high erosional potential of rainforest trails underscores
the need for careful management of ecotourism and other trail-dependent rainforest activities.
Estimating trail-related soil erosion in the humid tropics - Jatun Sacha, Ecuador, and
La Selva, Costa Rica [Estimando la erosión del suelo en senderos en los trópicos húmedos:
Jatún Sacha, Ecuador, y La Selva, Costa Rica] / Wallin, T.R.; Harden, C.P. (University of
Tennessee. Department of Geography, Knoxville, TN 37996, US). In: Ambio (ISSN 00447447), v. 25, no. 8, p. 517-522. 1996. Using McQueen-type portable rainfall simulators, we
simulated rainfall on trail surfaces and adjacent, off-trail forest sites at two reserves in the
humid neotropics. Our results confirm that rates of runoff generation and soil particle
detachment are significantly higher on trails and that runoff occurs frequently on trails, but
only rarely off-trail. We estimate that 15 mm of rain falling in 30 minutes would detach 3186
kg . km² of soil from trails at Jatun Sacha (11 . 10(4) kg . km² and 4716 kg on trails at La
Selva (6.0 . 10(4) . kg . km²). Off-trail, the same rain would detach 0.075-1.1 . 10(4) kg .
km² at Jatun Sacha and 0-1.1 . 10(4) kg . km² at La Selva. The high erosional potential of
rainforest trails underscores the need for careful management of ecotourism and other traildependent rainforest activities.
38
Variación en el comportamiento de Procyon spp. (Carnivora: Procyonidae) por la
presencia de turistas en un área silvestre de Costa Rica [Behavioral change in Procyon
spp. (Carnivora: Procyonidae) caused by tourist visitation in a Costa Rican wildlife area] /
Carrillo-Jiménez, E.; Vaughan-Dickhaut, C. (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y
Enseñanza. Programa Manejo de Bosques Tropicales y Conservación de la Biodiversidad,
Turrialba, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>).
In: Revista de Biología Tropical (ISSN 0034-7744), v. 41, Fasc. 3B, p. 843-848. 1993. The
effect of tourist presence on behavioral patterns of Procyon cancrivorus and P. lotor was
studied in Manuel Antonio National Park (PNMA), Costa Rica. PNMA receives over 50,000
tourists yearly, especially between December-April and in July. Three adult females were
radio-collared and located 2,105 times from April to December 1987. Weekends (FS) with high
tourist visitation was compared to the week (ES) with little or no tourist visitation. The home
range (RA), average hourly distance travelled (DMHRO, and activity patterns were averaged
for: 1) weekly periods of FS and ES, and 2) bimonthly periods or season. There was no
difference in the RA size between FS and ES periods. The RA for July-August (coinciding with
cub birth) was less than during the other three bimonthly periods. No differences were found
in the DMHR between the FS and ES periods. During the FS period, the racoons were more
nocturnal than in the ES period. The raccons preferred the mangrove during the ES period and
the camping areas in the FS period. The forest habitat was utilized, but not preferred.
Making ecotourism sustainable: recommendations for planning, development, and
management [Haciendo sostenible al ecoturismo: recomendaciones para la planificación,
desarrrollo y manejo] / Boo, E.; Whelan, T, (ed.). In: Nature tourism: managing for the
environment Washington, D.C: Island Press, 1991. p. 187-199. (No abstract).
Estudio preliminar de la flórula de la Zona Protectora La Cangreja, Puriscal / MoralesQuirós, J.F. (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio), Apdo. 22-3100, Santo Domingo de
Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). Cartago: ITCR, 1993. 41 p. Práctica de
Especialidad, Bachiller en Ingeniería Forestal, Departamento de Ingeniería Forestal, Instituto
Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago (Costa Rica). (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca José Figueres F.: T754.
Natural areas conservation in Costa Rica - A natural areas association workshop
[Conservación de áreas naturales en Costa Rica – Un taller de la asoción de áreas naturales] /
Tyler, H.; Rome, A. (Maine State Planning Office, Station 38, Augusta, ME 04333, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Natural Areas Journal (ISSN 0885-8608), v. 17, no. 1, p. 7577. 1997. A brief description of Costa Rica's major conservation accomplishments form the
basis of this paper, which summarizes the findings of the Natural Areas Association first
international workshop, held in Costa Rica in November 1995. The case studies described
include: Braulio Carrillo National Park; La Selva Biological Station; Poas Volcano National Park;
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; Santa Rosa National Park and Guanacaste Conservation
Area; and the Junquillal Bay Recreational Area. It is concluded that Costa Rica models many of
the widely discussed natural area conservation techniques. The country's national park system
is expanding, and ecotourism is booming, providing economic justification for the conservation
of additional lands.
A biological and economic evaluation of the Coto Brus Biological Corridor with
special reference to forest bird diversity [Una evaluación biológica y económica del
Corredor Biológico de Coto Brus con especial referencia a la diversidad de aves del bosque] /
Bourg, N.A.; Gill, D.E. (University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
Tropical
Diversity
Origins,
Maintenance, and Conservation. ATB & OTS Symposium and Annual Meeting Abstracts, San
39
José CR15-20 June, 1997. San José: Organization for Tropical Studies, 1997. p. 42. The
proposed Coto Brus Biological Corridor would connect the Las Cruces Biological Station forest
reserve (LCR) with the Guaymí Indigenous Reserve. I studied resident forest bird populations
in forest remnants and the LCR to identify species and guilds to target in corridor planning.
Two economic components were also analyzed: 1) visitation to the station, a large portion of
which consists of bird enthusiasts, and 2) palm heart production from Euterpe precatoria, a
favored food source for frugivorous birds. I conducted point count surveys to determine bird
species diversity and species and guild discrepancies between forest fragments and the LCR. A
travel-cost analysis was performed on visitation data extracted from the station guestbook. I
gathered data on the population structure of Euterpe from a 0.01 hectare sample plot.
Moderately abundant species were absent from fragments, and edge points had fewer species
and representatives of certain guilds than forest interior points. Estimated consumer surplus
by travel-cost analysis = $ 208.00 USD/visitor/year. Seedling palm production was high. I
identified eleven bird species and three guilds as corridor planning targets, particularly army
ant-following birds. Partial corridor funding could come from visitor fees and sustainable palm
management could be incorporated into design strategies.
Localización: Biblioteca OET. Este es el resumen completo.
Small natural reserves and conservation of biodiversity in Costa Rica [Pequeñas
reservas biológicas y conservación de la biodiversidad en Costa Rica] / Fournier-Origgi, L.A.
(Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Biología, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR). Tropical
Diversity Origins, Maintenance, and Conservation. ATB & OTS Symposium and Annual Meeting
Abstracts, San José CR15-20 June, 1997. San José: Organization for Tropical Studies, 1997. p.
58. The author and his coworkers have studied during the last forty years the development
and establishment of small natural reserves as a complement to the System of National Parks
and other Protected Areas. These studies were aimed toward the following objectives: 1Protection of fragments of local landscape. 2- Conservation of organisms of local, regional or
national importance. 3- Conservation of different microenvironments. 4- Protection of natural
ecosystems that can be useful in comparison studies with the agroecosystems of the area. 5Conservation of microwatersheds. 6- Development of positive attitude of local communities
toward the environment. 7- Promote ecotourism and other human activities in areas outside
the National Protected Areas. 8- Provide an extra income to the farmers by mean of rational
use of forest resources. 9- Protect local sites of historical and archeological importance. 10Promote scientific research and teaching in these reserves. During the last thirty years in one
hectare of the study sites in Ciudad Colón, 800 m.a.s.l., it has been observed significant
changes in the physical environment and the development of a forest community that include
over 80 species of trees as well as many species of birds, reptiles and small mammals and a
huge number of insects, including new records for the country. Based on these works, that
have provided a large amount of quantitative and qualitative data, it is suggested that the
establishment and development of a system of natural reserves is important for Costa Rica
and the surrounding areas.
Relationship between boat traffic and manatee (Trichechus manatus) abundance in
Northeastern Costa Rica [Relaciones entre el tráfico de embarcaciones a motor y la
abundancia de manatíes (Trichechus manatus) en el noreste de Costa Rica] / Jiménez-Pérez,
I. (Universidad Nacional. Programa Regional en Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Apdo. 1350-3000,
Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). Tropical
Diversity Origins, Maintenance, and Conservation. ATB & OTS Symposium and Annual Meeting
Abstracts, San José CR15-20 June, 1997. San José: Organization for Tropical Studies, 1997.
Local people in Northeastern Costa Rica tell that manatees started to become scarce in the
region because of an increment in boat traffic due to the touristic industry. Effects of
motorboats on the manatee population could be due to: 1) collisions that kill or injure the
animals, 2) displacement from traditional feeding areas, 3) changes on behaviour. I tested
these three effects in my study. I assessed manatee relative abundance through interviews to
key informants (n 20) and other inhabitants (n100), feeding signs and direct manatee
sightings. Relative traffic was estimated through interviews and vessel counting. I compiled
40
cases of manatees killed by motorboat collisions on the region. Relationship between boat
traffic and manatee abundance was tested through independence tests for 62 watercourses
without finding a significative relationship between both factors. Manatees are still present on
those areas where used to be common and they even frequent high traffic areas. I found only
two trustable cases of manatees' deaths due to collisions with motorboats on the last 15
years. Boat traffic increment doesn't seem to be displacing manatees from their feeding areas,
but could be increasing their shyness to people and forcing them to develop nocturnal habits.
Assessing and managing the sociocultural impacts of ecotourism: revisiting the
Santa Elena rainforest project [Evaluando y manejando los impactos socioculturales del
ecoturismo: volviendo a visitar el proyecto del bosque lluvioso de Santa Elena] / Wearing, S.;
Larsen, L. (University of Technology at Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, AU). In:
The Environmentalist (ISSN 0251-1088), v. 16, no. 2, p. 117-133. 1996. This paper describes
the negative sociocultural impacts that tourism can have in developing countries and
demonstrates how ecotourism can provided positive benefits for both local communities and
the environment by examining the second phase of an ecotourism project undertaken in the
Santa Elena community, in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. The community originally
established a rain forest reserve with the help of Youth Challenge International in an attempt
to provide a wider economic base and employment for the area. The project has been
successful in the first phase in that it is now drawing an annual income of US$40 000 and it
employs guides and management from the local community. In terms of the underlying
principles usually aligned with ecotourism it has been successful but it is now necessary to
evaluate the impacts this project is having on the community. The second phase of the project
was to assess the sociocultural impacts of ecotourism on that community and the paper
outlines this phase. This case study illustrates the two different management tools that can be
used by the management of ecotourism reserves to minimize negative sociocultural impacts
and to increase the positive impacts. These are increasing community participation in the
management of ecotourism reserves and educating tourists about the impacts they can have
upon the host communities.
Coope San Juan, a farmers' cooperative. Sustainable use of the natural forest - past
and future: a minor field study [Coope San Juan, una cooperativa de agricultores. Uso
sostenible del bosque natural - pasado y futuro: un pequeño estudio de campo] / Hager, N.;
Otterstedt, J. Uppsala: International Rural Development Centre, Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, 1996. 59 p. (Working Paper. International Rural Development Centre.
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; no. 302). Coope San Juan is a farmers'
cooperative in the northern lowlands of Costa Rica, founded in 1985 by a group of originally
landless farmers, who applied in the early 1980s to the government Agriculture Development
Institute for support to obtain land. They subsequently underwent a training course on
cooperatives, and in 1985 rented 400 ha of farmland, including 248 ha of natural forest and
10 ha of secondary forest. With the aid of bank loans, and assistance from government and
non-governmental organizations they improved the infrastructure and undertook projects, and
in 1989 bought the farm. The cooperative now has 16 members, and 55 people live in the
community, which is run on Israeli kibbutz lines, with organizational requirements as
determined by Costa Rican law. The cooperative has a consensus to keep the forest, and
during the last 10 yr has carried out many projects. These include; livestock and milk
production; cocoa/banana production; pineapple and cassava production; forestry projects cultivating raicilla (Cephaelis ipecacuanha, a medicinal herb) in the natural forest for export to
the Netherlands and Germany, reforestation (16 ha of forest plantations), and logging in the
natural forest. The milk and agricultural products are for short-term income, the raicilla
production is a medium-term project (providing income after 2-5 yr), and the forestry activity
is long term. An ecotourism project is also being planned. COSEFORMA, an NGO focusing on
helping farmers with sustainable management of natural forests, is supervising a 10-yr
management programme. There was conflict in 1993, following financial problems in the early
1990s, and splitting the land into individual properties was suggested; this is still not resolved.
41
Wildlife tourism [Turismo de vida silvestre] / Shackley, M. (The Nottingham Trent
University. Nottingham Business School, Department of Strategic Management & Marketing,
Nottingham, GB <E-mail: [email protected]>). London: International Thomson
Business Press, 1996. 152 p. ISBN: 0-415-11539-6. The book considers the ways in which
tourists interact with wildlife, examining the results of this contact and the management
problems which can result. Through case studies the following areas are examined: (1) the
future of ecotourism; (2) the environment impact of tourism; (3) tourism and its impact on
local communities and (4) wild animals in captivity. Examples of good and bad practices in
wildlife management and a discussion of the interests and issues at stake are presented.
Sustainable development: A new challenge for Costa Rica [Desarrollo sostenible: Un
nuevo reto para Costa Rica] / Figueres-Olsen, J.M. (Fundación Costa Rica para el Desarrollo
Sostenible (Entebbe), Apartado Postal 557-2250, Tres Ríos de La Unión, CR
<http://www.entebbe.com>). In: SAIS Review (ISSN 0036-0775), v. 16, no. 1, p. 187-202.
1996. The sustainable development policy being pursued by Costa Rica is outlined. It is based
on strategic social investment; macroeconomic balance; environmental protection and the
participation of society in decision making. Examples are presented to illustrate steps taken to
establish a positive relationship between the natural environment and growing economic
needs. These include: the establishment and management of designated conservation areas;
greenhouse gas emission control programmes; biodiversity conservation and utilization
projects; the development of ecotourism in national parks; increasing environmental
education; macroeconomic restructuring to create an open and more competitive economic
environment; the use of renewable energy technologies; the adoption of more
environmentally friendly farming practices; the encouragement of more efficient resource use
by industry; and participation by more of society in decision making through discussion fora.
Conservación y desarrollo sostenible de un bosque montano centroamericano: El
caso de la Reserva Forestal Los Santos, Costa Rica / Kappelle, M.; Juárez, M.E. (The
Nature Conservancy. Mesoamerican and Caribbean Region, P.O. Box 230-1225, San José, CR
<E-mail: [email protected]>). In: YUNGAS (Gacetilla Informativa sobre las Selvas de
Montaña), v. 6, no. 1, p. 15-17. 1996. Localización: Biblioteca OET: S3084.
The environment/development interface in Latin America: Ecotourism and Costa
Rica's search for sustainable development [El punto de contacto ambiente/desarrollo en
Latinoamérica: Ecoturismo y la búsqueda de Costa Rica para el desarrollo sostenible] /
Meadows, D.R. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 1993. 137 p. Thesis, M.Sc,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (USA). Viewing local participation as central to
sustainable development, this research explores the relationship between local participation
and Costa Rica's pursuit of ecotourism as a sustainable tourism strategy. Using a theoretical
framework developed from human systems ecology, the research employs qualitative methods
to gather data in communities near the Carara Biological Reserve in the Pacific Central region
of Costa Rica. Local involvement in the case study area is viewed as "insider-generated" and
"outsider-demanded" participation. Through examination of the local participation component,
the research identifies the dilemmas being confronted in ecotourism development, reveals
critical variables for analysis, and proposes recommendations that may help guide ecotourism
policies, planning and projects toward sustainability not only in Costa Rica but other Latin
American and Caribbean countries.
Geografía turística de Costa Rica / Vargas-Ulate, G. (Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de
Geografía, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José:
EUNED, 1997. 192 p. ISBN: 9977-64-900-6. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Unidad 1. Aspectos
conceptuales de la geografía y de la geografía turística: La geografía entre las ciencias. La
42
identidad de la geografía: La localización y el espacio. El espacio geográfico. El paisaje como
aspecto visible del espacio. ¿Por qué una geografía del turismo o geografía turística? Factores
geográficos en la actividad turística. Aspectos conceptuales del turismo. Los componentes del
turismo. Tipos de turismo. El turismo ecológico y el turismo científico. Unidad 2. La
representación de la tierra: La tierra y su envolutura exterior. La tierra, planeta con dos
movimientos. Representación de la superificie de la tierra. La red de coordenadas ubica y
orienta. Fenómenos representados por símbolos. La representación plana de la tierra. La
cartografía de Costa Rica y su uso turístico. Mapas topográficos y fotografías aéreas. Las
curvas de nivel en el mapa topográfico. Unidad 3. Características y situación del turismo en
Costa Rica: Datos e indicadores básicos del turismo en Costa Rica. Regionalización de los
atractivos turísticos. El producto turístico nacional. Geopotencial turístico de Costa Rica.
Unidad 4. Costa Rica: Rutas, circuitos y símbolos nacionales: Rutas y circuitos turísticos.
Descripción de algunos atractivos de las rutas y circuitos. Señalización vial de reglamentación
y turística. Los símbolos nacionales. Unidad 5. Aspectos físicos y socioeconómicos de la
geografía turística de Costa Rica: El medio físico: un país de contrastes. Caracterización
climatológica. Caracterización ecológica: riqueza y diversidad de la vegetación. Caracterización
socioeconómica. Unidad 6. La protección de los recursos naturales y el sistema de áreas
protegidas en Costa Rica: Protección histórica de los recursos naturales. Las áreas protegidas
y las unidades regionales de conservación. Problemática y situación actual de la protección de
los recursos naturales. Ambiente, desarrollo y sostenibilidad. Unidad 7. Potencial natural y
caracterización del espacio centroamericano: América Central como región geográfica.
Condiciones ambientales. Las formaciones vegetales de América Central. Las especies
arbóreas representativas de cada país. Los recursos costeros. Situación actual de la
vegetación en América Central. La protección de los espacios naturales. Las reservas de la
biosfera en América Central. Esfuerzos para la integración del turismo y los espacios
protegidos en América Central. Proyectos ecoturísticos multinacionales.
Localización: Biblioteca Carlos Monge A.: 917.286 V297g.
Lineamientos para la planificación del manejo forestal sostenible y diversificado / aus
der Beek, R.; Sáenz-Sánchez, G.; Morales-Mora, E, (ed.).; Cartín-Brenes, F, (ed.). (CATIE.
Area de Manejo de Bosques Tropicales y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Turrialba, CR <Email: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). Tercer Congreso Forestal Nacional:
Unidos por el Desarrollo del Recurso Forestal: Ante el Próximo Milenio, San José CR27-29 de
agosto, 1997. San José: MINAE, 1997. p. 53-55. ISBN: 9997-50-026-6. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 634.9097286063 C749 1997.
Uso de un sistema de información geográfica (SIG) en la identificación de
degradación de tierras y recursos hídricos [Use of a Geographic Information System
(GIS) for identifying degraded lands and hydric resources] / Sáenz-Segura, F.; Shultz, S.D.;
Hyman, G.G. (Universidad Nacional. Programa Ambiente y Desarrollo, CINPE, Apdo. 555-3000,
Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In:
Revista Forestal Centroamericana (ISSN 1021-0164), no. 18, p. 18-22. 1997. A Geographic
Information System (GIS) was used to identify degraded lands associated with deforestation in
the pristine Pacuare River watershed of Costa Rica. GIS coverages representing actual land
uses, and land use capacity were spatially overlayed along with slopes, and levels of potential
soil erosion in order to classify specific land areas with alternative levels of land degradation
risk in the watershed. Such information is considered critical and holistic watershed
management planning activities in this Central American watershed.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: R.
Áreas de conservación y sus parques nacionales: división por cantones y distritos /
Castro-Moraga, B. (Asociación Preservacionista de Flora y Fauna Silvestre, Apdo. Postal 21061002 Paseo Estudiantes, San José, CR <Fax: 223-0851>). San José: B. Castro Moraga, 1996.
55 p. ISBN: 9977-12-219-9. Nuestro mayor anhelo es que los costarricenses sepan valorar su
tierra para que las futuras generaciones reconozcan nuestro esfuerzo y así legarles nuestro
mensaje. Un Area de Conservación es el resultado de una series de Parques Nacionales unidos
en conjunto, en total existen en Costa Rica nueve Areas de Conservación. Ejemplo: Area de
43
Conservación Guanacaste). En esta Area encontramos el Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Parque
Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, Parque Nacional Guanacaste; como puede observarse en esta
Area existen tres Parques Nacionales, y están ubicados en el Area de Conservación
Guanacaste. En el país podemos contar con nueve Areas de Conservación, cada Area tiene su
propio mapa, al dorso usted puede ubicar los Parques con sus respectivos nombres. En este
estudio está incluido también el mapa de Costa Rica, con sus respectivas divisiones por
cantones y distritos.
Localización: Biblioteca Luis D. Tinoco: 333.7 C355a. Biblioteca del BIODOC: 639.959.728.6.
Costa Rica / Boo, E. In: Ecotourism: the potentials and pitfalls. Country case studies, v. 2, p.
25-52. Baltimore, MD: World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 1992. ISBN: 0-942635-15-9. To obtain a
better understanding of ecotourism and its long term implications, the World Wildlife Fund,
with financial support from the US Agency for International Development, undertook an
investigation of the current status of ecotourism, including an evaluation of its economic and
environmental impacts in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has recognized the importance of tourism to
its economy for many years, but it is only recently that the country has become a well-known
tourist destination. With the establishment of an outstanding system of parks and reserves,
the natural resources of Costa Rica are receiving worldwide attention, and the tourism industry
is now increasing its efforts to promote nature tourism. Despite its small size, Costa Rica
comprises an enormous variety of topography, climate and plant and animal life. Many of the
natural attractions which play an increasingly major role in the development of tourism are
under some form of protection. The national parks system covers nearly 20% of the country.
Since 1986, the Government has been committed to developing tourism as a priority area and
encouraging 'soft' nature tourism is one of the objectives. Increasing demand for nature
tourism is reflected in the number of tour operators offering tours to protected areas and in
the increasing number of foreign visitors to national parks. Examples of some of the major
protected areas are presented and the economic impacts of tourism are assessed. In
environmental terms, nature tourism has had many beneficial impacts. Few negative impacts
have been recorded, but comprehensive scientific studies have yet to be carried out. Although,
not a central focus for the study, socioeconomic considerations were raised by the research
findings and highlight the need for further research in this area. Case studies of Monteverde
Cloud Forest Reserve and Poas National park are presented.
Una pequeña comunidad con una gran experiencia: San Miguel de Talamanca, Costa
Rica / Chaimsohn, F.P. (CATIE, Turrialba, CR). In: Revista Forestal Centroamericana (ISSN
101-0164), no. 14, p. 31-34. 1996. San Miguel, una comunidad del Distrito de Sixaola, en
Talamanca, zona atlántica de Costa Rica, ha generado una experiencia de desarrollo
comunitario que trasciende sus límites y debe ser conocida por quienes se preocupan por
estimular el desarrollo sostenible. A partir de 1983, debido al ataque del hongo monilia
(Moniliopthora roreri), se perdió la mayoría de las plantaciones de cacao, el cultivo más
sembrado en la zona, que brindaba el sustento a las familias rurales. Debido a esta crisis, la
comunidad tuvo que emprender un camino difícil, donde la lógica campesina y ambientalista
entró en conflicto con la lógica capitalista de producción. Se creó la Asociación San Migueleña
de Conservación (ASOCODE) para generar opciones de producción y explotación de los
recursos naturales. Mediante la efectiva participación de sus miembros, se ha desarrollado
diferentes prácticas de forestería comunitaria: aprovechamiento y procesamiento de madera y
de recursos no madereros del bosque en una pequeña industria de la Asociación, ecoturismo,
reforestación e investigación con especies forestales nativas.
Uncertain conservation status of squirrel monkeys in Costa Rica, Saimiri oerstedii
oerstedii and Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus [El estado de conservación incierto de monos tití
en Costa Rica, Saimiri oerstedii oerstedii y Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus] / Boinski, S.; Sirot, L.
(University of Florida. Department of Anthropology, 1350 Turlington, Gainesville, FL 32611, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Folia Primatologica (ISSN 0015-5713), v. 68, p. 181-193.
1997. Central American squirrel monkeys, Saimiri oerstedii, have never been abundant. This
44
species is apparently extinct in Panama and nearly so in Costa Rica. Less than 4,000 are
estimated to survive in Costa Rica. In recent years only a limited number of squirrel monkey
troops have been documented outside of two Costa Rica national parks, Parques Nacionales
Corcovado and Manuel Antonio. Numerous factors contribute to a pessimistic prognosis for this
species, most importantly, the continued deforestation and tourist development with
concomitant demands on prime squirrel monkey habitat from hotels, restaurants, roads, and
vacation villas in the Pacific Wet Lowland habitat of squirrel monkey. We also highlight
features of the natural history of this species most relevant to conservation efforts with the
goal of enhancing the success of surveys and maintenance and breeding of captive groups.
Squirrel monkeys in Costa Rica: drifting to extinction [Los monos tití en Costa Rica:
camino a la extinción] / Boinski, S.; Jack, K.M.; Lamarsh, C.; Coltrane, J.A. (University of
Florida. Department of Anthropology, 1350 Turlington, Gainesville, FL 32611, US <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Oryx (ISSN 0030-6053), v. 32, no. 1, p.
45-58. 1997. Central American squirrel monkeys, Saimiri oertstedii, are limited to Costa Rica
and Panama, and have never been abundant. The Costa Rican population is now decimated.
Based on our survey of squirrel monkeys throughout a large portion of this species'Costa Rican
range in 1996, we can confirm that at least 1,246 squirrel monkeys remain in 26 spatially
dispersed localities. Despite probable undercounts of squirrel monkey numbers within sites
and potentially missed localities, the total population size should be considered far below
Lande's (1995) calculation that the long-term genetic viability of a species requires a minimum
effective population size of 5,000 individuals. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation spurred
by agricultural and tourism development are the familiar culprits contributing to this decline.
Our strong recommendation is that future conservation efforts be targeted at the level of each
specific locality, perhaps recruiting local, national, and international sponsors. A focused
strategy would allow management efforts to be tailored to the circumstances specific to each
site and thus more efficiently allocate scarce resources move efficiently.
Monteverde-Gulf of Nicoya biological corridor: Costa Rica [Corredor biológico
Monteverde-Golfo de Nicoya: Costa Rica] (Tropical Science Center, P.O. Box 8-3870, 1000 San
José, CR)./ Tropical Science Center. USIJI Project Proposal, San José, CR. San José: Tropical
Science Center, 1995. 15 p. The proposed project is one of carbon sequestration. The main
objectives of the Biological Corridor include: 1) long-term conservation of the ArenalMonteverde protected area, 2) forest management and regeneration, reforestation and
sustainable agriculture, 3) improvement of productivity and reduction of erosion on remaining
agricultural land, 4) improvement of the socioeconomic and educational status of the residents
of the corridor area, 5) empowerment of local organizations and women's groups, 6) further
development of low-impact ecotourism. To accomplish these goals this project will establish a
biological corridor on the Pacific watershed, between the complex of protected areas of
Monteverde and the Gulf of Nicoya in Northwestern Costa Rica. The corridor encompasses
morte than 16,000 hectares and contains four ecological life zones and one transitional life
zone. Implementation of the Monteverde-Gulf of Nicoya Biological Corridor Project will be
carried out in three gegraphically-oriented phases. Phase I corresponds to the area between
the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and the lower part of the San Luis Biological Station,
where the Amapala and Guacimal Rivers join. Phase II consists of the area between the limits
of Phase I and the Iter-American Highway. Phase III is located between the Inter-American
Highway and the Gulf of Nicoya.
Localización: Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical: MONTE 3.
Carbon sequestration by life zone associations in the Monteverde Biological Corridor
[Almacenamiento de carbono por asociaciones de zonas de vida en el Corredor Biológico de
Monteverde] / Tosi-Olin, J.A. (Tropical Science Center, P.O. Box 8-3870, 1000 San José, CR
<E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Tropical Science Center. Monteverde-Gulf of Nicoya
biological corridor: Costa Rica (USIJI Project Proposal) San José: Tropical Science Center,
1995. p. (s.p.). Estimated cost and carbon benefits have been calculated for lease and
45
acquisition of land for the purpose of forest preservation or regeneration of natural forests on
degraded land, as well as operational and maintenance cost of those lands. Cost for the
agroforestry, environmental education, community development and ecotourism development
of Phase I are not included in the carbon offset portion of the project. Three scenarios are
presented. In Scenario 1, 50% of the land is leased and 50% is purchased or under
conservation easements. In Scenario 2, 100% of the land is purchased. Scenario 3
contemplates purchasing only 25% of the land.
Localización: Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical: MONTE 3.
Efecto de los cambios climáticos sobre la abundancia y distribución de la avifauna de
Monteverde (Informe no. 3) / Pereira-Pérez, A.I. (Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de
Biología, Museo de Zoología, San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>).
Monteverde: Centro Científico Tropical / Reserva Biológica Monteverde, 1995. 12 p. De mayo
de 1994 a abril de 1995 se trató de determinar si existieron diferencias en la abundancia de
especies y de individuos de la avifauna de la Reserva Biológica del Bosque Nuboso de
Monteverde, Costa Rica, visitadas por el turismo y en aquellas restringidas al mismo. Se
tomaron los datos de 10 puntos colocados en el triángulo (5 puntos en el Sendero Nuboso, 3
del Sendero Río, 1 del Sendero Bosque Eterno y 1 del Sendero Chomogo) como
correspondientes al área de visitación y 10 puntos colocados en las inmediaciones de la
Casona (5 puntos en el Sendero de Investigación y 5 en el Sendero Lomo) como
correspondientes al área restringida. Para cada uno de los puntos se anotó el número de
especies y el número de individuos total registrados en cada mes. Luego se aplicó un análisis
de variancia anidado para determinar si existían diferencias en el número de especies y de
individuos entre el área de visitación y el de investigación, entre los diferentes meses en que
se llevó a cabo el muestreo y entre los puntos muestreados en cada sendero. Se escogió a 6
de las especies más comunes de la Reserva y se anotó el número de individuos registrados en
cada punto. Como el número de individuos por punto fue muy bajo, se sumaron los valores de
los 10 puntos de cada área, para cada mes y así obtener valores más altos. Luego, teniendo el
valor correspondiente a cada mes, tanto para el área de visitación como para el área
restringida, se realizó un análisis de variancia de dos vías para detectar diferencias entre las
áreas y entre los diferentes meses del muestreo. Las 6 especies de aves estudiadas fueron las
siguientes: Chlorospingus ophthalmicus, Henicorhina leucophrys, Miadestes melanops,
Zimerius vilissimus, Troglodytes ochraceus y Catharus fuscater. Se realizó una correlación de
Spearman para determinar si existe alguna relación entre la cantidad de turistas presentes en
la Reserva durante los días de muestreo y el número de especies total y número de individuos
observados por mes en las áreas abiertas al turismo y en las áreas restringidas. Esta prueba
también se aplicó utilizando la frecuencia acumulada del número de turistas presentes los días
anteriores al muestreo. Para cada uno de los meses muestreados se contabilizó el número de
individuos de aves frugívoros, insectívoros, nectarívoros y granívoros en cada una de las áreas
de estudio y se aplicó un análisis de variancia de dos vías para determinar si existió alguna
diferencia entre las áreas estudiadas y entre los meses de estudio. Se encontró que las aves
de la Reserva Biológica de Monteverde no están siendo afectadas por el turismo que
constantemente visita la Reserva, ya que tanto el número de especies como el número de
individuos, en la mayoría de los casos, fue mayor en las áreas abiertas al turismo. Al aplicar
un análisis de variancia anidado se encontró que existió diferencias estadísticas significativas
entre las áreas de estudio, entre los meses y entre los puntos muestreados en cada área. El
aumento de turistas en las áreas de visitación no presentó ninguna relación con el número de
especies y número de individuos observados durante los muestreos, ni en el área de visitación
ni en el área restringida. Estos resultados no aseguran que el turismo que llega a la Reserva
no haya afectado la abundancia de aves a través del tiempo, ya que no se tienen dato de la
abundancia de especies en los años en que esta área empezó a recibir turistas. Sin embargo,
el turismo no parece afectar, al menos a corto plazo, la abundancia de especies dentro de la
Reserva. Si el turismo tuviera algún impacto sobre la avifauna, posiblemente los individuos
que frecuentan las áreas alrededor de los senderos de visitación se desplazarían a áreas
cercanas, como es el caso de las áreas de investigación. Sin embargo, al menos durante los
meses analizados, estas diferencias no fueron significativas.
46
Design and construction of a trail for handicapped people at the Monteverde Cloud
Forest Preserve [Diseño y construcción de una vereda para personas con discapacidad en la
Reserva de Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde] / Tropical Science Center / Consejo Nacional de
Rehabilitación / Kosta Roda Foundation, San José, CR. San José: Tropical Science Center,
1995. 5 p. The Tropical Science Center has been working, together with the National Council
for the Handicapped (Consejo Nacional de Rehabilitación, CONARE), Kosta Roda Foundation,
and the Architects Association, in writing a proposal to build a nature trail for disabled people
at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. The vast majority, if not all, outdoor recreation
facilities in Costa Rica are usable only by those of us without visual, hearing, physical or
mental impairments. People with these handicaps, wanting to experience the outdoors and to
learn about nature, are confronted by attitudinal and structural barriers which limit their
activities to a far greater extended than do their handicaps. However, attitudes are changing
as we sensitize ourselves to the varying needs of others. The current philosophy of public
recreation recognizes the responsibility to plan so that all citizens, including those with
physical limitations, have the opportunity to use some kind of publicly provided recreation.
Yet, the design of our public recreation areas, such as parks and reserves, usually does not
take into account persons with limitations due to physical disabilities. Access to facilities
adapted to use by the physically handicapped should be designed to give these persons a
maximum of mobility with a minimum of assistance and effort. Unobstructed movement from
parking areas to recreation areas and easy entry into comfort stations, gift shops, bathrooms
and other structures, in an essential element in providing recreation for physicallyhandicapped persons in parks. The objectives are: 1. Conduct a preliminary diagnosis of the
existing area to determine if it is adequate for a trail for handicapped people. 2. Determine the
requirement of the trail. 3. Design the trail and prepare a detailed budget.
Localización: Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical: MONTE 4i.
Sustainable development of ecotourism in the San Luis community, Monteverde
[Desarrollo sostenible del ecoturismo en la comunidad de San Luis, Monteverde] / Tropical
Science Center / San Luis Development Association, San José, CR. San José: Tropical Science
Center, 1995. 12 p. The Project for the Sustainable Development of Ecotourism in the San Luis
Community is part of an integrated effort for the conservation and protection of the natural
resources of the San Luis Valley area (Monteverde, Costa Rica). Besides being located in a
critical point for the protection of the Monteverde-Gulf of Nicoya Biological Corridor. Hence it
will contribute to the protection of the natural resources of the area, including the migration
routes and habitats of many species. This project is aimed at minimizing the negative impact
that uncontrolled tourism causes to the waterfall and vicinities. At the same time, it will
provide San Luis with other options of economic activities and will increase the level of
awareness of the value of natural resources, conservation and sustainable management. It will
also alleviate the pressure that ecological tourism poises in the MCFP and nearby conservation
areas. This project focuses on the ability to have controlled groups of tourists visit the San
Luis Waterfall. Based on its unique natural beauty, this development will be of great benefit to
the community. At the same time, a planned and controlled development will guarantee the
protection of the natural resources of this and neighboring areas. This proposal provides a
justification for requesting project funding, including an environmental impact study, as well
as the design and construction details of the needed infrastructure. Furthermore, funds are
requested for training the required nature guides and the local residents which will operate the
Visitor's Center. The general objective are: To develop the necessary facilities to make
possible visitation to the San Luis waterfall in such a way that damage to local flora and fauna
will be avoided, and socio-economic sustainable development be made possible in the San Luis
community. The specific objectives are: 1. Undertake an environmental impact study. 2. Study
and design the necessary facilities. 3. Establish all necessary permits and ecological easement
to allow construction of a nature trail through the properties that adjoin the access point to the
Preserve where the waterfall is located. 4. Construction of the facilities for proper
management and service of visitors. 5. Organization and training of local residents for
attention to visitor. 6. Organization of other activities that will complement the services
rendered.
47
Localización: Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical: MONTE 5i.
Financial and economic analyses of an ecotourism project: The community-operated
"Santa Elena Rain Forest Project", Monteverde, Costa Rica [Análisis financiero y
económico de un proyecto ecoturístico manejado comunitariamente: el "Proyecto del Bosque
Lluvioso de San Elena", Monteverde, Costa Rica] / Guzmán-Martínez, J. Durham, NC: Duke
University, 1992. 63 p. Master's Project, Master of Environmental Management, Duke
University, School of the Environment. This study undertakes the financial and economic
analysis of a community-operated ecotourism project in Santa Elena (Monteverde), Costa
Rica. In addition, it provides a introduction with a brief overview of the development of
tourism in the world, the protected reserves in Costa Rica, and explains the methodology used
to carried out the research. The design of this project is also based in the Monteverde Cloud
Forest Preserve (MCFP), which is adjoined to the Santa Elena Rain Forest Project (SERFP).
Therefore an overview of the MCFP is presented. As well as, an overview of the SERFP. The
study carries out the financial analysis from two perspectives: the owner's, and stand alone
project (private investor). In addition, it includes the economy's perspective. Both financial
and economic analysis show this project feasible. Furthermore, additional tourism
development is included in the analysis, which improves the feasibility of the results. A list of
other benefits and costs (externalities) that should be included in a more detailed economic
analysis is stated at the end.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: PACA. Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical: AP3.117.
Análisis de los impactos negativos y positivos del ecoturismo en la Reserva Biológica
Bosque Nuboso Monteverde y las comunidades vecinas / Montero-Vargas, C. San José:
Universidad Internacional de las Américas, 1990. 210 p. Tesis, Bachiller en Turismo,
Universidad Internacional de las Américas, San José (Costa Rica). El presente estudio fue
realizado en la Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde, ubicada en el distrito
Monteverde, prov. Puntarenas, Costa Rica, la cual cuenta con una extensión de 10 500 ha, y
es una de las áreas más visitadas, después del Parque Nacional Poás y el Parque Nacional
Manuel Antonio, por su gran potencial ecológico. El presente estudio consistió en realizar un
análisis de los principales impactos negativos y positivos del ecoturismo en Monteverde. Las
reservas biológicas estables están administradas por el nuevo Sistema Nacional de Areas de
Conservación. En el caso de las reservas biológicas privadas, indicadas en el presente estudio,
dos de ellas están administradas por organismos privados que promueven la investigación
científica en sus áreas protegidas. La Reserva es visitada principalmente por turistas jóvenes.
El grado académico de éstos es mayormente universitario, siendo en su mayoría extranjeros,
motivados a visitar el país por su biodiversidad y la estabilidad política. La mayoría de los
turistas obtuvieron información acerca de Costa Rica por medio de amistades y la mayoría
viajó por su propia cuenta. Los pobladores de la zona opinaron que el turismo es positivo para
el área, asimismo que la existencia de la Reserva es beneficiosa por la conservación de los
recursos naturales y el ecoturismo genera fuentes de ingesos, aunque la actividad turística
tiene la desventaja de que beneficia únicamente a un sector pequeño de la población. La cuota
de entrada es el principal ingreso para el mantenimiento de la Reserva y durante los primeros
7 meses de 1989 registró un ingreso de 3,7 millones de colones y se estima que el ingreso
proveniente por el turismo en el área de Monteverde, en 1988 fue de aproximadamente 74,6
millones de colones. El impacto negativo más notorio, señalado por el personal de la Reserva,
es el que ha ocurrido en los senderos debido a la erosión de los suelos, como consecuencia del
aumento acelerado de turistas y lo poco adecuados de éstos para su frecuente utilización en
esta zona de persistentes lluvias. Es necesario determinar la capacidad de carga de la
Reserva, para beneficio de la ecología del lugar y de la misma actividad turística.
The influence of tourism on the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) in Cabo
Blanco, Costa Rica [La influencia del turismo en los monos congo (Alouatta palliata) en Cabo
Blanco, Costa Rica] / Vergeest, F. / Wageningen Agricultural University. Department of Nature
Conservation, Wageningen, NL. Wageningen: Wageningen Agricultural University, 1992.
48
Estudio de caso de geografía de ecoturismo: estimación de capacidad de carga y
algunas ideas sobre planificación en la Reserva Absoluta Cabo Blanco / Abarca-Solano,
F.; Vega-Castro, V. / Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Geografía e Historia, Ciudad
Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, CR. Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio: Universidad de Costa Rica,
1991.
A walk in the clouds: a case study of sustainable ecotourism development in
Monteverde, Costa Rica [Un paseo en las nubes: estudio de caso del desarrollo del
ecoturismo sostenible en Monteverde, Costa Rica] / Koningen, I.P. (Vrije Universiteit. Faculty
of Cultural Anthropology/Sociology of Non-Western Societies, Amsterdam, NL). Amsterdam:
Vrije Universiteit, 1996. 82 p. The anthropological study of tourism is a recent phenomenon.
This is not to say that anthropologists have been unaware of tourism. However, although
many anthropologists have acknowledged the importance of tourism they have neglected to
discuss it in detail. This paper will use the town of Monteverde in Costa Rica as a case study.
This town is home of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which has become a popular
ecotourist destination in CostaRica. As a tool for sustainable development, it is important that
ecotourism demonstrates the economic value of conservation and the non-exploitative use
value of land, as has occurred to a large extent in the Monteverde area. However, ecotourism
growth over the past ten years has also resulted in an increase in the local population, as well
as an increase in the number of tourists to the areas, and this has had an impact on the ability
of local infrastructure - both physical and social - to meet visitor and resident needs. This
paper will focus on ecotourism as a sustainable development tool and discuss the sucesses
and problems that occurred in Monteverde as a result of ecotourism development. The
objectives of this paper are to assess ecotourism's role in the sustainable development of
natural areas and to answer the question: "How 'sustainable" can ecotourism be in practice?
(can ecotourism provide countries and communities with all the benefits that it is promising?)
and, b) How can ecotourism be planned so that it is both ecologically sensitivie and
economically productive?. To be able to answer these questions I documented the status of
ecotourism in Costa Rica; and evaluated the environmental, social and economic impacts of
ecotourism in one of Costa Rica's most visited ecotourism-sites: Monteverde.
Tropical hiking trail management in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve [Manejo
del sendero tropical para caminata en la Reserva Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde] / Turner, C.
San José: Tropical Science Center, 1992. 82 p. CONCLUSIONS: The Preserves Triangle trail
system provides a positive, short term experience of a cloud forest environment. As far as
topographic layout, the system has few faults and the system designers are to be commended
for their vision. A great amount of emphasis should be placed on improving the condition of
the systems tread type before any other trails are constructed on the Preserve. Accomplishing
this will require that the Preserve sink money and time into developing a comprehensive plan
in which to improve the system as a whole. Some key points to take in mind during the
development of such a plan are as follows: 1. In order to develop a sound type of trail tread
then the repairing of existing tread damage must be taken into consideration. 2. The type(s)
of trail tread design/materials to be used should have longevity and aesthetic value as key
determinants in their use. 3. A large scale, long term type of trail tread design will be more
cost effective in the long run than simply patching up the existing system. 4. Trail workers
require training. Bring in proffessionals from outside the area to pass on skills or send
supervisory employees to other locations for training (i.e., National Parks).
Leadership for environment and development: Background material for the Costa
Rica case study [Dirección para el ambiente y desarrollo: Material de formación para el caso
de estudio de Costa Rica] / Celis-Umaña, R, (ed.).; Puentes, R, (ed.). (ProDesarrollo
Internacional, Apdo. 253-2250, Tres Ríos, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). Lead First
International Session, Cohort VI, San José CRSep. 11-21, 1997. , 1997. 204 p. The LEAD
49
program provides dedicated professionals from around the world - the LEAD Associates - an
experience of collective learning, exposure, and mutual support to review their basic
perspectives, enhance their knowledge, and explore new skills to make choices and initiate
actions that lead to a sustainable future. The first international session is the initial step of a
collective discussion about sustainable development tha is central to the whole LEAD program.
In Costa Rica, the focus will be an exploration of alternatives to make the sustainability
concept operational, that is, applying the concept to specific real-world situations: Costa Rica
will be used as a case study. On one hand, Associates will concentrate on a series of selected
and interlinked issues that have been identified as critical in the development of Costa Rica but
which are also relevant for most LEAD countries. These issues are: Quality of life: criteria and
indicators. The effects of globalization and the international context. Economic development
and structural adjustment. Social evolution, culture, institutions, and the decision making and
power structures. Diversification of the economic activities including their impact on
employment and equity. Biodiversity conservation and use. Energy: patterns of generation
and use. Most of the chapters in the Handbook have been specifically commissioned for the
LEAD session to well known experts in Costa Rica.
Ecotourism / responsible tourism: the case of Costa Rica [Ecoturismo / turismo
responsable: el caso de Costa Rica] / Báez, A.L.; Celis-Umaña, R, (ed.).; Puentes, R, (ed.).
(Turismo & Conservación Consultores (T&CC), P.O. Box 1186-1100 CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Lead First International Session, Cohort VI, San José CRSep. 11-21,
1997. In: Leadership for environment and development: Background material for the Costa
Rica case study , 1997. p. 119-130. This Chapter addresses a fast-growing activity in Costa
Rica: tourism. And the author concentrates on ecotourism as one example of what is called
"responsible tourism". She expands on the criteria that make responsible tourism unique and
identifies the roles of the public and private sectors. Ecotourism is a rapidly growing economic
activity: the statistics show that it is surpassing the revenues obtained from bananas. The
author describes the evolving profile of "ecotourists" and develops the hypothesis that the
activity started with visits by scientists, followed by environmentalists and conservationists,
students, backpackers, and people with general interests, resulting in an evolution of the
clientele associated with changes in the services offered by tourists operators. The benefits of
ecotourism are highlighted as well as the potential negative effects of irresponsible activities.
Useful plants among a peasant community in a Costa Rican montane cloud forest
[Plantas útiles entre una comunidad campesina en un bosque nuboso montano costarricense]
/ Kappelle, M.; Avertin, G.; Juárez, M.E.; Zamora-Villalobos, N.A. (The Nature Conservancy.
Mesoamerican and Caribbean Region, P.O. Box 230-1225, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). CEDLA Workshop "Biodiversity and Sustainable Development in Latin
America", Amsterdam NLNov. 27-28, 1997. Amsterdam: Centre for Latin American Research
and Documentation (CEDLA), 1997. 21 p. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in San
Gerardo de Dota, a colonist village in the tropical montane cloud forest area of the Los Santos
Forest Reserve, Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Information about the uses of native and
introduced vascular plants was obtained through interviewing 14 peasant families altitudinally
distributed over the study area (2000-3000 m altitude). Of a total of some 189 vascular plant
species, 23.8% was used for medicines, 39.7% for food, and 24.3% for construction (timber)
or as combustibles (fuelwood, charcoal). Other use types included: dye, ecotourism, fodder,
gum, oil, ornamental, and poisonous. A total of 61.9% of the plants had only one use. The
introduced and exotic woody species Cupressus lusitanica and Eucalyptus globulus were most
useful and had seven different uses. Trunks (53%) and fruits (47%) are the main plant
species' organs used, followed by leaves (33%) and branches (30%). Over 27.5% of all useful
plants were used daily, while 34.9% are occasionally applied. About 11.6% of the species are
rarely used. At present, use of traditional and native species is becoming less common; trends
in use are in favour of introduced and economically important species. It is actually
questionable if folk knowledge of medicinal plants will remain common good or rather
50
dissapear on a short term in the fastly modernizing rural society of the studied village, where
fruticultural export and ecotourism are presently booming.
Localización: Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical.
Plan de manejo y desarrollo Reserva Biológica Monteverde (Resumen) / Morales, H.A.
Turrialba: CATIE, 1993. 42 p. TABLA DE CONTENIDO: CONTEXTO REGIONAL: 1. Identificación
y límites de la región de influencia. 1.1 Criterios ecológicos. 1.2 Criterios socioeconómicos. 2.
Características biofísicas. 2.1 Orografía y relieve. 2.2 Cuencas hidrográficas y red de drenaje.
2.3 Geología. 2.4 Geomorfología. 2.5 Recursos mineros. 2.6 Suelos. 2.7 Clima. 2.8
Vegetación. 2.9 Fauna. 2.10 Areas críticas. 2.11 Valores paisajísticos. 3. Características
culturales. 3.1 Historia. 3.2 Arquelogía. 3.3 Antropología. 4. Características socioeconómicas.
4.1 Poblaciones de la región de influencia. 4.2 Densidad de población. 4.3 Población
económicamente activa. 4.4 Indices de desocupación. 4.5 Características migratorias de la
región de influencia. 4.6 Aspectos de vivienda. 4.7 Salud. 4.8 Educación. 4.9 Economía
regional. 4.10 Uso de la tierra. 4.11 Tenencia de la tierra. 4.12 Uso actual y potencial de la
tierra. 4.13 Sistema regional de transporte y vías de comunicación. 4.14 Turismo, recreación e
infraestructura. 4.15 Proyectos regionales de desarrollo. UNIDAD DE CONSERVACION: 1.
Características biofísicas. 1.1 Localización y extensión. 1.2 Topografía. 1.3 Cuencas y red de
drenaje. 1.4 Geología y geomorfología. 1.5 Clima y temperatura. 1.6 Precipitación y humedad
relativa. 1.7 Suelos. 1.8 Vegetación. 1.9 Fauna. 1.10 Areas críticas. 2. Características
culturales. 2.1 Arqueología. 2.2 Historia. 2.3 Tenencia de la tierra. 2.4 Uso actual de la tierra.
3. Manejo actual de la Reserva. 3.1 Manejo del recurso. 3.2 Infraestructura. 3.3
Financiamiento. 3.4 Uso de la unidad por los visitantes. 3.5 Análisis del visitante. 3.6
Capacidad de carga de la unidad.
Impacto económico de la Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde /
Solórzano-Soto, R.; Echeverría-Bonilla, J. (Tropical Science Center, Apdo. 8-3870, 1000 San
José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José: Tropical
Science Center, 1993. 11 p. En la región de Monteverde, en el punto exacto donde según la
División Política de Costa Rica se unen las provincias de Guanacaste, Alajuela y Puntarenas, se
encuentra ubicada la Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde. Geográficamente se
localiza en la Cordillera de Tilarán o Sierra Minera, con cara a las dos principales vertientes, la
atlántica y a la pacífica, condición que la hace poseedora de características ecológicas
excepcionales y de una gran biodiversidad. Visitada hoy por más de cincuenta mil personas al
año, residentes y no residentes en el país, pero todas interesadas en la naturaleza y su
conservación, la Reserva cuenta con 9 400 ha, en su mayoría tierras lluviosas incluidas dentro
de la Zona Protectora Areanal, protegida por el Estado costarricense. La primera intención del
Centro Científico Tropical, organización propietaria y fundadora de la Reserva, fue desarrollar
un proyecto de manejo forestal científico que incluía el aprovechamiento de los árboles desde
el punto de vista comercial, sin embargo, la decisión final fue, luego de analizar las
condiciones frágiles del lugar, su espectacular riqueza y sobre todo los elementos de
endemismo que la caracterizan, la de establecer una Reserva Biológica, la primera Reserva
privada de este tipo en Costa Rica. Aún hace 10 años, la principal actividad económica de la
zona vecina a la Reserva la constituyó la ganadería de leche. Se estima que cerca del 80% de
la población asentada en Monteverde, Cerro Plano y Santa Elena, derivaban sus ingresos de
esta actividad. En la última década este esquema económico ha cambiado considerablemente.
La lechería no es la principal actividad, se ha desarrollado una importante infraestructura
turística, que genera empleo local y absorbe mano de obra de regiones vecinas. La visitación
de turistas, científicos y estudiantes aumenta y con ella una demanda de servicios a la que
reacciona la población, ofreciendo diferentes opciones entre las que se tienen las carácter
propiamente científico y educativo y las estrictamente comerciales. Sin embargo, el
crecimiento acelerado de visitas, sin la adecuada preparación, puede causar más daños en
nombre de la conservación misma que cualquiera de los usos competitivos que implican la
eliminación del bosque. Sus impactos se han visto en Monteverde, donde las condiciones de
vida de los pobladores han cambiado, se han visto obligados a modificar su estilo de vida o a
sufrir por la intranquilidad y presión que ejerce, por ejemplo, el simple aumento en la
51
circulación de vehículos por el pueblo, en cualquier época del año. El impacto económico de la
Reserva ha sido importante. Se manifiesta en la existencia de hoteles, fondas, restaurantes,
galerías, "tours", "mariposarios", cabalgatas, "slide shows", etc., la mayoría establecidos en
los primeros años de la década de los 90, pero en los que se nota la prosperidad por el simple
hecho de que no sólo se mantienen, sino que existe una tendencia generalizada a la
ampliación de cada negocio. La simple observación puede ser tomado como un indicador del
impacto económico que tiene la Reserva Biológica del Bosque Nuboso Monteverde en la
comunidad vecina, sin embargo, esto debe ser científicamente analizado, por lo que en este
documento se presentan los resultados de un estudio cuyo objetivo ha sido el de determinar
precisamente ese impacto económico. Se concluye que la Reserva Biológica, además de sus
beneficios propios de conservación de biodiversidad, protección de los recursos hídricos que
fluyen hacia importantes proyectos hidroeléctricos y la protección de otros recursos naturales
que contiene, ejerce un impacto económico en la pblación vecina de su considerada área de
influencia. Por su existencia es que se da la principal actividad económica, el turismo ecológico
o ecoturismo como también se le denomina. No resulta posible cuantificar en toda su
magnitud el impacto económico, debido a la existencia de síntomas de una economía
encubierta, que debe ser estudiada específicamente aparte, posiblemente como una
continuación de la presente investigación. Se identifica un campo adicional de investigación,
también complementario, que resulta importante e interesante para la planificación nacional
del turismo, específicamente para la definición de políticas, que es un paso más allá: ¿Cuánto
de lo que se genera económicamente se queda al final en la zona y cuánto en el país?
Localización: Biblioteca Centro Científico Tropical.
Wild biodiversity: the last frontier? The case of Costa Rica [Biodiversidad silvestre: ¿la
última frontera? El caso de Costa Rica] / Mateo-Valverde, N.; Bonte-Friedheim, C, (ed.).;
Sheridan, K, (ed.). (Apartado 76-6151, Centro Santa Ana 2000, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: The globalization of science: the place of agricultural research.
New, expanded edition The Hague: International Service for National Agricultural Research,
1997. p. 113-122. ISBN: 92-9118-029-7. The management and expansion of the agricultural
frontier has brought mixed blessings to Costa Rica. On the positive side, it has promoted
democracy, national values, and political stability, and it has been the key ingredient of the
economic development model during the last century and a half. On the negative side,
agricultural expansion has resulted in poor management of the natural resources in most of
the country and very low value-added, and it has created a dangerous dependence on a small
number of crops. The agricultural sector, while still contributing about 17 percent to the GNP,
is currently undergoing a severe indentity crisis caused by the shifts and pressures of
globalization and fluctuating, but ever-falling export prices. A few successful exceptions
include niche export markets for high-value vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals, which have
brought the country competitive advantages. Research is a true reflection of the overall
picture of the agricultural sector. It has generated or imported a number of useful
technologies, contributed to selected crops such as coffee. At e same time, however, Costa
Rica's national research strategy, particularly in the early days, adopted and adapted crop and
animal production systems not suited to its highly variable tropical environments. Agricultural
research has attempted to maximize production at any cost, using a model based on high
inputs that cause pollution and contamination of land, water, and animal life. It is essential
that we learn from agricultural history in order to conserve and use wild biodiversity (which is
certainly the last R&D frontier) intelligently. There are fundamental criteria to achieve this
goal, most of them clearly spelled out in the tenets of the Biological Diversity Convention.
These include access, equity (including research income and royalties allocated for
conservation), transfer of know-how and technologies, and advanced training of national
scientists. Other criteria are value-added strategies, negotiating ability, an understanding of
the markets, and development of strategic alliances with universities, research centers, and
industry.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: S5849. Biblioteca José Figueres F.: 630 G562g.
Plan regulador de Monteverde / Cámara de Turismo de Monteverde, Monteverde de
Puntarenas, CR. Monteverde: Cámara de Turismo de Monteverde, 1991. 17 p. El presente
52
documento contiene toda la información requerida, para la solicitud formal ante el Ministerio
de Planificación Económica y Política Económica (MIDEPLAN), de un Proyecto de Cooperación
Técnica Internacional, con el objeto de desarrollar el "Plan Regulador de Monteverde", cantón
Central, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica. La solicitud se efectúa con el propósito de
obtener recursos no reembolsables que permitan la contratación de personal nacional para la
realización de los estudios y un fondo para montar la estructura administrativa y técnica de la
Cámara de Turismo de Monteverde, entidad sin fines de lucro que realiza la presente solicitud.
El desarroll del turismo en Monteverde puede convertirse en una amenaza para los recursos
naturales y el modo de vida tradicional de esta comunidad, a menos que se cuente con un
instrumento técnico y legal que permita controlar y ordenar el desarrollo de acuerdo a
objetivos de carácter social y económico. Con la elaboración y aplicación del Plan Regulador de
Monteverde, se propone cumplir los siguientes objetivos: General: Regular y controlar el uso
adecuado del terreno en el área aledaña a la Reserva Biológica de Monteverde. Específicos: 1.
Conservar los recursos naturales de la zona. 2. Mantener un nivel de calidad de los servicios
turísticos. 3. Lograr una satisfacción de los visitantes a la zona. 4. Respetar la vocación natural
del suelo. 5. Prever los requerimientos de servicios para la población local y los visitantes. 6.
Mejorar las condiciones de vida de los habitantes locales. 7. Evitar conflictos entre las diversas
actividades productivas y de conservación. 8. Colaborar en el cumplimiento de los planes de
las instituciones del Estado. 9. Evitar los posibles efectos negativos del desarrollo de la
actividad turística.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve Chapter [El capítulo de la Reserva de Bosque
Nuboso Monteverde] / Chamberlain-Gallegos, F. (Apartado 7572, 1000 San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Lead First International Session, Cohort II (1993-1995),
San José CRJune 10-21, 1993. In: Leadership for Environment and Development Program. The
Costa Rica case study San José: Tropical Science Center, 1993. 30 p. A brief description of the
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Costa Rica, and the history of its development, together
with the presentation of a series of conflicts between human traditional production activities
and the conservation of the natural resources of the area are stated in the document.
Proposed actions to developa biological corridor, a buffer zone and a sustainable development
project in Monteverde are presented. A brief presentation of the author's point of view toward
the need to reorganize the administration of conservation organizations in a country that is
well known for it's conservation efforts, but in the need for an efficient system that can better
utilize the scarce resources available for conservation purposes.
Performance report on Costa Rica ecological tourism project No. 940-0002.90
[Informe del comportamiento en Costa Rica del turismo ecológico proyecto No. 940-0002.90]
/ Aspinall, W, (ed.). / Tropical Science Center, P.O. Box 8-3870, 1000 San José, CR. San José:
Tropical Science Center, 1993. p. irr. The purpose of this Project was to support the growth of
responsible tourism in the ecologically significant Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Costa
Rica, and thereby hep demonstrate that commercial activities can be consistent with forest
preservation and the conservation of biological diversity. The specific objectives where to 1)
perform an analysis of the Monteverde Cloud Forest's capacity to host visitors without negative
environmental impact; 2) to carry out an evaluation of the options available to the Tropical
Science Center to up-grade the Sendero Pantanoso Trail in the forest preserve.
Monteverde limits of acceptable change study: managing use at Monteverde Cloud
Forest Reserve [Estudio de límites de cambio aceptable de Monteverde: manejo de la
Reserva del Bosque Nuboso Monteverde] / Pedersen, A.; Aspinall, W, (ed.). (Wildlands
Recreation and Ecotourism Planning, 7100 Harris Ave, Austin, TX 78705, US <Fax: (512)4766718>). In: Performance report on Costa Rica ecological tourism project No. 940-0002.90 San
José: Tropical Science Center, 1993. 64 p. The purpose of this document is to aid the Tropical
Science Center (TSC) and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (MCFR) staff in setting use limits
and developing a visitor management planning process. The study uses a methodology, called
53
the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC). The LAC process is an alternative to the traditional
"carrying capacity" study inwhich a specific number is established which determines use limits
in a park or protected area. Whit the LAC process, environmental and social standards ares
monitored on an ongoing basis. When conditions approach the "limits of acceptable change"
management takes specific actions to bring conditions into an acceptable range. Although
these actions may include a carrying capacity number, the LAC process is developed to
provide a much morte comprehensive and effective range of actions to protect the resource.
The report has four main sections, including this introduction. Section II provides background
information on the Reserve and the neighboring communities, and describes the methodology
used during the study. Section III describes the research carried out and relates it to the LAC
process. Section IV makes recommendations for monitoring standards and management
actions. Incorporated into the document is a monitoring workbook. The workbook contains
monitoring data collected during the study, trail and shelter monitoring forms, and visitor
survey data. A statistical package is included to provide management with the tools to
continue the development of the user survey instrument.
Computed aided mapping and resources inventory system (CAMRIS) [Mapeo asistido
por computadora e inventario de recursos] / Ford, R.G.; Aspinall, W, (ed.). (Ecological
Consulting, Inc., 2735 N.E. Weidler St, Portland, OR 97232, US). In: Performance report on
Costa Rica ecological tourism project No. 940-0002.90 San José: Tropical Science Center,
1993. s.p. R.Glenn Ford, a biologist and geographic information specialists, has developed his
own system to help naturalists interpret their biological data for areas and the distribution of
the populations studied. Therefore we are able to monitor population changes over time. Even
though not all parameters can be studied in a given moment, we at least can help safeguard
these species. This gives the preserve management a tool to interpolate visitor impact with
biological monitoring of species or plants allowing us to assess what a given amount of people
do the Triangle, and thus giving us our limits of acceptable visitation to our particular area.
The CAMRIS system is an interactive PC based Geographic Information System that can be
used to enter, edit, synthesize and analyze geographic data, and to generate high quality 8½
x 11" black and white maps using a standard laser jet printer. The level of complexity of the
program is comparable to that of a desk top editing program. With two days of training or
less, staff with little or no training in formal mapping procedures cn be taughtthe basics
required to retrieve and enter data, and to generate hardcopy. CAMRIS is described in detail in
the accompanying brochure.
Informe sobre el mapa de capacidad de uso de la tierra en el área del propuesto
Corredor Biológico de la Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde / Bolaños, R.;
Aspinall, W, (ed.). (Tropical Science Center, P.O. Box 8-3870, 1000 San José, CR). In:
Performance report on Costa Rica ecological tourism project No. 940-0002.90 San José:
Tropical Science Center, 1993. s.p. En el presente informe se indica la metodología aplicada y
los principales resultados, obtenidos del mapa de capacidad de uso de la tierra, para el área
de la primera fase del Corredor Biológico de la Reserva Bosque Nuboso Monteverde, Costa
Rica. Asimismo, se dan algunas conclusiones y recomendaciones derivadas de este estudio.
También se aprovechó el trabajo de campo para considerar y recomendar la posibilidad o no,
de establecer o desalentar el uso de senderos dentro del Corredor Biológico. El presente mapa,
elaborado a una escala de 1:50 000, fue llevado a cabo durante el mes de junio de 1992 en un
área de 8 767,8 ha. Este trabajo, financiado con fondos de una donación hecha a la Reserva
Bosque Nuboso Monteverde, por la USAID en Washington, forma parte de los estudios básicos
requeridos para la planificación y desarrollo de este proyecto del Corredor Biológico.
Derechos de entrada a las áreas protegidas de Costa Rica [Entry fees charged in the
protected areas of Costa Rica] / Baldares-Carazo, M.J.; Laarman, J.G. (Universidad de Costa
Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Económicas, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Ciencias Económicas
54
(Costa Rica) (ISSN 0252-9521), v. 10, no. 1, p. 63-82. 1990. Entry fees charged in the
protected areas of Costa Rica are very low, thus insufficient to cover their basic administrative
and maintenance needs. This articles analyses the attitudes of visitors towards these areas in
relation with a possible increase in the entrance fees, charging also different fees, taking into
account some factors, such as whether or not the visitor is a Costa Rican, if the area is public
or private, the reasons for the visit, etc. The results indicate that, in general, there is a
positive disposition towards an increment in these user fees, which implies that, if it took
place, it would be a good contribution to the preservation of natural resources.
The creation of the National Service of Conservation Areas in Costa Rica: perceived
positive and negative outcomes, and institutional barriers [La creación del Servicio
Nacional de Áreas de Conservación en Costa Rica: resultados positivos y negativos percibidos
y barreras institucionales] / Courrau, J.A. (The Nature Conservancy's PROARCA/CAPAS
Project, P.O. Box 230-1225, San José, CR). Moskow, ID: University of Idaho, 1994. Thesis,
M.Sc, University of Idaho, Moskow, ID (USA). (No abstract).
Estudio geográfico-turístico de la parte alta de la cuenca del Río Segundo / LeiningerMehrhoff, A.; Vindas-Carballo, J. (Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Geográficas,
Heredia, CR). Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 1991. 59 p. (No abstract).
Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, condiciones para la expansión de actividades
turísticas, 1991 / Montoya-Maquín, J.M. (Fundación Amigos de la Isla del Coco, Apdo postal
6327, 1000 San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José: MIRENEM / SPN
/ SIPAREMA, 1991. 62 p. (No abstract).
An assessment of ecotourism and its impact on leatherback sea turtles at Playa
Grande, Costa Rica [Una evaluación del ecoturismo y usus impactos en la tortuga baula en
Playa Grande, Costa Rica] / Herzog, P.W.; Gerrand, M. (Universidad Nacional. Programa
Regional en Manejo de vida Silvestre, Heredia, CR). Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 1992. 44
p. (No abstract).
Central American splendor [Maravillas centroamericanas]/ Segrest, S.A. In: New Woman
(ISSN 0028-6974), v. 27, no. 9, p. 31. 1997. A trip to Costa Rica can provide one of the most
fascinating ecological experiences around. A guide to some of the best experiences is
presented.
Costa Rica: Beauty, beasts and-golf? [Costa Rica: ¿Preciosidad, bestias y golf?] /
Boncompagni, T.S. In: The Wall Street Journal (ISSN 0099-9660), Sec. B, p. 11, col. 31997.
Costa Rica has gone on a links-building binge, hoping golf will be the birdie that lays the
golden egg. Environmentalists' concerns about introducing numerous golf courses into the rain
forest are detailed.
The Rain Goddess [La Diosa Lluvia] / Stearns, B. In: Field & Stream [South Edition] (ISSN
8755-8602), v. 102, no. 4, p. 36-40. 1997. The remote and beautiful waters of the rivers
bordering Nicaragua and Costa Rica hold big, tough gamefish. Dr Alfredo López of Río San
Juan, Costa Rica operates the Rain Goddess, a houseboat that takes anglers to the action.
Getting there: You take a commercial flight to San José, Costa Rica, where you are met by a
Rain Goddess representative. After a night in a quality hotel, you depart right after sunrise via
twin-engine charter plane for the point where you'll be picked up by boats from the Rain
Goddess.
55
Top ten reasons to dive Cocos Island [Las diez principales razones para bucear en la Isla
del Coco] / Walker, J. In: Skin Diver (ISSN 0037-6345), v. 46, no. 8, p. 94, 114+. 1997. The
top ten reasons to scuba dive at Costa Rica's Cocos Island, including the incredible variety of
marine life and the uniqueness of every trip, are presented.
Costa Rica's Travel Net / Coutts, B.E.; Wright, P. In: Library Journal (ISSN 0363-0277), v.
122, no. 4, p. 56. 1997. Costa Rica's Travel Net is the largest Costa Rica tourism site on the
Web. It includes maps, descriptions of popular parks, a photogallery, and lists of hotels, tours,
and packages and cruises. (http://www.centralamerica.com/).
Escazú, Costa Rica / Nicholls, W. In: Hispanic (ISSN 0898-3097), v. 10, no. 1/2, p. 110-112.
1997. Tourist information about Escazú, Costa Rica is presented. Tips on planning a vacation
to the area are offered.
Los cerros de Escazú: un geosistema vital con múltiples problemas / Zúñiga, W.
(Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Historia y Geografía, San José, CR). In: Revista de
Ciencias Sociales (Universidad de Costa Rica) (ISSN 0482-5276), no. 62, p. 69-81. 1993. This
article studies some aspects related to physical, cultural and geographical components of
Escazu's hills. Evaluates soil, water and vegetation resources as well as landscape, from which
several surrounding villages depend on. Points out part of the socio-environmental problematic
envolved on that mountainous conflict as a product of human action.
Mal País exótica y bella: cambio cultural y turismo en una comunidad costera /
Madrigal-Castro, G.M. Ciudad Universitaria: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1997. 152 p. Tesis,
Licenciatura en Antropología Social, Universidad de Costa Rica, Departamento de Antropología,
Ciudad Universitaria (Costa Rica). A través de este estudio se identifican procesos de cambio
sociocultural que se presentan en la vida cotidiana de los malpaiseños, a partir del auge de la
actividad turística en esta comunidad costera. Mal País se ubica en el sector sur de la
Península de Nicoya, Costa Rica. Pertenece al distrito de Cóbano, prov. de Puntarenas y limita
al norte con las comunidades de Santa Teresa y San Isidro, al noreste con las comunidades de
Delicias y Cabuya, al sureste y sur con la Reserva Natural Absoluta de Cabo Blanco y al oeste
con el Océano Pacífico. El estudio abarca un período de diez años, entre 1985 y 1995, sin
embargo, se dedicó el primer capítulo a narrar parte de la historia de Mal País, desde
principios de siglo hasta 1995. Para el análisis de la información se eligieron cuatro ejes de la
vida cotidiana: actividad económica, organización y participación comunal, socialización y
actividades recreativas. Más allá de la propaganda turística y de la "legitimación del desarrollo
turístico" como la única opción económica en una comunidad con atractivos turísticos, existe
un pueblo que narra sus experiencias y estrategias para vivir. Muestran una forma particular
de vida: entre mares, playas y montañas, entre malpaiseños y visitantes. El objetivo general
de esta tesis fue analizar las transformaciones socioculturales en la vida cotidiana de los
habitantes de Mal País, a partir del auge de la actividad turística en esta comunidad (19851995). Como objetivos específicos se planteó: 1. Describir y sistematizar el proceso histórico
de la actividad turística que ha tenido lugar en la comunidad estudiada. 2. Detectar y analizar
los cambios en la utilización del espacio de Mal País a partir del incremento de la actividad
turística. 3. Identificar y explicitar los cambios que han tenido lugar en las prácticas
económicas a partir del auge del turismo en la comunidad. 4. Identificar y analizar y analizar
la organización comunal del grupo social estudiado en este proceso de apertura turística. 5.
Evidenciar los cambios en el proceso de socialización y en las actividades recreativas de los
malpaiseños, como resultado de la actividad turística.
56
People and tourism in fragile environments [Gente y turismo en ambientes frágiles] /
Mallari, A.A.; Enote, J.E.; Smith, V.L.; Strang, V.; Pedersen, K.; Viken, A.; Kaltenborn, B.P.;
Baez, A.L.; Boonzaier, E.; Culbertson, K.; Snyder, D.; Mullen, S.; Kane, B.; Zeller, M.;
Richman, S.; Fitton, M.; Berger, D.J.; Potts, F.C.; Goodwin, H.; Walpole, M.J.; Whinney, C.;
Price, M.F, (ed.).; Smith, V.L. (Oxford University. Environmental Change Unit, Oxford, GB <Email: [email protected]>). Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1996. 238 p. ISBN: 0-47196584-7. Detailed case studies from five continents are presented to highlight the delicate
interactions between fragile environments and human activities, especially tourism, which has
grown rapidly in such environments over recent years. While tourism can provide new sources
of revenue and help stem depopulation, it can also destabilize communities, making them
dependent on external sources of money and endangering long established traditions and
ways of life. The overriding theme of these case studies is that tourism must always be seen in
the long term context of the communities with which it interacts, whose interests and
traditions should always take precedence over any economic gains that can be derived from
tourism development. Cases are drawn from a range of environments including mountains,
deserts, savannahs, polar regions, national parks and vulnerable archipelagos including: New
Mexico, USA; Nunavut, Canada; North Queensland, Australia; Norway; Costa Rica; South
Africa; Montana, USA; South Wales, UK; Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Learning from experience in the Monteverde Cloud forest, Costa Rica [Aprendiendo de
la experiencia en el bosque nuboso de Monteverde, Costa Rica] / Báez, A.L.; Price, M.F.; Price,
M.F, (ed.).; Smith, V.L. (Turismo & Conservación Consultores (T&CC), P.O. Box 1186-1100 CR
<E-mail: [email protected]>). In: People and tourism in fragile environments Chichester:
John Wiley and Sons, 1996. p. 109-122. ISBN: 0-471-96584-7. The challenges and impacts of
tourism development in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica, are described. The growth
and development of the tourism industry came at a crucial moment in the economy of Costa
Rica, as it coincided with a drop in world market prices for its traditional agricultural products
(particularly coffee and bananas). As a result of community involvement in the planning
process, small scale tourism development has occurred in rural communities near protected
areas and absorbed a significant number of unemployed farm workers. For example, the
tourism industry in Monteverde has resulted in the creation of some 80 different businesses, of
which a significant percentage are locally owned. These include hotels, restaurants, shops,
private reserves, environmental education institutes and cultural centres. The challenge for
the community now is to consolidate tourism as an industry representing and effective
development alternative as well as a means for supporting conservation.
Economic values and the environment in the developing world [Valores económicos y el
ambiente en el mundo en vías de desarrollo] / Georgiou, S.; Whittington, D.; Pearce, D.;
Moran, D. (University of East Anglia. Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global
Environment, Norwich, GB <E-mail: [email protected]>). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
Publishing Ltd, 1997. 167 p. ISBN: 1-85898-500-5. An assessment is presented of the state of
the art in applying economic valuation techniques to environmental problems in developing
countries. The available valuation techniques are outlined, and their application to developing
country problems are surveyed. Some guidelines are offered, and the gaps in the available
information are assessed. A chapter of ten case studies is presented covering: contingent
valuation: household demand for improved sanitation in Kumasi, Ghana; travel cost method:
valuing eco-tourism in a tropical rain forest reserve (Costa Rica); hedonic pricing: willingnessto-pay for water in the Philippines; contingent valuation: water quality in Barbados and
Uruguay; opportunity cost approach and contingent valuation: forest functions in Madagascar;
random utility model: water supply in Pakistan; contingent valuation: water quality in the
Philippines; production function analysis: afforestation benefits in Nigeria; production function
analysis of health costs of air pollution in Brazil; and, production function and implicit
willingness-to-pay for unique rain forest: Cameroon. It is concluded that economic valuation
is: extremely useful in raising the profile of the environmental aspects of development projects
57
and policies; widespread in terms of its applications in developing countries; and, generally
successful in its application.
Mexican waves [Olas mexicanas] / Turner, A. In: Leisure Management (ISSN 0266-9102), v.
17, no. 8, p. 28-29. 1997. The latest waterpark developments in South America are described.
The market leader, in terms of the number of new investments, is Brazil, while Costa Rica, the
Caribbean and Mexico are also booming. Some of the major investors in these developments,
such as NBGS International and Whitewater West are identified, and some of the more
common attractions, such as raft rides and hotel complexes are described.
Wolf in sheep's clothing [Lobo en piel de oveja]. In: Environmental News from the
Netherlands (ISSN 0925-2940), no. 2, p. 5-7. 1996. To host countries in the Third World,
tourism seems like an ideal opportunity to breathe new life into their ailing economies. This
article describes how unbridled growth can soon mean the end of the goose that lays the
golden egg, putting Europe forward as an example of how not to develop. Some examples of
good tourism practice, for example, include the policies of Bhutan and Costa Rica and the
steps taken by the Dutch travel firm, Multatuli Travels, to ensure that their tours are
environmentally friendly. Some projections about the future growth of the industry are cited in
conclusion.
Costa Rica: una introducción a las áreas protegidas y a su herpetofauna / Domènech,
S. (Independencia 348 6° 1ª, 08026 Barcelona, ES). In: Reptilia (Barcelona) (ISSN 10718443), no. 14, p. 26-33. 1998. The peculiar geography of Costa Rica, a country situated in the
heart of a tropical region, makes possible the existence of an incredible, diverse and a most
impressive representation of amphibians and reptiles. Namely, and up to the current day, 4
species of Gymnophiona, 37 of Urodela, 125 of Anura, 14 turtle species (6 marines), 73 of
diverse saurian, 130 species of Ophidia (18 highly venomous) and 2 species of cocodrilians.
This article presents a range of not only the most common and interesting, but also the most
rare and spectacular amphibians and reptiles. We also will be able to look for, and perhaps
observe, the different species in some of the main protected areas and their surroundings.
Also presented, and in the following order, are the preservation category of the parks or
natural reserves and their names, the situation number on the map, the geographical area and
province, the terrestrial extension and biotopes found.
Localización: Non available
Land taxation for sustainable development in Central America: the role of soil and
social scientists [Imposición de impuestos a la tierra para el desarrollo sostenible en
Centroamérica: el papel de los científicos de suelos y sociales] / Celis-Umaña, R.; AlvaradoHernández, A. (ProDesarrollo Internacional, Apdo. 253-2250, Tres Ríos, CR <FAX: (506)2734219> <E-mail: [email protected]>). World Congress of Soil Science, 15th,
Transactions Vol. 9: Supplement, Acapulco MXJuly 10-16, 1994. , 1994. p. 104-105.
Introduction: Sustainable development is a holistic term, this implies that all sectors are
equally important if this type of development is to be attained. In this paper, however, land
taxation is viewed as one mean to help in managing the land according to ecological basis in
the agricultural sector. Other land uses such as urban development, mining, marine and water
resources should be later integrated in a more comprehensive policy program if the aim is
promote sustainable development. Land quality, from the agricultural perspective, is valued on
the basis of crop production potential; therefore, other land uses such as tourism, which might
affect land prices, should be considered separately, and taxed accordingly.
Localización: Non available
Tourism and environmental decision-making [Turismo y la toma de decisiones
ambientales] / Joerger, A.G. (Cornell University. School of Hotel Administration, Ithaca, NY
14853, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). Ithaca, N.Y: Cornell University, 1997. 165 p.
58
Dissertation, Ph.D, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. (USA). As environmental resource
utilization conflicts escalate globally within and among competing industries, there is a need
for careful utilization and conservation of resources. A term that has gained considerable
currency with regard to resource allocation is "sustainable development". Tourism is an
industry whose sustainability is dramatically affected y land-based resources competition.
While there are diverging opinions regarding the nature, pace and forms of tourism, one must
nevertheless acknowledge its profound environmental, economic and social effects upon the
landscape. Tourism has come to represent financial security in many developing regions and
shows no sign of weakening. Given that "environmental information" is a building block
necessary in the planning of sustinable tourism development, the collection and use of this
information at the national level needs evaluation. To this end a survey was sent to 208
governments to determine the extent and use of environmental information. It was discovered
that a majority of responding nations do collect and use environmental information to develop
plans and create tourism policy. As governments, host communities and private investors
determine that tourism is a preferred method of development for a region, consideration must
be given to a specific site's suitability. Tools are needed to facilitate informed site decisions by
community members, government decision makers and project developers. If the forces upon
our own diminishing environment from tourism development are to be addressed, an
"environmentally-based tourism planning system" must be developed, evaluated, and
adopted. Due to its success in agriculture and forestry both resource-based industries, the
"FAO Framework for Land Evaluation" is just such a tool to facilitate stake-holder decisions
with regard to site suitability. Spatial and analytic tools and the FAO framework are then
combined to create a "site identification spatial decision support system" for tourism land
evaluation. The framework was demostrated in case study in northwestern Costa Rica, which
identified 4,400 hectares of suitable land for coastal tourism. The success of the proposed
framework is demonstrated by the potential for higher economic returns to investors from
hotels sited in areas identified as suitable for hotel development by the Strategic Framework.
Wildlands and ecotourism in Latin America: investing in protected areas [Áreas
silvestres y ecoturismo en Latinoamérica: invirtiendo en áreas protegidas] / Wallace, G.N. In:
Journal of Forestry (ISSN 0022-1201), v. 91, no. 2, p. 37-40. 1993. Although there are no
legislated wilderness areas in Latin America, there is much wildland that would qualify as
wilderness using US standards. Nearly all these Latin American protected areas, called "áreas
silvestres", are under pressure from development, subsistence farming, or extractive
industries. They seldom have clearcut legislation or boundaries and lack a minimum level of
funding, infrastructure, management plans, training, and personnel. Costa Rica has several
locations near protected areas where local people rather than larger commercial interests have
begun to manage tourism and receive its benefits. The wildlands and coastal reserves that
people come to see, however, continue to degrade. In Limón Province, the Talamancan
Ecotourism and Conservation Association (ATEC) attempts to encourage the type of tourism
desired by locals and organizes people who want to provide small-scale services including
lodging, guiding, food, ans artisan products. This scheme distributes benefits among many
residents and asks that outside tour operators conform to local norms while in the area. Nearb
are beautiful wildland areas - a wildlife refuge and a biosphere reserve - that have roadless
beaches, reefs, and tropical forestland. Unfortunately, there has been little coordination
between the local ecotourism committees and the agencies that manage these wildland
attraction sites. Visitors will find no entrance stations, visitor centers, or trail systems and only
two or three park guards. Nesting sea turtles are threatened and timber is being illegally cut.
In a sense these are still "paper reserves" existing on protected area system maps and having
management plans but receiving no real management. Even the the resources in Costa Rica's
famous park and refuge system have been reduced by First World pressure to deal with the
nation's external debt. This comes at a time when investment in staff training, infrastructure,
and management of these wildland areas would go a long way to ensure that the years of
work ATEC has put into the community-based model and into gaining local acceptance for
wildland protection would not be in vain. Park management strategies could also reinforce
ATEC's desire to avoid mass tourism by determining the types of visitors and activities that are
59
permitted. As it stands, outside investors whith plans for large resorts may still beat wildland
managers and the community to the draw.
Impacto socioambiental del desarrollo de infraestructura hotelera en el litoral
Pacífico Central / Valverde, J. (Universidad Estatal a Distancia. Escuela de Ciencias Exactas y
Naturales, Línea de Extensión Ambiental Comunitaria, San José, CR). In: Repertorio Científico
(ISSN 1021-6294), v. 3, no. 2, p. 8-11. 1995. La actividad turística en Costa Rica, y en
cualquier país del mundo, trae consigo una serie de consecuencias sobre diversos órdenes de
la vida de un país o una comunidad. Se pueden mencionar, entre las más importantes, las de
tipo socioeconómico, cultural, ambiental y jurídico-políticas. El caso del Parque Nacional
Manuel Antonio es un ejemplo crítico del efecto del desarrollo turístico en Costa Rica, en donde
se incumple la ley marítimo-terrestre. También destaca el autor el escaso beneficio que recibe
la comunidad a costa del gran deterioro que están sufriendo los ecosistemas que se
encuentran en esta región.
Localización: Biblioteca Luis D. Tinoco: 500R.
Seeing the people behind the trees [studien zu Waldnutzung, Ressourcenmanagement und
Naturschutz in Asien, Afrika und Zentralamerika] / Kahl, M, (ed.).; Klughardt, D, (ed.).; Ohe,
S. v.d, (ed.). (Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft, ASA-Programm, Lutzowufer 6-9, 10785 Berlin, DE).
In: ASA Studien (Germany) (ISSN 0176-8433), no. 28, 273 p. 1995.ISBN: 3881-56-644-9. A
collection of articles on forest utilization, resource management and conservation in Honduras,
Thailand, India, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Kenya, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and
Principe and Indonesia is presented and 2 global forestry conservation programmes, the
Tropical Forestry Action Program and the Forestry Stewardship Council, are reviewed. In the
first section, using case studies from several countries, the different forms of forest resource
management are presented and their effectiveness and social consequences are assessed. In
the next section it is shown that single purpose forest reserves, without considering the needs
of those living in or near them, are self-contradictory in nature, whereas alternative uses, such
as ecotourism, are not without their own problems. The issue of sustainability is addressed in
the last section with articles on social forestry, agroforestry and teak plantations.
Ecotourism demand and differential pricing of national park entrance fees in Costa
Rica [Demanda de ecoturismo y diferente precio de entrada a los parques nacionales en Costa
Rica] / Chase, L.C. (Cornell University. New York State College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853-3001,
US). In: Land Economics (ISSN 0023-7639), v. 74, no. 4, p. 466-482. 1998. Ecotourism
presents developing countries with growing opportunities for enhancing resource conservation
and economic growth. This paper presents a conceptual framework and empirical analysis of
the impacts of introducing a differential entrance fee policy at three national parks in Costa
Rica is presented. Data are collected using a contingent behaviour methodology designed to
elicit information on foreign tourists; (n=311, contacted between January-March 1995)
hypothetical park visitation behaviours at alternative entrance fee levels. Park visitation
demand function demand demand functions and price and income elasticities are estimated.
Revenue-maximizing fees are calculated and applications of differential pricing principles to
park management are discussed.
Status and recent history of coral reefs at the CARICOMP network of Caribbean
marine laboratories [Situación e historia reciente de los arrecifes coralinos en la red
CARICOMP de laboratorios marinos caribeños] / Ginsburg, R.N, (comp.).; Cortés-Núñez, J. et
al. (Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Biología y CIMAR, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Proceedings of the Colloquium and Forum on Global Aspects
of Coral Reefs: health, hazards and history, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine &
Atmospherical Sciences, Miami US1994. , 1994. p. 73-79. Fourteen of 19 Caribbean marine
laboratory members of the CARICOMP (Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity) network
60
responded to a questionnaire requesting qualitative information on the historical and present
status of the coral reefs selected for long-term research in the program. Eight of the 14 sites
indicated that coral cover had recently declined. While much of the loss was attributed to
natural events, nutrient-loading, sedimentation, and over-fishing were also implicated. Six
sites reported algal cover as medium to high (10 30%), the suspected result of reduced
herbivory by over-fishing, Diadema mortality, and nutrient-loading. Nine of the sites reporting
are located in marine parks, preserves, or areas of restricted access. Generally, coral cover
has remained stable at these sites, except where threatened or damaged by direct tourist
impact or distant forest clearing causing coastal sedimentation. This observation should
encourage grass roots educational efforts as well as legislation to mitigate human impact on
reefs. The long-term observations on these reefs sites which began in late 1992 under the
CARICOMP program will help to discriminate between natural variability and human impact
and assist in sustained regional coral reef management.
A reef under siltation stress: a decade of degradation [Un arrecife bajo problemas de
sedimentación: una década de degradación] / Cortés-Núñez, J.; Ginsburg, R.N, (comp.).
(Universidad de Costa Rica. Escuela de Biología y CIMAR, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Proceedings of the Colloquium and Forum on Global Aspects
of Coral Reefs: health, hazards and history, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine &
Atmospherical Sciences, Miami US1994. , 1994. p. 240-246. The coral reef at Cahuita National
Park, Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, has been stressed by sediments from watersheds of
rivers that flow to the sea near the Park. High sediment loads in these rivers are due to
deforestation on the highland and to inappropriate agricultural practices on the coastal plains.
During the last decade natural disturbances - coral bleaching in 1983, Diadema antillarum dieoff in 1983 and 1992, a 7.5 earthquake in 1991 - and other anthropogenic stresses - pollution,
tourism - have contibuted to the degradation of the coral reef. A comparison of the reef
between the late 1970's - early 1980's and 1993 revealed the following: suspended sediments
and the non-carbonate fraction of bottom sediments have increased from 8 to 9 mg/l, and
from 40 to 48%, respectively; live coral cover has decreased, from 40 to 11%, while dead
coral, algae covered carbonate substrate and coral rubble have increase in sediment loads in
the reef, increased visitation to the reef, and to natural disturbances. It is possible that the
reef will recover if sediment loads in the rivers are reduced.
Costa Rica y sus ambientes naturales / Vargas-Ulate, G. (Universidad de Costa Rica.
Escuela de Geografía, San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José:
Euroamericana de Ediciones S.A, 1994. 267 p. ISBN: 9977-975-38-8. Tiene como objetivos
fundamentales: dar a conocer a Costa Rica, sus ambientes naturales, desde un enfoque
geográfico; en segundo lugar, brindar información sobre los ambientes naturales del país.
Localización: Biblioteca ULACIT: 910.91 V297c.
Guía turística, La Península de Osa y Parque Nacional de Corcovado [Tourist guide, Osa
Peninsula & Corcovado National Park] / Pedersen, A. (Wildlands Recreation and Ecotourism
Planning, 7100 Harris Ave, Austin, TX 78705, US <Fax: (512)476-6718>). San José: Editorial
Heliconia, 1992. 68 p. ISBN: 9977-969-03-5. This guide is an attempt to offer visitors to the
Corcovado National Park and the Osa Peninsula basic travel information. In the past, tourists,
upon learning of the Peninsula's attractions, had been unable to go to one source for answers
to their questions. Hopefully, this guide will begin to fill the gap.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 917.286 P371g.
El turismo, su impacto socioeconómico sobre los recursos naturales de Manuel
Antonio / Sáenz-Méndez, J.C. (Universidad Nacional. Programa Regional en Manejo de Vida
Silvestre, Apdo. 1350-3000, Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Ciencias
Ambientales (ISSN 1409-2158), no. 9, p. 156-164. 1992. El Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
está considerado a nivel nacional e internacional como un ejemplo de desarrollo turístico no
planificado, en donde se está produciendo una destrucción acelerada de los recursos
61
naturales. Paradójicamente el 70% de los turistas que visitan Manuel Antonio llegan a la zona
atraídos por las bellezas de la flora y fauna del lugar, lo cual se perderá si no se detiene el tipo
de desarrollo actual y se opta por un desarrollo turístico planificado. También algunas
instituciones del Estado están contribuyendo al grave deterioro ambiental en Manuel Antonio.
Por ejemplo, el Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), en su necesidad de suplir la
demanda de energía a los nuevos hoteles, está realizando el tendido eléctrico sin ningún
criterio técnico, por lo menos desde el punto de vista ecológico. Muchas de esas líneas pasan
por áreas donde se desplazan monos Tití (Saimiri oerstedii). Se han reportado muertes (6) de
estos monos por electrocución. Esto ocurre porque el ICE corta muchos árboles para hacer el
tendido eléctrico (cables), y al estar los cables en la ruta de desplazamiento de los monos,
ellos se ven obligados en algunos casos a sujetarse de los cables para pasar de un parche de
bosque a otro y de esa manera ocurren los accidentes. Se describen otros problemas como la
contaminación de las playas, ríos y esteros por basura o aguas negras. La mayoría de los
pequeños agricultores han dejado sus parcelas convirtiéndose en asalariados de hotes y
restaurantes, con bajos salarios. El turismo extranjero ha superado al nacional en los últimos
años. Esto se debe en parte a los altos precios que se cobran por los servicios. Pasar una
noche en Manuel Antonio puede costarle a una persona entre 3.000 a 12.000 colones, a lo que
hay que añadir los altos precios en los restaurantes y sodas, por lo que muy pocos
costarricenses están en capacidad de sufragar estos gastos. El precarismo también se ha
asentado en Manuel Antonio, estableciéndose un "negocio de tierras" como producto de los
altos precios que ha adquirido la tierra en Manuel Antonio y la poca oportunidad de un trabajo
bien remunerado. Se comenta que 1 ha puede valer ms de US $60.000 y la mayoría de los
compradores son extranjeros. Todo lo anterior expuesto indica que en Manuel Antonio existe
un gran problema socio-económico-ambiental. Por una parte los beneficios del turismo natural
o ecoturismo no están llegando a la población local, amén de las pocas fuentes de trabajo. La
idiosincracia de los pobladores también está cambiando hacia un aspecto negativo: el
alcoholismo, consumo y trasiego de drogas es común hoy en día en Manuel Antonio. De
continuar el actual ecoturismo, que en realidad es un turismo convencional con otro nombre,
pero con los mismos efectos sobre el medio ambiente, dentro de unos pocos años Costa Rica
dejaría de ser un destino turístico por excelencia, como ha sucedido con otros paraísos
turísticos de fama mundial como Cancún en México o Islas Canarias en el Caribe.
Percepción de los recursos naturales y de la actividad turística en el distrito de
Cóbano, Puntarenas, Costa Rica / Romero-Ramírez, S.E. San José: Universidad de Costa
Rica, 1997. 192 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Geografía, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de
Historia y Geografía, San José (Costa Rica). El presente estudio, que ahonda en los
paradigmas de la geografía de la percepción, tuvo como objetivo conocer la percepción de los
pobladores del distrito de Cóbano, provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica, sobre algunos
recursos naturales, tales como suelo, uso de la tierra y paisaje. Se analiza también la
percepción sobre la actividad turística en la zona, sus impactos, tanto positivos como
negativos, y sobre la Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco, emplazada en el extremo sur de
la península de Nicoya. Para alcanzar dichos objetivos se llevó a cabo un muestreo intencional
de 112 casos (3,56% de la población distrital), durante el mes de febrero de 1995. Los
resultados evidenciaron, entre otros aspectos, que no existe una configuración espacial
adecuada, por parte de la población estudiada, sobre los atractivos turísticos regionales. A su
vez, entre los principales impactos positivos percibidos destacaron la generación de empleo,
las mejoras en la electricidad y en el transporte. Los impactos negativos percibidos más
importantes fueron el consumo de drogas, la pérdida de valores morales y de costumbres y
tradiciones y la prostitución. Desde el punto de vista espacial, los pobladores de la zona de
estudio perciben algunos sitios como de mayor interés turístico, como aquellos localizados en
la zona costera, como Montezuma y Malpaís. Los poblados del interior del distrito no se
visualizan como poseedores de atractivos turísticos. La Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco
obtuvo la cuarta posición como atractivo, además de que los pobladores desconocían los
programas de extensión comunal de la misma, aunque percibieron que su existencia era
importante para el desarrollo de la región. El estudio demostró que a mayor cercanía de la
RNACB mayor concientización sobre su existencia, en tanto que a mayor lejanía el
62
conocimiento de los pobladores era mínimo. La escasa participación de los pobladores de la
región para ser absorbidos por la industria turística se expresa en los bajos índices de
escolaridad. Los programas desarrollados pr las instituciones estatales no satisfacen las
expectativas locales de una mayor calificación para desempeñarse en el sector turístico. Una
conclusión trascendente del estudio es que se recomienda la creación de un corredor biológico,
que una propiedades privadas con propiedades estatales, bajo medidas de manejo de la vida
silvestre adaptadas a las necesidades de las poblaciones locales.
Evaluación del mercado turístico en Costa Rica / Mata-Solano, A. San José: Universidad
de Costa Rica, 1996. 124 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Economía, Universidad de Costa Rica,
Escuela de Economía, San José (Costa Rica). Con una tasa de crecimiento promedio anual del
14% en la cantidad de turistas que ingresan a Costa Rica desde 1987, el turismo es hoy día la
principal fuente de ingresos por divisas en nuestro país. En 1995, por concepto de turismo el
país percibió un ingreso superior a los $ 661 millones (US), equivalentes al 25% de las
exportaciones nacionales. Estos aportes sobre la balanza de pagos y las oportunidades de
empleo que gener, así como los efectos directos e indirectos que provoca sobre diferentes
sectores de la economía costarricense, han llevado a considerar estratégica la actividad. El
objetivo principal del trabajo es estudiar la situación actual del mercado turístico costarricense
para determinar cuales son los principales desequilibrios en lo que respecta a la oferta y la
demanda y plantear posibles soluciones. Como objetivos secundarios, pretende estudiar la
tendencia de la demanda turística durante la última década y caracterizar al turista que visita
Costa Rica. Un resumen de la investigación se presenta a continuación. Se identifican en el
desarrollo turístico costarricense cuatro etapas, definidas en función de los hechos que las
caracterizaron: a. Desarrollo incipiente (1955 a 1970). b) Marco regulatorio (1971 a 1982). c)
Replanteamiento de la política turística (1983 a 1986). d) Era de expansión (1987 a hoy). Es
en la cuarta etapa de desarrollo donde el turismo comienza a tomar más impulso, con tasas
anuales promedio de crecimiento en la demanda turística del 12%-15%. Hacia finales de los
80's, otro mercado natural aparece y el turismo centroamericano es desplazado por la llegada
de estadounidenses. Estados Unidos de América se convierte entonces en el principal
consumidor de los atractivos naturales, con la ventaja de presentar patrones de gasto e
ingreso mayores que los centroamericanos, lo que lleva a un incremento en la estadía y gasto
per capita turísticos. Placer y descanso serán los principales motivos para visitar Costa Rica,
desplazando alos negocios y el trabajo. La tendencia observada en los últimos años muestra
que el mercado europeo es un segmento que adquiere importancia relativa creciente con el
paso del tiempo. A partir de 1994 se observa una reducción en las tasas de crecimiento de la
demanda turística, que parecen estar respondiendo -con cierto rezago- a una tendencia
mundial presentada a inicios de los 90's y sugiriendo entonces la cercanía a una etapa de
crecimiento estable en lo que a ingresos de turistas se refiere. Este comportamiento en la
demanda, hace pensar que las tasas de crecimiento anuales rondarán entre el 5% y 7% en lo
que resta de este siglo. Con respecto a la oferta, es evidente la cobertura de las habitaciones
hacia las zonas litorales, pues la preferencia de los turistas por el sol y la playa lleva a
establecer infraestructura en estas regiones. Se nota una clara concentración habitacional en
el cantón de San José con un 35% de la oferta total, equivalente a 7134 habitaciones. La
infraestructura disponible no permite satisfacer las necesidades de los turistas. La red vial es
mala y el acceso a algunos atractivos solo es posible por vía fluvial o aérea. La capacidad de
los acueductos y el aeropuerto es insuficiente para atender la demanda turística. A través del
análisis de la oferta de hospedaje, logró determinsarse que la distriución habitacional no es la
óptima, pues aunque existe una sobreoferta de hospedaje equivalente al 18% de la oferta
total, en las unidades de planeamiento de Llanuras del Norte, Caribe, Monteverde, CorcovadoGolfito y Guanacaste Sur, el número de habitaciones es insuficiente para albergar a todos los
turistas (nacionales y extranjeros) que visitan la zona. El comportamiento de los precios para
una habitación doble parece estar respondiendo a ese desequilibrio en el mercado, pues las
tarifas -medidas tanto en colones como en dólares constantes- muestran una tendencia hacia
la baja a partir de 1994. Junto a todos estos hechos, la competencia se torna cada vez más
agresiva. Países como México, Guatemala, Ecuador, Argentina, Venezuela, Jamaica, Bermuda,
Puerto Rico y Cuba se perfilan como competidores bastante fuertes, sin embargo, aun no se
63
han efectuado análisis de competencia. Se obtuvieron una serie de conclusiones: no ha
existido una política de desarrollo turístico a largo plazo; la ventaja comparativa del país se
encuentra en el ecoturismo; Estados Unidos de América es por excelencia el mercado natural
para la actividad turística costarricense; aunque el sol y playa no son los puntos fuertes para
que Costa Rica compita con otros destinos turísticos de la región, es la actividad que mayor
cantidad de turistas atrae; existe una sobreoferta de hospedaje que es consecuente con la
tendencia descendente observada en los precios durante los tres últimos años. Es importante
señalar que el trabajo presenta algunas limitaciones producto, principalmente, de la poca
información disponible, de ahí que el análisis que se hace de la demanda y de la oferta no es
exhaustivo. Por lo tanto, los resultados de esta investigación deben ser evaluados
considerando esta limitante. Se sugieren algunas recomendaciones para la formulación de la
política turística costarricense del próximo quinquenio. Todas van dirigidas a segmentar el
mercado turístico con el objetivo de diversificar la oferta y con ello atraer un mayor número de
visitantes al país. En resumen, las recomendaciones dadas son: aprovechar la ventaja
competitiva que la cercanía con Estados Unidos de América da al país; definir áreas con alto
potencial de desarrollo agroecoturístico; mejorar la información disponible para que el
inversionista decida donde invertir sus recursos y replantear el esquema de incentivos. Dada
la carenia de información que se detectó durante el trabajo, se sugiere la elaboración de
estudios de algunas áreas tipo de atractivos que el país podría y desea desarrollar; evaluación
del comportamiento de la demanda por unidad de planeamiento; análisis de precios y un
estudio sobre la competencia.
Generación de ingresos a través de la valoración de los bienes y servicios del bosque
tropical / Aguirre-González, J.A. (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza,
Turrialba, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). Simposio Conservación del Bosque en Costa
Rica. Memorias, Heredia CR30-31 Oct. 1997. In: Conservación del Bosque en Costa Rica San
José: Academia Nacional de Ciencias, 1998. p. 242-255. ISBN: 9968-9845-1-5.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: NBINA-1987. 333.7516 C755c.
Evaluación de los recursos naturales para la conservación y desarrollo del
ecoturismo. Matina, Limón / CAYRO S.A, Matina, Limón, CR., 1990. 109 p.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.917097286 E92.
Osa 2000: una estrategia para la conservación biológica y desarrollo de la
comunidad en la Península de Osa de Costa Rica [OSA 2000: a strategy for biological
conservation and community development on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica] (<E-mail:
[email protected]> )./ Fundación Neotrópica. Centro de Derecho Ambiental y de los
Recursos Naturales, San José, CR. San José: Fundación Neotrópica / CEDARENA, 1991. 86 p.
Este estudio considerado como la culminación de dos años de trabajo de campo representa el
punto de vista sobre el manejo sostenible de los recursos naturales en la Península de Osa de
Costa Rica. El Capítulo I brinda la introducción al documento. En el Capítulo II, se describen
ciertas características de esta península, tales como: clima, diversidad biológica, árboles y su
uso maderero, tenencia de la tierra, aspectos mineros y los esfuerzos desarrollados durante
los últimos años tanto por el Ministerio de Recursos Naturales, Energía y Minas como por el
Proyecto BOSCOSA. En el Capítulo III se desglosan los objetivos del proyecto. En el Capítulo
IV, se describe la planeación de un programa de manejo y se analiza la aplicación de una serie
de programas aplicados para la protección de los recursos naturales, asistencia legal y
tenencia de la tierra, agricultura y desarrollo forestal sostenible, ecoturismo, educación
ambiental, entrenamiento y extensión, investigación y aspectos mineros, información que se
detalla en los Capítulos V a XI respectivamente.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: AD 410. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.95097286
O81.
Políticas de ecoturismo en el SINAC. Documento de consulta externa / Servicio de
Parques Nacionales. Departamento de Planificación y Servicios Técnicos. Sección de Turismo,
San José, CR. San José: Servicio de Parques Nacionales, 1993. 41 p. Se detallan los
64
resultados de un trabajo desarrollado por el personal del Servicio de Parques Nacionales, para
definir el marco de políticas que debe orientar el desarrollo del ecoturismo en el Sistema
Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC). En el documento se presentan los principios
orientadores del establecimiento y manejo del SINAC y los propósitos de las políticas de
ecoturismo. En una tercera sección se desarrolla el marco conceptual propuesto, enfatizando
en los principios de sostenibilidad, los objetivos del ecoturismo en el SINAC, el programa de
atención a visitantes y las actividades de planificación, organización y mercadeo. En la última
sección se describen las políticas requeridas para lograr un ecoturismo sostenible en el SINAC.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 338.4791 P769.
Propuesta de manejo turístico para las zonas de uso público de la Reserva Natural
Absoluta Cabo Blanco / Gómez-Castro, I.; Anderson-Rana, L. San José: ULACIT, 1994. 227
p. Tesis, Bachillerato en Turismo, ULACIT, San José (Costa Rica). Trabajo sobre el manejo
adecuado del turismo en la Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco; en donde se contempla el
ordenamiento de las actividades de la actividad turística en las zonas de uso público, el
recorrido del visitante, la definición de mecanismos para hacer de la visita un momento
educativo y recreativo, así como la integración de la comunidad de Cabuya en la actividad
turística.
Localización: Biblioteca ULACIT: Tesis 254.
Una estrategia de mercadeo para área Caribe Sur del Atlántico costarricense / CastroMéndez, G. San José: ULACIT, 1992. 153 p. Tesis, Bachillerato en Turismo, ULACIT, San José
(Costa Rica). (No abstract).
Oferta de agencias de viaje ecoturísticas de Costa Rica / Sánchez-Sáenz, A. San José:
ULACIT, 1996. 84 p. Tesis, Maestría en Turismo Ecológico, ULACIT, San José (Costa Rica). La
investigación tiene como objetivo identificar y caracterizar las principales agencias de viaje
altamente especializadas en el campo del turismo ecológico en el país. Se realiza una
comparación entre una muestra de 109 agencias evaluadas, resultando que tres agencias
pueden ser consideradas como altamente especializadas en ecoturismo. Este estudio es de
gran importancia, ya que existe un gran riesgo en la mezcla no planificada de productos
turísticos, tanto para la percepción de la calidad de servicios esperada por el ecoturista, como
la necesaria regulación y control de este producto a nivel nacional; además que ello podría
repercutir en la disminución de las entradas económicas por concepto de turismo al país. Al
final del trabajo se presentan recomendaciones para mejorar la calidad de los servicios de
agencias de viaje receptivas ecoturísticas.
Análisis sobre el aprovechamiento turístico del Centro Ecológico Morpho, Guápiles,
Costa Rica / Chaves-Montero, K.; Quesada-Robles, J. San José: ULACIT, 1996. 120 p. Tesis,
Bachillerato en Turismo, ULACIT, San José (Costa Rica). Esta investigación se desarrolla con
base en un análisis del Centro Ecológico Morpho, el cual está ubicado en la ribera del río
Corinto, en Guápiles, Limón. Se realizó un estudio del aprovechamiento de los recursos
naturales y el impacto generado por las diversas actividades que se desarrollan en dicho lugar,
de manera que sirva para el estudio de otras reservas privadas.
Distribución espacial de las especies de fauna de mayor atractivo para el turista
ecológico en función de las áreas silvestres de Costa Rica / Murillo-Gutiérrez, H.H. San
José: ULACIT, 1998. 158 p. Tesis, Maestría en Turismo Ecológico, con énfasis en
Administración y Planificación del Ecoturismo, ULACIT, San José (Costa Rica). Esta
investigación se dirigió especialmente a determinar la distribución espacial de las especies de
fauna de mayor atractivo para el turista ecológico en función de las áreas silvestres de Costa
Rica.
65
Propuesta de contenidos programáticos sobre aspectos de turismo y conservación
ambiental para el I y II ciclo de educación general básica en Costa Rica / TejadaAlvarez, L.F.; Quirós-Monge, M. San José: ULACIT, 1996. 106 p. Tesis, Bachillerato en
Turismo, ULACIT, San José (Costa Rica). El presente trabajo de investigación se realizó con el
fin de proponer contenidos programáticos sobre Turismo y Conservación Ambiental para el I y
II ciclo de la educación general básica en Costa Rica.
Conferencia-Taller Turismo Litoral Impacto y Manejo Sostenible. Actas San José, CR,
22-26 febrero, 1995. Cevo, J, (ed.).; Leitón, E, (ed.).; Morera, M, (ed.). San José: ULACIT /
IPGH, 1995. s.p. Primer fruto del proyecto presentado al IPGH (Instituto Panamericano de
Geografía e Historia); contiene los resultados de la primera Conferencia-Taller "Turismo litoral,
impacto y manejo sostenible", realizada en febrero de 1995.
Localización: Biblioteca ULACIT: 658.159.37 T938tur.
Ecotourism: a guide for planners and managers [Ecoturismo: una guía para
planificadores y administradores] / Kreg, L, (ed.).; Hawkins, D.E, (ed. Vermont: The
Ecotourism Society, 1993. 175 p. ISBN: 0-9636331-04. Compilación de conferencias de
autores expertos relacionados con el ecoturismo, en relación a su aspecto de planeamiento y
manejo, como consecuencia de la cantidad de turistas que visitan las áreas naturales.
Localización: Biblioteca ULACIT: 333.716 E18e.
Seminario-Taller Turismo Sustentable: Principios y Aplicaciones. Memorias. MoreraBeita, C.M, (ed.). (Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Geográficas, Apdo. 86-3000,
Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José, CR1-4 nov., 1995. San José: ULACIT,
1995. 157 p. El turismo se ha convertido, en las últimas décadas en la principal actividad
económica, es por ello que urge marcar rutas que ofrezcan soluciones viables para los
problemas ambientales que enfrentamos. El turismo sustentable puede ser una opción, pero
es necesario definir el significado práctico del término, definir el funcionamiento de los entes
que actúan dentro de la actividad económica y definir la interrelación del turismo con el medio
ambiente, comunidad, empresarios, etc. Es por ello que el seminario se encuentra orientado a
establecer la posibilidad de lograr una sociedad sustentable en Costa Rica, para poder
preservar nuestros recursos naturales.
Localización: Biblioteca ULACIT: 658.159.37 T938t.
Costa Rica and the environment: a sustainability survey [Costa Rica y el ambiente: un
estudio de sostenibilidad]. Rotterdan: Atlas, Environmental Association, 1995. 128 p. ISBN:
90-9008100-3. Contiene en su introducción los conceptos de desarrollo sostenible. Se
organiza en tres partes: 1- Características generales de Costa Rica, políticas ambientales,
económicas, regulaciones y legislación 2- La situación ambiental, convenios bilaterales. 3Turismo, banano, café, madera, industria. Incluye apéndices: reporte de Costa Rica,
declaración y 17 casos de estudios.
Localización: Biblioteca ULACIT: 333.716 C837c.
Report on land-use zoning for the OSA Conservation Area [Informe de zonificación en el
uso de la tierra en el Área de Conservación Osa] / Watson, V.; Divney, T.; Godoy, D.;
Jiménez, J. (Centro Científico Tropical, P.O. Box 8-3870, 1000 San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). San José: Centro Científico Tropical, 1992. 41 p. En la Península de
Osa, al sur de Costa Rica confluyen diferentes instituciones gubernamentales con competencia
en el uso de la tierra y los recursos del área. El objetivo de este estudio fue mostrar desde el
punto de vista técnico, recomendaciones de zonificación de acuerdo a los diferentes usos de la
tierra en la Península de Osa. La división de la región en zonas de uso de la tierra se presenta
con énfasis en la biodiversidad. Los criterios utilizados fueron: existencia de comunidades
ecológicas no protegidas en el Parque Nacional, bosques naturales en áreas con capacidad de
protección, existencia de iniciativas privadas de conservación, entre otros. El mapa resultante
del estudio incluye la existencia de unidades de protección vecinas a áreas que podrían ser
protegidas, zonas de amortiguamiento y zonas disponibles para uso forestal. También se
66
presentan zonas en la cuales se podrían combinar la conservación con actividades de
ecoturismo.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.73097286 R425.
Curu: a study in sustainability [Curú: un estudio en sostenibilidad] / Liberatore, C, (ed.).;
Stucker, J, (ed.).; Damon, T.A, (ed.). (Center for Sustainable Development Studies. School for
Field Studies, San José, CR). San José: Center for Sustainable Development Studies, 1992.
240 p. This report examines the interactions between Hacienda Curu and Valle Azul, a small
settlement that was formerly a part of the Schutt farm. It looks beyond the physical
environment of Curu -- the farm and Wildlife Refuge -- and places Curu in a social context;
sustainability cannot be measured in only ecological and economic terms. Given this premise,
that protected areas with unique characteristics are not in a social vacuum, we address this
section to both the owners of Curu and the residents of Valle Azul.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.95097286 C981.
Ecotourism: what works and what does not [Ecoturismo: qué funciona y qué no] /
Ceballos-Lascuráin, H.; Johnsingh, A.J.T.; Bissonette, J.A, (ed.).; Krausman, P.R, (ed.). (IUCN
Ecotourism Program, Mexico, D.F, MX). International Wildlife Management Congress, San
José, CR; 19-25 Set 1993. In: Integrating people and wildlife for a sustainable future
Bethesda, MD: Wildlife Society, 1995. p. 191-197. ISBN: 0-933564-12-0. Ecotourism, a new
phenomenon in the world scene, is environmentally responsible travel and visitation to
relatively undisturbed natural areas, to enjoy, study, and appreciate nature (and any
accompanying cultural features; both past and present), that promotes conservation, has low
negative impacts, and provides for sustainable and beneficially active socio-economic
involvement of local populations. We survey different developments around the world and
make recommendations for efficient ecotourism. In Costa Rica, tourism (mainly natureoriented) has recently become the top source of foreign exchange, replacing the traditional
export crops fo coffee, bananas, and cattle. For a country with only 3 000 000 inhabitants,
Costa Rica receives 500 000 visitors/year. During the last 5 years, the number of visitors to
Costa Rican parks has doubled. In 1986, only 20% (about 50 000) of tourists visited a
protected area; today 50% (about 260 000) of the foreign tourists visit these areas. There has
been an important ecotourism development on private lands also, whose natural landscape
and wildlife are being protected by their owners. Recent studies show that the value of a
scarlet macaw (Ara macao) over it lifetime may be as high as $500 000 due to tourists
viewing it.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.9515 I61.
Ecotourism and wildlife conservation in Costa Rica: potential for a sustainable
partnership? [Ecoturismo y conservación de la vida silvestre en Costa Rica: ¿potencial para
una asociación sostenible?] / Damon, T.A.; Vaughan-Dickhaut, C.; Bissonette, J.A, (ed.).;
Krausman, P.R, (ed.). (University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Wildlife Ecology,
Madison, WI 53706, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). International Wildlife
Management Congress, San José CR19-25 Set 1993. In: Integrating people and wildlife for a
sustainable future Bethesda, MD: Wildlife Society, 1995. p. 211-218. ISBN: 0-933564-12-0.
Tourism in Costa Rica has recently become the top source of foreign exchange, according to
some sources, replacing the traditional export crops of coffee, bananas, and cattle. In 1992,
610 093 tourists visited Costa Rica (population 3 million) generating $421.1 (U.S.) million to
the economy. The number of visitors (national and foreign) to the national parks and
equivalent reserves of Costa Rica has increased from 205 640 to 639 753 tourists between
1982 and 1992. The National System of Conservation Areas administeredby the National Park
Service, combined 71 out of 78 wildland areas into 8 conservation areas using the Biosphere
Reserve concept for the sustainable use of resources. Ecotourism can provide much needed
revenues for the conservation of wildlife and wildland resources, but research and monitoring
of wildlife populations and control of ecotourism are esential for a sustainable partnership.
67
The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor: legal framework for an integrated system of
protected areas [El Corredor Biológico Mesoamericano: sistema legal para un sistema
integrado de áreas protegidas] / Ankersen, T.T.; Hamann, R.G.; Bissonette, J.A, (ed.).;
Krausman, P.R, (ed.). (University of Florida. Center for Governmental Responsibility, College
of Law, Gainesville, FL 32611, US <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). International Wildlife Management Congress, San José CR19-25 Set
1993. In: Integrating people and wildlife for a sustainable future Bethesda, MD: Wildlife
Society, 1995. p. 332-335. ISBN: 0-933564-12-0. Attention has focused on the prospect of
establishing a regional institutional framework to protect and restore a contiguous remnant of
the "Mesoamerican Biological Corridor", as an integrated regional system of protected areas.
No model of multilateral cooperation in natural resource management on the scale required to
achieve the creation of a multinational biological corridor presently exists. Although several
options for a legal framework for an integrated protected area system exist, the adoption of an
integrated protected areas protocol to the existing regional biodiversity convention appears
best suited to the objective of establishing an effective Mesoamerican biological corridor.
Sobre la industria turística en Turrialba, Costa Rica: percepciones de los habitantes
turrialbeños en la búsqueda de un desarrollo sostenido del turismo / Hughell, E.
Raleigh, NC, 1997. 19 p. (No abstract)
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: AV 338.4791 no. 1.
La comercialización del ecoturismo mediante agencias "tours" operadoras / MadrigalMurillo, C. Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 1997. 150 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Ingeniería en
Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Heredia (Costa
Rica). El presente trabajo analizó los factores determinantes en la comercialización del
producto ecoturístico, con el propósito de facilitar información, la cual permita fomentar una
utilización racional y un control más efectivo, del producto ecoturístico, a través de la
observación de variables como: producto ecoturístico, planificación del paquete ecoturístico,
promoción y segmentación de mercado por parte de las Agencias "Tour" Operadoras. La
recolección de datos y el trabajo de investigación se realizaron durante el II Semestre de
1996: se hizo mediante un cuestionario a los encargados de la comercialización de las diversas
Agencias "Tour" Operadoras ecoturísticas. El estudio permitió conocer la incidencia del
ecoturismo en el país. También se definieron algunas características del cómo las Agencias
"Tours Operadoras" promueven el producto y mejoran las demandas de los turistas, con la
finalidad de competir en dicho mercado y a la vez hacer uso sostenible del producto
ecoturístico.
Localización: Biblioteca del BIODOC: 1705. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis M183C.
Valoración económica de las actividades de recreación en el lago Cachí, Cartago,
Costa Rica / Sena, Jr. F.M. de. Turrialba: CATIE, 1997. 96 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc, Centro
Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba (Costa Rica). En Costa Rica la
valoración de los recursos naturales a través de métodos de no mercado, se está convirtiendo
en una herramienta de gran utilidad para la planificación del uso actual y futuro de los
mismos. El presente trabajo es una contribución a esos esfuerzos que en la actualidad se
están realizando. La investigación se llevó a cabo en el lago Cachí de la provincia de Cartago y
tuvo como objetivo principal el de estimar el excedente del consumidos de las actividades de
recreación que se desarrollan en dicho lago. Los métodos utilizados para determinar el valor
del recurso natural fueron: voluntad de pago y el de costo de viaje. En ambos casos se utilizó
la encuesta como herramienta para recolección de la información necesaria en el estudio. Se
utilizaron 150 encuestas realizadas entre abril y junio de 1997 distribuidas en los tres lugares
del lago Cachí que son: "Paradero Lacustre Charrarra", "La Casona del Cafetal" y "La Represa
del lago Cachí". Las encuestas fueron diseñadas con base en un Premuestreo Aleatorio
Estratificado, definiendo los estratos a saber: Universitario y No Universitario. La información
recolectada se procesó con el objeto de estimar los modelos de regresión múltiple que
expliquen el VDP y el CV, para esto se usó la opción Proc Reg del programa Statistical Analysis
System (SAS). Los resultados demuestran en el caso del método VDP que el excedente del
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consumidos para las tres áreas fue de 116 millones de colones evidenciando diferencia
estadística entre el VDP promedio de los estratos definidos en el estudio. En el caso del
método costo de viaje, el excedente del consumidos fue de 1 billón 337 millones de colones, y
no hay evidencia tan significativa entre la diferencia estadística de los promedios de los
estratos, universitarios y no universitario.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis S474v.
Manejo ambiental y desarrollo sostenible de la cuenca del río San Juan: estudio de
diagnóstico de la cuenca del río San Juan y lineamientos del plan de acción / OEA.
Secretaría General. Unidad de Desarrollo Sostenible y Medio Ambiente, Washington, D.C, US.
Washington, D.C: OEA, 1997. 268 p. ISBN: 0-8270-3762-7.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.917097285 M274.
International tourism and its contribution to the valuation of the tropical rainforest:
a proposed method and application in Costa Rica / Dean, J.; Aguirre-González, J.A.
(Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Turrialba: CATIE, 1997. 10 p. (International Congress of the
Environment. IV; Caracas). Previous tropical rainforest valuation techniques have encountered
certain limitations with respect to international, multi-destination, multi-purpose travel. This
study develops and tests an alternative methodology to determine the recreational value of
tropical rainforests in Costa Rica, using the actual tourism expenditures related to ecotourism
in protected areas of Costa Rica. The study determined the surrogate consumer surplus
related to ecotouristic activities through a time and expenditure survey of 347 international
tourists, and determined that the international recreational value of the tropical rainforest in
Costa Rica was US$13.16 per hectare. This value can be used to encourage and promote
conservation and preservation.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: CATIE D281.
White mischief / Connolly, M. In: Conde Nast Traveler (ISSN 0893-9683), v. 33, no. 3, p.
142-148. Connolly imparts tropical chic to ecotourism and a rain forest in Costa Rica. Fashion
clothing and accessories are presented.
Costa Rica, naturally [Costa Rica, naturalmente] / Tierney, J. In: The New York Times (ISSN
0362-4331), Sec. 5, Col. 1, p. 13 (Feb 1, 1998). 1998. The brochure made it sound simple
and appealing: explore Costa Rica's rain forests from a cruise ship that reaches pristine coasts
normally accessible only by grueling overland treks. But I headed for the jungle with
trepidation. We set off on Jan. 3 from Puntarenas, a ramshackle little port on the eastern side
of the Gulf of Nicoya in western Costa Rica, aboard the Temptress Explorer. This 185-foot
former cargo vessel was converted three years ago into a cruise ship that can hold 99
passengers. It wasn't glitzy - no pool, no casino, no grand dining room - but it was wellappointed and well air-conditioned. The roomy cabins (about 10 by 12 feet each) had picture
windows, teak beds, private baths and showers; the upper deck and forward lounge offered
plenty of comfortable chairs with great views. Our first morning was spent at a tropical forest
in the privately owned Curu wildlife refuge, south of Paquera, across the gulf on the Nicoya
Peninsula. The guides led small groups on leisurely strolls around a mangrove lagoon as whitefaced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) swung from branch to branch and howler monkeys
(Alouata palliata) bellowed somewhere off deep in the woods. On one branch, we spotted a
furry brown-and-white creature that looked a bit like a small panda with a long snout. It was
the lesser anteater, using its long sticky tongue to slurp up termites.
Relaxing with monkeys and birds in a rain forest [Relajándose con monos y pájaros en
un bosque lluvioso] / Marcus, F.F. In: The New York Times (ISSN 0362-4331), Sec. 5, Col. 1,
p. 12 (Dec 7, 1997). 1997. Lapa Rios is not actually a treehouse, but that's what this immense
thatched lodge in the jungle presiding over 14 elegant aerielike bungalows feels like. Lapa Rios
is a haven for people who love rain forests, both a romantic retreat and nature observatory.
69
But if you go there only for tranquillity and ample, well-prepared meals you'll find those, too with a menu that stresses grilled fish, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit and opulent desserts. The
lodge sits at the end of a road 45 minutes by four-wheel drive from a gravel-topped airstrip
where roosters crow. We arrived after a 50-minute flight from San José, one that can take
twice as long with stops. Dazed by the jungle's wet air (it was early November, late in the
rainy season), my husband, Bernard, and I scrambled from the back of Lapa Rios's pickup
truck into a clearing beside the soaring, cathedral-like pavilion, which serves as a dining and
sitting room, bar and library.
International trips [Viajes internacionales] / Anonymous. In: Sierra (ISSN 0161-7362), v.
83, no. 1, p. 80-84. 1998. Sierra Club international trips offer members a unique opportunity
to explore the world's wild and remote places with others who share the same respect for
other cultures and concern for the global environment. The trips, which are offered in
countries such as Costa Rica, Nepal and Ireland, are discussed. COSTA RICA: A NATURALIST'S
DREAM. NOVEMBER 7-21. This small Central American country is known for its incredible
natural beauty, its gracious people, and its famous national park system. Expanding this trip
to two weeks allows us to visit nearly all he major biotic zones of Costa Rica. Under the expert
tutelage of our enthusiastic naturalist guide, Marcos Soto, neophytes and experienced
naturalists will share the discover of exceptional tropical birds and wildlife. We'll walk through
rainforests and float on "jungle" rivers, watching for monkeys, caimans, and sloths. We'll
search cloud forests for the magnificent quetzal and dry tropical forest for the turquoisebrowed motmot. We'll have close-up views of active volcanoes, visit white-sand beaches, and
climb over 11,000 feet. In addition to nature walks, hikes, horseback rides, and raft trips will
fill our days. Accommodations are double occupacy in private lodges that serve typical Costa
Rican cuisine. TROPICAL HOLIDAYS IN COSTA RICA. DECEMBER 20-29. From lush rainforest
to valcanic craters, Costa Rica's complex topography provides a haven for tropical beauty and
diverse ecosystems. On this winter holiday in the warm tropics, enjoy myriad natural settings
within this small, unique country. Watch for jungle wildlife such as parrots, trogans, giant
sloths, caimans, coatamundis, and monkeys. Marvel at the bird life at Caño Negro. Spend a
night on the slopes of Arenal, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Relax on a
beautiful Pacific Coast beach and visit Río Tárcoles and Carara Biological Reserve with
magnificent scarlet macaws and ancient hardwoods forests. The many options available make
this trip suitable for a very active or a relaxed vacation.
Adventure in Costa Rica [Aventura en Costa Rica] / Rada, J. In: Southern Living (ISSN
0038-4305), v. 32, no 12, p. 14-18. 1997. Southerners can easily travel to Costa Rica, a
country of great ecological diversity that features highlands, beaches, coffee plantations, and
over 850 species of birds.
Binoculars packed [Binoculares empacados] / Anonymous. In: Southern Living (ISSN 00384305), v. 32, no. 12, p. 31. 1997. Travel information regarding Costa Rica is presented,
including helpful travel guides, tour packages, and packing advice. Getting to Costa Rica is
relatively easy. About two hours flying time south from Miami on American Airlines (or just a
little longer from Dallas on American or from Houston on Continental Airlines) lands you in the
nation's capital, San José. From there, rely on resort shuttles or an efficient fleet of
independent taxi vans to reach any destination. Nearly any travel agent can get you started
with information about the country. Study published guides such as Fodor's (be sure to get a
recent edition), found in libraries and bookstores. We also received useful details from the
Costa Rica Tourist Board, reaching its San José office (1-800-343-6332). Tips: Pack a passport
or driver's license, a small English-Spanish dictionary, a pocket calculator to convert prices
from Costa Rican colones to U.S. dolars, binoculars and insect repellent, a rain jacket, and
about half the clothes you think you'll need.
70
The use of satellite information as a means to promote peace in the oceans [El uso de
información de satélites como un medio para promover la paz en los océanos] / Quirós, G.E.
(Unesco. Intergovernment Oceanographic Committee, Rome, IT). In: Borgese, E.M. (ed.).
Peace in the Oceans: Ocean governance and the Agenda for Peace Paris: UNESCO, 1997. p.
215-220. . Central America has left behind, to a great measure, the armed confrontations that
tainted red the waters that washed their coasts. One of the new challenges these nations face
currently is to prevent the marine ecosystems and environment to degrading, in order to
preserve the resources for future generations. To speak of Peace in our Oceans is to attune
the commercial interests of large tourism and fishing industries with the need for subsistence
of the coastal populations, and with policies arising from the governments and from
international financial organizations. In this sense, the access that developing nations have
been given to space technology over the last decade enhances our possibilities to study,
characterize and analyze maritime zones and their resources with new means, satellite
technology.
Estudio de impacto ambiental: Proyecto Teleférico del Bosque Lluvioso, Guápiles,
provincia de Limón (Consultoría Ecológica y Técnica de Costa Rica S.A. (ECOTEC), Apdo.
615-2010, Zapote, CR)./ Consultoría Ecológica y Técnica de Costa Rica, San José, CR. San
José: Consultoría Ecológica y Técnica de Costa Rica, 1994. 126 p.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.7514 E82.
Costos económicos ambientales de la construcción del proyecto hidroeléctrico de
Angostura sobre las actividades ecoturísticas que operan alrededor del canotaje en
Turrialba (Costa Rica) / Saravia-Contreras, A.A. (CATIE, Turrialba, CR). Turrialba, 1994.
102 p. Tesis, Mag Sc, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba
(Costa Rica). En este trabajo se evaluó cual sería el efecto que ocasionaría la construcción del
proyecto hidroeléctrico Angostura (PHA), sobre las actividades ecoturísticas principalmente
"rafting"; ya que con él se reduce aproximadamente 9.5 km del recorrido entre Tucurrique y el
puente Angostura, el cual presenta las características ideales para que este deporte pueda ser
practicado por gente sin experiencia. Se visitó el área y a través de revisión de literatura y
entrevistas se logró identificar los principales impactos que ocasionará el PHA, estos se
clasificaron en costos y beneficios tangibles e intangibles; para poder valorarlos se diseñó una
metodología para cada uno. Para evaluar los impactos relacionados con la actividad del
"rafting", se determinó cuales sectores estaban involucrados con esta actividad y se identificó
que eran los cinco grupos siguientes: Turistas, Empresas de "rafting", Población, Restaurantes
y Hoteles; para recopilar información de cada uno de estos grupos se elaboraron cuestionarios
diferentes para cada uno; los resultados obtenidos se analizaron con ayuda del software
Quattro Pro. Los principales resultados muestran que los ingresos que dejarán de percibirse
por grupo al desaparecer esta actividad son los siguientes: Hoteles $ 1 688 755,2,
Restaurantes: $ 68 812,80, Empresas de rafting: $ 10 313 895. Las pérdidas totales si
desapareciera la actividad de "rafting" en el río Reventazón serían de $ 43 729 150,50, que
constituyen el 7,6 por ciento del total de ingresos que recibe Costa Rica en concepto.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis S243c.
Plan de manejo y desarrollo Parque Nacional Palo Verde y Reserva Biológica Lomas
Barbudal (Contrato SENARA-BID-MIRENEM-UNA) / Vaughan-Dickhaut, C.; McCoy-Colton,
M.B.; Fallas-Gamboa, J.; Chaves-Kiel, H.; Barboza-Jiménez, G.; Wong-Reyes, G.; Carbonell,
M.; Rau, J.R.; Carranza, M. (University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Wildlife Ecology,
Madison, WI 53706, US <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 1994. 192 p. El presente Plan de
Manejo y Desarrollo del Parque Nacional Palo Verde (PNPV) y la Reserva Biológica Lomas
Barbudal (RBLB) consiste en seis secciones: 1. Resumen ejecutivo, 2. Contexto Nacional, 3.
Contexto Regional, 4. Unidad de Conservación, 5. Plan de Manejo y Desarrollo y 6. Apéndices.
En las secciones 1, 2 y 3 se hizo un análisis exhaustivo de la situación actual a nivel nacional,
regional y específicamente del PNPV y la RBLB. Estos análisis sirvieron para formular la 5ta.
71
parte, denominada Planificación de Manejo y Desarrollo. El PNPV/RBLB es considerado un sitio
de importancia nacional por poseer uno de los últimos remanentes de bosque seco tropical en
la región centroamericana, de incalculable valor genético. También posee pantanos y lagunas
salobres y de agua dulce, que dan hogar a más de 60 especies de aves vadeadoras, así como
un humedal de importancia internacional acogido por RAMSAR. Desde el año 1982, al finalizar
el primer Plan de Manejo y Desarrollo del entonces Refugio de Vida Silvestre Palo Verde, no se
ha vuelto a planificar en forma consistente el uso del área. Con el aumento de los problemas
de cacería furtiva, incendios, fragmentación del bosque y el proyecto de riego de SENARA, el
PNPV/RBLB está amenazado tanto a nivel interno como externo de ser convertido en una
verdadera isla rodeada por zonas agrícolas. Además, el inesperado aumento del turismo
nacional/internacional está afectando tanto al área como a su biota. Es necesario planificar
buscando la supervivencia de la biota a largo plazo. Es por lo anterior que en el año 1993 fue
contratado un equipo de especialistas de la Universidad Nacional con más de 30 años de
experiencia de trabajo en el PNPV/RBLB para formular el presente Plan de Manejo y
Desarrollo. La sección 5ta. está dividida en cinco programas de manejo: 1. Investigación,
manejo y monitoreo con proyectos de a) Ganadería, b) Ojos de agua, c) Pozos artificiales de
agua, d) Aves acuáticas-manejo de piches, cercetas y patos reales, Isla Pájaros, e) Manejo de
rondas para evitar incendios, f) Eliminación de abejas africanizadas, g) Manejo del Corredor
biológico Quebrada La Mula; 2. Ecoturismo; 3. Seguridad y vigilancia; 4. Educación ambiental
y extensión; y 5. Administración, desarrollo y mantenimiento. Cada programa está dividido en
subprogramas con objetivos, actividades, normativas, resultados esperados y prioridades. Se
da énfasis al manejo de los recursos naturales y humanos del área de estudio, tomando en
cuenta los posibles impactos tanto nacionales como regionales.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: AD 340. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.783097286
P699pln 1994.
An economic valuation of Carara Biological Reserve: potential tourism value as an
incentive for improved conservations of marginal protected areas in Costa Rica [Una
valoración económica de la Reserva Biológica Carara: valor potencial del turismo como un
incentivo para las mejoras de conservación de áreas protegidas marginales en Costa Rica] /
Besleme, K.; Aguilar-González, B.; Vartanián, D, (ed.).; Pérez, A.C, (ed.). (Prescott College.
Department of Ecological Economics and Environmental Law, 220 Grove Ave, Prescott, AZ
86301, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). Biennial Meeting of the International Society
for Ecological Economics. III, San José CR24-28 Oct 1994. In: Down to earth: practical
applications of ecological economics; final program and abstracts San José: International
Society for Ecological Economics / Universidad Nacional / Consejo de la Tierra, 1994. p. 189.
ISBN: 92-9039-251-7. Costa Rica is known for its system of protected areas. Yet, not all
protection regimes in force are efficiently accomplishing their conservation objectives. There is
a lack of resources to manage these areas adequately. Most funding sources and policy
makers give priority to units that have large areas for conservation and/or recreational
attractions. Thus the conservation of unique ecosystems, such as the recently created Central
Pacific Conservation Area and the satellite areas in the West Central Valley of Costa Rica, is
not prioritized. The inappropriate management of these areas jeopardizes the last remaining
patches of dry transition to humid and humid transition to premontane forest in the country.
Additionally, the region is where most of the country's population lives. This can imply that the
costs of more effective conservation practices would be higher than in other areas. Therefore a
careful assessment of the total economic benefits that these areas bring to Costa Rica is
needed (i.e., use value + option value + existence value). Being this an area of high tourist
visitation, the travel cost method is appropriate to estimate indirect values of conservation.
This study measures the potential value of domestic ecotourism for a main conservation unit
of this area, The Carara Biological Reserve. The model used to estimate visitation rate
introduces indicators of education and income as determinants of demand. These factors seem
necessary to find the potential value of these areas from an ecological economic perspective.
By observing travel behavior, this study revealed that Costa Ricans are willing to pay $31
more than they pay per visit to this site, resulting in an annual potential domestic.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.715 D748d. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: IICA
333.72063 B588 1994.
72
Turismo y naturaleza: una alianza impostergable [Tourism and nature: an unavoidable
alliance] / Roesch, C. / Costa Rica. Presidencia de la República / UNED / INBio, San José, CR.
Foro del Bosque a la Sociedad. I. San José. CR. 9 Mayo 1994. In: Del bosque a la sociedad: un
nuevo modelo costarricense de desarrollo en alianza con la naturaleza (From forest to society:
a new Costarican model of development in alliance with nature) San José: Editorial
Universidad Estatal a Distancia, 1994. p. 95-104. ISBN: 9977-64-779-8. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.716097286 D331 1994.
Tourism in Costa Rica: initial modifications of land tenure in the marine terrestrial
zone [Turismo en Costa Rica: modificaciones iniciales a la tenencia de la tierra en la zona
terrestre marina] / Morera-Beita, C.M.; Bonilla, S.; Vartanián, D, (ed.).; Pérez, A.C, (ed.).
(Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Geográficas, Apdo. 86-3000, Heredia, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Ecological Economics.
III, San José, CR; 24-28 Oct., 1994. In: Down to earth: practical applications of ecological
economics; final program and abstracts San José: International Society for Ecological
Economics / Universidad Nacional / Consejo de la Tierra, 1994. p. 63-64. ISBN: 92-9039-2517. An ecotourism boom affects the local economy in four ways: by generating employment
other than agricultural employment; by increasing the inflation in land prices; by creating
changes in soil use; and by creating incentives for local producers under the socalled
diversification and expansion of production themes (O'Ferral, 1991). Costa Rica's ecotourism
boom, which began at the end of the 1980's, has turned tourism into the highest earner of
foreign currency in this country. The lack of planning and coherence by the Costa Rican State which wasn't ready for the new direction that the economy has taken - is reflected in a series
of tourism vs. environment conflicts, in cases like Tambor, Gandoca-Manzanillo, and
Papagayo. The daily number of visitors to several national parks has exceeded their carrying
capacities. As a result, travel operators are heading for new areas that are being opened for
tourism. Until now, research which evaluates the effects of ecotourism on different activities in
this country (environmental, social, cultural and economic) has been scarce. This study
evaluates the present state of land tenure in the marine-terrestrial zone and provides possible
explanations about its development. The land-titles in 40 counties in the marine-terrestrial
zone are evaluated. Nationally, Costa Ricans hold 90.6 percent of all the land-titles in the
marine-terrestrial zone, compared to 4.1 percent in the hands of foreigners. However,
foreigners own some key areas in the marine-terrestrial zone, particularly the areas which are
close to protected areas, or to areas that need to be protected, demonstrating a tendency for
local people to lose control of the land.
333.72063 B588 1994.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve: links between forest preserve, the local
community and tourism [La Reserva del Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde: ligamen entre la
reserva forestal, la comunidad local y el turismo] / Rojas-González, C.M.; Vartanián, D, (ed.).;
Pérez, A.C, (ed.). Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Ecological Economics. III,
San José, CR; 24-28 Oct., 1994. In: Down to earth: practical applications of ecological
economics; final program and abstracts San José: International Society for Ecological
Economics / Universidad Nacional / Consejo de la Tierra, 1994. p. 66. ISBN: 92-9039-251-7.
Tourism has been increasing in Costa Rica since 1986. Most tourists visit protected wild areas
during their trip. This increasing number of nature-oriented and scientific tourists (researchers
and students) can be attributed to: the peaceful nature of this country; the positive social
situation (in comparison with other Latin American countries); the immense biological
diversity, and finally; the protected areas system (State and private) that was initiated in
1913. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is one of the most frequently visited protected
areas in the country, generating 40,132 person-days in 1991. Tourists support approximately
70 different services in the area: lodging, restaurants, guides, slide shows, horse renting, art
galleries, packed food, laundry, gas station, butterfly farm, private trails, and transportation.
These services are owned by approximately 54 local families. There are approximately 250
employees working in these businesses, most of them from the local community. These
73
business generate most of their income during the high tourist season (December-April),
although some of these services are used by local people throughout the year. It has been
said over and over that nature-oriented tourism is benefitting the tropical forest as well as the
rural communities which are adjacent to them. However, there are few examples in the world
where these benefits have been proven. (Especially the economic benefits for an importing
country like Costa Rica). How much of foreign currency generated by tourism "goes out" of the
country again?. This paper examines the Monteverde case in order to explore the links
between the Preserve, the local community, and tourism, and attempts to ascertain where the
tourism money goes. Ideally, part of that money should directly benefit the resource that is
being used to generate it, in this case, the protected forest at the Preserve. One would also
hope that this money would improve the standard of living in the community beside the
preserve.
333.72063 B588 1994.
Estudio de caso participación local en el desarrollo turístico en Talamanca, Costa
Rica / HaySmith, L.; HaySmith, L, (ed.).; Harvey, J, (ed.). In: El ecoturismo y la conservación
de la naturaleza en Centroamérica. San José: Paseo Pantera, 1994. p. 59-60. El área de
Talamanca, Costa Rica está rodeada por tres zonas protegidas, el Parque Nacional Cahuita, la
Reserva Indígena de Kéköldi y el Refugio de Vida Silvestre de Manzanillo'Gandoca. El área
entera presenta altos niveles de biodiversidad. Una población diferente habita la región
incluyendo gente con descendencia del Caribe, grupos indígenas, ladinos y aquellos de Centro
y Sur América, Europa y Norteamérica. La lejanía física de Talamanca lo ha hecho permanecer
casi intocable. Sin embargo, la construcción de carreteras y la mejora de otras infraestructuras
han abierto la región al desarrollo. Debido a la inquietud que existe sobre el desarrrollo y sus
efectos en la destrucción de bosques y otros hábitats, un grupo de ciudadanos locales
formaron la Asociación de Talamanca para el Ecoturismo y la Conservación (ATEC). Ellos se
organizaron para promover un turismo responsable y fomentar el orgullo por la cultura local al
incremetar el manejo local de proyectos de ecoturismo. ATEC ha publicado panfletos en inglés,
ha organizado limpieza de playas y ha conducido estudios sobre turistas y administradores
turísticos. Ellos cabildean a oficiales gubernamentales para que se les hagan mejoras a los
servicios locales y para obtener fondos para investigación sobre las consecuencias sociales y
ambientales de¡ desarrollo de las plantaciones bananeras, la mayor causa de deforestación en
la región. ATEC ha recibido ayuda financiera y asistencia técnica de la Fundación
Interamericana, de Boulder, Colorado, del Comité de Servicio Mundial del Club Rotario de los
Estados Unidos y la Asociación Centroamericana ANAI. Estas organizaciones ofrecen apoyo
para las iniciativas y manejos locales y permite que ATEC controle los fondos para sus propios
proyectos. Los planes para el futuro incluyen la construcción de un centro de información
ambiental y de actividades, capacitación de guías locales y el desarrollo y promoción
deprogramas de educación ambiental dirigidos tanto a los residentes locales como a los
turistas. ATEC invita a turistas, estudiantes, ambientalistas y operadores turísticos a
experimentar lo que ellos llaman "ecoturismo real" como se explica a continuación: "disfrutar,
apreciar y aprender sobre los aspectos de la ecología tropical conocer a los residentes locales
aprender sobre el valor de su conocimiento tradicional, cultura y estilo de vida contribuir al
desarrollo económico sostenible y a la expansión de las oportunidades sociales y de educación
para los residentes locales ser más conocedores de las causas sociales de la degradación
ambiental y compromoterse a vivir de una forma más responsable desde el punto de vista
ambiental tanto en la comunidad anfitriona como en sus propias comunidades".
Localización: Biblioteca OET: MAST-75. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 338.4791 E19e.
Estudio de caso desarrollo hotelero en Costa Rica: impactos del "ecoturismo" en la
vida silvestre / HaySmith, L.; HaySmith, L, (ed.).; Harvey, J, (ed.). In: El ecoturismo y la
conservación de la naturaleza en Centroamérica. San José: Paseo Pantera, 1994. p. 83-87. En
Costa Rica, en una de las reservas más ricas biológica y culturalmente, el Refugio Silvestre de
Gandoca-Manzanillo y las Reservas Indígenas de Cabecar y Bribrí se inició la construcción de
un hotel de lujo. La reserva está localizada en la letárgica costa sur del Caribe del país.
Irónicamente, el hotel fue iniciado por un defensor del ambiente, quien estuvo involucrado en
74
la Conferencia sobre el Ambiente de las Naciones Unidas celebrada en Río de Janeiro, Brasil.
Este urbanista foráneo estaba construyendo un complejo de 35 millones de dólares y ahora
enfrenta cargos por estas acciones. Además, otros hoteles han sido construídos dentro de la
reserva. Por ejemplo, según reportes una compañía italiana tiene planes de construir otro
hotel de lujo de 130 habitaciones con 60 villas separadas, piscinas, canchas de tenis y un
centro comercial. Los desarrollos pueden causar impactos ambientales, dada la escala y
magnitud de la tala del bosque en estos sitios y el número de turistas que estarán utilizando la
reserva. Los estuarios son viveros para la langosta y el tarpón, especies muy cotizadas para el
deporte de la pesca. Además, cuatro especies de tortugas marinas raras o en peligro de
extinción desovan en las playas de la reserva. Muchas otras especies de aves, mamíferos,
reptiles y anfibios se encuentran también en la reserva. En un caso similar, Playa Tambor en
la costa Pacífica es un sitio donde se encuentra un complejo turístico de 400 habitaciones
construído por una compañía española. Tambor es biológicamente rica pero frágil, con
numerosas especies de animales tropicales, seis de las cuales están en peligro de extinción.
Los grupos conservacionistas ANAI y ASCONA han estado preocupados con ambos casos.
ASCONA ha demandado a los urbanistas de Tambor por la violación a las leyes ambientales
como el rellenar 8 acres de pantanos en donde se podían encontrar manglares raros. Los
impactos negativos de estas infracciones no han podido ser determinados hasta el momento.
Sin embargo, estos casos ilustran algunos de los conflictos que Costa Rica está enfrentando en
el campo de la conservación a la vez que arrivan cantidades sin precedentes de turistas al
país.
Estudio de caso: las tortugas marinas y el ecoturismo en Tortuguero, Costa Rica /
Campbell, C.L.; Haysmith, L, (ed.).; Harvey, J, (ed.). (University of Florida. Department of
Wildife Ecology & Conservation, 303 Newins-Ziegler, Gainesville, FL 32611, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: El ecoturismo y la conservación de la naturaleza en
Centroamérica San José: Paseo Pantera, 1994. p. 88-92. El Parque Nacional de Tortuguero
localizado en la costa noroeste de Costa Rica, tiene un área de 18,947 ha de bosque tropical
lluvioso. La población más grande de tortugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) que anidan en el
Oceáno Atlántico anidan en Tortuguero durante el período comprendido entre julio y
septiembre primordialmente (Carr et al. 1978). La playa donde se encuentran los nidos tiene
35 km de largo y se extiende entre la desembocadura de los ríos Tortuguero y Parismina. Los
límites del Parque Nacional Tortuguero incluyen 27 km de playa con nidos. Para proteger los
nidos de las tortugas verdes y evitar la recolección ilegal de sus huevos, los límites del parque
se extienden durante la época de anidación para incluir la playa entera. Las tortugas marinas
son animales de vida silvestre, grandes y conspicuos y pueden ser fácilmente observados
durante el período de desove lo que las hace buenos sujetos para el ecoturismo o para la
:observación de tortugas:. La observación de la tortuga se ha convertido en una actividad
ecoturística muy popular en muchas de las playas de anidamiento de la tortuga marina en
todo el mundo. En 1993, más de 6.400 turistas participaron en observaciones organizadas de
tortugas en 2 meses y medio durante el período de anidación de la tortuga verde en
Tortuguero (Campbell 1994). La observación de la tortuga se lleva a cabo primordialmente
caminando a lo largo de la playa, en la noche, en busca de las tortugas anidando o las
tortugas que están saliendo del mar para anidar. Una vez que la tortuga está anidando, es
localizada y los observadores siguen todo el proceso de anidamiento. Debido a su popularidad
y a las alteraciones potenciales a la vida silvestre, se han establecido algunos programas de
observación de tortugas en algunas playas. Los programas consisten en grupos organizados
de personas que están supervisadas por guías. Los objetivos de los programas de observación
de tortugas son el controlar las actividades humanas y educar a la gente sobre las tortugas
marinas. Esto puede también generar ingresos para las comunidades locales, las áreas
protegidas y la industria turística. Los ingresos generados por la observación de las tortugas
en Tortuguero son recolectados por miembros de la comunidad local, los albergues turísticos y
el Parque Nacional de Tortuguero. Además, el incremento de turistas para observar tortugas
en Tortuguero ha promovido el desarrollo de otros negocios ecoturísticos como las excursiones
por la naturaleza. Las oportunidades de trabajo han mejorado considerablemente para los
75
pobladores locales en ciertas áreas manejando botes, realizando labores manuales y
trabajando en puestos de mantenimiento y protección.
Estudio de caso: promoción de la conservación y del desarrollo comunitario en
Tortuguero, Costa Rica: participación de una ONG / Taft, L.K.; HaySmith, L, (ed.).;
Harvey, J, (ed.). (Caribbean Conservation Corporation, 4424 NW 13th St. Ste A-1, Gainesville,
FL 32609, US). In: El ecoturismo y la conservación de la naturaleza en Centroamérica. San
José: Paseo Pantera, 1994. p. 114-117. Un trecho de playa de arenas negras en la costa
noroeste de Costa Rica ha sido usado para el anidamiento de tortugas marinas por un milenio.
De las cuatro especies de tortugas que usan esta playa, la especie conocida como tortuga
verde Atlántica (Chelonia Mydas), es notablemente comestible. Por muchos siglos, los
individuos precolombinos acamparon aquí para cazar las tortugas y los exploradores europeos
pararon en estas playas para abastecer sus barcos con tortugas para proveer a la tripulación
con carne fresca por muchos meses. Inaccesible, fangoso, y ubicado sobre una vasta
extensión de bosque lluvioso, Tortuguero no contaba con un asentamiento organizado hasta
los años veinte, cuando unas pocas familias negras criollas de las Islas Caribeñas de San
Andrés colonizaron el área. Los colonizadores provenían de otros lugares de los alrededores
del Caribe, de Nicaragua y de una isla de Costa Rica. Estos eran primordialmente pescadores y
agricultores y sus descendientes cazaban tortugas marinas para satisfacer sus necesidades de
subsistencia y para abastecer el mercado doméstico situado en el puerto sureste costarricense
de Puerto Limón. Hasta mediados de los años setenta, la caza incontrolada de tortugas suplía
el mercado internacional de carne y de un cartílago usado como base para la sopa de tortuga.
Muchas playas de anidamiento en el área del Caribe vieron como se desvanecieron las
poblaciones de tortugas por la caza excesiva y se temió que Tortuguero enfrentara el mismo
destino. La Corporación para la Conservación del Caribe (CCC) fue establecida en 1959 para
conservar las tortugas marinas y proteger los ecosistemas costeros y marinos de los cuales
ellos dependían. La CCC apoyó, en Tortuguero, las actividades de identificación e investigación
de la Universidad de Florida a cargo del zoólogo, Dr. Archie F. Carr, Jr., . Sus estudios
documentaron la naturaleza migratoria de las tortugas verdes Atlánticas, entre otros datos
desconocidos hasta ese momento sobre su ecología. Las actividades de la CCC en Tortuguero
de los años sesenta hasta mediados de los años ochenta, fueron orientadas principalmente
hacia la investigación. Los biólogos interesados en las tortugas marinas exploraron varios
aspectos de la biología de las tortugas y condujeron programas de identificación con la ayuda
de voluntarios y miembros de las villas vecinas. Sus descubrimientos ayudaron a convencer al
gobierno costarricense a establecer leyes de protección en 1963 y 1969. La investigación
también ayudó a convencer al gobierno para crear, en 1970, el Parque Nacional Tortuguero, el
cual protege 22 millas de playa para el anidamiento y otras 18,920 ha de bosque lluvioso.
Estudio de caso: la capacidad de carga turística en la Reserva Biológica Carara, Costa
Rica / Courrau, J.A.; HaySmith, L, (ed.).; Harvey, J, (ed.). (The Nature Conservancy's
PROARCA/CAPAS Project, P.O. Box 230-1225, San José, CR). In: El ecoturismo y la
conservación de la naturaleza en Centroamérica. San José: Paseo Pantera, 1994. p. 153-163.
La Reserva Biológica Carara (RBC) ha llegado a ser una de las principales atracciones para los
turistas de la naturaleza en Costa Rica. La Reserva fue creada en 1978 y consiste de 4,700 ha.
Está ubicada en la región del pacífico central de Costa Rica. El sistema de Parques Nacionales
(SPN), como respuesta a las crecientes presiones turísticas a la Reserva Biológica Carara, en
1990 diseñó una evaluación de la capacidad de carga turística. Para ejecutar esta evaluación,
el SPN recibió asistencia del personal de la Unidad Integrada de Maneio de los Recursos
Naturales en CATIE (Centro Agrícola Tropical para la Investigación y la Enseñanza) para
proveer asistencia técnica en la redefinición de zonas y diseñar un estudio de caso que
determinara la capacidad de carga de la RBC. Metodología: para comenzar se definieron tres
niveles de capacidad de carga: capacidad de carga física, capacidad de carga real y capacidad
de carga efectiva. La capacidad de carga física (CCF) fue definida como el límite máximo de
visitantes que pueden ocupar un espacio definido en un período de tiempo específico. La
capacidad de carga real (CCR) fue definida como el número máximo de visitantes que fue
76
determinado en la fase de capacidad de carga física, además de los factores de corrección que
corresponden a cada sitio. Los factores de corrección incluían variables ambientales, físicas,
ecológicas y administrativas definidas por un equipo de investigación. La capacidad de carga
efectiva (CCE), fue definida como la comparación entre la CCR y la capacidad administrativa
(CA) de la reserva. Algunas de las variables consideradas en la capacidad administrativa (CA)
fueron: personal, equipo, facilidades y disponibilidad de recursos financieros. La CA determina
la CCE, y ésta puede incrementarse o reducirse. La CA no puede ser mayor que la CCR. Cada
sitio turístico en la reserva tiene condiciones físicas diferentes. Por lo tanto, estos cálculos se
aplicaron a cada sitio turístico. Consecuentemente los resultados no representan toda la
reserva, sino sitios turísticos específicos. Otro punto importante es que los resultados están
expresados en el número de visitas/tiempo en vez de número de personas. Originalmente, se
utilizaron variables adicionales (ej., compactación del terreno, expectativas de los turistas),
para determinar la CCR. Sin embargo, después de hacer los cálculos, estas variables fueron
omitidas debido a la falta de información. La falta de información científica representó una
limitación seria al estudio. Conclusiones: Este estudio representa la primera evaluación de
capacidad de carga de turismo en las áreas protegidas de Centro América.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: MART-75. Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 338.4791 E19e.
Metodología para la interpretación de Caño Chiquero y del Sendero Natural "La
Ceiba" (perteneciente al Corredor Biológico del Parque Nacional Tortuguero de Costa
Rica) para uso ecoturístico / Fariñas-Velázquez, L.E. Mercedes de Guácimo: Escuela de
Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda, 1995. 62 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Ingeniería
Agronómica, Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda, Mercedes de Guácimo
(Costa Rica). El Parque Nacional Tortuguero se encuentra en una región que geográficamente
se podría considerar como tierras bajas del Caribe de Costa Rica. El objetivo de este proyecto
es la interpretación turística de un Caño y un Sendero Natural que pertenecen al "Corredor
Biológico" de este importante Parque Nacional. El corredor está bajo la responsabilidad de la
Fundación Neotrópica actualmente, pero prontamente pasará a manos del Estado, para que
éste continúe garantizando la conservación de la biodiversidad de estas áreas y agregue a las
mismas una importancia económica a través del ecoturismo. El corredor biológico permite
conectar las 9000 ha que conforman el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Barra del Colorado, con las
18700 ha del Parque Nacional Tortuguero, mediante una franja de 35 km de largo y 10 km de
ancho. El corredor pretende contribuir a la protección del bosque tropical húmedo de la región
norte del Caribe del país. Se cuenta así, con 7000 ha que hacen realidad este puente
biológico, que protege cerca de una tercera parte de las especies declaradas en vías de
extinción, en Costa Rica. Las ganancias generadas por las áreas protegidas como atracción
turística en América Latina y el Caribe son consideradas esenciales para el bienestar
económico de muchos países. Aunque las ganancias que deja el turismo no son la única
solución para los males económicos de las áreas protegidas, el turismo nunca desaparecerá y
continuará aportando una importante fuente de ingresos debido al número creciente de
turistas que busca relajamiento, aventuras y realización espiritual en las áreas silvestres, en
contacto directo con la naturaleza. Si se desarrolla con cierta sensibilidad ecológica y cultural,
el turismo puede contribuir a las economías, tanto de las áreas protegidas, como de las
comunidades vecinas. La interpretación turística ambiental involucra la traducción del lenguaje
técnico de una ciencia natural o área relacionada, a términos de ideas que los turistas en
general, que no son científicos, puedan entender fácilmente. Esto implica utilizar un lenguaje
que sea entretenido e interesante para ellos, al mismo tiempo que estimule a una conciencia
conservacionista. La primera etapa del proyecto, es la que se presenta en este documento.
Constituye la investigación de campo, de identificación de las especies de flora y fauna más
comunes e interesantes de la zona a la cual pertenecen el Caño y el Sendero Natural. Además,
de la posterior investigación sobre la importancia de estas especies en su medio, y un poco de
su historia natural. La información que se logró recolectar en esta etapa será utilizada para
elaborar una guía turística sobre el Caño y el Sendero en estudio. El valor que una guía
turística le agrega a un recorrido es amplio y significativo, ya que, una persona estará más
dispuesta a pagar por visitar un Caño que sabe que ha sido correctamente interpretado, que
pagar la misma o similar cantidad de dinero por ir acompañado de un guía de la comunidad o
de afuera, que no le brinda esa seguridad o garantía. Además, la compra misma del guía
77
representa un aporte que este mismo turista está haciendo para la superación de la
comunidad y por la preservación de los recursos naturales pertenecientes al corredor biológico
del Parque Nacional Tortuguero. Las ganancias generadas de la venta de esta guía serán
distribuidas entre la gente de la comunidad, que se espera que participen activamente dentro
de las siguientes etapas del proyecto, además de que se espera beneficiar a Parques
Nacionales (PACTo). En este documento se presenta detalladamente la metodología diseñada
para lograr los objetivos de esta primera etapa del proyecto. Como resultado de la
investigación se identificaron más de 85 especies de flora y fauna, de las cuales en su mayoría
se ha recopilado información bibliográfica y datos interesantes en cuanto a usos potenciales e
historia natural. De modo que, se puede considerar que los resultados finales del trabajo de
investigación de campo y bibliográfico son bastante completos y demuestran la riqueza de la
flora y fauna más común e interesante de Caño Chiquero y del Sendero Natural La Ceiba. Este
potencial aumenta el atractivo turístico de la zona en estudio y garantiza el éxito de la misma
en este sentido, en un futuro cercano.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis F227m.
A birders guide to Costa Rica [Guía para pajareros en Costa Rica] / Taylor, K. San José:
World Wildlife Fund, 1990. 167 p. Picture graceful, tall mountains, their tips wreathed in
clouds, their slopes enveloped by majestic trees; imagine sprawling inland valleys of lush
green meadows with rushing rivers and arching waterfalls; aquamarine water lapping
glistening beaches; balmy breezes cascading over the stunning plateaus, and down below the
dense jungle whitens in a blanket of mist and steam; conjure upa vision of a population whose
smiles reveal their inner happiness and pride in their land, Costa Rica. Costa Rica, with a land
mass of about 19,700 square miles (comparable with West Virginia's) has produced 855 bird
species, more than all of North America. The avifauna are predominantly neotropical, with the
majority native species of South American origin and a smaller percentage of Mexican and
Northern Central American origin. More than 8,000 species of higher plants live in this tropical
showcase; 1,700 species of Costa Rican orchids have been classified. Among its 237 species of
mammals are three-toed sloths, four species of monkeys, giant anteaters, tapirs, peccaries,
jaguars, and humpback whales. Costa Rica, "The Switzerland of Central America", is both a
tourist's delight and a birders paradise. It is a small, stable country, with friendly and
hospitable people, a prosperous middle class, fine educational system and good hospitals.
There is a high standard of health, and one does not have to worry about sanitation, food, or
water, as in neighbouring countries. (Introduction part).
Localización: Biblioteca del BIODOC: 98.297.286 T238b.
Ecotourism and the scarlet macaw (Ara macao) population: a case for
commensalism? Carara Biological Reserve, Costa Rica [Ecoturismo y la población de lapa
roja (Ara macao): ¿un caso de comensalismo? Reserva Biológica Carara, Costa Rica] /
Vaughan-Dickhaut, C.; Liske, J.; Clinton-Eitniear, J, (ed.). (University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Department
of
Wildlife
Ecology,
Madison,
WI
53706,
US
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). Proceedings of the First Mesoamerican Workshop on
Conservation and Management of Macaws, Center for Study of Tropical Birds, Inc., San
Antonio, TX US , Misc. Publ. no. 1, p. 35-39. , 1991. (No abstract).
Examples of sustainable development efforts in Costa Rica [Ejemplos de esfuerzos en
desarrollo sostenible en Costa Rica] / Becker, J. (Sustainable Futures. Sustainable
Development Planner, 1317 Grand Avenues, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: International Journal of Sustainable Development
and World Ecology (ISSN 1350-4509), v. 5, no. 3, p 172-181. 1998. Efforts towards
sustainable development are now being undertaken at ail levels and the concept has
increasingly entered the consciousness of the average person. For many Costa Ricans
however, it is not just an abstract concept but a matter of survival as input costs increase,
natural resources diminish and the soil loses fertility or is washed away. This paper reviews
three case studies representing different approaches towards achieving sustainable
78
development by different types of organization which are each innovative in preventing further
destruction of tropical forest resources.
Propuesta para la planificación ecoturística del sector sur-sureste de la Reserva
Biológica Carara y su zona de influencia / Vargas-Campos, E.M. (Universidad de Costa
Rica. Sede de Occidente, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, San Ramón de Alajuela, CR).
San José: Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología, 1997. 140 p. Tesis, Magister
con Enfasis en Planificación y Administración de Ecoturismo, ULACIT, Facultad de Turismo,
Programa Regional de Maestría en Turismo Ecológico, San José (Costa Rica). El proyecto
consiste en una propuesta de planificación de la actividad ecoturística en el sector sur-sureste
de la Reserva Biológica Carara y su área de influencia, dentro del marco del desarrollo
sustentable. El área de estudio comprende tanto espacios naturales protegidos al interior de la
Reserva Biológica Carara y el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Fernando Castro Cervantes, como
espacios rurales donde se realizan una serie de actividades productivas. El estudio parte de la
identificación de las unidades de paisaje que comprenden la estructura territorial del área de
estudio. Con el propósito de determinar la vocación ecoturística de este espacio, se realizó una
jerarquización y valoración de los atractivos naturales y culturales existentes, así como un
análisis de las unidades de paisaje para el desarrollo de actividades ecoturísticas. Esta
información fue fundamental para describir la estructura del espacio ecoturístico e identificar
su potencial y así establecer las actividades y sitios más adecuados para el desarrollo
sustentable del ecoturismo, ligado a las necesidades de desarrollo local. Con el propósito de
definir el perfil de sustentabilidad del área de estudio, se realizó un análisis matricial de los
procesos ambientales, de la actividad productiva, de la dinámica social y del recurso turístico.
Para ello se identificaron una serie de criterios de sustentabilidad para cada proceso, que
luego fueron aplicados a cada unidad de paisaje. Este análisis permitió identificar las opciones
para la sustentabilidad del área de estudio, para cuatro grandes componentes: 1) ambiente.
2) actividad productiva, 3) sociedad y organizaciones y 4) ecoturismo. Estas opciones incluyen
una lista de proyectos actuales y de posibles proyectos con potencial para contribuir con la
sustentabilidad del área de estudio, así como a los actores actuales y potenciales y el apoyo
que éstos requieren para una ejecución adecuada de sus respectivos proyectos.
Diagnóstico de los recursos costeros de Costa Rica / Mack, S.A.; Epler, B.; Atelsek, P.;
Dudenhoefer, D.; Foer, G, (ed.).; Olsen, S, (ed.). (Centro de Derecho Ambiental de los
Recursos Renovables (CEDARENA), Apdo. 134-2050, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR <Email: [email protected]>). In: Las costas de Centroamérica: diagnósticos y agenda
para la acción Rhode Island: The University of Rhode Island / USAID / ROCAP, 1992. p. 66103. Este documento constituye un intento inicial de identificar las oportunidades y problemas
más significativos de manejo de recursos que afectan los ecosistemas costeros de Costa Rica.
No abarca toda la información potencialmente pertinente a los Recursos Costeros de este país.
Sin embargo, se ha intentado estudiar tanto los aspectos sociales como ambientales de mayor
significado para cada uno de los aspectos identificados, sus posibles causas y algunas
alternativas de solución. Una primera versión de este diagnóstico fue revisado y modificado en
una mesa redonda donde se invitaron a miembros tanto del sector público como privado.
INTRODUCCION: Costa Rica tiene un nombre muy adecuado. Sus dos costas tienen algunas
delas playas mas bellas del mundo, bordeadas por diversos bosques que albergan una gran
variedad de fauna marina y terrestre. También, están relativamente despobladas y
subdesarrolladas. A diferencia de la mayoría de las naciones con costas, la frontera agrícola de
Costa Rica se ha extendido hacia afuera desde su centro geográfico, un valle intermontano
alto y fértil y no hacia adentro partiendo de las costas. En la actualidad solamente un 5%de la
población costarricense vive en las zonas costeras. Hace tan solo 15 años la zona costera
estaba relativamente virgen. Los pocos costarricenses que vivían en las costas del Pacífico
desarrollaron una primitiva pero robusta industria pesquera con base en la riqueza pesquera
cercana a las costas de Guanacaste y en el Golfo de Nicoya. En la Costa del Atlántico la base
de la economía de subsistencia de sus habitantes Afro-caribeños estaba en la agricultura, la
pesca, la captura de tortugas marinas y la caza de especies habitantes en los bosques
79
costeros. Se establecieron puertos importantes en Puntarenas en el Pacífico y Puerto Limón en
el Atlántico, los cuales unieron la aislada población del Valle Central con el mundo exterior y
estimularon el desarrollo de esas ciudades costeras. Sin embargo, Costa Rica y sus costas
están cambiando rápidamente. El país ha comenzado a atraer grandes cantidades de turistas,
y con ellos el desarrollo aumenta. Progresivamente se van construyendo complejos turísticos y
casas de veraneo a lo largo de gran parte de la costa. Pequeños pueblos pesqueros, antes
aislados e ignorados, son ahora el destino de turistas extranjeros, y los precios de la tierra van
subiendo hasta quedar fuera del alcance de los lugareños. A como se va traspasando terrenos
a manos de extranjeros y grandes empresarios, crece el resentimiento y las tensiones
sociales. Mientras que mucho del desarrollo anterior fue a pequeña escala y relativamente
benigna, recientemente se ha introducido proyectos más ambiciosos que podrían causar serios
impactos ambientales, sociales y estéticos. El efecto acumulado de proyectos pequeños
también puede causar gran impacto; muchos pueblos costeros han cambiado dramáticamente
en corto tiempo y han perdido mucho del sabor que atrajo en primera instancia a los turistas.
En el interior la creciente población en búsqueda de nuevas tierras agrícolas ha causado la
deforestación de gran parte del país en los últimos 50 años. La frontera agrícola ha llegado a
la mayoría de las costas y los bosques costeros que aún quedan se encuentran sometidos a
gran presión. Al ritmo actual, estos bosques costeros podrían desaparecer en muy pocos años.
No toda la expansión agrícola ha sido llevado a cabo por agricultores independientes. Las
plantaciones bananeras y otros monocultivos se expanden rápidamente por todo el país, pero
aún a un ritmo más veloz en las áreas ambientalmente sensitivas cerca de las costas. Además
de causar la deforestación de las cuencas hidrográficas, la expansión agrícola puede causar
contaminación de las aguas con agroquímicos y una creciente turbiedad de los ríos y las zonas
costeras, ocasionando gran impacto en los recursos costeros. Los recursos pesqueros
costarricenses también se encuentran en peligro. Debido a que el gobierno no tiene los medios
para controlar la pesca lejos de sus costas, esos recursos están siendo ilegalmente explotados
por flotas pesqueras extranjeras y van disminuyendo. Al mismo tiempo la sobre -explotación,
la contaminación y la destrucción de los hábitats han diezmado los recursos pesqueros
cercanos a las costas. La industria pesquera tradicional del Golfo de Nicoya, una vez fuente
principal de pescado para el consumo de la nación, así como para la exportación, se encuentra
en estado crítico. Aunque la pesca comercial ha ido declinando, la pesca deportiva se va
convirtiendo en una importante industria. Extranjeros adinerados atraídos por la excelente
pesca del pez vela en el Pacífico, y del sábalo y el róbalo en el Caribe, llegan a Costa Rica y
gastan grandes cantidades de dinero. La industria, sin embargo, está controlada por
extranjeros y relativamente poca de la ganancia llega a la población local. La creciente
popularidad de las costas tanto entre los costarricenses como entre los extranjeros presenta
oportunidades y a la vez problemas. El turismo se ha convertido en la tercer mayor industria
productora de divisas (primero están café y banano), y se espera que continúe creciendo. Si
se maneja adecuadamente el crecimiento de la industria turística puede ser un importante
elemento en el desarrollo y la modernización de Costa Rica, con mínimo impacto negativo en
los recursos naturales. La expansión agrícola en las áreas costeras también podría ser para
beneficio de la nación y sus habitantes, pero solamente sise lleva a cabo en áreas aptas para
la producción sostenible y de forma tal que minimice el impacto ambiental. Costa Rica tiene
una oportunidad única para demostrar al mundo los beneficios de un sabio manejo de los
recursos costeros. Con sus numerosos parques y reservas, tiene bien merecida reputación
como uno de lo países en vías de desarrollo mejor orientado hacia la ecología. Si Costa Rica se
puede beneficiar de la creciente industria turística sin sufrir las consecuencias negativas de un
rápido e incontrolado desarrollo costero, como el experimentado en México y en el Caribe,
otras naciones costeras podrían seguir su ejemplo. Debido a que la rápida expansión del
turismo y de la agricultura en zonas costeras es reciente, aún hay tiempo para manejar el
desarrollo costero de manera tal que la nación y sus habitantes aprovechen al máximo los
beneficios económicos y se minimicen los impactos sociales y ambientales. Sin embargo, los
daños ya hechos y la creciente presión sobre esos recursos dictan que se debe llegar muy
pronto a una solución significativa.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.91709728 C838.
80
Conserving biological diversity in the tropics: the role of private nature reserves in
Costa Rica [Conservación de la diversidad biológica en los trópicos: el papel de las reservas
naturales privadas en Costa Rica] / Herzog, P.W.; Vaughan-Dickhaut, C. (Lethridge
Community College. Department of Environmental Science, 3000 College Drive South,
Lethbridge AB T1K 1L6, CA <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Revista de Biología
Tropical (ISSN 0034-7744), v. 46, no. 2, p. 183-190. 1998. Conservation efforts to preserve
biological diversity are oftenfocused on the establishment of protected areas such as national
parks, wildlife refuges and forest reserves under government control. Boza (1993) identified
the need for innovative partnerships to ensure the maintenance of these areas in Costa Rica.
Since ecotourism is viewed as a major benefit derived from the protection of these areas and a
strong incentive to acquire new lands to complete the system, a conservation link with the
tourist industry would be attractive. Numerous authors have examined the benefits and
drawbacks to such a relationship. In the typical scenario, increasing levels of visitation by
ecotourists to protected areas ideally generates revenue from entrance fees and services while
contributing to local and national economies via employment, the development of
infrastructure and exchange of foreign currency. However, the expansion of ecotourism also
leads to problems associated with overcrowding, disturbance of wildlife and the limited
carrying capacity of reserves to sustain ever higher levels of visitation. This growth pattern
has been dramatically demonstrated in Costa Rica where visitation to national parks is rising
at 25-30% per annum. The demand for ecotourism has also led to the rapid establishment of
nature reserves on private land. Other reasons for the establishment of private reserves in
Costa Rica include: the protection of biodiversity, cultural and economical reasons. Can private
reserves complement government efforts to protect biological diversity? We examined this
possibility by assessing (1) physical characteristics; (2) species occurrence, primarily of birds
and mammals; and (3) threats to the ecological integrity of individual reserves. We
established a list of nature reserves by reviewing travel guides, advertisements in newspapers
and promotional materials from travel agencies. Reserves were selected using the following
criteria: (1) private land ownership; (2) current business plan based on ecotourism; (3) site
development financed without government or donor support; and (4) profit based operation.
These criteria eliminated biological stations established by educational institutions and
reserves created with the assistance of international fund-raising campaigns. We visited each
reserve and surveyed the site, frequently with biologists and guides who collected biological
information. We obtained two types of species inventory data from these individuals:
observational checklists of species occurrence often available to tourists, and personal records
of wildlife sightings, particularly in relation to a predetermined list of 14 mammals. We
determined reliability of this data by assessing qualifications and experience of observers and
techniques for data collection and storage. Interviews were conducted with the owner or
manager of each reserve to determine site development, history, surrounding land use
activities and community acceptance. Whenever possible, interviews were conducted in the
field. Locations of private reserves were plotted on topographic maps (1:200,000). Distances
were calculated to the nearest protected areas identified by Boza (1993). We reviewed 41
potential reserves: 9 areas failed to meet our criteria and we were unable to obtain
information from 6 other candidates. Our survey was extensive and included reserves
throughout Costa Rica.
Propuesta para el establecimiento de un sendero para personas con discapacidad en
el Parque Nacional Tapantí / Mora-Sánchez, N. (Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica.
Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Cartago, CR). In: Tecnología en Marcha (ISSN 0379-3982), v.
13, no. 1, p. 197-200. 1999. El proyecto consiste en una propuesta sobre las condiciones
mínimas que debe ofrecer un área silvestre, en este caso el Parque Nacional Tapantí, ubicado
en la provincia de Cartago, para la participación de las personas con discapacidad. En esta
propuesta se establecen las características físicas que debe presentar el sendero, como el
ancho, pendiente, distancia, forma del trayecto y algunas condiciones dentro del sendero.
Además se proporcionan algunos lineamientos de cómo se deben utilizar los medios
interpretativos para poder ser usados por las personas con discapacidad. Se seleccionó el
sendero Oropéndola como el sitio potencial, para ser reestructurado para personas con
81
discapacidad. En cuanto a los lineamientos para la interpretación se tomaron en cuenta las
técnicas de interpretación utilizadas para las áreas silvestres, como son: el centro de visitante,
giras guiadas, señales del sendero y centros de audición. En cada uno de estos se propuso la
forma de adecuarlos para ser utilizados por la personas con discapacidad.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: T.
Small lodging operations in Costa Rica - a case-study analysis / Griffin, R.K. (University
of Massachusetts. Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration, Amherst, UC).
In: Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly (ISSN 0010-8804), v. 39, no. 2, p.
55-63. 1998. This study examined seven small, randomly selected lodging operations in San
José, Costa Rica. Managers were interviewed, facilities were toured, and operations were
observed using a structured outline. It appears that factors which relate to the success of
small lodging operations in San Jose include location, facilities, price, low debt, solid
management, market positioning, promotion, advertising, guest-room comfort, service, guest
relations, cleanliness, quiet rooms, security, and ambience. Since most managers of small
properties have direct control over their facility's key success factors (other than specific
location), good management stands out as the most important factor. In this study, good
management decisions allowed properties with less-than-prime locations to outperform
properties with superior locations.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: S5732. BINA-12.
Opportunities and limitations of contingent valuation surveys to determine national
park entrance fees: evidence from Costa Rica / Shultz, S.D.; Pinazzo-Salinas, J.A.;
Cifuentes-Arias, M. (North Dakota State University. Department of Agricultural Economics,
P.O. Box 5636, Fargo, ND 58105, US <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Environment and Development Economics, v. 3, no. 1, p. 131149. 1998. A contingent valuation method (CVM) survey to determine foreign and resident
willingness-to-pay (WTP) for return visits to two different Costa Rican national parks was
administered in 1995. WTP values were estimated for future entrance fees associated with
proposed improvements to infrastructure and services in the Poás Volcano and the Manuel
Antonio National Parks. Resulting logistic CVM models were statistically robust and mean WTP
for entrance fees differed among the parks and were considerably higher than current fees.
Results indicate that even in a developing country setting, the CVM is a useful tool to help
determine park entrance fees in spite of the following methodological limitations which are
recommended for further study: the need to include potential park visitors in survey samples;
the lack of detailed information framing and contingent scenarios for park related WTP
questions; and the threat of cultural-strategic biases when surveying residents of a developing
country.
The Earthscan reader in sustainable tourism / France, L.A, (ed.). London: Earthscan
Publications Ltd, 1997. 259 p. ISBN: 1-85383-408-4. Material that explains how and why
tourism has emerged as a major international industry, the problems it has generated, and
the search for solutions that try to introduce a measure of sustainability to the equation, is
drawn together in this collection of 28 papers. Divided into nine sections, the contributions all
discuss sustainable tourism and the attendant best practice implications for the full range of
tourist activity and a range of destinations. Topics covered include: changing consumer tastes;
destination life cycle: the Isle of Mann case study; Belize: ecotourism gone awry; individual
consumption of tourism; sex tourism in south east asia; social contact between tourists and
hosts of different cultural backgrounds; reclaiming the heritage trail; female employment in
tourism development in south west England; communal lands, communal problems; involving
Maasai women; the case of Sagamartha National Park; integrating tourism and agricultural
development; ecotourism in Costa Rica; tourism in difficult areas: case studies of Glasgow,
Bradford, Bristol and Hamm; and tourism planning in Malta; in Bhutan and in Bermuda.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 E11.
82
Proyecto de conservación y desarrollo de Arenal, avances y perspectivas: Área de
Conservación Arenal Tilarán, 1993. 20 p. Se presentan los avances y perspectivas del Área
de Conservación Arenal en los ámbitos de administración y gestión, estudios físicos, naturales
y socioeconómicos sobre el uso de la tierra, coordinación interinstitucional y ejecución de
acciones para la conservación y desarrollo sostenible del área. Son descritos los programas
prioritarios en desarrollo, el plan de uso de la tierra en la zona, el plan de manejo de la cuenca
hidrográfica, el desarrollo de recursos humanos y las actividades de difusión del proyecto.
Dentro de las conclusiones se destacan la definición de responsabilidades a ser compartidas
por entes públicos y privados a nivel nacional y local, para alcanzar la sostenibilidad del
desarrollo en la zona.
Estrategias campesinas para el desarrollo sostenible de las Llanuras de Tortuguero /
Borge-Carvajal, C.; Camacho-Nassar, C.; Piedra, B. / Unión de Pequeños Agricultores de la
Región Atlántica / Sociedad de Estudios para el Desarrollo Rural, Limón, CR. Limón: Unión de
Pequeños Agricultores de la Región Atlántica, 1992. 87 p. El programa que se presenta en este
documento se desarrollará durante cuatro años en la zona ocupada por pequeños y medianos
productores que cubre la Estrategia para la Conservación y el Desarrollo Sostenible de las
Llanuras de Tortuguero. Será tramitado por Nuestra Tierra y ejecutado directamente por la
Unión de Pequeños Agricultores del Atlántico (UPAGRA). Su objetivo general es: apoyar la
consolidación de una base productiva, económica y técnica para que el pequeño campesino
maximice el uso de las áreas ocupadas procurando el mejoramiento y preservación del suelo,
el agua, la flora y la fauna, con el fin de revertir la expansión de la frontera agrícola y
conservar la cobertura boscosa existente, en equilibrio con las actividades sociales de sus
habitantes. Sus objetivos específicos son: alcanzar autosuficiencia alimentaria a partir de la
producción de las fincas que poseen; explotar, aprovechar y resguardar los recursos del
bosque; participar de los beneficios del turismo ecológico; para que las ganancias que el
mismo genera queden y se inviertan en la región; iniciar un proceso intensivo de enseñanza,
capacitación y aprendizaje sobre el manejo apropiado de los recursos de la naturaleza;
mejorar el hato ganadero y aumentar la densidad de ganado por hectárea; incursionar en los
procesos de industrialización y comercialización de los productos agropecuarios. El logro de los
anteriores objetivos se logrará ejecutando los siguientes programas: soberanía alimentaria,
desarrollo forestal, turismo ecológico, educación ambiental y desarrollo ganadero.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.716097286 B732.
Las costas de Centro América; diagnósticos y agenda para la acción [Central America's
Coasts: profiles and an agenda for action] / Foer, G, (ed.).; Olsen, S, (ed.). Narragansett, RI:
The University of Rhode Island, Coastal Resources Center / ROCAP-AID, Washington, D.C,
1992. 290 p. Este documento en la primera sección resume los puntos principales de un
proceso que ha durado diez meses y cuyos propósitos han sido identificar las cuestiones más
significativas que afectan el manejo de los ecosistemas costeros de Centro América y preparar
una agenda inicial para la acción. Este resumen se deriva de las descripciones de cada país y
de las conversaciones en los talleres regionales. Propone caracterizar las cosas de más interés
para el manejo costero y esquematizar la estrategia que se recomienda para mejorar el
manejo de los ecosistemas costeros en la región. La segunda sección presenta el diagnóstico
de los recursos costeros de cada país centroamericano y en la sección tercera las
recomendaciones de los Grupos de Trabajo del Taller Regional sobre el Manejo de Ecosistemas
Costeros en Centroamérica seguido de tres Apéndices que contienen la Agenda del Taller
Regional; la Lista de los Participantes al Taller y las Resoluciones del Taller.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.91709728 C838Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton:
333.91709728 C838.
Proyecto de infraestructura y facilidades de uso público Reserva Forestal Volcán
Arenal / Romero-Gutiérrez, J.C.; Víquez-Rojas, R.A.; Bonilla-Oconitrillo, I. (Ministerio de
Recursos Naturales, Energía y Minas. Area de Conservación Tempisque, San José, CR). San
José: MIRENEM, 1992. 87 p. El gobierno de Costa Rica, ante la necesidad de evitar una
degradación mayor de los recursos naturales existentes, estableció a través del Ministerio de
83
Recursos Naturales, Energía y Minas las denominadas Areas de Conservación, cuyo enfoque
central es la protección del ambiente paralelo a un desarrollo sostenible. Concepto bajo el cual
se busca realizar una labor de protección y conservación de una manera integral. Es decir
involucra la consolidación del trabajo institucional y concientiza e integra a aquellas
comunidades asentadas en las zonas de influencia de dichas áreas. Es precisamente con ese
criterio que se creó el Área de Conservación Arenal, la cual está ubicada al Norte Central de
Costa Rica, territorialmente involucra tres provincias y once cantones, 8 áreas núcleo con
80.000 Ha. y una zona de influencia de 80.000 Ha. más, alberga una población aproximada de
60.000 habitantes. El Área de Conservación Arenal (ACA), responde al esquema institucional
del Sistema Nacional de Parques, ésta para su operación y para el logro de los objetivos
nacionales de conservación y desarrollo cuenta con varios programas, siendo uno de ellos el
programa de Ecoturismo y Uso Público. Dicho programa tiene el objetivo fundamental de
propiciar el uso racional de los recursos ecoturísticos del ACA a través de la planificación
estratégica de éstos, siendo su misión principal la de brindar facilidades y servicios al
ecoturista, tanto en las áreas núcleo como en su zona de influencia, para el disfrute,
conocimiento y conservación de los recursos naturales y culturales del ACA congruente con las
políticas nacionales de conservación y desarrollo sostenible y con los objetivos institucionales
ya mencionados, el programa de Ecoturismo del ACA presenta el siguiente proyecto de
infraestructura y facilidades de uso público en la Reserva Forestal Volcán Arenal. Objetivos
generales del Proyecto: 1. Brindar al ecoturista las oportunidades para el disfrute,
conocimiento y conservación de los recursos naturales y culturales del ACA a través del
diseño, construcción y operación de un sitio de uso público. 2. Establecer la infraestructura y
facilidades que le permitan el Área de Conservación Arenal generar ingresos tanto para el
mantenimiento de sus operaciones como para orientar actividades de ecodesarrollo,
conservación en las localidades de su zona de influencia y para el fortalecimiento del
subsistema de Areas de Conservación como tal. Beneficiarios del Proyecto: La
multidiciplinaridad de los distintos componentes que conforman el presente proyecto permite
dirigir diferentes esfuerzos de conservación y desarrollo sostenible a los siguientes grupos: Ecoturistas nacionales y extranjeros, los que por distintas motivaciones sienten deseos y
disposición de conocer los atractivos naturales y culturales del ACA, así como de pagar por el
disfrute de las diferentes facilidades de capacitación, información e investigación que ofrecería
el proyecto. -Miembros de la Comunidad Científica y Tecnológica Nacional e Internacional
necesitados de realizar proyectos de investigación y dispuestos a pagar por las facilidades que
para tal fin ofrecería el proyecto. -Pequeños agricultores y artesanos de las localidades de la
Zona de Influencia del Proyecto (La Fortuna, Nuevo Arenal, El Castillo, Z Trece, Tierras
Morenas, etc.) que por su condición de pobreza están necesitados de oportunidades para la
diversificación y fortalecimiento de la economía local a través de la venta de bienes y servicios
al visitante. -Organizaciones comunitarias sobre todo grupos de mujeres organizados para la
producción y venta de artesanía local. Escuelas y colegios locales o regionales, así como
universidades regionales y nacionales, necesitadas de proyectos como el propuesto; estas
instituciones tienen la demanda de aprendizaje y capacitación en temas biológicos, ecológicos,
de conservación y desarrollo sostenible en general. Personal administrativo y de campo del
ACA, mediante programas de capacitación y entrenamiento técnico.
Proyecto de conservación y desarrollo de Arenal: perfiles de programas y
subprogramas seleccionados para el Área de Conservación Arenal. Preliminar /
Ministerio de Recursos Naturales, Energía y Minas. Área de Conservación Arenal, San José, CR.
San José: MIRENEM, 1992. 72 p. En un afán por conocer las diferentes características
ecológicas y sociales que posee el Área de Conservación Arenal y los problemas que afronta
para conservar y manejar los recursos existentes, se realizaron varios diagnósticos sectoriales
y sugerencias de manejo para controlar y manejar las condiciones actuales de los recursos
naturales. De esos estudios y consultas realizados, se logró elaborar el Plan General de Uso de
la Tierra del ACA, generando alternativas y proponiendo planes, programas y proyectos, los
cuales servirían como instrumento de planeamiento estratégico para apoyar el proceso de
gestión de los recursos naturales dentro de una perspectiva de desarrollo sostenible. Los
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programas seleccionados contribuirán a la consolidación de los propósitos y objetivos del ACA,
fortaleciendo a la vez la relación interinstitucional gubernamental y no gubernamental.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.95097286 P969p.
Plan regulador del uso del suelo Playa Ballena distrito Cortés-Cantón de Osa
Puntarenas / Ramírez-Sánchez, J.E. (Luis Rojas Ings. Asociados S.A, San José, CR). San
José: Luis Rojas Ings. Asociados S.A, 1992. 166 p. Playa Ballena se localiza dentro de una
unidad de playa perfectamente definida, ubicada entre dos promontorios rocosos que la
separa en el sector noroeste, con playa Arco y en el sureste con playa Piñuela. Se origina en la
necesidad de anticipar los efectos supracitados, que se sucederán luego de la puesta en
funcionamiento de la carretera costanera. Para el presente estudio se toma inicialmente la
región como marco general y luego se desciende a otro nivel que considera como subregión el
corredor geográfico Quepos-Ciudad Cortés, por lo que este plan tiene un concepto de
viabilidad y de zonificación general que jerarquiza y operativiza el espacio que se propone
ordenar. Las variables que se analizan son de caracter socio-económicas y físico-ambientales y
proporciona los indicadores necesarios para ubicar la importancia y problemas que la región
tiene. A nivel más específico se identifican los principales problemas y oportunidades que
presenta la subregión. El análisis de variables socioeconómicas y físico-ambientales en los
niveles regionales, subregionales y del sitio, proporciona conceptos y criterios muy
importantes para la elaboración del plan regulador y su reglamento. El informe final presenta
los distintos análisis que comprenden el diagnóstico ilustrado con cuadros de información
socio-económica y mapas con las características físico-ambientales; la propuesta con los
planos de zonificación y la viabilidad. Este plan se acompaña del reglamento para el
ordenamiento y regulación de los usos del suelo y del esquema de viabilidad propuesto.
Plan de desarrollo turístico del cantón de Cañas / Villegas-Guzmán, Y. San José:
Universidad Autónoma de Centroamérica, 1992. 111 p. Tesis, Diplomado en Turismo,
Universidad Autónoma de Centroamérica, Colegio Andrés Bello, Carrera de Turismo, San José
(Costa Rica).
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis V732p.
El desarrollo sostenible de Cañas dentro del marco de los acuerdos y compromisos
globales de la Agenda 21, 3 de Octubre de 1992 / Cámara de Turismo de Cañas.
Fundación para el Desarrollo Sostenible de Cañas, Cañas, CR. Cañas: Cámara de Turismo de
Cañas / Fundación para el Desarrollo Sostenible de Cañas, 1992. 32 p. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: AV 333.716 no. 5Biblioteca Venezuela (IICA):
P0150.
Plan de ordenamiento territorial POT para el desarrollo sostenible de la Península.
Borrador final / Desarrollo Rural Integral Peninsular. Fondo Desarrollo Forestal, Puntarenas,
CR. Puntarenas: Desarrollo Rural Integral Peninsular, 1993. 112 p. Como una necesidad
prioritaria del Proyecto de Desarrollo Rural Integral Peninsular, surge el Plan de Ordenamiento
Territorial, en este caso, de la subregión sur de la Península de Nicoya, en Costa Rica. El
documento inicia con una descripción de las características físico-geográficas de la subregión.
Una segunda sección analiza las características y el comportamiento de la población. En
secciones siguientes se describe el uso actual de los recursos naturales y sus principales
limitaciones y potencialidades en la subregión. Las dos últimas secciones del documento
resaltan el Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial propuesto, y la estrategia general de ejecución del
Plan.
Plan estratégico de desarrollo turístico sustentable de Costa Rica (1993-1998);
síntesis ejecutiva / Comisión de la Comunidad Europea / Instituto Costarricense de Turismo.
Proyecto de Asistencia Técnica, San José, CR. San José: CCE / ICT, 1993. 66 p. Se presenta el
Plan Estratégico de Desarrollo Turístico Sustentable de Costa Rica, como un convenio de
asistencia técnica entre la Comunidad Europea y el Gobierno Costarricense. El Plan lo
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constituyen tres documentos básicos: 1. Tres tomos y siete anexos que corresponden a la
versión analítica del plan estratégico y el plan de mercadeo que constituye información básica
de consulta; 2. Resumen del plan estratégico, que contiene la totalidad de los contenidos de la
versión anterior y 3. Una síntesis ejecutiva para la difusión del plan a nivel nacional e
internacional, en la cual se destacan los principales elementos para orientar el desarrollo
turístico sustentable de Costa Rica.
El sistema agroecológico de Guanacaste: oportunidades y desafíos para la
agricultura y el turismo / Hagnauer, W. / Fundación para el Desarrollo Sostenible de Cañas,
San José, CR. San José: Fundación para el Desarrollo Sostenible de Cañas, 1993. 39 p.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 338.4791 H145.
Desarrollo del turismo a cualquier costo. Hotel Tambor y las infracciones al régimen
jurídico costarricense / González, L. (Fundación Güilombé, San José, CR). In: Ambiente
¿Legalidad o violación en Costa Rica? San José: Fundación Güilombé, 1993. p. 119-147. ISBN:
9968-9743-0-7.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.72097286 A492.
El turismo ecológico y la conservación de las tortugas marinas en Tortuguero, Costa
Rica / Divney, T.; Heckadon-Moreno, S, (ed.). Seminario Agenda Ecológica y Social para
Bocas del Toro. 1. y 2, Panamá PA14-16 Dic 1992; 26-27 Ene 1993. Panamá: Paseo Pantera,
1993. p. 195-198. ISBN: 958-9226-01-09.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.72097287 S471 1992-93.
The role of ecotourism in sustainable development [Papel del ecoturismo en el desarrollo
sostenible] / Mendelsohn, R.; Meffe, G.K, (ed.).; Carroll, C.R, (ed.). (Yale University. School of
Forestry and Environmental Studies, 360 Prospec Street, New Haven, CT 06511, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Principles of Conservation Biology. Meffe, G.K.;
Carroll, C.R. (eds.) Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc, 1994. p. 511-515. ISBN: 087893-519-3. Ecotourism is emerging as a popular approach to protecting natural areas
throughout the world. However, to be sustainable, ecotourism must provide reasonable
economic benefits locally and nationally, and must avoid damaging the natural areas on which
it depends. By itself, ecotourism is not the answer to environmental destruction, but if carried
out properly, and in concert with other protective measures, it can contribute to sustainable
and economically rewarding use of natural areas.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.9516 M495p.
The distribution of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in the coastal waterways of
Tortuguero, Costa Rica [La distribución de los manatíes (Trichechus manatus) en las vías
fluviales costeras de tortuguero, Costa Rica] / Smethurst, D.; Nietschmann, B.Q. (University of
California at Berkeley. Department of Geography, 501 McCone Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Biological Conservation (ISSN 0006-3207),
v. 89, no. 3, p. 267-274. 1999. Only fragmented populations of the West Indian Manatee
(Trichechus manatus) now exist over the manatee's once vast Caribbean-West Atlantic range.
From 1996 to 1998, we led four research expeditions to determine the status of manatees in
Tortuguero, Costa Rica. We spent a total of 79 days in the held and interviewed 98 residents
including former manatee hunters, river guides, and commercial fishermen. During this period,
we spent more than 3500 person-hours conducting boat surveys of manatees between Moin
and the Nicaraguan border. We made 29 sightings of manatees, and learned about 61 other
sightings through interviews with residents (44 sightings) and reports from the Area de
Conservacion Tortuguero (17 sightings). Our data indicates that manatees are threatened by
hunting; an increase in boat traffic associated, in part, due to an increase in ecotourism; and
environmental degradation associated with the clearing of tropical forest for commercial
banana plantations, logging and cattle ranching.
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Análisis de situación y propuesta de políticas de ecoturismo sostenible para el
Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, Costa Rica / García-Víquez, R. (Instituto
Nacional de Biodiversidad, P.O.Box 22-3100, Santo Domingo de Heredia, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). San José: ULACIT, 1993. 208 p. Tesis, Mag, Universidad
Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología, Programa Regional de Maestría en Turismo Ecológico
con énfasis en Administración y Planificación del Ecoturismo, San José (Costa Rica). This
document summarizes the philosophy, structure, and functional aspects of ecotourism in the
National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) of Costa Rica. The study principally examines
whether the policies and practices of ecotourism development in SINAC fulfill the necessary
and sufficient conditions for "sustainable development". The study comprises a diagnostic
phase and a design phase. The first, based on both primary and secondary sources, examines
the policies, organization, planning, and marketing of ecotourism in SINAC, as well as the
underlying concepts. Fundamental to the analysis was the participation of the directors,
technical staff, and operational staff of the National Parks Service (SPN) of Costa Rica, wich is
the entity promoting the establishment and development of SINAC. The second phase consists
of the design of a conceptual framework and the proposal of policy guidelines for the
development of sustainable tourism within SINAC. The inicial proposal was submitted to the
SPN functionaries who had participated in the first phase, for their comments and opinions,
which were then incorporated into the final document. The study was based on the general
principles of sustainable development, according to wich the integration of both planning and
execution of programs and economic, social, and environmental variables is fundamental, if
sustainability is to be truly achieved. It was determined that SINAC does not meet the
necessary and sufficient conditions to orient ecotourism toward sustainability, and that this is
the consequence of a generalized problem of the institution, that is, the lack of definition of
the necessary courses of action for the development of SINAC. Furthermore, the conceptual
frame of reference that is currently in use results in conservative practices, that is, the lack of
definition of the necessary courses of action for the development of SINAC. Furthermore, the
conceptual frame of reference that is currently in use results in conservative practices that do
not accomplish the stated objectives of SINAC or satisfy the desires and tastes of the visitors.
Nevertheless, it was determined that, among the public officials responsible for the activity,
there exists, although in fragmentary form, a conceptual base adequate for the development
of ecotourism, but the formal mechanisms have not been stablished for integrating,
communicating, and sharing the ideas. The participants in the study clearly demonstrated
their understanding of the problems that the lack of definite policies implies for their
organization. They expressed a desire for a clear and broadly shared direction for the
development of ecotourism in the System. Taking into account the seriousness of the
problems outlined above, this document makes a series of concrete recommendations,
particularly with respect to the stablishment of the problems that the lack of definite policies
implies for the development of ecotourism in the System. Taking into account the seriousness
of the problems outlined above, this document makes a series of concrete recommendations,
particularly with respect to the stablishment of a coherent conceptual and policy framework.
Not only must policy promote the sustainability of the activity, but the organization itself and
its operational capacity must be substantially strengthened. If the current and incipient
problems are not surmounted, sustainable ecotourism will not be viable in the context of
SINAC.
Ecología y perspectiva de manejo de la lapa roja (Ara macao) en la Reserva Biológica
Carara, Costa Rica / Vaughan-Dickhaut, C.; Marineros-Sánchez, L. (University of WisconsinMadison. Department of Wildlife Ecology, Madison, WI 53706, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Congreso de Ornitología de Costa Rica. I. Resúmenes, San
José CR20-22 de mayo, 1993. San José: CIPA - MNCR - PRMVS - UNA, 1993. p. 19. La lapa
roja tenía una distribución original estimada de aproximadamente 42.500 km² entre nivel del
mar y 1.500 metros sobre el nivel del mar en Costa Rica. Debido a la destrucción de hábitat,
en 1993 existía menos de 20% del hábitat original (8.400 km²) para la lapa roja y poblaciones
comprobados en únicamente tres áreas protegidas: Area de Conservación de Osa (?
individuos), Area de Conservación Tempisque (13 individuos) y la Reserva Biológica Carara
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(217 individuos). Desde marzo de 1990 se ha investigado aspectos de la ecología de la lapa
roja que reside en los alrededores de la RBC. Las lapas rojas se alimentan, descansan y anidan
en la RBC y sus alrededores y pernoctan durante algunos meses del año en la Reserva de
Manglares Guacalillo (RMG). Desde marzo de 1990 hasta la fecha, se ha hecho conteos
mensuales de las poblaciones de la lapa roja en migración entre RBC y RMG, y los números
han variado entre 20 y 217 individuos. Se ha notado un reclutamiento de jóvenes a la
población que varía entre 7 y 12% por año. La época de anidación se extiende entre diciembre
y junio y los aves anidan generalmente en los troncos principales de árboles, especialmente
gallinazo (Schizolobium parahyba). Los hábitos alimentarios de la lapa roja en esta zona
incluye frutas y hojas tiernas de por lo menos 26 árboles. En cuanto a manejo poblacional de
la especie, se recomienda la crianza en cautiverio y la reintroducción a RBC de pichones
tomados de nidos que normalmente son robados por laperos fuera de RBC, tomando en
cuenta los aspectos genéticos, ecológicos, y zoosanitarios del caso. En cuanto al manejo de
hábitat para la lapa roja en esta zona debe: asegurar la existencia de cavidades de anidación
dentro de RBC, proteger y resembrar fuentes alimentarios y proteger los mosaicos de bosques
cercanos al RBC que utilizan la lapa. También es importante que la población humana local
reciba algunas de las divisas cuantiosas por el ecoturismo extranjero que visita RBC.
Aproximadamente 24.015 visitantes extranjeros en 1992 gastaron un estimado $5,000,000 en
1992 en hoteles, agencias de viajes, alquiler de carros, y restaurantes, en su día que duró la
visita a RBC y zonas aledañas. Hoy en día, en general la gente local no recibe beneficios
económicos excepto en cuanto a los "laperos", quienes roban pichones de lapa y los venden a
intermediarios en un promedio entre $200-400.
Localización: Biblioteca del BIODOC: 598.291.728 C749r.
Why women are conservation leaders in rural Costa Rica [El porqué las mujeres son
líderes en conservación en la Costa Rica rural] / Nichols, J.D.; O'Brien, C.; Heimlich, J.E.
(South Cross University. School of Resource Sci. & Management, Box 157, Lismore, NSW
2480, AU). In: Journal of Forestry (ISSN 0022-1201), v. 96, no. 12, p. 24-28. 1998. Women
in Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica, have emerged as leaders in local organizations to promote
conservation and management of forest resources. Questionnaires and interviews with a group
of these women reveal that they understand the link between the state of the forests and
water resources. Soil conservation, biodiversity, aesthetics, and ecotourism were important
reasons for conserving the forests; timber was considered only moderately important. The
women were motivated by the perception that no else had assumed responsibility for
conservation-a perception that international foresters can use to enhance their ability to
promote sustainability.
Evaluación del impacto ambiental y socioeconómico de los hoteles ecoturísticos en la
provincia de Limón, Costa Rica [Evaluation of environmental and socio-economic impacts of
the ecotourism hotels in the Limon Province, Costa Rica] / Cabrera-González, N. Turrialba:
CATIE, 1996. 115 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y
Enseñanza, Turrialba (Costa Rica). El trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar los impactos
ambientales, económicos y socioculturales de los hoteles en la provincia de Limón; identificar
los principales aspectos positivos y negativos del manejo y clasificar los hoteles de acuerdo al
grado de sostenibilidad aplicado en los parámetros ambientales económicos y socioculturales.
La metodología utilizada evaluó diez variables de carácter ambiental, cinco variables de
carácter económico y seis variables de carácter sociocultural. Las variables se agruparon en
tres niveles de acuerdo a su importancia; cada variable contiene una serie de criterios con
cuestionarios cuyas respuestas fueron ponderadas según un sistema de puntuación prediseñado. Los puntajes totales por cada categoría permitieron clasificar los hoteles con el
método del barómetro de sostenibilidad en tres grupos: hoteles ecoturísticos con manejo
sostenible, los potencialmente sostenibles y los insuficientes. Se seleccionaron las doce
variables más importantes en la formación de los grupos, utilizando el procedimiento
"stepdisc" (discriminante por pasos), luego se aplicó el cluster analysis a las variables
seleccionadas, para verificar la clasificación de los hoteles de acuerdo al método del barómetro
de sostenibilidad hecho previamente. Finalmente se aplicó el análisis univariado a todas las
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variables para identificar las características de cada conglomerado. El primer grupo son los
hoteles ecoturísticos con manejo sostenible. Representa un excelente manejo de los recursos
naturales dentro de la actividad ecoturística, como también un excelente manejo económico y
aporte a las comunidades locales. El segundo grupo hace un buen manejo de parámetros
ambientales, económicos y socioculturales, aunque existe cierto manejo inadecuado del hotel
sobre algunos aspectos en los parámetros evaluados. El tercer grupo son hoteles que se
encuentran operando con alta deficiencia y requieren gran esfuerzo para mejorar muchos de
los aspectos evaluados; estos hoteles no son considerados ecoturísticos. Los principales
impactos positivos así como los problemas que incidieron significativamente en los
conglomerados fueron: estudio de impacto ambiental, usos sostenibles del bosque,
conservación de agua potable, uso de productos biodegradables, tratamiento de los desechos
sólidos, propietarios de los hoteles de acuerdo a procedencia, formas de enfrentar los
problemas, procedencia de los empleados en el hotel, relación de los hoteles con las
comunidades y la presencia de biblioteca en el hotel; las cuales tienen un 95 por ciento de
confianza. El ecoturismo en la zona de estudio muestra que para lograr un turismo sostenible
se requiere mucho apoyo gubernamental, así como instituciones privadas entre otras, que
deben intervenir en mayor grado en la toma de decisiones para favorecer el proceso de
desarrollo sostenible.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis C117ev. Biblioteca del BIODOC: 1738.
A profile of the social impact of tourism development in Turrialba, Costa Rica /
Hughell, E. Raleigh, N.C: The North Carolina State University, 1996. 61 p. Thesis, Master of
Arts in Liberal Studies, The North Carolina State University, Graduate Faculty, Raleigh, N.C.
(USA). This study evaluates economic and socio-cultural impacts associated with small-scale
tourism development in Turrialba, Costa Rica. A brief description is given of the area, socioeconomic characteristics, and tourism attractions underlying the adoption of tourism as a
source of income and employment. The study investigates the relationship between tourism
and community development, including several factors which shape the community
perspective. The qualitative section of the thesis was based on interviews with: residents,
tourist industry workers, and tourists. A quantitative survey of tourists focused on their
opinions about the people and tourist attractions in the area. The findings indicate that the
community's perception is very supportive of the tourism industry, even though the
community does not consistently receive the economic rewards from the industry. The local
objective of gaining economic benefit is not being achieved and may result in a future loss of
residents' support toward tourism development in the area. Through examination of the locals'
perceptions, this research presents them some policy and planning recommendations which
would help to transform this industry a beneficial and sustainable one, not only in Turrialba,
but in other Costa Rican communities as well.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis H892.
Adaptación y validación de procedimientos para evaluar la capacidad de carga
turística en el Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica [Adaptation and validation of
proceedings to evaluate tourist carrying capacity in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica] /
Bajaña-Fabara, D.F. Turrialba: CATIE, 1998. 145 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc, Centro Agronómico
Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba (Costa Rica). Las áreas protegidas de Costa
Rica (sin contar con las zonas de manglar ni áreas marinas) cubren un 23,83 por ciento del
territorio nacional (SINAC, 1998) y contienen una gran cantidad de recursos naturales que
deben ser conservados. Por otro lado, Costa Rica es el país centroamericano con mayor
desarrollo del turismo, en donde las áreas protegidas constituyen uno de sus principales
atractivos. El turismo ha generado una fuerte presión hacia los bienes y servicios que ofrecen
las áreas protegidas. La falta de una adecuada planificación en el desarrollo turístico y de
estudios para el manejo de la visitación constituyen una limitante para las instituciones a
cargo de su manejo. Los estudios de capacidad de carga turística son una herramienta valiosa
para el manejo de las áreas protegidas, ayudando en la toma de decisiones y en la fijación de
límites para su uso turístico. La capacidad de carga debe ser entendida no como un simple
dato, sino como una herramienta dinámica, que está determinada por factores físicos,
biológicos, ambientales, sociales y de manejo. Considera los objetivos de manejo de áreas
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protegidas y se basa en ciertas decisiones y sirve para sustentar otras; su determinación debe
definir escenarios de manejo e indicar los cambios que se requerirán para operar bajo éstos.
Este trabajo se planteó como objetivos principales primero, mejorar y validar procedimientos
para la determinación la capacidad de carga turística; segundo, determinar la sustentabilidad
del turismo dentro del área de estudio y tercero, establecer las condiciones necesarias para el
desarrollo adecuado de esta actividad. Utilizando la metodología desarrollada por Cifuentes
(1992) se calculó la capacidad de carga para los diferentes sitios de visita del Parque Nacional
Corcovado (PNC). Se consideraron variables físicas (erodabilidad y accesibilidad), ambientales
(precipitación), sociales (distanciamiento), biológicas (perturbación de fauna) y de manejo
(cierres temporales, tamaño de los grupos, horas de visita y tiempo necesario por visita).
Además, el cálculo de la capacidad de manejo, factor determinante para la capacidad de carga
efectiva, se lo hizo tomando en cuenta criterios de cantidad, calidad y funcionalidad dentro de
tres ámbitos: recursos humanos, equipamiento e infraestructura. Para esto se tomó como
base la metodología para evaluación de la eficiencia de manejo desarrollada por De Faria
(1993), adaptándola para los fines de este estudio. Se determinó que la capacidad de carga
turística del parque es de 72 visitantes/día, que dan un total de 26280 visitantes/año,
pudiendo aumentarse a 100 personas/día (que darían un total de 35040 visitantes/año) si se
eliminan ciertos recorridos que actúan como limitantes críticas en los sitios para Sirena y La
Leona. Adicionalmente se calculó el punto de equilibrio financiero para diferentes escenarios,
con el fin de encontrar la mejor combinación de factores que permita minimizar los impactos
en el área y optimizar los ingresos, para que el turismo contribuya a la conservación de la
diversidad presente en el parque. La adopción de ciertas decisiones de manejo, con el fin de
generar mayores ingresos para el área, dentro del límite máximo de visitantes establecido por
la capacidad de carga, permitiría financiar el 100 por ciento de los costos de manejo del área.
Se determinó que actualmente los ingresos del parque cubren apenas el 50,66 por ciento de
los costos totales. Para que el parque sea sustentable económicamente deberán tomarse
medidas de manejo con el fin de aumentar los ingresos, a través del aumento de las tarifas de
entrada y de los precios de los servicios, y el aumento de los niveles de visitación actual,
dentro del límite establecido por la capacidad de carga turística. Se definieron y evaluaron
diferentes indicadores de impacto de la visitación. Estas dan una mejor claridad para
caracterizar la situación actual de los diferentes sitios de visita y permitan evaluar las acciones
de manejo con relación al uso público con el fin de detectar posibles vacíos y, de ser
necesario, modificar o adoptar acciones con el fin de mantener rangos aceptables para estos
indicadores. Al comparar la situación actual con los indicadores de impacto de la visitación, se
determinó que todos los sitios presentan niveles aceptables para al menos cuatro de los cinco
indicadores propuestos. El único sitio que presenta dos indicadores con niveles inaceptables es
el sendero Montaña, en La Leona. Se concluye, finalmente que las metodologías utilizadas en
este estudio son herramientas valiosas, aplicables a la realidad de las áreas protegidas. Los
resultados obtenidos son un aporte importante para la toma de decisiones de manejo que
tiendan a lograr la conservación de los recursos del área y a mejorar la calidad de los servicios
turísticos brindados a los visitantes.
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: Thesis B165.
Turismo a toda costa y liberalización de la explotación del bosque / Mora-Castellano, E.
(Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Heredia, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: AMBIEN-TICO (ISSN 1409-214X), no. 14-15, p. 1-2. 1994. (No
abstract)
Wild biodiversity: the last frontier? [Biodiversidad silvestre: ¿la última frontera?] / MateoValverde, N. (Apartado 76-6151, Centro Santa Ana 2000, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Proceedings of the Conference "Forum Belém I", Belém do Pará
BRNov. 26-29, 1996. Frankfurt: Peter Lang GmbH, 1998. p. 23-42. ISBN: 3-631-34076-1.
Agricultural expansion in Costa Rica has brought economic development and political stability,
but also poor natural resources management and dependency on a small number of crops.
Efforts to counterbalance the resulting environmental degradation are now under way aiming
at the conservation of Costa Rica's still existing wildlands which occupy 25% of the country's
90
territory and harbour more than half a million species of animals, plants and micro-organisms
representing 4-5% of the terrestrial world's biodiversity. The mission of the National
Biodiversity Institute (INBio), created in 1989 is to conserve and manage this biodiversity.
Inventory building is done by "parataxonomists" who collect and catalogue specimens keeping
close ties with local communities. Dissemination of knowledge focuses on schools, universities,
policy makers and legislators, and private enterprises using modern media such as the WWW
which alone holds more than 9000 screens of general and specific information. The search for
sustainable uses of biodiversity is done by prospecting together with academic research
centres and private companies, the INBio-Merck contract being the most publicised example.
Ten per cent of research budgets and 50% of any future royalties earned by INBio have to be
transferred to the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment and Energy for reinvestment in
conservation. Although creating suspicions of INBio becoming dependent of large companies,
at present, only 15% of the institutes incoe is derived from these contracts. Other potentials
such as carbon sequestration payments, ecotourism and sale of water or hydroelectric power
exist but are still largely untapped. Local conditions and strategies will continue to exert a
great influence on agricultural and wild biodiversity management, however, a global scene of
multilateral and bilateral agreements and strategic alliances will be most influential in
biodiversity conservation and utilisation in the future.
Localización: Biblioteca de Inventario (INBio).
Escenarios de uso del territorio para Costa Rica en el año 2025 / Dengo, J.M.; Cotera,
J.; Lücke-Sánchez, O.; Orlich, D.; Chavarría, A.; Rodríguez, A.G, (ed.). (Universidad de Costa
Rica.
Instituto
de
Investigaciones
Económicas,
San
José,
CR
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). : Ministerio de Planificación y Política Económica, 1999. 108 p.
(Proyecto SINADES; ATN/SF/4717-CR).
Ecoturismo en Costa Rica: "la fiebre del oro verde" / Cruz, J.C. (FAO. Programa Bosques
Árboles y Comunidades Rurales (FTPP), Apartado 8198-1000, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Horizontes (Revista del Centro de Estudios y Capacitación
Cooperativa) (ISSN 9968-9767), no. 6, p. 102-106. 1994.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: H.
Ecotourism in rural developing communities / Campbell, L.M. (University of Western
Ontario. Department of Geography, London, Ontario N6A 5C2, CA <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Annals of Tourism Research (ISSN 0160-7383), v. 26, no. 3,
p. 534-553. 1999. This paper considers the ad hoc development of ecotourism at Ostional,
Costa Rica, and the potential benefits for the local community in the absence of government
planning or intervention. In 1995, only four percent of Ostional households identified tourism
as a source of income; however, this was substantial in comparison to that derived from other
economic activities. While most Ostional residents had positive attitudes toward tourism, they
had limited awareness of employment or investment opportunities. Lack of formalized
planning or intervention, the possibilities for the community of Ostional to further benefit from
tourism development will be limited.
Costa Rica: Corcovado National Park [Costa Rica: Parque Nacional Corcovado] / CuelloNieto, C.A.; Brandon, K.E.; Margoluis, R. In: Parks in peril: people, politics, and protected
areas. Brandon, K.; Redford, K.H.; Sanderson, S.E. (eds.) Washington, DC: Island Press,
1998. p. 143-191. ISBN: 1-55963-608-4. An examination is presented of the dilemma as to
whether parks should be rigidly protected and local people kept out, or should local people be
integrated into park management. The issues faced by nine parks are examined. The book
concludes that efforts to manage and protect parks will fail unless socioeconomic and political
issues are considered and dealt with. Sixteen papers are presented in three parts. Part I
examines neotropical parks challenges and context. Part II presents the case studies, from
Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica (Corcovado National Park), Dominican Republic, Belize,
91
Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. Part III considers the reality and reaction associated with saving
neotropical parks. The papers derive from the Parks in Peril programme, established in 1990.
Localización: MAST-90.
Ecotourism market and industry structure [Mercado de ecoturismo y estructura de la
industria] / Eagles, P.F.J.; Higgins, B.R.; Lindberg, K, (ed.).; Wood, M.E, (ed.).; Engeldrum, D.
(Institute of Transport Economics, PO Box 6110, Etterstad N-0602 Oslo, NO <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Ecotourism: a guide for planners and managers North Bennington:
Ecotourism Society, 1998. p. 11-43. ISBN: 0-9636331-3-9. This chapter investigates market
demand and the industry structure of ecotourism. Secondly, the types of ecotourism
businesses, their size, location and character, and connections between separate enterprises
are identified as a way to understand the business structure of ecotourism. The significance of
this market perspective is then analysed through case studies of ecotourism enterprises in
Kenya and Costa Rica. Research covering elements of market demand in the two case studies;
agencies, services and external conditions; market mix including product, price, promotion
and place and ecotour operation are considered in each case. The evidence suggests that over
time, the industry has expanded from servicing the hard core ecotourist, who is very
interested in nature study and is willing to accept local conditions, to the soft experience
ecotourism who wants more creature comforts and shows a less intense level of nature
interest. It is a balancing act between developing a sustainable, environmentally form of
tourism and catering to the needs of these types of tourists.
Introducing the undercapitalized world of interpretation / McArthur, S.; Lindberg, K,
(ed.).; Wood, M.E, (ed.).; Engeldrum, D. (Institute of Transport Economics, PO Box 6110,
Etterstad N-0602 Oslo, NO <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Ecotourism: a guide for
planners and managers North Bennington: Ecotourism Society, 1998. p. 63-85. ISBN: 09636331-3-9. The evolution of the concept of interpretation is explored, including how it has
been used, and why it has not generally been given the chance to meet its potential.
Ecotourism typically use interpretation to: value and better position their product; attract high
yield products; reflect personal or organizational ethics; or appease the heritage management
organizations responsible for the property on which they operate. Three key planning stages
required for successful interpretation are identified: defining a target audience; determining
content and its structure; and selecting a technique. Case studies highlighting the introduction
of interpretation into ecotourism operations are presented including Harmony Resort, Virgin
Islands; Rara Avis, Costa Rica; Oz tours, Australia and Belize Zoo, Belize.
Aspectos jurídicos y ambientales en relación a proyectos turísticos en refugios de
vida silvestre: necesidad de un turismo sostenible / Dachner-Cirano, L.; Ruiz-Rojas, F.
San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1994. 394 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Derecho, Universidad
de Costa Rica, Facultad de Derecho, San José (Costa Rica). (SIN RESUMEN). Objetivos:
Demostrar la falta de coordinación entre los órganos administrativos encargados de autorizar y
fiscalizar la ejecución de los proyectos turísticos en los refugios nacionales de vida silvestre.
Evidenciar que existe una falta de efectividad de la legislación actual que regula esta materia.
Comprobar la falta de una adecuada regulación en cuanto a la tramitación de los proyectos
turísticos en Costa Rica, mediante el análisis de un caso concreto. Plantear la creación de una
"ventanilla única", mediante la cual se logre una efectiva y ágil tramitación de los proyectos
turísticos. Para la realización de la investigación utilizamos un método racionalista empírico,
que nos permitió comprobar la hipótesis aquí planteada. Después de analizar las diversas
perspectivas expuestas en este estudio, el lector conocerá el procedimiento a seguir en la
aprobación de los proyectos turísticos en nuestro país y específicamente de aquellos cuyo
destino sea un refugio de vida silvestre. Asimismo, logrará llegar a la conclusión de que en
nuestro país existe legislación y los órganos suficientes para lograr una adecuada proteccion
de nuestr medio ambiente, sin que esto signifique que no puedan mejorarse. Sin embargo,
92
debido a la falta de efectividad de las leyes aplicables, derivada de una falta de coordinación
entre las entidades gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, así como de la falta de
capacitación de los funcionarios encargados de velar por la protección de nuestros recursos
naturales, se torna difícil una verdadera protección de nuestra áreas protegidas y aún más, la
instauración de un verdadero turismo sostenible en Costa Rica.
The emerging bed and breakfast industry in Costa Rica [La emergente industria de cama
y desayuno en Costa Rica] / Daugherty, C.M.; Jaquay, B.G. (Northern Arizona University.
Department of Geography and Public Planning, P.O. Box 15016, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Pacific Tourism Review (ISSN 1544-2721), v. 2,
no. 1, p. 11-19. 1998. The bed and breakfast industry in Costa Rica is examined in terms of
geographical location, facility characteristics, management and services, and government
regulations affecting the industry. Comparisons of these attributes between Costa Rica and the
US are made where significant and future trends in Costa Rica's tourist industry are predicted.
Three methods of data analysis are used: field visits to bed and breakfast establishments in
the San José area; secondary sources such as newspaper articles; and country-wide
information gained from the members of a recently established bed and breakfast association.
The bed and breakfast industry seems more developed in those areas where tourism is most
attractive, especially in and around cultural and natural attractions. In addition, typical bed
and breakfast establishments have fewer than 10 rooms, and exhibit a mixture of American
and European elements. A number of ownership combinations exists, and as yet, government
involvement in the industry is minimal.
Sustainable tourism: a geographical perspective / Hall, C.M, (ed.).; Lew, A.A. (University
of Otago. Centre for Tourism, Dunedin, NZ <E-mail: [email protected]>).
Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman Ltd, 1998. 236 p. ISBN: 0-582-32262-6. This book
examines the field of sustainable tourism development. Individual chapters include: the
geography of sustainable tourism development; historical antecedents of sustainable
development and ecotourism; sustainable tourism; tourism and sustainable development;
tourism and the environment; land and culture; tools for sustainability analysis in planning
and managing tourism and recreation in the destination; the Asia-Pacific ecotourism industry;
how sustainable ecotourism is in Costa Rica; ecotourism for rural development; Curry County
sustainable nature-based tourism project; public transport and sustainable tourism using the
case of the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership; market segmentation and ecotourism
development on the Lower North Shore of Quebec; Development in the Annapurna
Conservation Area Project, Nepal; local government planning for sustainable tourism
development and planning in New Zealand; sustainable urban tourist attractions using the
case of Fort Edmonton Park; and the geography of sustainable tourism.
How sustainable is ecotourism in Costa Rica? / Place, S.E.; Hall, C.M, (ed.).; Lew, A.A.
(California State University. Department of Geography and Planning, 400 West First St., Chico,
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
CA
95929-0425,
US
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Sustainable tourism: a geographical perspective
Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman Ltd, 1998. p. 107-118. ISBN: 0-582-32262-6. This article
examines the role of park-based tourism, through a case study of Tortuguero National Park,
Costa Rica. It is concluded that Tortuguero has the prerequisites for sustainable conservationbased tourism: an interesting and relatively easily viewed wildlife component, the potential for
relatively easy access, and a distinctive local culture. The dominant development policy
promotes a dependency on international tourism, but it is argued that it would be more
appropriate to promote domestic tourism since this form of development is more supportive of
village-based, small scale enterprises.
93
Wild biodiversity: the last frontier? [Biodiversidad silvestre: ¿la última frontera?] / MateoValverde, N.; Ives, C.L, (ed.).; Bedford, B.M, (ed.). (Apartado 76-6151, Centro Santa Ana
2000, San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Agricultural biotechnology in
international development Wallingford: CAB INTERNATIONAL, 1998. p. 317-333. ISBN: 085199-278-1. It is argued that Costa Rica has an exemplary record in biodiversity
conservation and development which is the result of strong political support, growing
awareness of society of the value of biodiversity, and leadership and vision provided by key
individuals and institutions. This achievement has not been painless as indicated by the fact
that the country lost one-third of its forest cover during the first 450 years after colonization
and another one-third in the last 50 years. Agricultural systems based on high inputs
(particularly export crops) and inadequate utilization of marginal lands (particularly
subsistence farming) have led in many instances to forest destruction and degradation, soil
losses and pollution. It is worth noting that adding value to primary products has also been
lacking throughout most of our history. Biodiversity conservation and development must
definitely benefit from past lessons and consider alternative mechanisms and strategies. The
National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) was created in 1989, on the recommendation of a
national planning commission established by an executive presidential decree, as a non-profit,
non-governmental organization for the public good. INBio's mission and objectives, to
generate knowledge of biodiversity and develop sustainable uses, complement intensive
conservation efforts led by government, private groups and individuals. These efforts have
resulted in the protection of about 25% of the national territory. INBio's operational goals
include a national biodiversity inventory to describe and locate the estimated half a million
species present in the country; information management systems to handle and analyse high
volumes of data; information dissemination mechanisms to share and promote knowledge of
biodiversity and a bioprospecting effort to search for sustainable uses. Bioprospecting has
been a pioneer experience that preceded the tenets established by the Biodiversity
Convention. INBio has established research agreements with private national and international
industry based on criteria of access, equity, transfer of technology and training of national
scientists. These agreements provide a direct contribution to conservation, over US$2 million
to date, and contain royalty obligations in cases where new products may reach the market.
Important fields of cooperation with the academic and private sectors include biotechnology,
biopesticides, pharmaceuticals, fragrances, ornamentals and tourism. The success of
conservation efforts will largely depend on how society perceives the direct and indirect
benefits derived from under-standing and using biodiversity.
Ecotourism at a crossroads: The case of Costa Rica [Ecoturismo hacia los cruces de
carreteras: el caso de Costa Rica] / Lumsdon, L.M.; Swift, J.S. (Staffordshire University.
Business
School,
Leek
Road,
Stoke
on
Trent
ST42DF,
GB
<E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Journal of
Sustainable Tourism (ISSN 0966-9582), v. 6, no. 2, p. 155-172. 1998. This article examines
tourism development in Costa Rica, with particular emphasis on the strategic choices facing
the country in the future. It suggests that the traditional approaches to visitor segmentation
may no longer be applicable. Visitor requirements and motivation are becoming more varied
than in previous decades and more widely diversified across the spectrum of offerings.
Drawing on qualitative empirical research with tour operators in Costa Rica, the study
examines their approach to the marketplace and the management choices they face in terms
of market development. The evidence suggests that Costa Rica is at a crossroads in terms of
the strategic choices faced in the development of tourism. As the country moves towards a
mass market culture, it will be necessary for both government and tour operators to apply
stronger controls over access to its national parks and nature reserves.
Plan estratégico para el desarrollo del ecoturismo en Costa Rica / Sánchez-Bolaños,
A.P.; Segura-Barahona, J.C. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1994. 231 p. Proyecto de
Graduación, Licenciatura en Administración de Negocios, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela
de Administración de Negocios, San José (Costa Rica). SIN RESUMEN. Objetivo general:
94
Elaborar una propuesta que sirva como base para promover el turismo ecológico, manteniendo
un equilibrio entre su desarrollo y la conservación del ambiente natural. Objetivos específicos:
Señalar la importancia que tiene el sector del turismo y en especial el turismo ecológico,
dentro de la economía nacional. Estudiar la situación que han enfrentado las empresas
relacionadas con la conservación del ambiente y con el impulso del turismo, para lograr un
desarrollo conjunto y equilibrado de ambos sectores. Definir los aspectos que deberían tomar
en cuenta las instituciones encargadas de regular las actividades turísticas para poner en
práctica un plan dirigido al desarrollo equilibrado del ecoturismo.
Estudio del proceso de comunicación entre CANATUR y las cámaras regionales de
turismo / Castro-Carboni, A.; Muñoz-Caravaca, S. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica,
1994. 245 p. Proyecto de Graduación, Licenciatura en Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva
con énfasis en Relaciones Públicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Ciencias de la
Comunicación Colectiva, San José (Costa Rica). Luego de visitar CANATUR (como órgano más
representativo del sector turístico privado) y de entrevistar a varios de sus funcionarios, se
identificó el problema a tratar desde la perspectiva de las relaciones públicas: las cámaras
regionales ya no asistían a las reuniones mensuales a las que convocaba CANATUR. Se
perfilaba como posible causa la pérdida de interés o motivación. Al mismo tiempo, varias
cámaras regionales de turismo asumían la tarea de crear la Federación de Cámaras de
Turismo de Costa Rica, la cual tendría mayor representatividad que CANATUR. En otras
palabras, sería el nuevo ente cúpula. Afín con esta problemática, este pryecto de graduación
estudia el proceso de comunicación existente entre CANATUR y las cámaras regionales de
turismo. Identifica los elementos que obstaculizan el proceso y sugiere una propuesta para
mejorar la efectividad del mismo. La etapa de investigación se inicia con el estudio preliminar
de las cámaras. CANATUR se identificó como una cámara con una misión a nivel nacional en
búsqueda del fortalecimiento de la actividad turística y las cámaras regionales de turismo
como cámaras que trabajan por el desarrollo turístico local. Se confrontaron las primeras
opiniones sobre CANATUR y el conocimiento directo de ésta con el supuesto de que por su
posición en el sector y por su experiencia, puede ejercer un liderazgo. En este proceso se
identificó la naturaleza de los obstáculos para que la relación entre CANATUR y las cámaras
regionales de turismo fuera más estable y provechosa. Se detectaron problemas en cuanto a
las políticas administrativas inadecuadas e insuficientes que tienen múltiples repercusiones en
el proceso de comunicación. Luego de una segunda etapa de investigación o diagnóstico de las
cámaras regionales de turismo (como parte de igual importancia en el proceso) se confirmaron
problemas en la actitud al comunicar por parte de CANATUR, falta de información sobre
CANATUR, disposición de asistir a reuniones por parte de las cámaras regionales de turismo,
temas de interés común, entre otros aspectos importantes. La propuesta y respuesta al
problema consiste en un programa de reuniones conjuntas con una metodología de
programación con responsabilidad compartida. Se explican los obstáculos que sufre el proceso
de comunicación analizando cada elemento del mismo. La conclusión general pretende crear
conciencia sobre la íntima relación que existe entre la administración y dirección de
organizaciones y la efectividad del proceso de comunicación resultante.
El turismo y su contribución al mejoramiento de las condiciones socioeconómicas de
las comunidades (caso Playas del Coco, Carrillo, Guanacaste) / Cascante-Gutiérrez,
A.M.; Cerna-Gutiérrez, N.M.; Chavarría-López, J.A.; Díaz-Chavarría, D.P.; Gutiérrez-Alvarez,
C.L. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1994. 214 p. Seminario de Graduación, Licenciatura
en Trabajo Social, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Trabajo Social, San José (Costa
Rica). Ante la crisis económica que se experimenta en Costa Rica en los años 80, se
introdujeron una serie de políticas económicas comprendidas en los Programas de Ajuste
Estructural "PAE I y PAE II" que pretendían una reorganización económica, y donde iban
implícitos una serie de cambios en el campo económico, político y social. Dentro de estos
cambios se buscaba la redefinición de la estructura productiva nacional y con ello se impulsó la
actividad turística como fuente generadora de divisas. Los pobladores permanentes de Playas
del Coco, que se constituyeron en el objeto de estudio de la investigación, presentan
95
características como: Son familia de tipo nuclear, con un promedio de 5 miembros, de ellos un
51% son hombres y más del 60/ de las personas se encuentran en edad productiva. El nivel
educativo de los jefes es un 42% de primaria incompleta. Su principal ocupación es la pesca
artesanal, la cual no demanda gran especialización o formación educativa, ya que el oficio se
traslada de padres a hijos en forma oral y práctica. Por su misma labor productiva, sus
salarios se ubican entre 20 y 30 mil colones mensuales, lo que representa que el 48% de los
jefes se ubican en este estrato. Se determinó que la comunidad tiene una buena percepción
hacia el turismo como fuente generadora de empleo y de mejoramiento de salario. No
obstante, también existe un componente negativo, ya que se considera que el turismo genera
contaminación ambiental y el aumento de problemas sociales como uso de drogas,
prostitución, así como también un acelerado proceso de transculturación donde los jóvenes
adoptan costumbres de otras naciones en cuanto al uso de la ropa y en el idioma (anglicismo).
Es notorio que los pobladores no cuentan con las condiciones socioeconómicas ni con el capital
necesario para instalar negocio de venta de bienes y servicios al turista. Su salario le permite
atender las necesidades básicas sin contar con excedentes para invertir en empresas
turísticas. Sus condiciones de formación y especialización reduce las opciones de incursionar
en empresas complejas y hacerlas productivas y rentables. Finalmente, el turismo tiene la
posibilidad real de contribuir al mejoramiento de las condiciones socioeconómicas siempre y
cuando los pobladores permanentes tengan acceso directo a la prestación de servicios al
turista y a la venta de bienes que les permita obtener mejores ingresos. Es una actividad que
no debe ser explotada sólo por extranjeros o nacionales con suficiente capital, sino que debe
dársele participación a los pobladores de los centros turísticos, respetando su idiosincracia y el
medio ambiente.
El papel de la prensa en el desarrollo turístico de Costa Rica, con énfasis en el
aspecto cultural-ecológico / Herrera-Vargas, J.F. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica,
1994. 167 p. Tesis, Licenciatura en Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva, Universidad de
Costa Rica, Escuela de Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva, San José (Costa Rica). Los
objetivos de esta investigación son la definición de las actividades de la prensa en relación con
el desarrollo del turismo y la determinación de las posibilidades de ampliarlas, de manera que
la prensa asuma las funciones de informar, educar y controlar que el desarrollo del turismo
garantice la preservación de los recursos culturales y naturales, propios de la identidad y la
realidad costarricense. Este estudio parte de la hipótesis de que las actividades de la prensa
relacionadas con el desarrollo del turismo resultan disfuncionales para la sociedad
costarricense, es decir, no corresponden a los intereses de la colectividad ni a un modelo de
desarrollo sostenible. El autor consideró inicialmente que las actividades de la prensa no
informaban ni educaban a la población de la manera en que ese desarrollo sostenible lo exigía,
y que los medios de comunicación masiva tampoco estaban asumiendo un papel de entes
contralores para que las acciones públicas y privadas fueran coherentes con ese modelo. En
las condiciones actuales ninguna sociedad debe comprometer los recursos ambientales de los
cuales eventualmente las generaciones futuras también requerirán para satisfacer sus propias
necesidades.
Evaluación de los mecanismos de control en el desarrollo de proyectos turísticos en
Costa Rica (caso del Hotel Playa Tambor) / Castro-Myrie, C.; Ketelhohn-Gron, H.;
Tenorio-Campos, A. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1994. 188 p. Seminario de
Graduación, Licenciatura en Administración Pública, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de
Administración Pública, San José (Costa Rica). Objetivo general: Evaluar los mecanismos de
control en el desarrollo de proyectos turísticos en Costa Rica, tomando como ejemplo el Hotel
Playa Tambor. Objetivos específicos: Identificar los mecanismos de control sobre proyectos
turísticos que existen en el país. Determinar los procedimientos, regulaciones e instrumentos
utilizados en las instituciones públicas para aplicar los controles existentes. Analizar la
eficiencia de los mecanismos de control aplicados en las instituciones. Identificar la efectividad
de los mecanismos de control aplicados al caso de Hotel Playa Tambor. Analizar los efectos
socioeconómicos y ambientales causados por el Hotel Playa Tambor en la zona de influencia.
96
El control operativo en la hotelería costarricense para turismo receptivo / FallasCalderón, M.E.; Sandoval-Leal, A.S. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1994. 238 p. Tesis,
Licenciatura en Administración de Negocios, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de
Administración de Negocios, San José (Costa Rica). El turismo es una actividad que se
encuentra formada por un conjunto de elementos como lo son: restaurantes, hoteles, líneas
aéreas, agencias de viajes, etc. Todos ellos en conjunto constituyen lo que se conoce con el
nombre de infraestructura turística o la también llamada por otros "industria sin chimeneas".
Entre todos los componentes de la infraestructura turística sobresale en importancia la
hotelería, ya que es uno de los servicios que indiscutiblemente el turista debe utilizar al
desplazarse hacia otro país o región. Adicionalmente, el desarrollo alcanzado por los medios
de comunicación durante los últimos años, ha facilitado el desplazamiento de las personas
hacia cualquier parte del mundo, por lo que lugar a visitar ha pasado a un segundo plano. En
la actualidad la cantidad y calidad de los servicios prestados por los hoteles constituyen
factores determinantes para seleccionar un país o región como destino turístico. Ante esta
situación, es de suma importancia que los administradores de hoteles tomen conciencia sobre
la necesidad de establecer políticas y controles de carácter operativo, que les permitan el
cumplimiento de los objetivos establecidos por la gerencia del hotel en cuanto a servicio y
calidad en forma adecuada. Asimismo, es importante mencionar que un hotel no es sólo un
establecimiento de hospedaje, sino que constituye un grupo de servicios que se complementan
e interactúan entre sí, hay áreas como la recepción, reservaciones y alimentos y bebidas
donde se genera la mayor cantidad de ingresos para el hotel, por lo que su administración se
vuelve de suma importancia, pero a la vez son los centros más difíciles de controlar y manejar
en forma eficaz.
Boots, bananas and biodiversity [Botas, bananos y biodiversidad] / Krauskopf, S, (ed.).;
Kline, J, (ed.). (The University of Wisconsin. Center for Latin America, Milwaukee 53201, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). Milwaukee, WI: Center for Latin America, 1996. 149 p.
(Interdisciplinary Environmental Activities about Costa Rica; Grades 6-9). On June 28, 1995
twelve middle grade teachers from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin converged at the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Latin America to begin a five week Fulbright Group Project
Environmental Literacy Tour to Costa Rica. These educators, with diverse disciplinay
backgrounds and intriguing personal experiences, were selected to participate because of their
interest in and commintment to environmental education, both locally and globally, and for
their understanding of and desire to learn more about the complexity of the social, political,
economic and ecological issues involved in conservation efforts. The environmental literacy
tour, which the group subsequently nicknamed "Flight of the Butterfly" ("Viaje de la
Mariposa"), traversed all of the major regions of Costa Rica. As you will learn from the
curriculum these teachers developed as a result of the tour, Costa Rica is a very diverse
country. Everywhere we went we explored a new ecosystem, experienced a slightly different
culture, and heard a new story. Despite the diversity of our experiences, certain common
treads helped pull together our ideas into what you see before you. The group addressed four
themes: "Community Participation in Natural Resource Conservation and Wildlife Protection"
(Bower, B; Guyer, J; Soldat, C); "Ecotourism" Pearson, J; Smith, J; Sundstedt, K);
"Environmental Studies in Costa Rica" (Brothers, S; Plantiko, M; Sievers, K); and
"Environment, Resource Use and Regional Development" (Bishop, S; Grunden, E; Spielmann,
R). We used the interdisciplinary strengths of the four teacher teams to create activities that
address not only the science of conservation and the tropical forests, but also the effects of
local people's needs, economic constraints, and political pressures on the actual result.
Localización: Biblioteca CJT (Fundación Neotrópica-Rincón de Osa).
Un modello di sviluppo ecoturistico: il caso del Parco Nazionale Corcovado / Linda, M.
Trieste: Università degli Studi di Trieste, 1994. 256 p. Tesis, Di Laurea in Geografia Applicata,
Università degli Studi di Trieste, Facoltà di Economìa e Commercio, Trieste (Italy).
Localización: Biblioteca CJT (Fundación Neotrópica-Rincón de Osa).
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Mercadeo de servicios ecoturísticos. II Módulo / Acuña-Torres, A. Curso Taller para
Microempresarios Ecoturísticos de la Península de Osa. II Módulo, Rincón de Osa CR9-10 de
junio, 1997. Rincón de Osa: Fundación Neotrópica / The Nature Conservancy, 1997. s.p.
Localización: Biblioteca CJT (Fundación Neotrópica-Rincón de Osa): T40.
Mercadeo de servicios ecoturísticos ¿cómo y por qué de la estrategia de mercadeo? /
Acuña-Torres, A. Curso Taller para Microempresarios Ecoturísticos de la Península de Osa. I
Módulo, Rincón de Osa CR30 de mayo - 1 de junio, 1997. Rincón de Osa: Fundación
Neotrópica / The Nature Conservancy, 1997. s.p.
Localización: Biblioteca CJT (Fundación Neotrópica-Rincón de Osa): T41.
Influence of ecotourism on conservation policy for sustainable development: The
case of Costa Rica / Wildes, F.T. (<E-mail: [email protected]> ). Santa Barbara, CA:
University of California, 1998. 372 p. Dissertation, Ph.D, University of California, Santa
Barbara, CA (USA). This research examined the influence of ecotourism on conservation policy
in Costa Rica. It sought to determine whether, and to what degree, ecotourism influences
conservation in a developing country relative to conservation attitudes and paradigms; laws,
strategies, regulations and other national policies; and establishment and administration of
protected areas. The context of sustainable development provided a useful framework to
determine and analyze the role of ecotourism in formulating and implementing conservation
policy in Costa Rica. The research focused on the early stages of this evolving field, and is
therefore bounded in a temporal sense. Additionally, ecological, economic and cultural effects
of ecotourism, as well as reciprocal effects of conservation on ecotourism, were outside the
bounds of this research. A substantial amount of literature and archival research began in the
United States and continued in Costa Rica. Seven months of field study included a survey
questionnaire to officials and experts, interviews and other discussions, and site visits to many
protected areas in the country. Beginning in the late 1980s, sustainable development became
the conceptual framework within which policies for both conservation and development
(tourism in the context of this study) are formulated and implemented within Costa Rica. At
the same time, ecotourism began its dramatic growth, becoming the leading earner of foreign
exchange by the mid-1990s. The findings demonstrated that ecotourism has influenced
conservation policy in a number of direct and indirect ways, as the primary instrument of
sustainable development in Costa Rica. The influence of ecotourism is evident on
environmental thought and conservation paradigms, national conservation policies, and public
and private protected areas which comprise approximately one third of the national territory.
The degree of influence, considered to be significant overall, is strongest in the area of
protected areas, especially private reserves. Ecotourism has also furthered the achievement of
sustainable development principles and goals, primarily in its role as an economic justification
for conservation. Ecotourism is contributing to formulation of an environmental ethic as well as
conservation models and paradigms that foster sustainable development. Consequently, its
role in changing the character of national conservation polices and protected areas is also
contributing to sustainable development in Costa Rica.
An open-air perch in the jungle / Marcus, F.F. In: The New York Times (ISSN 0362-4331)
1999. There was a reason for staying in a room that was half-porch at the top of the lodge
operated by Rainbow Adventures-Costa Rica, in the southwestern part of the country near
Panama. It is set in a 1,200-acre rain forest, blessed with spectacular scenery and gorgeous
birds. Here, we wanted to test an idea embraced by Alec Waugh, the English writer, who liked
to size up unfamiliar territory from a veranda. Like him, we wanted to find out if we could see
a respectable amount of jungle life from the edges. "Either you are the explorer, who leaves
no corner unexamined, who hurries from place to place collecting and codifying facts; or else
you are the observer," Waugh wrote in "Hot Countries," his book about travels in the tropics.
"Myself, I have always chosen to let life come to me." Still, there were questions. The main
one: how much of our third-floor room would we be sharing and with how many varieties of
wildlife? Costa Rica is said to have 850 species of bird and thousands of species of insect,
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including hordes of mosquitoes. We had learned that Rainbow's owner, Michael Medill, had not
installed ceiling fans beause they could annihilate hummingbirds. Early the next morning we
flew in a twin-engine plane 50 minutes southeast over the mountains to Puerto Jiménez, a
village on the Golfo Dulce near the Pacific Ocean. Bernard and I were headed for the Osa
Península and Lapa Ríos, an upscale jungle lodge, where the rooms were protected by mesh
screens. Two mornings later we checked out of our pleasant room with mixed feelings and
climbed into a four-wheel drive truck that would take us to Puerto Jiménez for the boat trip
across the Golfo Dulce to our open-air room.
An out-of-bounds experience / Brody, L. In: Shape (ISSN 0744-5121), v. 14, no. 9, p.
108-111+. 1995. The unexpected turns of a Costa Rican survival course led one woman to
storm the safety zones of her everyday life. The woman's nine-day backpacking trip with
Outward Bound, the organization that takes people out into the wilderness to toughen them
up, is detailed.
Beyond the Canal, Panama pristine / Finkel, M. In: The New York Times (ISSN 0362-4331)
1999. My hunch was that Panama was similar to Costa Rica, only without the tourists. The two
nations share a 150-mile-long border and the same entrancing blend of landscapes: extensive
rain forests, lush mountain ranges, reef-laden coastlines. And while Costa Rica is famed for its
eco-consciousness, Panama, I discovered, has quietly established 16 national parks and 8
other natural reserves in the last 25 years. Panama has set aside nearly one-third of its total
land area as protected areas, according to the guidebooks, which makes it one of the world's
most preserved countries. And yet, when I perused classified ads for tours, I counted 11
outfitters headed for Costa Rica, yet not a single offer for a Panama trip. (This disparity may
soon change, as Panama has embarked on a concerted effort to attract visitors, including the
opening of a tourist bureau in the United States, near Miami.) Panama City is an unfortunate
introduction to Panama. It's a loud, unattractive metropolis, the streets dominated by buses
that have been airbrushed in spasms of jarring colors, like graffitied subway cars. Each bus is
independently owned and decorated, and they bolt from one stop to the next drag-race style.
Crossing the street is often a death-defying sprint.
Central coasting / Garrett, K. In: Chicago (ISSN 0362-4595), v. 48, no. 3, p. 57-64. 1999.
Garrett profiles Costa Rica, which boasts a rugged and rocky Pacific shoreline and a sandy
Caribbean coast. The island is also home to many rare wildlife species, with more than a
quarter of its land officially protected.
Chic shacks / Alleman, R. In: Vogue (ISSN 0042-8000), v. 186, no. 4, p. 192. 1996. Alleman
examines six of the hottest new resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America that feature
pared-down accommodations, low prices and high style. Hacienda Doña Marta Lodge in
Orotina, Costa Rica, Compass Point in Nassau, Bahamas, Rockhouse in Negril, Jamaica, Jake's
in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, Jaguar Reef Lodge in Hopkins Village, Belize and Concordia Ecotents in Salt Pond Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands are discussed.
Costa Rica tees off / Yeomans, M. In: Conde Nast Traveler (ISSN 0893-9683), v. 33, no. 11,
p. 60. 1998. Costa Rica, renowned for ecotourism and a low-key, stable atmosphere, is
experiencing a golf boom. Golf is part of an effort to promote the country as a high-end
destination.
Costa Rica's Catalina Islands / Aulber, D. In: Skin Diver (ISSN 0037-6345), v. 48, no. 4, p.
53-55. 1999. Aulber discusses diving opportunities at Costa Rica's Catalina Islands, which
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have a reputation for large schools of marine life and the best visibility in the area. Facts
about Costa Rica's climate, taxes, and the safety of drinking water are examined.
Costa Rican riches: renowed for its National Park System, Costa Rica is also home to
underwater wonders / Bradley, G.E. In: Sea Frontiers (ISSN 0897-2249), v. 41, no. 4, p.
24-29. 1995. Costa Rica is noted for its interesting wildlife. If the country handles its
underwater regions as reasonably as it has handled its rainforests, eco-diving could provide
income and help pay for conservation.
Costa Rica, bio-extravaganza / Tourtellot, J.B. In: National Geographic Traveler (ISSN
0747-0932), v. 13, no. 3, p. 20-23. 1996. Nature travel has exploded in Costa Rica, leading
some to question whether the country is being loved to death by tourists. Tourtellot discusses
a trip to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica's Guanacaste region / Murphy, G. In: Skin Diver (ISSN 0037-6345), v. 45, no.
11, p. 104-105. 1996. The Guanacaste Region of Costa Rica's Pacific Coast has become a hot
diving destination. Information about dive sites in the region is presented.
EcoTopia / Freedman, A.J. In: National Review (ISSN 0028-0038), v. 47, no. 23, p. 38. 1995.
Ecotourism, which began as a left-wing offshoot of the adventure travel business, is the
fastest growing sector in the tourism industry. Freedman explores the business of ecotourism
in Costa Rica, a country at the heart of the new trend.
Heartbreak hacienda / Beckett, K. In: Travel Holiday (ISSN 0199-025X), v. 182, no. 3, p.
143-147. 1999. Beckett reviews the Hotel Alta, at The Old Road, Santa Ana, Costa Rica.
Jungle gym / Brody, L. In: Shape (ISSN 0744-5121), v. 18, no. 11, p. 122-125. 1999. From
killer waves to quiet cloud forests, raging rivers to steaming volcanoes, Costa Rica is a beautypacked paradise of fun and fitness. Costa Rica is definitely the destination du jour for active
American travelers. Only a short plane ride from the United States, it's one of the most
biologically diverse countries in the world, with 25 percent of the land federally protected and
acre upon acre of national park. "Costa Rica is an anomaly in Central America," says Maribeth
Mellin, author of Traveler's Companion: Costa Rica (The Globe Pequot Pess, 1998). "It's
peaceful, there's no army, it has a nicely stable political system and it's very European. That's
why it's so popular." While many areas of the country are responding to the tourist boom, our
destination - the remote Osa Peninsula in the soutwest - is still pretty raw territory. Although
it's only 237 miles from San José, the country's bustling capital, the roads are so primitive it
can take up to eight hours to drive there. Like us, most tourists prefer to take a domestic
flight from San José's international airport. From the Puerto Jiménez airport, it's s short hop to
our home for the week. Tucked into an ever-encroaching patch of jungle right off the beach,
the Iguana Lodge is a refreshingly simple solar-powered camp surrounded by banana and
papaya trees, ripening pineapples and wild ginger.
Nature's way: Costa Rica is small, but it's teeming with rainforest life / Motavalli, J.
In: The Environmental Magazine (ISSN 1046-8021), v. 7, no. 1, p. 48-49. 1996. Costa Rica
has some of the world's most pristine rainforests as well as some highly polluted cities.
Several biological reserves in Costa Rica and other protected areas are highlighted, and travel
tips are provided. Presents a look at ecotourism in Costa Rica. Places to see in Costa Rica;
Where vacationers that are looking for fun can go; Places to stay; Contact pointss.
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Something wild / Brown, K. In: Travel & Leisure (ISSN 0041-2007), v. 25, no. 11, p. 158169. 1995. Nature is still in charge at the superb eco resorts in rough and ready Costa Rica.
Information about Costa Rica and vacation spots like the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp is
presented.
The Eden project / Huth, T. In: Conde Nast Traveler (ISSN 0893-9683), v. 30, no. 4, p. 138143+. 1995. Tom Huth describes his progress and problems in attemping to realize his dream
of living in a beach shack in the tropics. Huth bought a lot with a hundred feet of frontage on a
beach in Costa Rica for $35,000.
The Eden project II / Huth, T. In: Conde Nast Traveler (ISSN 0893-9683), v. 30, no. 10, p.
144-147+. 1995. Huth continues to record his quest for a beach shack. His journey now takes
him to Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica. (Second of three parts).
The Eden project III / Huth, T. In: Conde Nast Traveler (ISSN 0893-9683), v. 30, no. 11, p.
280-296. 1995. Huth describes the attempt he and his wife made to build a beach shack in
Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica. After three months, a high-toned little beach shack was ready and
waiting for them.
The natural / Norvell, S. In: Travel Holiday (ISSN 0199-025X), v. 179, no. 8, p. 74-81. 1996.
Five ways anyone can explore the nature of Costa Rica are described. In many ways, Costa
Rica is a fenceless zoo.
The Monteverde community: A whole greater than its parts [La comunidad de
Monteverde: Un todo mayor que sus partes] / Newcomer, Q. (Yale University. School of
Forestry and Environmental Studies, 210 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Social Education (ISSN 0037-7724), v. 63, no. 2, p. 87-88. 1999.
The feeling of community so essential to achieving sustainable development is very much
evident in the mountain town of Monteverde in Costa Rica. Its surrounding forest preserves,
with their vast biodiversity, have become a magnet for nature tourists.
The Okeanos Aggressor: Cocos Island bound for high voltage diving / Cardone, B.J. In:
Skin Diver (ISSN 0037-6345), v. 45, no. 12, p. 30, 142+. 1996. The 120-ft-long Okeanos
Aggessor makes an excellent diving platform from which to explore the water around Cocos
Island National Park, which lies 250 mi off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. The newly remodeled
ship is better than ever. It has a capacity for 22 and offers instruction, gear rentals, photo
courses and has its own photo center to provide guest utmost convenience at the lowest cost.
The critics' choice awards / Meier, R.; Beinecke, F.; Brule, T.; Martin, R. et al. (<E-mail:
[email protected]> ). In: Travel & Leisure (ISSN 0041-2007), v. 29, no. 1, p. 87-95. 1999.
'Travel & Leisure' magazine's Critics' Choice Awards for the most exciting developments in
hotels, the environment, culture, and transportation are presented. The winners include The
Lancaster hotel in Paris and Costa Rica Expeditions, an ecotourism company.
Three men in a boat exploring Caribbean Costa Rica / Cates, D. In: The New York Times
Magazine Part 2 (ISSN 0028-7822) 1998. David Cates shares his experiences boating up the
Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
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Tourists explore new lands / Anonymous. In: News for You (ISSN 0884-3910), v. 44, no.
38, p. 3. 1996. Tourists are beginning to enjoy unusual trips to the Middle East and Central
and South American rainforests. Other popular locations include Costa Rica, Vietnam, Jordan,
South Africa and Hungary.
Turtle watch in Costa Rica / Alden, J.R. In: The New York Times (ISSN 0362-4331) 1998.
We were standing at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in northwestern Costa Rica, looking down a
three-mile sweep of tropical beach along the Pacific shore. The sun was hot, the sand
blindingly bright, and the waves ideal for bobbing or body surfing. But perfect as it seemed,
our family wasn't here for the beach. We had come to see leatherback turtles. Playa Grande,
the centerpiece of a six-mile stretch of Costa Rican seashore known as Las Baulas Marine
National Park, is one of the few places on earth to see leatherbacks. The largest of the world's
seven species of sea turtle, leatherbacks come ashore from late October to early March to lay
their eggs in the sandy berm just above the high tide line. Our visit during the week
surrounding New Year's was late enough in the nesting period that we expected to find baby
turtles hatching as well as adults laying eggs. Leatherbacks, like all other sea turtles, are
suffering from human activity. The beaches where they nest are being developed, and they
are drowning in fishing nets and choking on plastic debris (which they apparently confuse with
jellyfish, the staple in their diet). In many areas of Central America, including Costa Rica, their
eggs are collected by indigenous peoples to be eaten or sold. There are only a few dozen
places in the world where leatherbacks lay their eggs, and only four beaches where they come
in large numbers. Playa Grande is, along with beaches in western Mexico, the East Indies and
Guyana, one of those favored spots.
Why eco-tourists are shunning Brazil / Schemo, D.J. In: The New York Times (ISSN 03624331) 1999. Blessed with a rain forest the size of Western Europe, wetlands where rivers
magically swell from 300 yards to 37 miles in the rainy season, and a dazzling string of
waterfalls in the south, Brazil would seem to be a natural magnet for ecologically driven
travelers. But nature travel in Brazil has failed to take off as once expected, say tourism
experts here, and instead has declined steadily through the 1990's. While Costa Rica and
other Latin American countries have captured the imagination of nature lovers, such travelers
have been bypassing Brazil, where the accommodations, infrastructure and expertise come up
short. "The Amazon has a name that seduces people, so you don't have to position your
product, but there are other problems," Mr. (Roberto) Mourao said. About 70 percent of
tourists to the Amazon want to see wildlife, he said, but the Amazon is a dense forest where
days or weeks may pass without any sightings of animals or rare birds. Guides may know less
than amateur bird watchers or animal lovers who have traveled thousands of miles for a
glimpse of a rare or beautiful creature.
Wild nights in the rainforest / Matthews, N. In: Travel Holiday (ISSN 0199-025X), v. 181,
no. 9, p. 60-63. 1998. Costa Rica's growing number of ecolodges have made it on eof the
easiest places to explore the rainforest. Matthews discusses three lodges that offer different
ways to explore Costa Rica-Pachira Lodge, Aguila de Osa Inn, and Pacuare Lodge.
¡Pura vida! / Gombos, M.; Nelson, E. (Earth Island Institute, 300 Broadway, No. 28, San
Francisco, CA 94133 <E-mail: [email protected]>, ). In: Earth Island Journal (ISSN 1041-0406),
v. 14, no. 2, p. 15. 1999. Global Service Corps (GSC) provides human resources to community
groups and local organizations working towards sustainable development in southern Nicoya
Peninsula, Costa Rica.
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Una alternativa al desarrollo turístico costero: Playa Conchal / Umaña-Ugalde, L.F.;
Cerdas-Rojas, S. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1990. s.p. Práctica Dirigida,
Licenciatura en Arquitectura, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Arquitectura, San José
(Costa Rica). SIN RESUMEN. Objetivos generales: A. Contribuir al desarrollo turístico costero,
involucrando la participación de la empresa privada, en la planeación de una unidad turística
que permita el uso intensivo de los recursos naturales de Playa Conchal (Bahía Brasilito) y
contribuyan, a su vez, a una más adecuada explotación del producto turístico nacional. B.
Desarrollar el diseño de un anteproyecto arquitectónico para una unidad turística que
responda a los siguientes aspectos: 1- Organizar una actividad turística respetuosa de las
tradiciones y el carácter de la región guanacasteca. 2- Responder a los patrones de uso del
espacio y las relaciones intergrupales del "turista" para obtener el diseño más adecuado a sus
necesidades. 3- Obtener un diseño arquitectónico idóneo en términos estructurales,
espaciales, paisajísticos y climáticos, que respondan a las condiciones específicas del sitio.
Arquitectura para la recreación comunal: Por la conservación de la naturaleza /
Flores-Quirós, N. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1990. 265 p. Proyecto de Graduación,
Licenciatura en Arquitectura, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Arquitectura, San José
(Costa Rica). Introducción: Este proyecto pretende unificar una serie de esfuerzos y recursos
en torno a la protección de áreas verdes en las zonas residenciales del casco urbano. Por un
lado, Costa Rica ha tenido que hacer un alto en el camino y evaluar las relaciones de su
pretendido desarrollo con el aspecto de los recursos naturales. Un descontrolado crecimiento
urbano ha hecho que los niveles de contaminación empiecen a incidir letalmente en la
población. Por falta de una política de planificación coherente, vemos que áreas industriales
colindan con áreas residenciales, causando una serie de lesiones a la población, lo cual se
agrava si sumamos el hecho de que muchos de estos residenciales no alcanzan a desarrollar
áreas verdes de expansión recreativa, paisajística y purificadora del nivel atmosférico, de
acuerdo a los estándares requeridos. El problema del medio ambiente en Costa Rica no es solo
a nivel macro, donde desde 1970 el Estado ha empezado a gestionar soluciones por medio de
la creación del Servicio de Parques Nacionales (S.P.N.) y el apoyo a organismos
internacionales, a la iniciativa científica y al ecoturismo. En lo que se refiere a parques
recreativos más pequeños, también se ha establecido áeas de importancia regional urbano,
como son: el Parque Metropolitano La Sabana, El Parque del Este y el Parque de la Paz. Pero
también urge responder a nivel de barrios y distritos, donde existe un verdadero descontrol en
lo que se refiere al equipamiento de las áreas recreativas y zonas verdes. Es así como este
proyecto, dirigido a formular una propuesta de diseño y mantenimiento de un área de
conservación biológica, pretende explotar la disposición de la comunidad de La Colina de
Tirrases, Curridabat, que con plena conciencia y derecho exige la protección de esta colina,
que a su vez da nombre al Residencial. Así mismo, pensamos que puede representar un
esfuerzo pionero en la recuperación ecológica de la zona metropolitana. Las cifras indican el
grado de concentración que va presentando y los problemas en cuanto a la ecología humana
que a partir de ello se proyecta, directamente en lo concerniente a la calidad de vida. Es muy
importante, pues, hacer notar que es la misma comunidad la que exige satisfacer esta
necesidad espacial, y que, en el desarrollo de este proyecto, estará la participación de los
futuros usuarios y beneficiados. Este trabajo recurrió al apoyo de las ciencias naturales y
sobre todo la ecología, al principio del manejo de áreas silvestres y de protección ambiental, y
una estrategia de conservación y desarrollo sostenible para el diseño del área verde. Objetivos
Generales: 1- Diseñar un complejo recreacional para la comunidad del Residencial La Colina.
2- Crear una experiencia piloto de ordenamiento de áreas marginales en categoría de terrenos
de protección no urbanizables.
Punta Judas: esquema de usos del suelo / Chaves-López, J.C.; Picado-Abarca, C.H. San
José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1990. 88 p. Práctica Dirigida, Licenciatura en Arquitectura,
Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Arquitectura, San José (Costa Rica). Introducción: Las
características históricas del desarrollo turístico de Costa Rica responden claramente a causas
del sistema de "crecimiento concentrado" que se da en la región metropolitana de San José.
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Este crecimiento urbano, en nuestro sistema social, está motivado por el binomio industriacomercio, que ofrece excelentes oportunidades de obtener ganancias y en donde los
comerciantes cambian la economía de la vida por una economía del dinero, sin considerar que
rompen el equilibrio natural de los organismos dentro de sus regiones ecológicas. De igual
manera, el desarrollo turístico, como elemento de una política global de desarrollo, se ha dado
de una manera inapropiada al querer absorber la actual demanda, respondiedo más que todo
a la diversidad de fines de quienes promueven el desarrollo turístico. La vinculación directa
entre las áreas protegidas, que son las que contienen en su mayoría los recursos que motivan
al turista a ejecutar los desplazamientos, y el turismo no ha sido atendida en su magnitud
real; transformándose la actividad turística, ante la falta de planificación para el uso sostenido
de estos recursos, en un ente destructor de la naturaleza. La formación espontánea de
actividades turístico recreativas y el acondicionamiento de servicios básicos en nuestros
litorales no presenta, en la mayoría de los casos un cuadro muy halagador. En general, la
explotación de los recursos se ha venido ejecutando en forma no planificada, contribuyendo
esto a que Costa Rica no tenga unidad en cuanto a imagen turística. No existe todavía una
infraestructura clara, ni planes para un adecuado uso de estos recursos; las políticas y
directrices de manejo no son decisivas, produciéndose como consecuencia un acelerado
deterioro de los recursos potencialmente explotables. La actividad turística es pues, más
compleja de lo imaginado hasta el momento por el costarricense. Esta se ha diversificado y se
han constituído "segmentos especializados" de turismo, además del tradicional de sol y playa,
tales como el ecoturismo o turismo naturalista, que funcionan como orientadores en los
diferentes tipos de proyectos a realizar. Para evitar la pérdida del enorme potencial turístico,
en Costa Rica se hace necesario llevar a cabo dos acciones: 1- Una acertada política de
planificación económica y espacial del desarrollo de los recursos recreativos turísticos a corto,
mediano y largo plazo, a fin de satisfacer adecuadamente las necesidades del turista. 2- Una
política de concientización del usuario en la conservación de los recursos naturales para así
asegurar una mejor utilización y una mayor duración de estos recursos. Conscientes de la
gravedad de los problemas generados y respondiendo a los requerimientos planteados por el
Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, el desarrollo del presente "Esquema de Usos del Suelo"
contribuye, a través de la planificación de una parte del sector costero del Pacífico Central, en
la aplicación de esta política de utilización adecuada de nuestros atractivos turísticos.
Objetivos generales: A. Participar en la integración de la zona marítimo-terrestre al proceso
productivo nacional, por medio una planificación sectorial que conduzca a una explotación
racional de los recursos naturales con potencial turístico y productivo. B. Establecer
lineamientos generales que permitan incentivar la inversión de la empresa privada en el
desarrollo costero y la conservación de los recursos naturales. C. Contribuir a la realización de
este gran programa de planificación total de la zona marítimo-terrestre, desarrollando un
sector de ella. D. Contribuir, por medio del desarrollo turístico productivo, en las zonas
costeras con grandes atractivos naturales, a la descentralización de la infraestructura turística
existente en el país.
Costa Rica: ambiente y biodiversidad / Valerio-Gutiérrez, C.E. (Instituto Nacional de
Biodiversidad,
Apdo.
22-3100,
Santo
Domingo
de
Heredia,
CR
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). Santo Domingo de Heredia: Instituto Nacional de
Biodiversidad (INBio), 1999. 140 p. ISBN: 9968-702-24-2. Este libro multifacético, una edición
ampliada y actualizada de la obra publicada en 1991 bajo el título "La Diversidad Biológica de
Costa Rica", presenta un análisis profundo de la configuración geográfica del país, los
componentes físicos y biológicos y la influencia del ser humano sobre éstos. No solo enfoca
aspectos no bióticos tan diversos como los vientos alisios, las tormentas eléctricas y las
actividades tectónicas, o bióticos como la organización de la vida, la biosistemática y la
epifitia, sino también factores antropogénicos que tuvieron y tienen aun un impacto dramático
sobre la riqueza biológica del país, como la deforestación, el uso no racional de la tierra, la
explotación del oro y la destrucción del suelo.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.72097286 V164c.
104
The state of travel and tourism human resources in Latin America / Pizam, A.
(University of Central Florida. Department of Hospitality Management, PO Box 25000, Orlando,
FL 32816, US). In: Tourism Management (ISSN 0261-5177), v. 20, no. 5, p. 575-586. 1999.
Focus groups and personal interviews were conducted in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Costa
Rica, with representatives of the travel and tourist industry, government officials and other
key industrial representatives [dates not specified]. Results from interviews were used to
design an employer survey of 209 private companies (83% of the 250 originally companies
approached) in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and
Venezuela. 36% of respondents of the business survey were hotel operators, 15% were
transportation companies, 14% travel agencies and tour operators, and 12% were
restaurants. There was a second survey of national tourism organizations (NTOs) of the
countries listed above (n=17). All but one NTO (Venezuela) returned completed
questionnaires. Results from the survey of NTOs indicated a significant growth in the tourist
industry between 1991 and 1995, the number of international tourists visiting the countries of
Latin America increased by about 31% from 27.7 million to 36.2 million. The results of the
employer study indicated a shortage of qualified human resources, and deficiencies in foreign
languages, computers and marketing skills. 65% of the employer respondents did not have a
training department. Participants expressed the opinion that there were not enough external
tourism education and training institutions in their respective countries and that most of the
existing ones were not of good quality. They also indicated that the travel and tourism
industry did not command sufficient respect and support from their governments and political
institutions. A number of recommendations are given to help governmental and commercial
decision makers improve the tourist industry in Latin America.
In search of the Golden Toad [En búsqueda del sapo dorado] / Honey, M. (Institute for
Policy Studies. Peace and Security Programme, 733 15th St. NW, Suite 1020, Washington, DC
20005, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Ecotourism and sustainable
development: who owns paradise? Washington, D.C: Island Press, 1999. p. 3-31. ISBN: 155963-582-7. This chapter starts by citing an example of the effect of tourism on the Golden
Toad population in the Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica. In just two years the toad
population had decreased from 1500 to 1. It is now concluded that this species may be
extinct. The chapter then focuses on ecotourism-responsible travel to natural areas that
conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people. Sections deal with:
defining and measuring ecotourism; the origins of ecotourism; from nature tourism to
ecotourism; conservation organizations-better protection of natural areas; multilateral aid
institutions-responding to environmentalism and the debt crisis; developing countries-seeking
foreign exchange and sustainable development; the travel industry-tapping the public's 'green'
sentiments; definition of ecotourism-how to know ecotourism when you see it;
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.4791 H772e.
Costa Rica: on the beaten path [Costa Rica: en el camino aislado] / Honey, M.; Honey, M.
(Institute for Policy Studies. Peace and Security Programme, 733 15th St. NW, Suite 1020,
Washington, DC 20005, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Ecotourism and
sustainable development: who owns paradise? Washington, D.C: Island Press, 1999. p. 131181. ISBN: 1-55963-582-7. This chapter looks at ecotourism in different sectors of Costa Rica.
Section headings include: government policy and the private sector; Papagayo-a megaresort
complex; Santa Clara Lodge; National Parks and protected areas; adverse effects of
ecotourism; Parks and the rural poor; Corcovado National Park; Guanacaste National Park;
Villas del Caribe; Tortuguero; private reserves; Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; Private
reserves of the Organization for Tropical Studies; Rara Avis; newer private reserves;
drawbacks of private reserves; Leatherbacks, yellow lights, and 'green luxury' at Playa
Grande; Costa Rica's ecotourism scorecard; and future prospects.
105
Ecotourism and sustainable development. Who owns paradise? [Ecoturismo y
desarrollo sostenible. ¿Quién posee el paraíso?] / Honey, M. (Institute for Policy Studies.
Peace and Security Programme, 733 15th St. NW, Suite 1020, Washington, DC 20005, US <Email: [email protected]>). Washington, D.C: Island Press, 1999. 405 pp. ISBN: 155963-582-7. This book examines worldwide ecotourism and sustainable development.
Individual chapters include: In search of the Golden Toad; The world travel industry-going
'green'?; Ecotourism today; The Galapagos Islands-test site for theories of evolution and
ecotourism; Costa Rica-on the beaten path; Cuba-growth of tourism and ecotourism during
the 'special period'; Tanzania-whose Eden is it?; Zanzibar-ecotourism on a Muslim island;
Kenya, the Mzee of ecotourism in Africa-early experiments, foreign aid and private reserves;
and South Africa-people and parks under majority rule.
Creación de un índice para medir el impacto en términos de la sostenibilidad del
proyecto turístico Golfo de Papagayo / Monge-Quesada, R. (Universidad de Costa Rica.
Maestría en Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Desarrollo, San José, CR). In: Memoria.
Jornadas de Investigación 1999 San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, Vicerrectoría de
Investigación, 1999. p. 108. El turismo es una actividad en la cual los principales
protagonistas del desarrollo hotelero y de cualquier otra estructura turística son los
empresarios privados, que buscando oportunidades de mercado, invierten en aquellas
actividades que les retorne las utilidades suficientes como para correr el riesgo. Es así como
en estos proyectos privan aspectos de mercado y financieros, sobre la dimensión social o
ambiental. Es al Estado al que le compete entonces, establecer los lineamientos que permitan
alcanzar el equilibrio entre los intereses particulares y de la colectividad. Mediante el Proyecto
Turístico Golfo de Papagayo, el Instituto Costarricense de Turismo ha implementado un plan
maestro para el desarrollo del sitio, así como mecanismos de control a los que se deben de
ajustar los inversionistas privados. Sin embargo, existe un vacío en cuanto a criterios
cuantificables que le permitan al tomador de decisión contar con elementos de juicio sobre los
cambios generados por dicho Proyecto en el ambiente, la economía y las comunidades
aledañas a éste. El estudio plantea la elaboración de un instrumento mediante el cual el ICT
podrá llegar a determinar el impacto que provoca el Proyecto, para así tomar medidas
correctivas o enfocar esfuerzos hacia áreas de interés. Ofrece la posibilidad de conocer cuáles
han sido los efectos reales del Proyecto, de tal forma que no se le puedan atribuir cargos
negativos o restar créditos, se convierte en un mecanismo de información que garantizará el
compromiso asumido por el ICT ante la ciudadanía costarricense. Con la propuesta se
desarrolla un "Indice para Medir el Impacto Generado por el Proyecto Turístico Golfo de
Papagayo", el cual está compuesto por tres estructuras: económica, ambiental y social, las
cuales a su vez están conformadas por indicadores relacionados con la incidencia del proyecto.
Así el estudio llega a ofrecer una serie de indicadores de sostenibilidad nunca antes
desarrollados para la actividad, y que contempla tanto impactos positivos como negativos,
ofreciendo además, los niveles de aceptabilidad o inaceptabilidad de los indicadores, y del
mismo índice.
Manejo de desechos sólidos en áreas de interés turístico: caso Gandoca- Manzanillo.
Ponencia / Instituto Costarricense de Turismo. Unidad de Análisis Administrativo y Recursos
Naturales, San José, CR. Foro sobre desechos sólidos. , San José. CR. 4-8 Oct. 1993. San
José: Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos, 1993. s.p. Objetivos generales: - Crear
una Comisión Permanente de las brigadas de limpieza urbana. - Darle un vuelco total a la
imagen negativa que sobre la limpieza existe en la Provincia de Limón y en su lugar darle una
imagen seria. - Involucrar a todas las fuerzas vivas, el comercio, y todos los habitantes de
Limón y entidades privadas del medio ambiente, Municipalidad de San José y Limón.
Development of canopy walkways by Illar Muul and associates: A brief history / Muul,
I. (Integrated Conservation Research, Inc., 5627 Woodlyn Road, Frederick, MD 21703, US).
In: Selbyana (ISSN 0361-185X), v. 20, no. 1, p. 186-190. 1999. Access to the canopy of tall
106
tropical rain forests has been a challenge for scientists. Among the many methods used, the
canopy walkway system has the advantage of being the least physically challenging, making
the canopy accessible to people of all ages and of normal physical fitness. This system thus
lends itself to research and nature tourism. The first canopy walkway for research was
installed in Malaysia in 1968. Modified, lighter weight versions were developed by Andrew
Mitchell in Zaire, Papua New Guinea, and Malaysia in the late 1970s. Beginning in 1988,
canopy walkways were used by the author and his colleagues both for research and nature
tourism in Malaysia, China, Peru, Ghana, Costa Rica, and Guyana.
Localización: Biblioteca Luis D. Tinoco: 581S. LC.
Price responsiveness in the developing country nature tourism context: review and
Costa Rican case study / Lindberg, K.; Aylward, B.A. (Institute of Transport Economics, PO
Box 6110, Etterstad N-0602 Oslo, NO <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Journal of Leisure Research (ISSN 0022-2216), v. 31, no. 3, p. 281-299.
1999. Estimates of willingness-to-pay, revenue maximizing fees, and price elasticities for
recreation in wilderness areas in developing countries are presented. Actual price and
visitation data are then used to estimate price elasticities for three national parks in Costa
Rica. Based on a $1 increase from a $5 fee, estimated elasticities for Poás, Irazú, and Manuel
Antonio are, respectively, -0.051, -0.296, and -0.238. These estimates are substantially
different from those based on a recent stated preference study at the same parks.
Applying geographic information systems: siting of coastal hotels in Costa Rica /
Joerger, A.G.; De Gloria, S.D.; Noden, M.A. (Cornell University. School of Hotel
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
Administration,
Ithaca,
NY
14853,
US
<E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Cornell Hotel and Restaurant
Administration Quarterly (ISSN 0010-8804), v. 40, no. 4, p. 48-59. 1999. A case study of
Costa Rica shows how the GIS operates, comparing such limiting factors as appropriate soil
characteristics and proximity to coastal areas, highways, and natural areas against the
geographic characteristics of potential development sites. The GIS analysis found just 4 400
ha of suitable sites out of 39 000 ha being studied. Of 19 existing hotels, just five were in
locations deemed appropriate by the GIS analysis. Interestingly, those five showed better
financial results than those properties not sited in optimum locations.
Economic considerations of privately owned parks [Consideraciones económicas de los
parques de propiedad privada] / Langholz, J.A.; Lassoie, J.P.; Lee, D.R.; Chapman, D.
(Monterey Institute of International Studies. Program of International Environment Policy,
MIIS
IEP,
425
Van
Buren
Street,
Monterey,
CA
93940,
US
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Ecological Economics (ISSN 0921-8009), v. 33, no. 2, p.
173-183. 2000. Privately owned parks continue to proliferate worldwide. Their rapid expansion
represents an important yet little understood private sector incursion into an activity long
dominated by governments. This papeer examines economic issues surrounding establishment
and operation of privately owned natural areas. We interviewed owners of 68 private parks in
Costa Rica to learn more about reserve's underlying economics. Key findings include: (1)
private parks require an expanded definition of optimal reserve size - one in which quality of
protection takes precedence over quantity of land protected; (2) profit was a powerful
motivator behind private reserve operation, even though many owners did not rely on their
reserves for revenue generation; and (3) an important non-market value of private parks was
the high bequest value owners placed on them. Last, we identify key information gaps that
resource economists can help fill regarding this increasingly popular consideration tool. The
analysis contributes to our understanding of private reserves on both theoretical and empirical
levels. It should be of interest wherever biodiversity remains threatened, wherever new
conservation partners are being sought, and wherever private reserves are being established,
which includes most of the industrialized and developing world.
107
Aplicación del método de experimentos de selección para analizar las preferencias
de los turistas: Volcán Barva, Costa Rica / Salinas, Z.M.; Hearne, R.R. (CATIE. Proyecto
Flujos de Carbono en América Central, 7170 Turrialba, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <Email: [email protected]>). In: Revista Forestal Centroamericana (ISSN 1021-0164), no.
30, p. 46-50. 2000. Choice experiments were used to study tourist preferences for alternative
scenarios of the development of the Barva Volcano site in Heredia, Costa Rica. The objective
of this study was to provide support to The Conservation Association "Cordillera Volcánica
Central" with regards to site improvements. The scenarios were constructed through the
identification of site attributes thought to be relevant for visitor utility maximization.
Respondents were presented alternative choice scenarios and were asked to choose between
one of three options. The result of the Multinomial Logit model indicates that both groups of
tourist prefer a semi-rustic infrastructure. While national tourists prefer easy access to
facilities, foreign tourists prefer less congested sites linked with low environmental impact
activities and proximity to nature.
Useful plants within a campesino community in a Costa Rican montane cloud forest /
Kappelle, M.; Avertin, G.; Juárez, M.E.; Zamora-Villalobos, N.A. (The Nature Conservancy.
Mesoamerican and Caribbean Region, P.O. Box 230-1225, San José, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Mountain Research and
Development (ISSN 0276-4741), v. 20, no. 2, p. 162-171. 2000. An ethnobotanical survey
was carried out among a campesino community in a Costa Rican montane cloud forest.
Campesino families were interviewed about how they used indigenous and introduced vascular
plants along an altitudinal gradient (2000-3000 m). From a total of 590 species known in the
area, 23.8% of 189 useful plant species were used for medicinal purposes, 39.7% for food,
and 24.3% for construction (timber) or as combustibles (fuelwood, charcoal). Less important
uses included dye, ornament (ecotourism), fodder, gum, oil, and poison. A total of 61.9% of
the plants were used for one purpose only. The introduced and exotic woody species
Cupressus lusitanica and Eucalyptus globulus showed the highest diversify in types of use (7),
together with the native Alnus acuminata. Trunks (53%) and fruits (47%) were the main plant
organs used, followed by leaves (33%) and branches (30%). Over 27.5% of all plants were
used on a daily basis, while 34.9% were used occasionally. About 11.6% of the species were
rarely used. At present, use of indigenous species is becoming less common; the trend is to
favor introduced and economically important species. In the short or medium term, local
knowledge of medicinal plants will probably disappear in this rural community that is
undergoing modernization, with a focus on new undertakings such as fruticultural export,
rainbow trout hatcheries, and ecotourism.
El manejo de los manglares en el Pacífico de Centroamérica: Usos tradicionales y
potenciales / Jiménez-Ramón, J.A. (Organización para Estudios Tropicales. Director en Costa
Rica, Apdo. 676-2050, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>).
México: Instituto de Ecología, A.C. / UICN/ORMA, Costa Rica / NOAA/NMFS Silver Spring, MD,
1999. p. 275-290. ISBN: 968-7863-57-9. In Central America the coastal zone has been
considered traditionally a marginalized site and of scarce social and economic interest the
mangroves have not escaped to this marginal scope and the interest for these systems has
been little. The mangroves, as many other coastal ecosystems, are highly dependent of
processes that occur outside of the ecosystem frontiers. According to the experience
generated in Central America, the mangrove management can be differentiated three
complexity levels: the regional management, the management of area and the site
management. The basin of the río Térraba, in the south coast of the Pacific of Costa Rica is
one of the largest of the country (4,766 km²). The complexity of the information required for
the management of these regions involves a considerable effort upon planning and gathering
such information. The management of an mangrove area involves the planning and utilization
of a specific mangrove and their associated subsystems (channels, albinas, playones,
swamps). In these areas converge different interest and multiples uses are possible. An area
of swamp must be zoned according to the potential uses that possess. Upon zoning, must be
108
included in all the cases, an core area of absolute protection. This maintain many of the
services and functions that in natural form provides to mangrove ecosystem. Within the
mangrove can be found other zones whose potential use depends of the ecological and
socioeconomic dominant conditions. In general that zones can be summarized in the following
way: Zones of forest use, zones of cultural interest, zones of ponds or saline, zones for fishing
and mollusks collection, zones of tourist interest and environmental education, zones of
wildlife conservation, zones for culture in suspension, and zones for beekeeping. The
managing of a site is referred to the management practices that are given within a specific
zone of a mangrove.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 574.52642098 E17eLC.
Capacidad de carga turística de la Reserva Biológica Carara: informe de consulta /
Cifuentes-Arias, M.; Alpízar, W.; Barroso-Perdomo, F.A.; Courrau, J.A.; Falck-Carias, M.L.;
Jiménez, R.; Ortiz, P.; Rodríguez-Villalobos, J.E.; Romero-Araya, J.C.; Tejada-Ramírez, J.C.
(Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Turrialba: CATIE / Servicio de Parques Nacionales, 1990. 139 p. (No
abstract).
Manejo productivo de manglares en América Central / Ammour, T.H, (ed.).; ImbachHermida, A.C, (ed.).; Suman, D.O, (ed.).; Windevoxhel-Lora, N.J, (ed.). (CATIE. Proyecto
Conservación para el Desarrollo Sostenible en América Central (Olafo), P.O. Box 99, 7170
Turrialba, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). Turrialba: CATIE, 1999. 364 p. (Serie Técnica.
Reuniones Técnicas / CATIE; no. 7). ISBN: 9977-57-342-5. Introducción: Los recursos de los
manglares de América Central representan, para muchas familias asentadas en las zonas
costeras, fuente de productos e ingresos para su subsistencia. Asimismo, algunas actividades
como es el caso de la camaronicultura, son fuentes importantes de divisas para las economías
nacionales. Los manglares, al igual que los demás ecosistemas naturales, se consideran "de
uso común" y por ende están sometidos a una presión interna y externa que hace peligrar no
solamente los bosques de manglar en sí, sino también todos los demás recursos asociados a
ellos como son moluscos, peces, larvas de camarones y fauna silvestre en general. En
contraste con el reconocimiento, que en la literatura se hace, de la alta diversidad y riqueza
biológica de los manglares, poco se sabe acerca de propuestas y acciones en materia de
manejo, legislación, dinámica de funcionamiento de las comunidades ligadas al manglar, e
importancia económica/financiera de sus recursos como ecosistema. Este desconocimiento
refleja, en la práctica, la poca prioridad dada a estas zonas, comparadas con otras áreas de la
Región, más estratégicas económicamente a corto plazo, más pobladas y de colonización más
antigua. No obstante lo anterior, es necesario reconocer que existen, en la Región
Centroamericana, varios esfuerzos de diferentes instituciones gubernamentales y no
gubernamentales que ameritan ser sistematizadas y discutidas para retroalimentar las
iniciativas actuales y futuras. Es con este propósito que el Centro Agronómico Tropical de
Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE), el Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science de
la Universidad de Miami y el Programa de Humedales UICN/ORMA de la Unión Mundial para la
Naturaleza (UICN) organizaron en agosto de 1995, un taller sobre Manejo Productivo de
Manglares en América Central. La coordinación del Taller estuvo a cargo del CATIE, a través
de los proyectos Conservación para el Desarrollo Sostenible en Centroamérica (conocido como
Olafo) y Uso Adecuado de los Recursos del Manglar (conocido como Manglares), proyectos
financiados por la Agencia Noruega para el Desarrollo Internacional (NORAD), la.Agencia
Danesa para el Desarrollo Internacional (DANIDA) y la Agencia Sueca para el Desarrollo
Internacional (SIDA). El objetivo del Taller sobre Manejo Productivo de Manglares era
promover el intercambio de experiencias sobre el ordenamiento y manejo de bosques de
manglar y otras actividades productivas asociadas a estos ecosistemas. El análisis de la
viabilidad del manejo productivo de manglares implica tomar en cuenta varios aspectos que si
bien son del dominio de diferentes disciplinas, son interdependientes y complementarios. Por
ello, el Taller fue organizado en varias sesiones, según los temas que a continuación se
enumeran: Sistemas de producción en manglar. Manejo forestal de manglares. Herramientas
de ordenación en manglares. Otras actividades productivas asociadas al manglar. Aspectos
109
organizativos. Aspectos legales. Planificación regional de manglares.El manejo integral del
manglar. Los participantes del taller representaban varias instituciones de Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica y Panamá. Con el fin de cumplir con el objetivo planteado,
algunas experiencias de México, Cuba, Venezuela y Estados Unidos (Florida) aportaron
valiosos resultados y metodologías. El presente libro es una recopilación de los artículos
presentados en dicho Taller, algunos de los cuales fueron actualizados por los editores a la luz
de los resultados adicionales generados después del mismo. Para fines de claridad, se
conservó la estructura temática con la cual se organizó el Taller.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: NBINA-1929. 333.918 M274 PV. Biblioteca Luis D. Tinoco:
333.918 M274m.
Host country-driven implementation: the case of Costa Rica / Dutschke, M.;
Michaelowa, A, (ed.).; Dutschke, M, (ed.). (Hamburg Institute of Economy Research HWWA,
Neuer Jungfernstieg 21, D-20347 Hamburg, DE <E-mail: [email protected]>).
In: Climate Policy and Development Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 2000. p. 133179. ISBN: 1-84064-331-5. This chapter discusses the first results of the AIJ pilot phase in
Costa Rica. Costa Rica has a relatively high level of economic and social development and a
well-developed environmental policy which is comparable to that of advanced industrial
countries. It is a major destination for ecotourism. Nevertheless, it suffers from severe
deforestation owing to the unequal distribution of land, to migration and cattle ranching as
well as the expansion of coffee and banana plantations. Moreover, transport emissions are
rising rapidly and fossil fuel electricity generation is growing fast, despite the country;s target
of phasing out fossil fuels completely. Costa Rica;s knowledge base is high and capacity
building almost unnecessary. Thus Costa Rica was able to develop creative environment policy
instruments such as debt-for-nature swaps and biodiversity prospecting to attract foreign
funding. It is not surprising that it was the first developing country to open a JI office, develop
project approval criteria and host AIJ pilot projects. The conditions for project-based climate
cooperation in Costa Rica are excellent compared with the average developing country.
Nevertheless, the success can at best described as mixed. Only a third of the projects are
actually funded, though several of them seem to be profitable even without a value for carbon.
Most of them are proposed by US entities. To attract more funding, the JI office now certifies
tradable mitigation bonds and encourages multi-sector large-scale projects where transaction
costs are lower and coherence with national development objectives can be more easily
checked. It directs its attention to public investors such as the USA and Norwegian
governments. The renewable energy projects suffer from the unrealistic target of phasing out
fossil Fuels This chapter discusses the first results of the AIJ pilot phase in Costa Rica. Costa
Rica has a relatively high level of economic and social development and a well-developed
environmental policy which is comparable to that of advanced industrial countries. It is a
major destination for ecotourism. Nevertheless, it suffers from severe deforestation owing to
the unequal distribution of land, to migration and cattle ranching as well as the expansion of
coffee and banana plantations. Moreover, transport emissions are rising rapidly and fossil fuel
electricity generation is growing fast, despite the country;s target of phasing out fossil fuels
completely. Costa Rica;s knowledge base is high and capacity building almost unnecessary.
Thus Costa Rica was able to develop creative environment policy instruments such as debtfor-nature swaps and biodiversity prospecting to attract foreign funding. It is not surprising
that it was the first developing country to open a JI office, develop project approval criteria
and host AIJ pilot projects. The conditions for project-based climate cooperation in Costa Rica
are excellent compared with the average developing country. Nevertheless, the success can at
best described as mixed. Only a third of the projects are actually funded, though several of
them seem to be profitable even without a value for carbon. Most of them are proposed by US
entities. To attract more funding, the JI office now certifies tradable mitigation bonds and
encourages multi-sector large-scale projects where transaction costs are lower and coherence
with national development objectives can be more easily checked. It directs its attention to
public investors such as the USA and Norwegian governments. The renewable energy projects
suffer from the unrealistic target of phasing out fossil fuels by 2001, thus making AD projects
in this sector impossible from that time onward. The bulk of the projects therefore concern
forestry which is prone to uncertainties in the calculation of emission sequestration. A
110
comparison of the estimates shows wildly differing assumptions in the baselines and
sequestration capacity of the forests. Whether actual project implementation conforms to the
plans remains to be seen. An independent verification of project results is currently being
undertaken. The analysis of the Costa Rican case shows that CDM can only be successful in
the long run if the industrial countries offer incentives to investors and if baseline
determination rests on a clear set of guidelines. Human and technical capacities are necessary
but not sufficient conditions for successful climate cooperation projects in developing
countries. They seem to be able to prevent complete project failures, though, and can lead to
innovative approaches. The issue will only be settled if large-scale project investment is
forthcoming. The ability to process huge numbers of project proposals and check whether they
conform to development priorities, as well as monitoring and verification, will then become
crucial.
Pobreza y reducción de los humedales al oeste del curso bajo del río Tempisque /
Arroyo-González, L.N. (Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Ciencias Geográficas, Heredia, CR
<E-mail: [email protected]>). Ciudad Colón: Universidad para la Paz, 1993. Tesis, Mag.
Sc., Universidad para la Paz, Ciudad Colón (Costa Rica). El problema principal planteado para
esta investigación alude al criterio vertido por investigadores de áreas costeras, en el
contrasentido que muy a menudo, se establece entre estos ricos ambientes marítimos y la
pobreza generalizada que caracteriza a las poblaciones que tradicionalmente se asientan en
sus vecindades. Este estado de postración económica y social, se trata en detalle para el área
en estudio y con apoyo a una múltiple variedad de fuentes. La reseña sobre la pobreza en la
región se analiza a su vez, como efecto claro de un esquema de apropiación del territorio, que
responde en esencia a las pautas sobre las que se organiza el uso y la ocupación de la tierra
en el país. Con sustento en ello se comprueba el carácter conflictivo de las relaciones de
producción que han dominado en el área, siendo a su vez, el factor que más ha limitado la
relación beneficiosa que podría establecerse entre la población y los humedales. Al
identificarse la pobreza como el conflicto principal, se identificaron otros puntos de fricción,
surgidos por la valoración reciente que en términos de conservación y turismo, experimenta el
ecosistema humedal. Para dar un cáracter más integral a este análisis, se efectuó una
detallada descripción física de la región y su asocio con la ubicación de los asentamientos. La
cobertura de humedales, al igual que la geomorfología y el uso de la tierra, se relacionan
mediante mapas, empleando como fondo los linderos de las propiedades que se encuentran
dentro y en las inmediaciones de los terrenos ocupados por el humedal. Efectuando un análisis
combinado entre estos documentos y la historia económico-demográfica del área, se realizó
un estudio retrospectivo, estableciendo relaciones de gran utilidad para caracterizar en el
tiempo, los aspectos que con mayor suceso, han incidido sobre los humedales y la región en
general.
Localización: Biblioteca Joaquín García M.: Tesis 1288.
Status of coral reefs in southern tropical America: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Panama and Venezuela [Situación de los arrecifes de coral en el sur de la América tropical:
Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama y Venezuela] / Garzón-Ferreira, J.; Cortés-Núñez, J.;
Croquer, A.; Guzmán-Espinal, H.M.; Leao, Z.; Rodríguez-Ramírez, A. (Instituto de
Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (INVEMAR) CO <E-mail: [email protected]> <Email:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>).
In: Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000. Wilkinson, C. (ed.) Dampier, AU: Australian
Institute of Marine Science, 2000. p. 331-348. ISBN: 0642322090. Five countries have joined
a recently created Node of the GCRMN for Southern Tropical America (STA), covering coral
reef areas of the Eastern Pacific and the Western Atlantic. Coral reefs in this region are not
extensive because of a strong continental influence, but they support important biodiversity
reservoirs and an expanding tourism industry. Most coral reefs in STA have undergone major
changes in the last 30 years, in particular during the 1980s, due to natural and anthropogenic
agents. There have been important losses of live coral cover in many reef areas and
transitions to algal dominated reefs. Nevertheless, considerable levels of coral cover can still
111
be found at numerous locations on the Caribbean (means between 20-40%) and Pacific
(means above 40%) coasts. Bleaching events appear to have increased in frequency, but
decreased in severity, throughout the 1990s, which could be related to the global warming
phenomenon. The 1997-98 strong ENSO event in the Pacific generated only moderate
bleaching and low coral mortality throughout the STA. It is predicted that coral bleaching will
become a more frequent event during the next decade, although the level of bleaching and
related coral mortality will probably continue to be low. Reef monitoring in the STA needs to
be expanded and maintained in the long term, because few of the coral reef areas are being
covered by current programmes. In order to properly address coral reef decline, specific and
more rigorous government policies and laws for coral reef sustainable management must be
developed during the next few years, as well as effective protection of marine natural parks
and reserves. Finally, funding for coral reef research, monitoring and management throughout
the STA needs to be considerably increased by both national governments and international
agencies.
Economics, objectives, and success of private nature reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa
and Latin America [Economía, objetivos y éxitos de las reservas naturales privads en Africa
Subsahariana y Latinoamérica] / Langholz, J.A. (Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Program of International Environment Policy, MIIS IEP, 425 Van Buren Street, Monterey, CA
93940, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Conservation Biology (ISSN 08888892), v. 10, no. 1, p. 271-280. 1996. Current efforts for habitat protection, based largely on
government efforts to establish protected areas, are not keeping pace with biodiversity loss.
The conservation community must explore means for in situ protection that supplement
existing government efforts. One possibility is the privately owned nature reserve. In this
descriptive study a written survey of privately owned nature reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa
and Latin America was undertaken to identify their economic attributes, initial objectives, and
factors necessary for attaining those objectives. Data from 32 managers of private reserves
revealed that reserves can be a profitable venture. Over half were realizing a profit, and
profitability among reserves had risen 21% since 1989. Despite this economic success, they
proved to be motivated more by conservation goals than by personal or economic objectives.
Overall the respondents ranked management factors more important than geographic,
social'political, financial, or stochastic factors for accomplishing reserves; objectives. The
presence of :interesting ecological attractions: was rated the single most important factor and
those factors relating to government involvement were considered least important. The results
show private reserves to be an important albeit little-known example of private-sector
involvement in conservation. The results also provide a useful analysis for those interested in
private reserves, those currently operating them, and those wishing to establish them.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: S6844. LS.
Sitio Ramsar, Parque Nacional Palo Verde, Costa Rica. Procedimiento de orientación
para la gestión: Informe final / Ramsar Convention Bureau. Gland, CH, , 1998. 40 p. Costa
Rica ratificó la Convención sobre los Humedales (Ramsar, Irán, 1971) en 1991, incluyendo el
Parque Nacional Palo Verde y el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro en la Lista de Ramsar,
como los primeros humedales de importancia internacional. El Parque Nacional Palo Verde
forma parte del Area de Conservación Tempisque. Palo Verde se encuentra en la región
correspondiente al bosque seco tropical, y sus humedales forman parte de un conjunto de
pantanos, lagunas, esteros, ríos y arroyos en la cuenca baja del río Tempisque. Estos
ecosistemas acuáticos se reducen y algunos desaparecen por completo durante la época seca,
mostrando una clara estacionalidad. 3. Los humedales del bajo Tempisque constituyen uno de
los más importantes de América Central para las poblaciones de aves acuáticas nidificantes en
América del Norte, por ejemplo: Anas americana (pato calvo), Anas acuta (pato rabudo), Anas
discors (cerceta aliazul), y Anas clypeata (pato cuchara). Es asimismo de gran importancia
para especies de aves residentes, como por ej. Jabirú o galán sin ventura (Mycteria jabiru),
Dendrocygna autumnalis (piche) y Cairina moschata (pato aliblanca). La mayor parte de estos
humedales se han reducido considerablemente al retirar el ganado que antes de su
declaratoria como Parque Nacional contribuía a que se mantuvieran las características
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ecológicas por las cuales el área fue incluida en la Lista de Ramsar. En el área circundante al
Parque Nacional se cultivan aproximadamente unas 54 000 ha de arroz, caña de azúcar y
melón, que se incrementarán en un futuro próximo, en casi 15 000 ha adicionales. La
extracción de agua para el uso en estos cultivos ha causado la disminución drástica del caudal
en el río Tempisque y modificado el sistema hidrológico en la parte inferior de su cuenca. En
1993 el Gobierno de Costa Rica solicitó formalmente la inclusión del Parque Nacional Palo
Verde en el Registro de Montreux, que agrupa aquellos sitios Ramsar donde es necesaria una
atención urgente para garantizar su conservación. En 1998 solicitó a la Oficina de la
Convención, la aplicación del Procedimiento de Orientación para la Gestión con el fin de recibir
sugerencias tendientes a solucionar los problemas que se presentaban en el lugar. Un equipo
de tres técnicos extranjeros, organizado por la Oficina de la Convención visitó Costa Rica por
dos semanas. Se ocuparon ocho días para recorrer el PN Palo Verde y sus inmediaciones,
junto con técnicos costarricenses. Durante su visita, el equipo de la misión de Ramsar tuvo
oportunidad de trabajar junto con representantes y personal de agencias gubernamentales,
ONG, universidades, asociaciones civiles de la zona, habitantes de las comunidades y personal
del Parque. Este informe fue elaborado por la Oficina de la Convención para el Gobierno de
Costa Rica, en base al informe entregado por los consultores. Tal y como lo solicitó el
Gobierno en los términos de referencia enviados a la Oficina de la Convención, el presente
informe contiene un análisis de la situación en el sitio Ramsar Parque Nacional Palo Verde
(sección IV) y un conjunto de conclusiones y sugerencias (secciones V y VI). En el informe se
reconoce el esfuerzo que el Gobierno de Costa Rica está realizando con el objetivo de
garantizar la conservación y el uso racional de los recursos naturales en el área, y se sugiere
que algunas de las acciones que se están llevando (o que se llevarán) a cabo sirvan como
ejemplo en otros lugares del país y de América Central. Sin embargo, las conclusiones
generales del informe indican la necesidad de realizar una serie de acciones y actividades con
el objetivo de retirar el Palo Verde del Registro de Montreux. Costa Rica cuenta con abundante
conocimiento técnico para resolver los problemas de manejo de la vegetación y restaurar las
características ecológicas de los humedales. Así mismo, ya se han elaborado dos Planes de
Manejo y Desarrollo para Palo Verde. Sin embargo, los problemas de Palo Verde tienen un
componente externo muy fuerte y continuar discutiendo si la vegetación acuática y del bosque
debe ser manejada o no, es ignorar la verdadera causa de estos problemas y postergar su
solución. Los talleres y las reuniones son importantes, pero no son la solución al problema. La
soluciones se encuentran al nivel administrativo y político, y las autoridades deben tomar una
clara decisión de restauración o no de los humedales. El trabajo desarrollado por el equipo de
la misión de Ramsar se basó en la premisa de que el Gobierno de Costa Rica, por ser Parte
Contratante en la Convención de Ramsar, está comprometido con la conservación y uso
racional de los humedales de Palo Verde, y que por lo tanto uno de los objetivos de la
administración del SINAC-MINAE y del PN Palo Verde es la recuperación de las características
ecológicas de estos ecosistemas. La mayoría de las recomendaciones son de carácter técnico y
de aplicación directa en el campo. Todas las actividades que se presentan en esta informe se
enmarcan dentro del concepto de "uso racional" de la Convención sobre los Humedales. Sin
embargo, para que los esfuerzos que está realizando el Gobierno de Costa Rica produzcan los
resultados esperados será necesario establecer claramente las prioridades y acciones urgentes
con el objetivo de romper el círculo vicioso de problemas que se presentan en Palo Verde. La
Oficina de Ramsar estará complacida en recibir la opinión del Gobierno de Costa Rica sobre el
contenido y las recomendaciones presentadas en este informe, e iniciar un diálogo sobre su
aplicación.
Requiem for nature / Terborgh, J. (Duke University. Center for Tropical Conservation and
Nicholas School of the Environment, Box 90381, Durham, NC 27708, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1999. 234 p. ISBN: 1-55963-5878. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca OET: U-86.
El ecoturismo es una opción para no cortar el bosque / Camiñas, T. In: Fronteras de la
Ciencia y la Tecnología (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), no. 11, [Abr.-Jun.],
113
s.p. 1996. Rodrigo Gámez, especialista en virología de plantas, es un visionario que supo
aunar esfuerzos y convencer a los políticos de su país, Costa Rica, de que era necesario salvar
los bosques y la biodiversidad que éstos encierran. Creó así el Instituto Nacional de
Biodiversidad (INBio), una institución que es conocida en medio mundo por sus originales
métodos de catalogación, estudio y explotación racional de la diversidad biológica. Esta loable
tarea del INBio ha sido merecedora del Premio Príncipe de Asturias de Investigación 1995.
Localización: Centro de Documentación OTUS (INBio): SEP 390.
Green turtle program at Tortuguero, Costa Rica [Programa de la tortuga verde en
Tortuguero, Costa Rica] / Valverde-Roldán, R.A.; Taft, L.K.; Godfrey, D. (University of
Michigan. Department of Biology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Sea Turtle Symposium, Orlando, FL
US4-8 March 1997. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1998. p. 98-101. (NOAA
Tech. Memo.; NMFS-SEFSC-415). The Tortuguero green sea turtle nesting colony is the
largest extant sea turtle population in the Greater Caribbean (Carr, 1979) and one of the
largest in the world for this species. Although protection to the population is afforded by the
Tortuguero Conservation Area (ACTo, for its acronym is Spanish) poaching of adults and eggs
continues to be a problem, particularly since Park personnel are insufficient to protect the
entire area. The community of Tortuguero was established (approximately at mile 31/8 of the
study area) in the early'20s. Thus, interaction between turtles and humans precedes the
foundation of the green turtle program by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) in
the mid50s. Growth of the tourism industry in recent years, concomitantly with the growth in
the population of the adjacent village, may pose an added threat to the long term survival of
the population, The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of human activity on the
nesting of the green sea turtle colony at Tortuguero. For this, historic records on the nesting
activity of green turtles were analyzed with the help of a newly designed interface, which
allows the synthesis of the extensive database that the CCC has accumulated for over 40
years of work at Tortuguero. The historic analysis shows that the nesting of green turtles is
significantly affected by human activity in the beach area adjacent to the Tortuguero village.
La cuenca del Río Tempisque: perspectivas para un manejo integrado [Perspectives for
the integrated management of the Tempisque river basin, Costa Rica] / Jiménez-Ramón, J.A,
(ed.).; González-Jiménez, E, (ed.). (Organización para Estudios Tropicales, Apdo. 676-2050,
San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail:
[email protected]>). San José: Organización para Estudios Tropicales, 2001. 135 p. ISBN:
9968-9717-4-X. Introducción: La cuenca del Tempisque es uno de los paisajes más hermosos
de nuestro país. La diversidad de ambientes es impresionante, desde los bosques nubosos en
las cumbres de los volcanes hasta los pantanos y manglares en las partes bajas de la cuenca.
Esta región posee también una importancia especial por la relevancia de las actividades que
ahí se generan. El turismo, el cultivo de peces y las plantaciones de caña y arroz brindan
prosperidad y empleos a la región. Además, la herencia cultural de la región es una de las más
ricas del país. La amplia mezcla cultural desarrollada a partir del siglo XVI, ha generado una
fuerte identidad propia y un variado folklore popular. Durante las últimas décadas, la
proliferación de megaproyectos turísticos y de infraestructura productiva han producido
impactos importantes en los sistemas naturales de la región y al mismo tiempo han recibido
impactos de procesos naturales que, como las inundaciones y la sequía, limitan el desarrolo
productivo tradicional. Las obras de infraestructura para controlar las inundaciones de la zona
y la desmedida extracción de aguas superficiales y subterráneas para riego amenazan la
integridad ecológica de la región. El manejo del agua en esta cuenca es por lo tanto uno de los
aspectos de mayor relevancia. Del adecuado manejo de este recurso depende la producción y
el desarrollo de la región. La búsqueda de un equilibrio apropiado entre los requisitos de los
sistemas productivos (en riego y protección de inundaciones) y las necesidades hídricas de los
sistemas ecológicos de la región (en inundaciones periódicas y flujos permanentes) es uno de
los retos más difíciles que enfrenta esta región. El camino a seguir parece ser la integración de
ambos sectores en un manejo integral de la cuenca. La oportunidad de hacer de esta cuenca
un ejemplo integrado depende de los pasos que se tomen en los próximos años. Esta
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publicación resume las discusiones y presentaciones realizadas durante dos talleres
organizados en la Estación Biológica de Palo Verde durante el año 2000. Muchas de las
discusiones se centraron alrededor del tema agua, eje central de cualquier plan de manejo de
esta cuenca. El impacto del megaproyecto de riego del SENARA, el impacto potencial de
represas y diques, la desmedida extracción de agua, la descoordinación institucional y la
escasa participación comunal se discuten en los siguientes capítulos. Esperamos que estas
discusiones contribuyan a iniciar un proceso político-social que culmine en la implementación
de un manejo integrado de esta importante cuenca. El país no puede darse el lujo de
postergar un proceso tan importante como éste.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.917 C965c; NBINA-1185.
Preservando la integridad ecológica de la cuenca del Río Tempisque / Baish, S.;
Jiménez-Ramón, J.A, (ed.).; González-Jiménez, E, (ed.). (The H. John Heinz III Center for
Science, Economics and the Environment, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 735S,
Washington, DC 20004, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: La cuenca del Río
Tempisque: perspectivas para un manejo integrado (Perspectives for the integrated
management of the Tempisque river basin, Costa Rica) San José: Organización para Estudios
Tropicales, 2001. p. 102-105. ISBN: 9968-9717-4-X. Alrededor del mundo, la demanda por
recursos hídricos está aumentando, lo cual ejerce tremendas presiones sobre los ecosistemas
acuáticos. El actual debate sobre la cuenca del Río Tempisque no está ajeno a estos temas.
Aunque el Río y su cuenca son recursos valiosos que deben ser administrados para maximizar
la calidad de vida de los habitantes de la zona, el enfoque tradicional ingenieril para controlar
el agua (ej. represas y otras estructuras) no es siempre la mejor solución a largo plazo. Los
ríos con libre circulación proveen una amplia gama de funciones ecológicas que son críticas
para las especies nativas, las comunidades locales y la economía regional. Hoy en día existe
un creciente reconocimiento de que se debe alcanzar un balance ecológicamente saludable
entre cultura y naturaleza, para que la sociedad sea sustentable. La cuenca del Río
Tempisque, el sistema hidrológico más extenso de Costa Rica, provee actualmente una
variedad de bienes y servicios ecológicos "gratuitos" a la región Guanacasteca. Para las cerca
de 170 000 personas que viven en esta cuenca, ésta proporciona agua para consumo humano,
irrigación, generación eléctrica, pesca, actividades agroindustriales y actividades recreativas.
El valor monetario de estos bienes y servicios, aunque difíciles de cuantificar, es
indudablemente grande. La importancia de este tipo de recursos es desafortunadamente a
menudo ignorada hasta que estos son degradados y la calidad de vida y la economía en las
áreas circundantes son reducidas substancialmente. Específicamente, el Río Tempisque y sus
humedales: Proveen hábitat y corredores para la vida silvestre, incluyendo las pesquerías
comerciales y deportiva. Transporta y recicla nutrimentos y sedimentos que mantienen
humedales y zonas estuarinas; purifica y provee agua; recarga las aguas subterráneas;
provee de suelo aluvial a las planicies; atenúa la inundación y minimiza los daños por
inundación absorbiendo la energía en sus meandros, pantanos y planicies de inundación y
acumulando agua y sedimentos por un período de tiempo; aumenta y mantiene los flujos de
agua; provee de recreación a las comunidades locales; provee oportunidades para ecoturismo.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.917 C965c.
Golfo Dulce: un mar de delfines / Cortés, J. (Mercadeo y Tecnología S.A. (MERTEC), P.O.
Box 6937-1000, San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José: MERTEC, 2000. 11
p. ¿Qué es Golfo Dulce? Es un área marina cuya superficie es de 750 km² ubicada en el
Pacífico Sur de Costa Rica, considerado un "fiordo tropical". Un fiordo (definición genética) es
un sitio en forma de bahía o golfo, casi cerrado, con aguas profundas en la parte interna,
creado por un glaciar (típicos en la Península Escandinava). Golfo Dulce es una bahía muy
cerrada, con una profundidad en su entrada de 60 m y en su parte interna con sitios que
llegan hasta los 200 m de profundidad. Abajo de los 100 m sus condiciones son anóxicas
(carentes de oxígeno). Esto crea condiciones y dinámicas únicas en un ambiente marino, por
lo que desde una definición geomorfológica, es considerado el "único fiordo tropical" en las
costas de América. Es la zona más prístina y conservada del país. Muchos de los bosques que
la rodean (Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce, Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas y el Sector Esquinas)
contienen cientos de ha de bosque primario. Golfo Dulce es poco conocido, por sus malas vías
115
de acceso. Los dos principales sitios de acceso terrestres son: Golfito (dedicado por años a la
actividad bananera y desde hace 10 años a la promoción de un Depósito Libre) y Puerto
Jiménez, pequeña ciudad que fue centro de acopio del oro extraído en el pasado de sus ríos
cercanos, y posteriormente zona agrícola-ganadera, con una carretera que se habilitó hace tan
sólo 17 años. Golfo Dulce es considerado uno de los sitios más bellos y desconocidos de toda
América Tropical. Aspectos importantes a nivel biológico-ecológico de Golfo Dulce: 1- Es el
sitio marino más accesible y menos peligroso (condiciones marinas) para observación de
delfines. Grandes comunidades de delfines manchados (Stenella attenuata) y comunes nariz
de botella (Tursiops truncatus) son comunes en el área. 2- Sus arrecifes coralinos
conjuntamente con los del Golfo de Chiriquí de Panamá son los más antiguos del Pacífico
Americano. 3- De Diciembre a Marzo la presencia de ballenas jorobadas (Megaptera
novaeangliae) provenientes del norte de América son comunes desde Isla del Caño hasta Golfo
Dulce, y entre julio y Setiembre algunos individuos de las comunidades de ballenas jorobadas
del sur vienen a procrear sus crías en Golfo Dulce. También por la inexistencia de peligrosas
corrientes marinas ni los fuertes vientos del norte, que en el verano son comunes en
Guanacaste, Golfo Dulce es el sitio de "más fácil acceso para observación de estos mamíferos
marinos". 4- Es el sitio de desove de muchas especies marinas en sus playas pedregosas y sus
manglares (Pez aguja, pargos, etc.). 5- Es común la visita de muchas especies pelágicas
(residentes en el mar abierto) en sus aguas calmas. Entre ellas se distinguen los grandes
tiburones ballena, cardúmenes de peces y hasta avistamientos ocasionales de orcas. 6- Golfo
Dulce contienen en su parte externa (Platanares y Punta Banco) importantes playas de desove
de Tortugas del Pacífico (Ridley, Baula y Negra). En la actualidad, funcionan dos jardines
artificiales creados por movimientos locales para protección de los huevos. 7- Los manglares
de los ríos Rincón y Esquinas son de los más conservados y desarrollados del país con menos
especies taladas. 8-Sin duda que su condición de fiordo tropical sería de innegable interés
para el turismo ecológico, científicos e investigadores. ¿Por qué Golfo Dulce un Parque
Nacional? 1- Es una extensa porción marina que no tiene en la actualidad ninguna categoría
de protección ni manejo. 2- Su potencial turístico es enorme (actualmente no se mercadea en
las agencias turísticas, ni se conoce). 3- Sus características paisajísticas y su proyección
adecuada podría ubicarlo como uno de los destinos para el turismo ecológico del país. Costa
Rica sólo tiene un Parque Nacional Marino: "Parque Nacional Marino Ballena" con uno de los
índices de visitación más bajos. Su pequeña extensión: 5357 ha marinas y sus condiciones
hacen que sea muy limitado y difícil su aprovechamiento por el turismo. 4- Otros Parques
Nacionales tienen porciones marinas: Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Parque Nacional
Corcovado, Isla del Coco, etc. Sin duda el énfasis y su creación lo motivaron principalmente
sus partes terrestres. 5- Golfito, cada vez está más amenazado en su economía dependiente
de un Depósito Libre, creado como una solución arancelaria temporal para incentivar a los
costarricenses a comprar con menos impuestos. La tendencia a la globalización e igualdad en
tasas arancelarias hará desaparecer este sistema. La única fuente alterna de la región que se
vislumbra es sin duda el turismo. 6- Puerto Jiménez, se ha convertido, conjuntamente con
Bahía Drake, en las puertas de entrada al Parque Nacional Corcovado. La infraestructura
turística ha ido creciendo vertiginosamente, y su economía, ya depende en su mayor
porcentaje del turismo. A tan sólo 50 m del centro de Puerto Jíménez está Golfo Dulce. 7Golfo Dulce es parte vital de una condición única en Mesoamérica, la gran altura de la
Cordillera de Talamanca y su cercanía a la costa hace que los vientos que pasan la Cordillera,
desciendan sobre la costa Pacífica, creando una perturbación atmosférica que favorece la
formación de una corriente de aire oceánico cargado de humedad hacia el interior. Este
incremento de lluvia en la región del Golfo Dulce, la convierte conjuntamente con la Península
de Osa en una "isla ecológica", limitada por zonas secas a los lados y la Cordillera de
Talamanca al este. 8- Toda la costa Pacífica de Mesoamérica, desde el límite con el Trópico de
Cáncer (Baja California en México) hasta Panamá es una franja continua de bosque seco,
interrumpida sólo por la Península de Osa, Golfo Dulce hasta Punta Burica. 9- En el Golfo
Dulce desembocan 3 importantes ríos: Rincón, Esquinas y el Coto, convirtiéndose en la cuenca
menos contaminada del país. 10- Muchos documentos se han elaborado determinando a
Corcovado, por su biodiversidad, como un sitio único en el planeta. Pero Golfo Dulce ha sido
parte vital de esta Península y los bosques que lo rodean, guardan especies afines y
endémicas al igual que Corcovado. 11- Un nuevo y fuerte proyecto es el de unir a Corcovado
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por medio de un corredor biológico con el Parque Piedras Blancas-Esquinas y la Reserva de
Vida Silvestre de Golfito. Lastimosamente se les ha olvidado que su límite y borde es Golfo
Dulce. 12- Bajo costo social: En el Golfo Dulce la pesca comercial artesanal es mínima.
Ventajas estratégicas de crear un Parque Nacional en Golfo Dulce: Se estaría protegiendo una
área marina de incalculable valor para los costarricenses y las futuras generaciones.
An assessment of non-market valuation of natural and environmental resources in
Central America and the Caribbean [Evaluación de recursos naturales y ambientales no
mercadeables en Centroamérica y el Caribe] / Shultz, S.D. (North Dakota State University.
Department of Agricultural Economics, P.O. Box 5636, Fargo, ND 58105, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: CEPAL Review (ISSN 0251-2920), no. 63, p. 65-76.
1997. An inventory and assessment was made of 15 non-market valuation studies in Central
American and Caribbean countries. Most utilized the contingent valuation method to determine
willingness to pay for drinking water or protected areas. The method used suffered from a
reliance on open-ended bidding, information framing and contingent scenarios lacking detail,
limited population samples, and possible cultural-strategic biases associated with surveying
local residents. Problems observed with respect to the single travel cost method (TCM) study
reviewed (a TCM study of ecotourism in the Monteverde tropical rain forest reserve, Costa
Rica) were a reliance on poor quality census data rather than visitor survey data, and
unrealistic assumptions regarding transportation cost estimates, single-destination visitors,
and consumer surplus levels of international visitors. The 2 hedonic valuation method (HVM)
studies reviewed suffered from the existence of heterogeneous neighbourhood market
segments and the inability to obtain reliable property values. Various strategies and a research
agenda to improve non-market valuation studies in Central American and Caribbean countries
are suggested.
Área de Conservación Arenal: avances y perspectivas / Proyecto de Conservación y
Desarrollo de Arenal, Tilarán, CR. Tilarán: Litografía La Trinidad, 1993. 21 p. Desde octubre
1991, técnicos profesionales costarricenses del Ministerio de Recursos Naturales, Energía y
Minas (MIRENEM) y canadienses del Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza de Canadá (WWF-C),
han unificado esfuerzos para concretizar las actividades programadas en el Proyecto de
Conservación y Desarrollo de Arenal, financiado por la Agencia Canadiense de Desarrollo
Internacional (ACDI). En este trabajo se exponen los avances y perspectivas del Proyecto de
Conservación y Desarrollo de Arenal como un esfuerzo conjunto Costa Rica-Canadá.
Planificación para el uso ecoturístico / Campos, R. (MINAE / BID. Proambi, San José, CR
<Fax: (506)2249557>). Primer Congreso Latinoamericano de Parques Nacionales y Otras
Areas Protegidas. Ponencias, Santa Marta, CO; 21-28 de mayo de 1997. p. 25-26. Dentro del
contexto del proyecto de fortalecimiento del SINAC, se evaluaron las acciones mínimas
necesarias para continuar aprovechando el beneficio de las altas tasas de crecimiento de la
visitación turística internacional, de las cuales entre un 60% y un 40% visitan al menos un
Parque Nacional y su relación con la capacidad del ecosistema para soportar los niveles de
visitación actual, así como la inversión mínima necesaria para poder seguir manteniendo
dichos niveles sin detrimento del recurso natural. Para lo anterior se utilizó una estrategia de
trabajo dividido en tres pasos: i) capacitación de todos lo actores de las áreas protegidas
involucrados en la atención de visitantes en la Metodología de Límites de Cambio Aceptable
(LAC), la cual se utilizó como instrumento central de planificación del uso ecoturístico; ii) se
procedió a evaluar los gustos y preferencias de los visitantes de las áreas protegidas en
relación con sus niveles de satisfacción, en función de las expectativas iniciales de su visita y
en función de la experiencia obtenida y iii) el trabajo de campo necesario para la evaluación
del estado de la infraestructura actual y los requerimientos y transformaciones necesarias para
garantizar la capacidad de uso de los sistemas en concordancia con las expectativas del
visitante y la minimización del impacto. Dentro de lo anterior, los criterios de diseño utilizados
una vez definida la infraestructura necesaria de centros operativos, centros de visitantes,
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miradores, sitios de observaciones, senderos y señalización, así como los criterios para
garantizar la facilidad de mantenimiento y construcción. Adicionalmente las sugerencias para
la administración de los sitios de atención al visitante incorporando la participación local, así
como los efectos esperados en el aumento de la demanda de visitación mediante análisis del
comportamiento de la demanda y su desplazamiento respecto a los niveles de satisfacción
esperada por las mejoras en infraestructura, utilizando un método de transporte generalizado.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: MAST-31.
Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG). Una experiencia al servicio del desarrollo.
Un caso en el Pacífico norte de Costa Rica / Marín-Zúñiga, S. (Ministerio del Ambiente y
Energía. Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Apdo. 169-50, Guanacaste, CR <Fax: (506)6955598>). Primer Congreso Latinoamericano de Parques Nacionales y Otras Areas Protegidas.
Ponencias, Santa Marta, CO; 21-28 de mayo de 1997. p. 115. A partir del Congreso Mundial
de Parques Nacionales en Caracas 92, quedó plasmado el sentimiento de los países
Latinoamericanos de organizar foros regionales para discutir y compartir experiencias en este
campo. Principalmente que los foros mundiales marginaban de relevancia y real atención las
realidades de nuestros países en cuanto a la conservación de biodiversidad. Y peor aún que su
incipiente conocimiento y utilización está inhibida por la poca interrelación a nivel regional en
los últimos 19 años. Costa Rica, en los últimos años, ha intentado modificar la estructura
organizativa del manejo de sus áreas protegidas, de lograr y estimular un agropaisaje sano,
que conlleve a mejorar la calidad de vida de su población. Esto debe hacerse bajo el concepto
de Desarrollo Sostenible utilizando como instrumento el conocimiento y utilización de la
biodiversidad sin destruirla. Como un proyecto piloto casi espontáneo desde hace 10 años el
Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), insertó en el ambiente nacional una evolución de
organización basada en la descentralización, desconcentración, autogeneración de recursos, y
real participación y autoridad de la comunidad regional o sociedad civil. Han sido 10 años
afinando una organización donde se desarrollan programas de trabajo en áreas protegidas,
como ecoturismo, educación, investigación y otros ya tradicionales como vigilancia,
mantenimiento y también en la zona de agropaisaje como restauración y silvicultura, fomento
forestal, control y protección. Todo esto con un enfoque base, que es lograr una estructura de
manejo que sea autosuficiente y que su proyección sea para beneficio de la sociedad. El área
debe garantizar a los usuarios (comunidades, turistas, investigadores, estudiantes) que un
área de conservación es fuente de vida y desarrollo. En el trabajo completo incluyendo
organigrama, explicaciones y ejemplos concretos del manejo del área en función a mejorar la
calidad de vida de la población, quiero plasmar una experiencia que ha ido evolucionando en
nuestro país hasta el punto de que desde hace 6 años el Sistema de Parques Nacionales inició
fuertemente una modificación estructural (a nivel de todo el Ministerio) para consolidar un
Sistema de Areas de Conservación tomando como punto de partida la experiencia del ACG, en
muchos de sus casos.
Plan de mercadeo del proyecto de infraestructura de uso público. Parque Nacional
Volcán Arenal, Costa Rica / Romero-Gutiérrez, J.C. (Ministerio de Recursos Naturales,
Energía y Minas. Area de Conservación Tempisque, San José, CR). Primer Congreso
Latinoamericano de Parques Nacionales y Otras Areas Protegidas. Ponencias, Santa Marta, CO;
21-28 de mayo de 1997. p. 176. El turismo y recientemente el ecoturismo es un fenómeno
social y una actividad socioeconómica que influye notoriamente en la economía mundial y en
las economías locales; éste está asociado al rescate de culturas locales, la conservación de las
áreas silvestres y la posibilidad de implementar actividades productivas de desarrollo
sustentable en las zonas de influencia de las Áreas Silvestres Protegidas (ASP). En el caso
particular de Costa Rica esta actividad se ha convertido actualmente en la primera fuente
generadora de divisas y aunque existen denuncias sistemáticas sobre la amenaza de ésta a los
recursos naturales y culturales inmersos en las áreas silvestres que constituyen el principal
patrimonio y producto turístico nacional, pareciera ser que dichas amenazas están ligadas más
a la falta de planificación y de estrategias para aprovechar las oportunidades y mitigar los
impactos, que a la naturaleza de la actividad como tal. En tal sentido, el Servicio de Parques
Nacionales del país ha mantenido en los últimos 20 años una básica oferta de servicios y
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facilidades turísticas que no necesariamente ha considerado las necesidades, motivaciones y
preferencias de la demanda, la calidad misma de la oferta primaria y secundaria, la posición
de la competencia en el mercado, así como las fortalezas y limitaciones del microentorno y las
amenazas y oportunidades del macroentorno. Este último hecho ha minimizado la posibilidad
de poner en valor los recursos naturales y culturales de estas áreas, así como la
operacionalización de políticas relacionadas con la autogeneración de ingresos, la mitigación
de impactos negativos y el fortalecimiento de los programas de conservación y desarrollo
sustentable de éstas. Lo anteriormente expuesto motivó la investigación necesaria para
formular un plan de mercadeo que orientara la toma de decisiones para la adecuada
administración y operación mercadológica del "Proyecto de Infraestructura de Uso Público
Volcán Arenal", el cual no obstante poseer una alta rentabilidad social, económica y ambiental,
adolecía de un plan que optimizara sus servicios y que permitiera al Area de Conservación
Arenal, administrar, dirigir y controlar adecuadamente el Proyecto de Infraestructura de Uso
Público Volcán Arenal, así como lograr un posicionamiento y participación exitosa de éste en el
mercado turístico. En tal sentido la ponencia tratará sobre: 1. La metodología utilizada para
diagnosticar la oferta, la demanda y la competencia, así como la capacidad organizacional y
administrativa del Area de Conservación Arenal para dirigir y controlar la operación
mercadológica del Proyecto. 2. Los productos de la investigación. El plan de mercadeo, sus
correspondientes estrategias de producto, precio, distribución y comunicación, características
del tipo de organización que se requiere para desarrollar e implantar dichas estrategias y los
lineamientos para establecer el sistema de evaluación y control del plan de mercadeo.
Costa Rica: perfil de sostenibilidad para desarrollo en comunidades rurales [Costa
Rica: a sustainability profile for development in a rural community] / Vargas, E. (INBio.
Proceso de Capacitación Nacional e Internacional, Apdo. Postal 22-3100, Santo Domingo de
Heredia, CR). In: Revista Forestal Centroamericana (ISSN 1021-0164), no. 31, p. 34-40.
2000. This case study discusses the development options for rural communities adjoining the
Carara National Park in Costa Rica. Details are given of sustainability criteria for environmental
processes (conservation and biodiversity, environmental protection, etc.), production activities
(various agricultural and forestry systems), social processes (migration, life quality, tenure,
population density, etc.) and tourist resources, and based on these, suitable development
options are identified.
Eco-tourism and local development. Conceptual and theoretical framework and
problems in implementation. Empirical evidence from Costa Rica and Ecuador /
Sjoholt, P. (University of Bergen. The Norwegian School of Economics, Department of
Geography, Breiviksveien 40, 5045 Bergen, NO <E-mail: [email protected]>). In:
Fennia (ISSN 0015-0010), v. 178, no. 2, p. 227-241. 2000. The first part of the paper focuses
on eco-tourism or nature tourism an activity with local commitment, primarily aiming at local
sustainability by promoting local development. A discussion follows on the many, often
conflicting interests linked to the operations, the practice of suppliers and tourists and the
problems of ethics and compliance. As far as obstacles to implementation are concerned,
these may be due both to demand and supply factors. Among these are: infrastructural
problems and problems in the economic operations of the enterprises, juxtaposed with the
new and more complex demand for tourist services. Another issue to be discussed, is how far
bottlenecks can be overcome and negative externalities evaded through market measures or
whether regulations are necessary. The second part of the paper extends the theoretical
background into the field by analysing studies of eco-tourism having been performed in the
South. These include senior research as well as master theses by students from the University
of Bergen and show by examples from Costa Rica and Ecuador both promising and
inconclusive results as to success of this type of tourism.
Forest tourism and recreation: case studies in environmental management [Turismo y
recreación forestal: estudio de casos en manejo ambiental] / Font, X, (ed.).; Tribe, J, (ed.).
119
(Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College. Faculty of Leisure and Tourism, High
Wycombe, GB <E-mail: [email protected]>). Wallingford: CABI Publishing, 1999. 292
p. ISBN: 0-85199-414-8. The demand for ecotourism and outdoor recreation is increasing and
the pressures on land use are becoming more obvious. A large part of the experience of
ecotourism and recreational landscape depends on the maintenance of forested land. Effective
management of tourism and recreation in forests can provide extra income to help offset the
costs of sustainable timber production and encourage biodiversity conservation. This book
considers the compatibility between tourism, forestry and conservation, the management of
natural resources and the involvement of stakeholders and the community. After an
introductory chapter, issues are presented through 16 case studies (chapters 2-17) from a
range of countries, including the UK, Canada, Costa Rica, Estonia, Nepal, New Zealand and
Singapore. Topics covered include national parks, peri-urban forestry and wilderness
management, as well as practitioner orientated contributions from the UK (on Center Parcs,
the National Trust and the Forest of Mercia). The case studies are arranged in 2 sections: Part
I, Issues and problems (2-10); and Part II, Strategies and solutions (11-17). The book
provides a challenging review for both academic and professional readers in tourism and
recreation, environmental conservation and rural geography.
Ecotourism on the edge: the case of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica [Ecoturismo
en el filo: el caso del Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica] / Minca, C.; Linda, M.; Font, X,
(ed.); Tribe, J, (ed.). (Ecoway, Via delle Linfe 21.34128, Trieste, IT). In: Forest tourism and
recreation: case studies in environmental management Wallingford: CABI Publishing, 1999. p.
103-126. ISBN: 0-85199-414-8. This chapter attempts to develop a theoretical approach to
describe the role of tourism for local communities and their territorialities, with a particular
focus on forest areas. In particular, the explanatory potential and the limits of such a
framework are queried by examining the case of the Osa Peninsula and the Corcovado
National Park in Costa Rica, and describing the complex network of conflicts and interactions
between ecotourism, sustainability and territoriality.
Ecotourism in tropical rainforests: an environmental management option for
threatened resources? [Ecoturismo en bosques lluviosos tropicales: ¿una opción de manejo
ambiental para recursos amenazados?] / Evans, S.; Font, X, (ed.).; Tribe, J, (ed.). (Anglia
Polytechnic University. School of Design and Communications Systems, Victoria Road, South
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
Chelmsford
CM1
1LL,
GB
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Forest tourism and recreation: case studies in environmental
management Wallingford: CABI Publishing, 1999. p. 127-142. ISBN: 0-85199-414-8. The
reality of ecotourism as a tool of environmental management is considered, and the extent to
which authenticity is being compromised in the long term by environmental control
requirements and visitor expectations is questioned. Aspects addressed in the article include
the levels and causes of tropical deforestation, the designation of protected area status, the
possible symbiotic relationship between tourism and conservation, and ecotourism and tropical
rain forests. Brief case studies are included from the Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei
Darussalam, and the rain forests of Costa Rica.
Identifying and assessing ecotourism visitor impacts at eight protected areas in
Costa Rica and Belize [Identificando y evaluando los impactos del ecoturismo en ocho áreas
protegidas en Costa Rica y Belice] / Farrell, T.A.; Marion, J.L. (Virginia Tech, USGS. Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center, Cooperative Pk Studies Unit, 304 Cheatham Hall 0324, Blacksburg,
VA 24061, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Environmental Conservation (ISSN 03768929), v. 28, no. 3, p. 215-225. 2001. Protected area visitation is an important component of
ecotourism, and as such, must be sustainable. However, protected area visitation may
degrade natural resources, particularly in areas of concentrated visitor activities like trails and
recreation sites. This is an important concern in ecotourism destinations such as Belize and
Costa Rica, because they actively promote ecotourism and emphasize the pristine qualities of
120
their natural resources. Research on visitor impacts to protected areas has many potential
applications in protected area management, though it has not been widely applied in Central
and South America. This study targeted this deficiency through manager interviews and
evaluations of alternative impact assessment procedures at eight protected areas in Belize and
Costa Rica. Impact assessment procedures included qualitative condition class systems,
ratings systems, and measurement-based systems applied to trails and recreation sites. The
resulting data characterize manager perceptions of impact problems, document trail and
recreation site impacts, and provide examples of inexpensive, efficient and effective rapid
impact assessment procedures. Interview subjects reported a variety of impacts affecting
trails, recreation sites, wildlife, water, attraction features and other resources. Standardized
assessment procedures were developed and applied to record trail and recreation site impacts.
Impacts affecting the study areas included trail proliferation, erosion and widening, muddiness
on trails, vegetation cover loss, soil and root exposure, and tree damage on recreation sites.
The findings also illustrate the types of assessment data yielded by several alternative
methods and demonstrate their utility to protected area managers. The need for additional
rapid assessment procedures for wildlife, water, attraction feature and other resource impacts
was also identified.
Desarrollo de actividades turísticas en haciendas ganaderas / Paredes-Valverde, F.
Seminario Intensificación de la Ganadería en Centroamérica: Beneficios Económicos y
Ambientales, Turrialba CR24-26 May. 1999. In: Intensificación de la ganadería en
Centroamérica: beneficios económicos y ambientales. Pomareda-Benel, C.; Steinfeld, H. (eds.)
Turrialba: CATIE / FAO / SIDE, 2000. p. 91-101. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.7414 I61.
Agroturismo: alternativa para la ganadería sostenible en Costa Rica y la región
mesoamericana / Salazar, S.; León-Pérez, C. (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y
Enseñanza, Turrialba, CR). Seminario Intensificación de la Ganadería en Centroamérica:
Beneficios Económicos y Ambientales, Turrialba CR24-26 May. 1999. In: Intensificación de la
ganadería en Centroamérica: beneficios económicos y ambientales. Pomareda-Benel, C.;
Steinfeld, H. (eds.) Turrialba: CATIE / FAO / SIDE, 2000. p. 103-112. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton: 333.7414 I61.
Paradise under development: Social inequality and memory in a Caribbean Costa
Rican tourist town / Vandegrift, D. Santa Barbara, CA: University of California, 2001. 305 p.
ISBN: 0-493-27148-1. Dissertation, Ph.D., University of California, Graduate School, Santa
Barbara, CA (USA). Since the late 1980s, the South Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica has
transformed from sleepy villages with decaying cocoa farms and dusty roads to a growing
tourist destination defined by visitors as a "tropical paradise". The area, once inhabited
primarily by Black Costa Rican farmers of West Indian descent, now hosts an ever-increasing
population of white Europeans, North Americans, and Costa Ricans who run businesses
catering to tourists. In addition, Ladino Nicaraguans and indigenous Bribri have migrated in
search of work within the expanding tourist economy. Race, gender and nationality become
important axes along which resources have been unevenly distributed. Creating an
ethnographic account of this diverse setting, this work examines the nature and meaning of
the social inequalities created by tourist-based economic development in Puerto Viejo, located
in Caribbean Costa Rica. Using participant observation, qualitative interviews, business
surveys, content analysis of newspapers and tourist promotion, and a small participant action
project, this work sheds light on how history, memory, and global economic forces shape
economic development in Third World locations turned international tourism hot spots. By
examining the specific locations of social inequality (relations with the state, political power,
business ownership, work opportunities, and community autonomy), the work offers insight
into how structural adjustment and unequal opportunities create disadvantages based on
nation, class, gender and race. These inequalities are shaped not just by international and
state policies, but also through mundane, everyday local economic interactions produced in
the context of globalization. The work also examines the psychic legacies of history on the
121
present. Building on theoretical statements by Benjamin (1969) and Gordon (1997), psychic
legacies are the interpretive frameworks used to analyze the present, drawing on passeddown and first-hand recollections. For Afro-Costa Ricans, the memories include paydays during
cocoa production, Puerto Viejo as an all-Black town, the racist restrictions of the state on Black
residents, and a tightly knit Afro-Caribbean community. The construction of these memories
creates psychic legacies for Black residents which question the inequalities encountered in the
tourist economy.
Does it pay to be green in the developing world? Participation in a Costa Rican
voluntary environmental program and its impact on hotels' competitive advantage /
Rivera-Rangel, J.E. (<E-mail: [email protected]> ). Durham, NC: Duke University, 2000. 132 p.
ISBN: 0-493-13088-8. Dissertation, Ph.D., Duke University, Graduate School, Durham, NC
(USA). This dissertation studies the competitive implications of firms, participation in a
voluntary environmental program and identifies institutional factors that motivate participation
in this initiative. Specifically, it examines participation of hotel firms in the voluntary
Sustainable Tourism Certification Program established by the Costa Rican government. By
studying service industry firms in a developing country, this research offers the opportunity to
compare and contrast the conclusions obtained by previous empirical work on voluntary
environmental initiatives, nearly all of which have focused on manufacturing firms operating in
developed countries. The main theoretical perspectives on the relationship between corporate
environmental management and competitiveness offer contradictory conclusions about firm
behavior and its consequences. In general, the environmental economics perspective argues
that there is a trade-off between environmental and competitiveness goals. Thus, rational
managers should not be expected to participate in programs that promote environmental
performance beyond compliance with legal requirements. On the other hand, the proactive
environmental management perspective posits that appropriate environmental protection
strategies can enhance firm competitiveness. Hence, rational managers can be expected to
proactively improve environmental performance to enhance their firm's competitiveness. This
study tries to balance these perspectives by using two theories from the business
management literature: resource-based theory and institutional theory. The resource-based
theory argues that participation in voluntary environmental programs can generate
differentiation advantages for firms operating in environmentally sensitive markets because
these programs allow firms to develop credible "green" reputations that are rare, difficult to
create, costly to imitate, and that provide enhanced value to environmentally aware
consumers. Additionally, the dissertation proposes that participation in voluntary initiatives is
not only the result of competitive rational motivations but is also affected by institutional
factors. The proposed hypotheses are tested using a two-stage methodology that involves
probit and OLS regression techniques. Cross-sectional Data were collected for a sample of 164
hotels operating in Costa Rica. Environmental performance data were obtained from the
voluntary Sustainable Tourism Certification Program (STC Program) established by the Costa
Rican government. Additional information was collected through face-to-face interviews with
hotels' top managers. The dissertation's results indicate that hotels with higher performance in
the STC Program gain differentiation advantages that result in significant price premiums. It
was also found that participation in the STC Program was not only motivated by competitive
rational considerations, but also by institutional factors such as trade association membership
and level of regulatory oversight. From the public policy perspective, these results suggest
that voluntary environmental programs can be used as an effective policy tool to promote
beyond compliance environmental performance among environmentally proactive firms.
However, the low level of participation in the STC program (less than 10% of hotels) and the
poor environmental performance showed by the majority of STC certified hotels also suggests
that this program needs to be complemented with mandatory environmental standards that
guarantee compliance with a minimum socially desirable level of environmental protection.
Conservation cowboys: Privately-owned parks and the protection of biodiversity in
Costa Rica [Vaqueros conservacionistas: Parques privados y la protección de la biodiversidad
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en Costa Rica] / Langholz, J.A. (Monterey Institute of International Studies. Program of
International Environment Policy, MIIS IEP, 425 Van Buren Street, Monterey, CA 93940, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 1999. 281 p. ISBN: 0599-42764-7. Dissertation, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (USA). The alarming pace of
habitat destruction necessitates development of innovative approaches for in situ biodiversity
conservation. One option is the privately-owned nature reserve. Despite ongoing proliferation
of privately-owned nature reserves and growing interest in them, we know little about this
unusual conservation tool. I interviewed 68 private nature reserve owners in Costa Rica to
learn more about privately-owned parks in that country. The study characterized the
conservation role played by private nature reserves in Costa Rica, quantified the importance of
various motives behind private nature reserve operation, and evaluated an incentives program
designed to support operation of private reserves. On a more specific level, the study
addressed five key hypotheses. First, it showed nature reserve owners to be motivated by a
sense of stewardship more than any other factor. Second, it confirmed that private nature
reserve owners possessed strong ecological orientations and attitudes, as indicated by scores
on the New Ecological Paradigm scale. Third, it demonstrated how an incentive program might
have affected landowner decision-making with respect to three theoretically-derived
motivational domains. Fourth, it revealed how participants in a conservation incentive program
felt that they were could better steward natural resources than reserve owners who were not
participating in the program. Last, it documented that a developing country can expand and
enhance its formal park system through use of conservation incentives. On the broadest level,
the study contributed to conservation theory in three ways. First, it checked the verisimilitude
of a relatively new behavioral model for conservation of natural resources, confirming through
factor analysis that legality, profitability, and social acceptability were important motivational
domains for reserve owners. Second, it expanded this model by adding a fourth motivational
domain relating to stewardship. Finally, the study deepened our understanding of land
stewardship by presenting a conceptual model describing how landowners decide the amount
of land to protect. The results should be of interest to researchers as well as practitioners,
wherever biodiversity remains threatened and wherever new conservation partners are being
sought.
Green mountains, greening people: Encountering environmentalism in Monteverde,
Costa Rica / Vivanco, L.A. (University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0082, US).
Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University, 1999. 351 p. ISBN: 0-599-50668-7. Dissertation, Ph.D.,
Princeton University, Graduate School, Princeton, N.J. (USA). In recent years, Costa Rica has
been widely heralded as an extraordinary example of a poor Third World country investing
substantial political, social and financial resources in the conservation of terrestrial natural
resources. Behind the image of success, however, lie some profound ironies, including the fact
that during the 1980s and early 1990s, Costa Rica sustained one of the highest rates of
deforestation in Central America. Contrary to the image of the inevitable extension of
environmentalist agendas in Costa Rica exist realities of conflict, struggle, compromise,
collaboration and negotiation over the meanings and practice of environmentalism. This
dissertation explores the socio-cultural dynamics of conflict and negotiation surrounding local
and international efforts to conserve cloud and rain forests in Monteverde, a region that has in
recent years become a renowned center of forest conservation and ecotourism. A major
argument of this dissertation is that environmentalism represents an internally-conflicted
arena of knowledges, ideologies and methodologies for social, political, and natural change.
The Monteverde region's encounters with transnational environmentalism, and the social
transformations that it has experienced related to its international fame, have been uneven
and dynamic, reflecting complicated regional political and economic histories, multiple and
shifting social identities, and specific histories of relations with forests, science, tourism,
development, and the Costa Rican state. Throughout the dissertation there is a focus on how
these factors have a bearing on specific ethnographic "encounters" or communicative settings
where diverse actors negotiate over how to manage nature and direct processes of social
change. These include an examination of how powerful imagery of the "destructive" peasant
has both produced and validated specific kinds of solutions for Monteverde environmental
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activism, especially the creation of forest preserves; debates over who and what constitutes a
"community-run" rain forest preserve; how the priorities and interests of non-governmental
organizations can eclipse the multiplex concerns of its members, not only in spite of, but
because of, the diversity of meanings surrounding "participation" in sustainable development
processes; and how the production and consumption of ecotourism are organized around
spectacles and competing ways of knowing and interacting with tropical nature.
Analytical framework for conservation and development, with special application to
Belize and Costa Rica [Sistema analítico para la conservación y el desarrollo, con aplicación
especial a Belice y Costa Rica] / Humphrey, B.S. Stanford, CA: Stanford University, 1999. 387
p. ISBN: 0-599-45339-7. Dissertation, Ph.D., Stanford University, Graduate School, Stanford,
CA (USA). This dissertation examines a category of Integrated Conservation and Development
Project (ICDP), in which community-based ecotourism represents the primary modality for
including local people in protected area management and operations. Case studies are drawn
from the countries of Belize and Costa Rica, because of the proactive, progressive stance that
both countries have taken towards setting aside protected areas, in conjunction with the fact
that ecotourism is an integral part of both of their economies. The central question under
investigation is how to assess what seems to work and what doesn't, so that (1) - current
ecotourism ICDPs can be made to function more effectively, and (2) - future ICDPs can be
maximally implemented. In an effort to better address this, an analytical framework is offered
that can be applied to ICDP case study data, no matter how incomplete or anecdotal it might
be. This consists of a comprehensive list of analytical criteria that form the basis for a costbenefit analysis, the output of which is a single numerical value'the Socio-Environmental
Benefit Index (or SEBI) value. Two Belizean case studies, Manatee Special Development Area
and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, are analyzed in depth, both to demonstrate the SEBI
procedure and to offer a standardized case study format. Ten additional ICDPs from both
countries are also used to (1) - develop a model of ecotourism ICDP operation, and (2) delineate the relationship between ICDP benefit, on the one hand, and ICDP system metastability, on the other. This investigation concludes that for ICDPs emphasizing more
conventional forms of ecotourism, those that appear to be the most meta-stable over time
feature moderate attractiveness, a favorable community profile, and a philosophy of local
inclusion, as exemplified by Cockscomb Basin. For ICDPs that have ecotourism as an ancillary
emphasis'e.g., biosphere reserves and other large areas that focus on cultural and biological
maintenance'those that appear to be the most metastable have the fewest competing
elements, as exemplified by the Cordillera Volcánica Central Biosphere Reserve in Costa Rica,
and Río Bravo Conservation and Management Area in Belize.
Análisis técnico y financiero para la creación de un Jardín Botánico en Upala de
Alajuela / Carrera-Carvajal, T. San José: Universidad de Costa Rica, 1996. 160 p. Proyecto de
Graduación, Licenciatura en Ingeniería Agronómica con énfasis en Economía Agrícola,
Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Economía Agrícola, San José (Costa Rica). El proyecto
Jardín Botánico de Upala, nace como respuesta a las inquietudes compartidas entre los
funcionarios de la Oficina de Manejo Ambiental y pobladores de la comunidad de Upala por
fomentar la educación ambiental. El Jardín fue concebido como un centro para la educación
ambiental, el esparcimiento, la investigación básica, la conservación de especies y el rescate
de valores autóctonos de la región. Su filosofía es trabajar con productos orgánicos. El
objetivo principal del proyecto es la educación ambiental, se espera con éste generar un efecto
positivo sobre el ambiente en general, al concientizar a los visitantes sobre la importancia de
la conservación de los recursos naturales, base fundamental del futuro desarrollo de la zona.
El Jardín será llevado a cabo por la Fundación Internacional para la Restauración, Educación y
Manejo Ambiental (FIREMA). Contará con los recursos técnicos, humanos y de infraestructura
de la fundación, así como de las habilidades de su personal en la búsqueda de donaciones. Se
dispone del apoyo de MIDEPLAN, el cual va a donar los recursos para la compra del terreno
(C15.OOO.OOO), así como de instituciones internacionales que abogan por la conservación del
ambiente. En sus inicios la Agencia Internacional para el Desarrollo (AID) donó C 3.OOO.OOO
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los cuales fueron invertidos en gastos preoperativos. En el aspecto legal se determinó que no
existe ningún tipo de impedimento para que el jardín sea llevado a cabo. Este estará exento
del pago de impuestos por ser un proyecto de índole social, ambiental y sin fines de lucro. En
el estudio de mercado se determinó, que los aspectos agroecológicos de la zona favorecen la
implementación del Jardín y con éste el potencial ecoturístico del lugar. Con el circuito
ecoturístico Caúas, Bijagua, Upala y Caño Negro, se espera que la demanda por sitios
ecoturísticos en la zona se incremente, favoreciendo así el proyecto. Los principales usuarios
del jardín, serán los habitantes locales, estudiantes, investigadores y ecoturistas. El
diagnóstico social reveló la necesidad de fomentar la protección de los recursos naturales del
cantón. El Jardín a través de sus actividades proveerá a la comunidad de una herramienta
adicional para mejorar la educación ambiental. En el análisis FODA se determinaron
condiciones satisfactorias para la creación del jardín, sobresalen dos aspectos, el interés que
tiene la comunidad por su establecimiento y el hecho de que las oportunidades y fortalezas
que el proyecto tiene superan a las debilidades y amenazas descritas. Los costos establecidos
para la instalación del Jardín son muy elevados (C 183.020.164), considerando que el
proyecto será llevado a cabo con donaciones y tomando en cuenta que será ejecutado en tres
etapas, se realizó el estudio financiero para la primer etapa (C 1O8.895.710). Para llevar a
cabo el proyecto se recomienda trabajar arduamente en una campaña promocional efectiva,
ya que los ingresos operativos del Jardín dependen en gran medida de su demanda. También
se recomienda contar con un equipo gerencial ágil y agresivo en la búsqueda de donaciones y
un equipo administrativo eficiente en el uso de los recursos. Desde el punto de vista
financiero, a pesar de que el proyecto muestra indicadores financieros positivos, su
rentabilidad es muy sensible al depender de donaciones, por lo tanto se recomienda su
implementación sólo si de antemano se tiene asegurado el capital base y las donaciones
requeridas para su operación. Debido a la incertidumbre que se genera en la obtención de
donaciones se incrementa el riesgo del proyecto al mostrar éste escasa rentabilidad si no se
dispone de dicho rubro. El Jardín Botánico de Upala es factible de llevar a cabo, dado que él
permitirá contribuir con el desarrollo económico, social y ambiental de uno de los cantones
más pobres del país.
Estado de conservación, ecología y conocimiento popular del manatí (Trichecus
manatus L.) en Costa Rica / Jiménez-Pérez, I. (Universidad Nacional. Programa Regional en
Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Apdo. 1350-3000, Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <Email: [email protected]>). In: Vida Silvestre Neotropical (ISSN 0889-3284), v. 8, no.
1/2, p. 18-30. 1999. The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus L.) is considered
endangered in Costa Rica and its conservation status there was previously little-known. The
objectives of this study were: a) to determine present and historical distribution of manatees
in Costa Rica, b) to identify high-use areas for the species, c) to compile local knowledge
about manatees, d) to compile information on ecological behaviour of manatees in the area,
and e) to identify and assess the impact of possible threats to the manatee population. To do
so I carried out interviews, silent stalks of manatees and feeding-sign surveys. The species is
more common than previously assessed, being found in two distinct subpopulations. The
watercourses of northeastern Costa Rica harbor the largest numbers of manatees with the
most extensive suitable habitat, while a few individuals are found in southeaster Costa Rica
near the Panama border. The present range coincides mostly with the reported range for the
species during the mid-1900's. Local manatees feed as generalists and are most active at
dawn, twilight and night and with the rising tide. Hunting of manatees has decreased during
recent years although it still continues, while illegal gill-net use is increasing. Though boat
traffic has increased sharply in the las 10 years, it doesn't seem to be a main cause of
mortality. Deforestation, pesticide use, river basin alteration, and mining activities occur
upstream from wetlands used by manatees and could threaten their survival. Although the
conservation status of manatees in Costa Rica is better than previously assessed, it is in a
delicate balance and measures should be taken to secure their long-term survival.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: V. NBINA-1737.
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Spectacular quetzals, ecotourism and environmental futures in Monteverde, Costa
Rica / Vivanco, L.A. (University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0082, US). In: Ethnology
(ISSN 0014-1828), v. 40, no. 2, p. 79-92. 2001. Monteverde, Costa Rica, has recently become
a popular tourist destination among North American, European and Costa Rican ecotourists
desiring to experience rain and cloud forests. The resplendent quetzal, a migratory bird with
colourful plumage and mythical connotations, figures as a central icon and spectacle in
Monteverde's cultural economy of tourism. The practices of producing and consuming images
of quetzals are embedded in and reflect contested interpretations of forest landscapes,
authentic experiences, and environmental histories and futures. As spectacles around which
touristic experiences are often organized, quetzals are invested with nostalgia and hopes for
the future. The various social contexts in which quetzals are produced, viewed and explained
are explored to examine some of the processes by which transnational and local discursive
and capitalistic formations, increasingly organized under the banner of ecotourism, claim the
authority to fix the meanings, histories, and futures of Monteverde landscapes and nature
more generally.
Joint implementation in Costa Rica: a case study at the community level [Realización
conjunta en Costa Rica: un estudio de caso a nivel comunitario] / Segura-Bonilla, O.;
Lindegaard, K. (Universidad Nacional. Centro Internacional en Política Económica para el
Desarrollo Sostenible (CINPE), Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Journal of
Sustainable Forestry (ISSN 1054-9811), v. 12, no. 1/2, p. 61-78. 2001. The policy of joint
implementation (JI) is emerging as a new strategy for implementing global environmental
aims, especially with regard to regulating the climate change process, where emission source
and sink countries agree to develop a joint programme on a mixed argument of partnership
and cost effectiveness. Pros and cons have emerged during the development of this system.
Costa Rica is the first country, together with Norway, to launch such a programme jointly, and
Costa Rica is also the first country developing Carbon Tradable Offset bonds to be sold on the
world market as a new commodity. The JI projects should be viewed from many angles and
considered with respect to the issues of cost effectiveness, environmental effects, equity,
linkage dynamics and the learning effects of the specific projects. A project in the community
of Junquillal de Santa Cruz in northern Costa Rica is described to explore such questions and
effects. Forestry projects are considered an especially complicated issue, in that the forest
provides a whole range of services and products and, accordingly involves a wide range of
actors and stakeholders. A JI programme in itself is not going to solve the problems at the
community level. However, if accompanied by public and private initiatives, it definitely can
generate an important change.
Ecotourism and its potential impact on the Costa Rican rainforest canopy [Ecoturismo
y su impacto potencial sobre el dosel del bosque lluvioso] / Perry, D.H. (Tropical Treetop
Exploration, Branchport, NY 14418, US). Forest canopies: ecology, biodiversity and
conservation, Sarasota, FL USNov. 9-13, 1994. In: Selbyana (ISSN 0361-185X), v. 15, no. 2,
p. A19. 1994. The Rainforest Aerial Tram is a synergistic relationship between research,
education and tourism. The enterpiece of this facility is a 1.3 kilometer-long lift system.
Twenty cars carrying up to six people each will ride the 2.6 kilometer cable loop traveling low
through the forest on the outbound leg and through the canopy on the return. The project
owns 420 ha of private nature preserve that shares a 3.5 km border with Braulio Carrillo
National Park. The site is fifty minutes by car from San José, the capital of Costa Rica. The
transect begins in secondary forest that quickly turns into rich mid-elevation rainforest (400500 m elevation). Subjective estimates suggest the site possesses one of the richest canopy
communities in Costa Rica. We are establishing a research center that will focus on canopy
biology with an emphasis on nocturnal and diurnal studies, designed to include visitor
participation. Our objective is to promote both local and internationall appreciation for the
beauty and complexity of the tropical forest ecosystem. Since the canopy needs large trees for
its full expression, education will be aimed at forest preservation. It will stress the growing
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danger that many projects promote logging under the guise of "sustainable development"; a
practice that threatens to destroy the most complex communities of life on our planet.
Localización: Biblioteca Luis D. Tinoco: 581S.
Importancia del ordenamiento territorial / Janzen, D.H.; Espinoza-Espinoza, L, (ed.).;
Wo-Ching-Sancho, E, (ed.).; Umaña-Fonseca, L, (ed.). (University of Pennsylvania.
Department of Biology, Philadelphia, PA 19104, US <E-mail: [email protected]>).
Simposio sobre Ordenamiento Territorial Integral (Urbano y Rural). Memoria, San José CR29
Jul. 1992. San José: Centro de Derecho Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales, 1992. p. 2731. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca Venezuela (IICA): INVES-ET E11 E77.
Costa Rican industry: characteristics, history, and potential for sustainability [La
industria costarricense: características, historia y potencial para la sustentabilidad] / Kroeger,
T. (State University of New York. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Graduate
Program in Environmental Science, Syracuse, N.Y. 13210, US). In: Quantifying sustainable
development: the future of tropical economies. Hall, C.A.S.; León-Pérez, C.; Leclerc, G. (eds.)
San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 2000. p. 629-645. ISBN: 0-12-318860-1. Introduction: This
chapter examines the industrial component of the Costa Rican economy in three sections. The
first quantitatively and qualitatively reviews historical aspects and trends, including the impact
of internally and externally derived policies. The second examines several emerging industries,
including tourism, textiles, and computers. The third examines Costa Rican industry from the
perspective of economic and biophysical sustainability. Although we are aware that the term
"industry" is frequently used to include the agricultural sector of an economy, in the analysis
in this chapter we refer to industry in a narrow definition of the term. In doing so, we use it to
denote fossil-fuel-, biomass-, or hydroelectric-energy-powered factory-based production
processes. Additionally, we do include tourism as an industry. Agriculture is covered
separately in Chapters 4, 5, and 12.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 338.92797286 Q1.
The role of local development in protected area management: A comparative case
study of eco-tourism in Costa Rica [Papel del desarrollo local en el manejo de áreas
protegidas: Estudio de caso comparativo del ecoturismo en Costa Rica] / Stem, C.J.
(Foundations of Success. Program Associate, 17 Avery Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 1286, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University, 2001. 482 p. ISBN: 0-49331822-4. Dissertation, Ph.D., Cornell University, Graduate School, Ithaca, N.Y. (USA). The
past two decades have seen a proliferation of integrated conservation and development
projects (ICDPs), a response to theories that conservation generally will not happen until local
welfare needs are satisfied. The research presented here explores the means through which
ICDPs contribute to or detract from conservation by comparing eco-tourism enterprises near
Costa Rica's Corcovado and Piedras Blancas National Parks. It draws upon data from three
communities to ascertain how local involvement and the distribution of benefits and costs
influence conservation outcomes. The study uses a mixed methods approach, drawing upon
rich personal histories documented through open-ended interviews, as well as household level
survey data. Analyses include thematic groupings of participants' quotes, multiple linear
regression, and chi-square tests to determine associations between potential predictor
variables and conservation perspectives and practices. Ecotourism's effectiveness as a
conservation and development strategy for the study sites is mixed. Where ecotourism has
offered a viable economic alternative, tourism opportunities and employment do seem to have
induced people to abandon agricultural and pastoral land, allowing secondary forest to
regenerate. Nevertheless, ecotourism appears to have had minimal influence on conservation
values and attitudes. Other factors, including legal restrictions, education levels, and indirect
ecotourism benefits appear to also influence conservation behaviors and perspectives. In
general, scale is a major factor determining the success of ecotourism, as well as the extent of
its negative impact. Not surprisingly, smaller scale operations cannot offer the economic
opportunities to make ecotourism a viable alternative to forest dependence. Where tourism
dominates the economy, benefits are more widespread, but these are accompanied by more
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extensive impacts. In addition to these issues, the lodges participating in this study generally
fell short of fulfilling social objectives. Employee training and capacity building is extremely
deficient, and the research reveals little evidence of awareness-raising for employees.
Furthermore, the lodges generally only provide cultural information or visits to village centers
when tourists specifically request to learn more about the people living in the communities
they are visiting. Thus, many opportunities exist for hotel owners and managers to improve
ecotourism operations and enhance benefits for the local communities.
Essays on recreation demand / Sáenz, M. Los Angeles, CA: University of California, 2001.
173 p. ISBN: 0-493-07549-6. Dissertation, Ph.D., University of California, Graduate School,
Los Angeles, CA (USA). This dissertation extends discrete-choice models to allow for the
choice of multiple goods and the choice of quantities of each good as joint decisions.
Traditional models of discrete choice assume that the quantity purchased of each good is
constant across individuals in a population. They also assume that an individual buys only one
of the goods offered. We relax both of these assumptions. In an application to demand for
recreational sites in Costa Rica, we model the choice of sites to visit as well as the length of
stay. In Chapter 1, we focus on Costa Ricans. This population typically visits a single site per
trip. Using a fully discrete model, we define the alternatives in the choice set so that each
alternative represents a site to visit and a length of stay. In chapters 2 and 3 we focus on
foreigners and allow for multiple sites to be visited during a single trip. We estimate a discrete
choice model in which each alternative in the individual's choice set is a set of sites to visit for
a particular length of time. By using a stated preference database, we are able to deal with the
huge universal choice set that results from defining each alternative in the way described.
Chapter 3 sheds light on the way in which the No Purchase option should be interpreted in
stated preference datasets. We find that utility from visiting a site depends on length of stay
and that the marginal utility of time and marginal consumer surplus schedules vary
significantly across site types. The implication is that on-site-time costs as well as individual
time constraints, can affect an individual's choice of site to visit and should therefore be
included in site choice models. We also find that beaches and forests enhance each other's
value when visited over the same trip, and so do rivers and volcanoes. The model also
predicts a high WTP for site variety over a single trip. Finally, the demand for beaches
presents the highest (positive) elasticity with respect to changes in lodging prices at forests
and vice versa. Similarly, the demand for volcanoes is the most elastic with respect to lodging
prices at rivers and vice versa. We show that the model has a better fit if one allows the
“No Purchase” option to be interpreted as the possibility of taking trips different
from those presented in the survey. WTP estimates for the set of trips offered in the survey
are higher under this proposed interpretation than under the traditional one. However,
different types of sites are closer substitutes for each other and the WTP for each site type is
lower under this new interpretation.
Pura vida: topside diversions in Costa Rica / Westmoreland, S. In: Skin Diver (ISSN
0037-6345), v. 51, no. 3, p. 20. 2002. It was difficult to imagine a land exploration of Costa
Rica that could compare with the excitement generated by visiting Cocos Island. But, with a
couple extra days to explore, we thought we'd check out life in this famous eco-wonderland.
"Pura vida" (pure life), a popular saying in Costa Rica about its natural treasures, was not the
phrase that sprang to mind as our jeep rumbled along the bumpy dirt roads, skirting potholes
that could swallow us whole. Our destination was a tiny place on the tip of the Nicoya
Peninsula called Malpaís. After easing into things with beach and nature walks in the nearby
Cabo Blanco Preserve and gorgeous sunsets viewed at Sunset Reef Hotel, it was time to head
for the mountains. The small roads leading to Monteverde were equally demanding. Our base
camp was the Ecolodge San Luis on the perimeter of the cloud forest. Student volunteers from
the U.S. and Canada were our guides. Monteverde is one of the natural wonders of the world.
Its tree canopy is shrouded in a perpetual mist that keeps the forest an emerald green, and
harbors an incredibly diverse animal and bird population. Our plan was to traverse the canopy
over bridges and cable. Sky Trek is a system of cable lines attached from one platform to
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another that allows you to glide through the forest on a pulley and harness. The speed and
height of each segment increases with each location, the highest being 416 feet over a
canyon. The first step off the platform is a bit intimidating, but be the third, we wanted longer
and faster locations. Gliding through and over the trees and punching through clouds gave us
the same birds-eve view as the resident toucans. The path leading from the verdant cloud
forest would take us home the next day. Listening to the cicadas, the smell of moist hardwood
trees, the soft ethereal mist that enveloped us brought only one thought to mind - Pura vida.
Fire and rain / Dappen, A. In: Backpacker (ISSN 0277-867X), v. 30, no. 1, p. 60. 2002.
Deep in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, one will learn to dodge fireballs and poisonous frogs
while tracing a circuit around a living volcano. A trip around the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica is
discussed.
Sky Walk-Sky Trek: A successful community project in the mountains of Monteverde,
Costa Rica / Báez, A.L. (Turismo & Conservación Consultores (T&CC), P.O. Box 1186-1100
CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Mountain Research and Development (ISSN 02764741), v. 22, no. 2, p 128-131. 2002. The Sky Walk-Sky Trek project is located in Monteverde
at approximately 1700 m above sea level in the Tilarán Mountains of northern Costa Rica. It
has been cited as an example of a totally rural tourism initiative, and its quality has been
praised norldwide. The Sky Walk offers visitor - including the disabled- an opportunity to
experience different levels of biodiversity in the cloud forest on a series of suspended bridges
connected by trails. The Sky Trek is a more adventurous experience, consisting of a series of
cables (for sliding across canyons) and trails. Besides having an educational component, the
project has made a positive, well-recognized contribution to forest regeneration on abandoned
pastureland. Moreover, it illustrates the problems and challenges of community participation in
tourism microenterprises. Size is not necessarily a criterion for success in tourism projects: a
small-scale tourism project must be creative and responsible and must show familiarity with
its product and its customer base.
Caracterización del turista y su relación con la fauna en los humedales de la cuenca
baja y media del río Tempisque, Costa Rica / Menacho-Odio, R.M. (<E-mail:
[email protected]> ). Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 2001. 100 p. Thesis, Mag. Sc. en
Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional, Programa Regional en Manejo
de Vida Silvestre para Mesoamérica y El Caribe, Heredia (Costa Rica). Con el objetivo de dar
recomendaciones para el manejo de un turismo orientado a la conservación de la fauna de los
humedales de la cuenca media y baja del río Tempisque se caracterizó a los visitantes de esta
zona. Se estudió la composición, motivaciones, preferencias por animales silvestres y
percepción de los visitantes ante diferentes distancias de acercamiento del bote a una colonia
de anidación de aves acuáticas. Se caracterizó la visitación a Isla Pájaros, una importante
colonia de aves acuáticas localizada en el río Tempisque. Finalmente, se estudió el efecto de
factores como velocidad, dirección del bote y cobertura vegetal en el comportamiento de
algunas aves acuáticas, iguanas (Iguana iguana) y cocodrilos (Crocodylus acutus). Se
identificaron seis motivaciones entre los visitantes: Aprendizaje-disfrute de la vida silvestre,
afiliativa, conservacionista, aprendizaje de la cultura costarricense, fotografía de animales
silvestres y búsqueda de tranquilidad. La motivación de aprendizaje-disfrute de la vida
silvestre obtuvo un mayor puntaje por parte de los visitantes, mientras que la motivación de
fotografía de animales silvestre obtuvo el menor puntaje. Entre los animales comunes y
preferidos por los visitantes se encuentran el cocodrilo (Crocodylus acutus), los monos congo
(Alouatta palliata), monos carablanca (Cebus capucinus) y la espátula rosada (Ajaia ajaja). Se
encontró que la satisfacción del visitante en la observación de las aves anidando aumentó al
acercarse a la Isla Pájaros. Aún cuando un 42% de los visitantes señaló que el acercamiento
del bote a la isla podría perjudicar algo o mucho a las aves anidando, no se encontraron
diferencias en la percepción del daño de acuerdo a distintos rangos de distancia a la que el
bote se acercó a la isla. Se encontró que la frecuencia de viajes en bote a Isla Pájaros durante
129
el período de estudio fue de dos viajes diarios. La duración promedio de la visita alrededor de
la isla fue de 23 min., lo que corresponde a un 19% del tiempo de visita total por el río. Se
encontraron diferencias entre las distancias que mantuvieron los botes de la isla en marea alta
y en marea baja. Existen varias razones por loas que podría ser importante regular la
actividad turística para que el bote mantenga una mayor distancia de la isla. Estas razones
son: 1) se observó que durante el período de estudio y cuando la marea lo permitía, los botes
se mantuvieron cerca de un 65% del tiempo de visita a distancias menores a 15 m de la isla y
el 94% del tiempo de visita a distancias menores a 50 m de la isla, 2) la mayoría de las visitas
se realizaron en horas de alta temperatura ambiental, 3) la espátula rosada resultó muy
atractiva para los visitantes y a menudo se tendió a buscar los nidos de estas aves y a acercar
el bote a ellas, 4) las garzas blancas y patos aguja parecieron particularmente sensibles a la
cercanía de los botes y 5) en la isla existen depredadores de huevos, como el zanate
(Quiscalus mexicanus). Se determinó que ante un movimiento rápido y directo del bote hacia
los animales, éstos reaccionaron con mayores distancias de espante y huyeron en mayor
proporción que ante un movimiento lento y tangencial del bote. Se dan recomendaciones para
el manejo de la actividad turística en los humedales del río Tempisque.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: Tesis 430. Biblioteca del BIODOC: Tesis 2094.
Relationship between boat traffic and manatee (Trichechus manatus) abundance in
northeastern Costa Rica [Relaciones entre el tráfico de embarcaciones a motor y la
abundancia de manatíes (Trichechus manatus) en el noreste de Costa Rica] / Jimenéz-Pérez,
I. (Universidad Nacional. Programa Regional en Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Apdo. 1350-3000,
Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In:
Sirenews (ISSN 1017-3439), no. 28, p. 11. 1997. Local people in northeastern Costa Rica tell
that manatees started to become scarce in the region because of an increment in boat traffic
due to the tourism industry. Effects of motorboats on the manatee population could be due to
: 1) collisions that kill or injure the animals, 2) displacement from traditional feeding areas, 3)
changes in behaviour. I tested these three effects in my study. I assessed manatee relative
abundance through interviews with key informants (n 20) and other inhabitants (n 100),
feeding signs and direct manatee sightings. Relative traffic was estimated through interviews
and vessel counting. I compiled cases of manatees killed by motorboat collisions in the region.
Relationship between boat traffic and manatee abundance was tested through independent
tests of 62 watercourses without finding a significant relationship between both factors.
Manatees are still present in those areas where they used to be common and they even
frequent high traffic areas. I found only two trustworthy cases of manatees' deaths due to
collisions with motorboats in the last 15 years. Boat traffic increment doesn't seem to be
displacing manatees from their feeding areas, but could be increasing their shyness to people
and forcing them to develop nocturnal habits.
Ecotourism and interpretation in Costa Rica: parallels and peregrinations [Ecoturismo
e interpretación en Costa Rica: paralelismos y peregrinaciones] / Williams, W.E. (Appalachian
State University. Recreation Management, Department of Health, Leisure & Exercise Sciences,
Boone, NC 28608, US). In: Legacy (Fort Collins) (ISSN 1052-3774), v. 5, no. 4, p. 14-16.
1994. (No abstract).
Birding out of Africa: Costa Rica [Observando aves fuera de Africa: Costa Rica] / Graham,
J. In: African Birds & Birding (ISSN 1017-1533), v. 4, no. 6, p. 67-69. 2000. Birding
opportunities in Costa Rica are discussed.
Bird of bright desire [Ave de deseo reluciente] / Bergman, C. In: Wildlife Conservation
(ISSN 1048-4949), v. 102, no. 5, p. 42-49. 1999. Life history information is presented on the
resplendent quetzal. The author also discusses habitat alterations that are affecting this
species' habitat and its survival in Costa Rica.
130
Pura vida: activism, education and environmentalism in Quepos / Zichelle, K.E. (The
University of Iowa. Department of Zoology, Iowa City, IA 52242, US). In: Tourism and its
consequences. Case studies from Quepos-Manuel Antonio. Costa Rica. Volume 1 , 1996. p.
113-128. Introduction: ¡Pura Vida! This appealing greeting, the pure life, is ubiquitous in
Quepos. When displayed on tee-shirts it alludes to the pure life environmentalists so value,
suggesting this same value has permeated the Costa Rican national identity.Though seeds of
environmentalism are present in the landscape of Costa Rican culture and discourses, they
have not established strong roots. Though Pura Vida seems to be an optimistic slogan
overriding the difficulties of life, sometimes denoting excitement, other times tranquility. It
more accurately characterizes the passivity that seems to predominate local attitudes with
regard to many things including the environment. Recognized for the extraordinary
biodiversity that exists with in such a small area, Costa Rica holds great potential for the
development and discovery of floral and faunal resources for industries such as biotechnology,
agriculture and medicine. Further, the preservation of ecosystems such as the rainforests will
hopefully help to stabilize the changes that have altered hydrologic and climatic systems
globally. Costa Rica has garnered world respect and acclaim for its innovative sustainable
development projects, for its establishment of a national park system, and for a political arena
which favors conservation and reforestation. Costa Rica seems uniquely positioned to
implement a development plan that in the long run will have direct financial benefits for Costa
Ricans and indirect benefits for all societies of global health. I became curious about the state
of environmental consciousness in Costa Rica when I encountered the paradox between the
image described above and Costa Rica's simultaneous promotion of an international tourist
industry and increased banana production by foreign owned companies. The marketing
strategies of tourism and official rhetoric of government representatives including the
President and the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) exploit the notions of biodiversity,
ecotourism and conservation to attract international tourists. However tourism has many
negative impacts on the environment. Increased volumes of people can damage the
environment in many ways: by enclosing land and destroying forests for construction, by
creating new sources of waste andpollution, and by requiring infrastructure such as
communities of resident workers, roads, importation of foods and goods. There are positive
aspects also, tourism can stimulate economic diversity and success for the hosts. It can
provide jobs, encourageadvanced education for those jobs, and broaden peoples awareness of
outside values. A concept that bridges these apparent contradictions is green tourism. Green
tourism is an ideal designed to maximize the benefits and minimize the disadvantages of
tourism. It does so by keeping tourism sustainable through carefully planning and managing
tourism, though limiting the volumes of people and the types of services provided.
Unfortunately it is an ideal that is seldom attained. What is the degree and type of
environmentalism that exists in Costa Rica? From that source does this environmental
awareness come? Do the native Americans in Costa Rica call for it as a revitalization of
traditional ways of life like they do in the rainforest of Brazil? Is it introduced through the
influence of first world countries, if so is there a type of neocolonial aspect to it? Does tourism,
which targets foreign environmentalists as its market, therefore need to demonstrate those
ethics in order to satisfy visitors. Does it promote an environmental ethic?
Ecotourism in Costa Rica: A conceptual framework [Ecoturismo en Costa Rica: un marco
conceptual] / Fennell, D.A.; Eagles, P.F.J. (Brook University. Department of Recreation and
Leisure
Studies,
St
Catharines,
Ontario
L2
3A1,
CA
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Journal of Park and Recreation Administration (ISSN
0735-1968), v. 8, no. 1, p. 23-34. 1990. Ecotourism, or nature-oriented travel, is a rapidly
growing phenomenon. Developing countries can realize many economic and environmental
benefits through a combination of ecotourism, parks management and community
development. Ecotourism can play a significant role, providing community benefits that in turn
provide incentives for nature conservation. This paper presents a conceptual framework for
the understanding of ecotourism. The framework describes the interrelationships among
natural resources,ther service industry, and the tourists. The framework has been applied to
131
Costa Rica, a small Central American country with a dynamic and growing ecotourism
industry.
The use of choice experiments in the analysis of tourist preferences for ecotourism
development in Costa Rica [Aplicación del método de experimentos de selección para
analizar las preferencias de los turistas acerca del desarrollo del ecoturismo en Costa Rica] /
Hearne, R.R.; Salinas, Z.M. (North Dakota State University. Department of Agribusiness &
Applied Economics, POB 5636, Fargo, ND 58105 US <E-mail: [email protected]> <Email: [email protected]>). In: Journal of Environmental Management (ISSN 03014797), v. 65, no. 2, p. 153-163. 2002. Many nations promote nature-based tourism in order
to promote the dual goals of nature conservation and income generation. To be most effective
in providing services that facilitate achievement of these goals, decision makers will need to
understand and incorporate tourist preferences for nature appreciation, infrastructure, use
restrictions, and other attributes of national parks and protected areas. This paper presents
the use of choice experiments as a mechanism to analyze preferences of nationaland
international tourists in relation to the development of Barva Volcano Area in Costa Rica. In
this section of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, managers are faced with an immediate need
to plan for greatly increased visitation rates due to a new road, which will greatly improve
access. Choice sets were developed in collaboration with park managers. A survey was
conducted of 171 Costa Rican and 271 foreign tourists who visited Poás Volcano, a well-visited
alternative site to Barva Volcano. Survey data was analyzed using conditional multinomial logit
models. Results of the study demonstrate, that both sets of tourists preferred: (i) improved
infrastructure; (ii) aerial trams with observation towers and picnic areas; (iii) more
information; and (iv)low entrance fees. Foreign tourists demonstrated strong preferences for
the inclusion of restrictions in the access to some trails, whereas Costa Ricans did not show
any significant preference for restrictions. Marginal willingness-to-pay for greater information
was estimated to be $1.54 for foreign tourists and $1.01 for Costa Rican visitors. The study
concludes that choice experiments are a useful tool in the analyses of tourist preferences for
the development of protected areas in developing countries.
Beobachtungen im Iguana Park bei Orotina, Costa Rica [Observations in the Iguana Park
at Orotina, Costa Rica] / Fenske, R. (Aakerfaehrstr. 112, D-47058 Duisburg, DE). In: Sauria
(ISSN 0176-9391), v. 21, no. 1, p. 39-42. 1999. The author describes a visit to the Iguana
Park at Orotina, Costa Rica. The iguanas in the park can be observed, photographed, and
touched. Tours are available at the park and to a neighboring private nature reserve. The goal
of the park officials isto breed sufficient numbers of iguanas to support local hunting for food,
the leather industry, and the pet trade. The park is more profitable than turning the forest into
livestock operations and is thus more environmentally sound. At this writing the park held
approximately 20,000 iguanas.
Guides in their own backyards [Guías en sus propios patios] / Jukofsky, D. (Rainforest
Alliance, Apdo. 138-2150, Moravia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Nature
Conservancy News (ISSN 0028-0852), v. 48, no. 4, p. 18-23. 1998. The author discusses the
training of native people in Costa Rica to work as tourist guides. Training of local guides
appears to be an investment with promising, long-term dividends for biodiversity
conservation.
Composición florística y estructural para el bosque primario del Hotel La Laguna del
Lagarto Lodge, Boca Tapada de Pital, San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica [Floristic and
structural composition for the forest of the Hotel La Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, Boca Tapada of
Pital, San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica] / Quirós-Brenes, K.G. Cartago: ITCR, 2002. 95 p.
Informe de Práctica, Bachillerato en Ingeniería Forestal, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica,
Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Cartago (Costa Rica). The floristic and structural composition
132
for the primary forest of the Hotel La Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, Boca Tapada of Pital, San
Carlos, Costa Rica, was analyzed. Eight permanent sampling parcels were established (2500
m2). Moderate overall height, diameter, position and crown shape of individuals greater than
10 cm diameter, were measured. A high heterogeneity of the forest was determinate, with
140 species within the permanent sampling parcels. Others species were not detected due to
method but were observed within the forest. Some are endangered and their extraction has
been banned by the Executive Decree N° 25 700 of January of 1997. They are Hymenolobium
mesoamericanum, Podocarpus guatemalensis, Sclerolobium costaricense and Platymiscium
pinnatum. There are not dominant species in any particular site. This characteristic make the
forest ideal for ecotourists activities development, combined to a regular topography that
allows the easy journeys to the tourists through the network of existingpathways. It is
important for this forest to maintain its present condition and that it can offer to the tourist
the possibility of enjoying the wealth of the rain tropical forests, preserving and protecting the
ecosystem that allows the perpetuation of the species that conform it.
Humedales de Mesoamérica - Sitios Ramsar de Centroamérica y México
[Mesoamerican wetlands - Ramsar sites in Central America and Mexico] / Lahmann-Zeledón,
E.J.; Córdoba-Muñoz, R.; Hernández, G, (ed.). (UICN/ORMA, PO Box 146-2150, Moravia, San
José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>).
San José: Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza, 1999. 38 p. Wetlands are beautiful places that
are important to the environment and economy of our countries. These are areas where water
accumulates, sometimes during just a certain part of the year. Water can be fresh, salt or a
mixture of both, and either static or flowing. Wetlands include coasts, coral reefs, lakes and
ponds, rivers, estuaries and mangroves, foodplains, swamps and flood forests. Wetlands take
an active role in the water cycle, as water is continually recycled and land and sea and in the
atmosphere as part of a process that ensures ecological functions. Wetlands consequently play
an essential role in providing and maintaining the quality of water, which is the basic
foundation of life on our planet.
Los manatíes del río San Juan y los Canales de Tortuguero / Jiménez-Pérez, I.
(Universidad Nacional. Programa Regional en Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Apdo. 1350-3000,
Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José:
Asociación Comunidades Ecologistas La Ceiba / Amigos de La Tierra, 2000. 120 p. ISBN:
9968-845-01-9. This book describes the ecology and conservation issues of the West Indian
manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the San Juan river and Tortuguero canals (Nicaragua-Costa
Rica). It also includes an introduction to the biology of the species. Manatees belong to the
order Sirenia, the only group of aquatic mammals adapted to an herbivorous diet. Because of
their aquatic life and diet, manatees possess a unique set of physiological and anatomic traits.
These animals have a very low reproductive rate due to their lack of natural predators, which
makes them very susceptible to overhunting. They are usually timid animals which inhabit
coastal fresh and salt waters and that feed as generalists on different plant species. The
distribution of Trichechus manatus is restricted to warm waters of Atlantic America. During
this century this distribution has been fragmented and their numbers have decreased, due
mostly to hunting pressure. This species has been hunted by indigenous people and
immigrants to the Americas for centuries, becoming an important piece of local folklore. The
study area of this book includes the basins of the San Juan and Indio rivers and Tortuguero
canals. This region harbors an extensive system of watercourses that make up excellent
habitat for the manatee. Besides sharing a common landscape, the coastal communities of the
area share a common sociocultural history. Manatees are found along most of the region in an
almost continuous fashion and their numbers are higher than previously thought. The species
became specially rare between the 60's and 80's although its numbers might be presently
increasing due to the existence of protected areas. Our knowledge of the local ecology of the
species is scarce, due to difficulties to observe these animals. Local manatees show a
crepuscular and nocturnal activity pattern, feed on emergent and floating vegetation and
prefer lagoons from other kind of watercourses. The main threats to the population are
133
hunting, use of gillnets, boat traffic, pollution and habitat loss. These threats will probably not
cause population extintion in the short term however make it vulnerable. The main positive
point for the species survival on the region is the existence of an excellent network of
protected areas on both sides of the border. Up to date some conservation actions have been
carried out, but many others should be implemented to assure the species permanence in the
region.
Localización: 599.55 J61m.
Impacts of birdwatching on human and avian communities [Impacto de los
observadores de aves en las comunidades humanas y avícolas] / Sekercioglu, C.H. (Stanford
University. Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford, CA
94305-5020, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Environmental Conservation (ISSN
0376-8929), v. 29, no. 3, p. 282-289. 2002. Ecotourism can be a vehicle for communitybased conservation if it is conducted with an emphasis on the well-being of local ecosystems
and human communities. Birdwatchers form the largest group of ecotourists, and are, on
average, well-educated, wealthy and committed. This makes them ideal ecotourists for
community-based conservation. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive review of
birdwatching from a conservation biology perspective. Specific objectives here are: (1) to
review the economicpotential of non-residential birdwatching for community-based
conservation; (2) to outline the potential benefits and problems associated with this activity;
and (3) to provide suggestions for improving the conservation value of birdwatching.
Birdwatching tourism has a high potential to improve the financial and environmental wellbeing of local communities, educate locals about the value of biodiversity and create local and
national incentives for successful protection and preservation of natural areas. However, there
needs to be more research on the economical and environmental impacts of this hobby,
birdwatching-related disturbance needs to be reduced, and much has to be done to increase
the financial contribution of birdwatching to local communities.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: S8416. LC. BINA-475.
Capacitación de naturalistas locales para fomentar al ecoturismo y conservación
rural: Informe técnico / Clark, D.B.; Paaby-Hansen, P. (Organization for Tropical Studies. La
Selva Biological Station, Apdo. 676, 2050 San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). San José: Organización para
Estudios Tropicales, 1990. 162 p. Two serious environmental problems of the tropical world
are deforestation and rural unemployment. To partially address these problems various
tropical countries have encouraged natural-history oriented tourism (ecotourism) as a
sustainable use of natural resources. However, many of the economic benefits of this
utilization do not remain in the rural areas involved. In response to the increased tourist
activity evident at the national and local levels, as well to the great pressures of
deforestationand unemployment in Costa Rica, we attempted to create a new and sustainable
use of tropical forests. We designed a course to train rural residents as naturalist guides. The
course was oriented primarily towards the segment of the population without professional
training. The principal objectives were: 1) to create an alternative source of income. 2) to
increase environmental consciousness to stimulate conservation and protection of these
ecosystems. The project was carried out in the canton of Sarapiqui. This area is located in the
Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. The region is dominated by banana cultivation, timber
extraction, and in addition has considerable areas of rural colonization settlements. There are
also large areas of protected forest inNational Parks, National Forests, and private reserves.
These protected areas are used by biological stations and tourist centers for ecotourism. The
course consisted of lectures in the classroom (40 hours) and guided field walks (103 hours).
These were distributed among 11 full day sessions (7 am - 5 pm) as well as one week-end
excursion. In this time the students were exposed to the principal groups of the forest (plants,
insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals), as well as terrestrial and aquatic ecology, field
research, and archeology. We also taught guiding and interpretation techniques. With the aid
of simple publicity techniques we advertised the course to rural communities along a 35 km
transect including 4 principal small towns and numerous settlements of the Instituto de
Desarrollo Agrario. The strong response on registration day (93 persons) demonstrated the
134
efficacy of these techniques. Twenty-six residents were chosen (18 men, 8 women). All of
them attended the course for the whole 12 weeks. Six months after the end of the course we
interviewed 22 of the students. Six had worked 10 times as local naturalists, 3 had worked 510 times, 11 1-5 times, and 2 had not worked at all. All the interviewees reported that they
wanted to continue studying natural history, and wished to remain involved with conservation
activities and ecotourism. The impact of the course was not limited to the students and their
families, but also extended to the organizations involved with ecotourism. The newhuman
resource will help to control the ecological impact of ecotourism, as well as to increase
environmental education activities The need of the naturalists to organize themselves led to
the formation of a cooperative (NATUCOOP). We hope that the coop will be the means to
maintain the naturalists united, to continue their education, to permit them to work, and to
carry out independent projects. From an educational point of view we consider the project a
success. We produced and compiled many teaching materials that can be used by other
courses. We recommend that in order to insure the incorporation of naturalists into the
commercial sector, that the commitment of a self-interested organization is critical. This
backing is necessary to assist the naturalists in continuing education, coop organization, and
obtaining work once the course if over. Throughout this report we describe details of results
we did not expect, as well as our recommendations and relevant experiences for future
projects. We also discuss the possibility of extending this project to the national level.
Forest genetic resources in Central America: the challenge of conservation [Recursos
genéticos forestales en Centroamérica: el desafío de la conservación] / Barrance, A.J. (ODI.
Portland House, Stag Place, London SW1E DP, GB). London: Overseas Development Institute,
1997. 10 p. (Rural Development Forestry Network; Paper 21f). Conclusions: The diversity of
stakeholders with interests in how the forests of Central America should be managed poses a
major challenge to conservationists. However, as the examples presented in this article have
shown, with a sufficiently innovative approach it is often possible to find commonalities of
interest and thereby to identify conservation strategies which minimise conflicts. Several
elements are of key importance if non-conflictive conservation strategies are to be identified.
A detailed and open-minded analysis of the precise interests of the different stakeholders is
essential. Recognition that the interests of small farmers may often lie in diverse, rather than
highly selected material, for instance, highlights the opportunity to combine seed production
with the conservation of genetic diversity. Dialogue and participation in the planning process
will help different stakeholders to acknowledge the validity of each others' interests and allow
them to contribute their suggestions as to how they may be reconciled. The fact that many
examples of 'conservation through use' are based upon traditional management systems
makes the participation of local people in the search for solutions especially important.
Creative thinking is requiredon the part of all those concerned; the search in the forest for
NTFPs or other opportunities for sustainable and non-conflictive management should be
mirrored by imaginative searches for areas of potential demand in the market place. Despite
the opportunities which exist for reconciling the interests of different stakeholders, some of
which are presented in this paper, there will always be occasions in which conflicts of interest
occur which cannot be reconciled. In such cases it is important to avoid the risk of 'falling
between two stools' by attempting compromise solutions to bridge the gap between
fundamentally irreconcilable stakeholders, which end up satisfying none of them. It is
therefore important at an early stage to take firm policy decisions as to who are to be the
primary intended beneficiaries of conservation or development programmes.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: NBINA-121inglés. NBINA-121español.
Contribución del desarrollo turístico sobre el empleo no agrícola en Costa Rica /
Acuña-Ortega, M.A.; Ruiz-Mejías, K. (Universidad Nacional. Centro Internacional en Política
Económica para el Desarrollo Sostenible, Heredia, CR). Heredia: Universidad Nacional / CINPE,
1999. 37 p. Introducción: La crisis de principios de los años ochenta, la estabilización, la
apertura y la reforma económica, pilares de la nueva estrategia de desarrollo que se ha estado
impulsando, son hoy parte de los procesos que han inducido cambios importantes en el mundo
rural costarricense y en particular en los mercados de trabajo. En medio de una lógica
135
transformadora del tipo "más Mercado y menos Estado" los cambios ocurridos en la dinámica
productiva destacan entre los más importantes. La política sectorial activa: de topes de
cartera, tasas de interés subsidiadas y precios de sustentación ha sido sustituida por la lógica
eficientista de los mercados libres y desregulados. La eficiencia, la rentabilidad y la
competitividad son hoy parte de una racionalidad económica de carácter envolvente y
devienen en las nuevas reglas de juego que gobiernan el mundo rural. Mientras, un mejor
posicionamiento en los mercados locales o regionales y/o la incursión y penetración en los
mercados externos es parte de los objetivos estratégicos. Dentro de la descomposición y
recomposición de los actores y productores rurales, que esos procesos han ocasionado, es una
tarea obligada hacer un balance de ganadores y perdedores. La reforma económica ha
favorecido la aparición de importantes polos de desarrollo regional, donde las actividades
agroindustriales y los servicios emergen con gran dinamismo, generando encadenamientos
que fortalecen los vínculos entre los urbano y lo rural. De ello se deriva que el concepto de lo
rural, más allá de lo agrícola, emana en este contexto como una categoría de análisis más
amplia y compleja (Arrieta y Acuña, 1999). En este contexto, el turismo y las nuevas
actividades agroexportadoras se combinan para generar las nuevas condiciones y procesos
que caracterizan a los mercados de bienes y servicios rurales. En consecuencia, el relativo
dinamismo que los mercados de trabajo rurales muestran en las regiones del país más
favorecidas por estos procesos, parece indicar que la importancia delturismo en el empleo
rural ha sido más importante en la calidad que en la cantidad de los empleos generados, en
virtud de estar menos afectado por factores de estacionalidad económica y ser ligeramente
más calificado que el empleo agrícola y en consecuencia mejor remunerado (INCAE, 1997).
Una caracterización de los mercados de trabajo rural de la Costa Rica de hoy, debe partir de
una adecuada comprensión de los procesos anteriormente mencionados y de los cambios que
estos han inducido en la dinámica de oferta y demanda de la fuerza de trabajo. En estas
circunstancias, el calificar y cuantificar la contribución directa e indirecta del turismo al empleo
rural debe ser un ejercicio articulado, al fortalecimiento y desarrollo simultáneo de otras
actividades agroindustriales promovidas, también, en medio de la apertura económica, como
parte de la estrategia de generación de una nueva oferta exportable en Costa Rica. Los
conceptos de empleo rural e ingreso rural no agrícola presentados a continuación y adoptados
en el presente estudio se tomaron de los términos de referencia elaborados por el señor Julio
Berdegué, del RIMISP. "Se entiende por Empleo Rural No Agrícola (ERNA) aquel desarrollado
en actividades independientes y/o asalariadas en comercio, otros servicios y manufacturas en
zonas rurales. El Empleo Agrícola es aquel desarrollado en actividades independientes y/o
asalariadas, dentro y/o fuera de las propias fincas, en la producción primaria agrícola,
ganadera y forestal. El empleo en el sector agroindustrial, es empleo no-agrícola. El empleo en
artesanías, comercio y pequeña manufactura, realizado por los campesinos en sus propias
fincas y hogares, es empleo no-agrícola. Los servicios de transporte o maquinaria prestados
por pequeños agricultores a otros agricultores, son actividades no-agrícolas. Es decir, es
importante considerar que puede haber ERNA fuertemente vinculado a la agricultura (por
ejemplo, transporte de productos agrícolas, o servicios de maquinaria agrícola), ERNA
vinculado a la agroindustria, y ERNA no vinculado directamente ni a la agricultura ni a la
agroindustria". Mientras "el Ingreso Rural No Agrícola (IRNA), es aquel derivado del empleo
rural no agrícola". En el caso particular de Costa Rica el sector agrícola, definidoen un sentido
amplio incluye: Agricultura, Silvicultura, Caza y Pesca. En virtud, de que el desarrollo turístico
de Costa Rica ha sido posible, gracias a la enorme atracción que produce su amplia y rica
biodiversidad - estimada en cerca de un 5% de toda biodiversidad mundial -, y en la media en
que esos recursos están localizados fundamentalmente en el medio rural, no cabe hacer una
diferenciación especifica de esta forma particular de turismo de otras formas de turismo no
rural, por ser poco útil en este contexto. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar y cuantificar la
contribución que el reciente desarrollo de la industria turística de Costa Rica ha tenido en
dinamizar los mercados de trabajo rurales, en particular interesa explorar el potencial
delturismo de generar empleo rural no agrícola, sobre todo en áreas rurales económica y
socialmente deprimidas. En términos más específicos el siguiente estudio busca: a. Dar cuenta
del desarrollo reciente del turismo y su impacto socioeconómico en el mediorural
costarricense. b. Describir y analizar los patrones y determinantes de la localización de la
inversión turística en el medio rural de Costa Rica. c. Describir y analizar los patrones y
136
determinantes de los efectos del turismo sobre el empleo rural.d. Describir y analizar los
patrones y determinantes de los efectos del turismo sobre el salario y el ingreso rural. La
principal limitación en materia de información que se enfrenta la investigación académica en
Costa Rica se deriva lamentablemente de no disponer un Censo reciente, el último data de
hace más de una década (1984). No obstante, la información socioeconómica y demográfica
utilizada en este estudio proviene de las Encuestas de Hogares de Propósitos Múltiples, éstas
proveen de información comparable y se aplican año tras año, durante el mes de julio. Por su
parte, la información económica general procede del Banco Central y la del sector turismo del
Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, ente rector del sector y fuentes secundarias provenientes
de estudios de caso. En general, el recaudo de información del sector turismo proveniente de
diferentes fuentes, resuelve tan sólo parcialmente la disponibilidad de información, sobre todo
cuando se busca un nivel más desagregado de la información.
The Canadian ecotourist in Costa Rica: ten years down the road [El ecoturista
canadiense en Costa Rica: diez años recorridos] / Fennell, D.A. (Brook University. Department
of Recreation and Leisure Studies, St Catharines, Ontario L2 3A1, CA). In: International
Journal of Sustainable Development (ISSN 0960-1406), v. 5, no. 3, p. 282-295. 2002. This
paper replicates a study by Fennell (1990) which found that a sample of ecotourists to Costa
Rica was statistically different from the average Canadian tourist along a number of attraction
and benefit dimensions. This 1990 study is compared against a sample of Canadian ecotourists
who recently travelled to Costa Rica. The purpose of the comparison was to examine if or how
ecotourists have changed in their choice of attractions and the types of benefit sought, over
the course of a decade. In general, very few differences were found between the 2 groups
regarding the importance of attractions and benefits. Differences were found in the average
age of respondents, the male female ratio and, not surprisingly, the average price of a trip to
Costa Rica. Implications are discussed in relation to hard and soft path ecotourism, with the
former considered as essential for the integrity of the industry.
Conservation narratives and the 'received wisdom' of ecotourism: case studies from
Costa Rica [Narraciones sobre conservación y la 'sabiduría recibida' del ecoturismo: estudio
de casos de Costa Rica] / Campbell, L.M. (University of Western Ontario. Department of
Geography, London, Ontario N6A 5C2, CA <E-mail: [email protected]>). In:
International Journal of Sustainable Development (ISSN 0960-1406), v. 5, no. 3, p. 300-325.
2002. This paper addresses the promotion of ecotourism by a specific group of wildlife
conservation 'experts', and the implementation of ecotourism as a conservation strategy at 3
case study sites in rural Costa Rica. In 1995, in depth interviews were under taken with 42
conservation experts and with 12 key informants at the case study sites. Findings suggest that
conservation experts promote ecotourism because it is preferable to more consumptive uses
of wildlife, and because it allows experts to repeat the language of the counter narrative, while
continuing to implement traditional conservation solutions, i.e. establishment of parks and
protected areas.
Neotropical orchid eco-tourism: educational experience of an orchid neophyte at the
Bosque de Paz Biological Preserve, Central Volcanic Range, Costa Rica [Ecoturismo
neotropical de orquídeas: experiencia educativa de un neófito en orquídeas en la Reserva
Biológica Bosque de Paz, Cordillera Volcánica Central, Costa Rica] / Kirby, S. (345 Middlefield
Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, US <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>).
In: Lankesteriana (ISSN 1409-3871), no. 7, p. 121-124. 2003. Introduction: Nothing prepared
me for the experience of seeing epiphytic orchids growing and blooming in the high cloud
forest of Costa Rica beginning in 1998. These plants captivated me and were the beginning of
a five-year quest to learn more about them. I was fortunate to begin this odyssey by visiting
Bosque de Paz, a biological preserve located in the Central Volcanic Range near the village of
Bajos del Toro on the Caribbean side of the continental divide near the active volcano, Poás.
The purpose of this presentation is to describe the efforts of the owners of the Preserve to
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attract the interest of orchid professionals and amateur enthusiasts to this mountain haven
and to consider more ways in which orchid ecotourism might be encouraged to grow to the
benefit of Costa Rica, orchid science and the conservation of orchid habitat.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: L.
PHVA for the Costa Rican squirrel monkey, Saimiri oerstedii / Matamoros-Hidalgo, Y.
(Universidad Nacional. Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Apdo. 86-3000, Heredia, CR). In:
Neotropical Primates (ISSN 1413-4705), v. 4, no. 2, p. 63-64. 1996. One of the
recommendations made at the Saimiri Workshop held in 1994 was to have a second meeting
in the area where they live. From 5-7 June 1995, 48 people met at the Manuel Antonio
National Park, on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, to discuss the status and
recommendations for the conservation of the species. Five working groups were formed:
Biology - discussed the biological data available and ran the VORTEX population simulation for
the species; Distribution - analyzed the past and current distribution of the species and
mapped the areas of remaining Saimiri populations; Translocation and Captive Breeding developed protocols in case these measures were necessary for the survival of the species,
helped by Dr. Cheryl Asa, St. Louis Zoo, and Dr. Larry Williams, University of South Alabama;
Public Education - discussed the need for an education program; and Community - analyzed
current and future community actions, with the collaboration of local authorities and five
campesinos. The finalreport is still being prepared. It includes recommendations for more
specific research to support an adequate management of the species. The most urgent topics
were given as: 1) Determination of the distribution and demographics of the populations of
thetwo subspecies, S. o. oerstedii and S. o. citrinellus; 2) the establishment of a public
education program directed to the local communities and tourists; and 3) the establishment of
a community action plan to protect the species. Dr. Ulysses Seal, Chairman of the IUCN/SSC
Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG), met with government authorities, who
indicated their willingness to implement the recommendations of the workshop. From a report
to CBSG News 1995, 6(l): 23, by Yolanda Matamoros, ALPZA-AMAZOO.
Localización: Centro de Documentación OTUS (INBio).
Modernización de la agricultura y turismo con desarrollo ecológico: los desafíos para
Cañas, Guanacaste. Cañas: Cámara de Turismo de Cañas, Guanacaste, 1992. 36 p. (No
abstract).
Sustaining ecotourism: insights and implications from two successful case studies
[Ecoturismo sostenible: percepciones e implicaciones de dos exitosos estudios de caso] /
Weinberg, A.; Bellows, S.; Ekster, D. (Colgate University. Department of Sociology and
Anthropology, Hamilton, NY 13346, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Society
and Natural Resources (ISSN 0894-1920), v. 15, no. 4, p. 371-380. 2002. We draw on field
research from Costa Rica and New Zealand to examine the potential for sustaining ecotourism
projects over time. We find that successful ecotourism projects exist in a paradoxical or
dialectical system with internal dynamics that tendto speed up the rate of tourism production.
This poses a number of ecological, economic, and social problems. In general, the problems
are known to local communities and public officials. The challenges are also technologically
fixable and economically viable. The obstacles are political. The communities exist in larger
political systems that lack the capacity to control economic action. In other words, the political
process is not capable of keeping the economic system in check.
Ecoturismo y conservación: una reseña de temas claves [Ecotourism and conservation:
a review of key issues] / Brandon, K.E. (Conservation International. Center for Applied
Biodiversity, 1015 18TH Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C, US). Washington, D.C.:
World Bank, 1996. 83 p. (Environment Department Papers; no. 033). Ecotourism is a subset
of the spectrum of tourism types which make up nature-based tourism. Ecotourism is often
viewed and promoted as being consistent with conservation objectives because it is smallscale with limited ecological and social impacts. In contrast, nature-based tourism, because of
138
its larger scale, is often used to promote national development objectives rather than
conservation objectives. This review of some of the key issues of ecotourism and nature-based
tourism highlights the complexity of using tourism as a tool for conservation. One of the
advantages claimed for ecotourism is that it is seen as more ecologically and culturally
sensitive and less likely to bring the negative impacts associated with mass tourism. Tourism
has become Costa Rica's second greatest source of foreign income. In 1991, tourism
generated $336 million; by 1993 it had climbed to $506 million. By 1994, tourism has become
the country's most important foreign exchange earner. Between 1991 and 1994, tourism
revenue grew at an annual rate of 25%, despite the fact that the number of visitors increased
at a rate of only 14.5%. The population of Costa Rica is about 3 million; nearly half a million
tourists visited in 1991. Over three-quarters of all tourists to Costa Rica visit at least one park
during their stay. Tourism development has benefitted all sectors of the economy. Much of the
growth in tourism has been in small enterprises: 85% of the hotels have less than 50 rooms
and 75% of the country's tourism enterprises are small to medium size. Moreover, at least
75% of all licensed tour agencies are owned by nationals and long-term foreign residents. The
boom in tourism has been attributed to Costa Rica's international reputation for natureoriented tourism. Thirty- five of the leading travel writers in the U.S. named Costa Rica as the
number one ecotourism destination in the world. Costa Rica has also received a tremendous
amount of international support for the innovations which have taken place in the conservation
arena. It is one of the primary training areas for tropical biologists; The Organization for
Tropical Studies (OTS) represents a consortium of over 40 U.S. and Costa Rican universities
that brings over 30,000 person-days per year of visiting researchers and students. Costa Rica
was one of the pioneers of debt-for-nature swaps and it has developed an innovative and
decentralized system of protected area management. It is the home of INBio, the National
Biodiversity Institute, which is attempting to catalogue and discover the chemical properties of
all life forms in the country. Yet despite its international reputation for conservation, and the
obvious link between the high revenues from ecotourism and the large amount of land (about
24%) that is protected in conservation areas, ecotourism revenues are not yet generating
sufficient benefits to provide significant financing for parks or to widely change destructive
activities in buffer areas surrounding parks. The reasons for this are numerous. One problem
is that entry fees to parks have been so low that they contribute almost nothing to park
maintenance and protection. For example, of the total $12 million National Parks budget for
1992, only $2.8 is provided by the Costa Rican Government, and only 0.5% of this comes
from entrance fees to the parks. To remedy this, Costa Rica established a two-tiered pricing
scheme and dramatically raised the entry fee of $1.50 for foreigners to $15.00 in September
1994. The high levels of visitation to selected parks, coupled with the visitation to parks
nationwide, had completely strained the capacity of the park service. In response, the GOCR
had cut park protection and services, and had threatened to close some parks, despite the
fourfold increase in visitation between 1992 and 1994. Restrictions on visitation to the most
visited parks was instituted since they were exceeding their carrying capacity. For example,
tourism to Manuel Antonio Park has been restricted to 800 visitors at any given time. A change
in policy allows regional conservation areas to retain 75 percent of the earnings from park
entrance fees to fund park and regional activities. There are also localized examples of places
where local people have changed their practices. Similarly, the type of tourism and the
importance of the parks were an issue during the elections in 1994. The lack of infrastructure
at many of the parks has spawned the creation of numerous private nature reserves, with
both positive and negative consequences for the parks themselves. Monteverde is a rural
community in northern Costa Rica that is home of the most famous private reserve in the
country. Drawn to Costa Rica because it had just abolished its army, Quakers settled there,
bought 1,400 ha, divided it into parcels, set aside some land for watershed protection, and
converted much of the forest into pasture for dairy cows. Eventually they began a small
cheese business, which was tremendously successful and led to increased growth. Biologists
began to visit the region to study some of its unique wildlife. The most famous resident of
Monteverde was the golden toad, a small, shiny, golden frog [Bufo periglenes] found nowhere
else in the world, which disappeared in the late 1980s. In 1973, private donations were used
to set up the private Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, now operated by the Tropical Science
Center in San José. The Reserve straddles the continental divide in the Tilarán mountains and
139
includes seasonal rainfall on its Pacific size and a wet Atlantic side. The reserve spans six life
zones, and the quetzal, bell-bird, and umbrella birds are some of the more unique inhabitants.
Jaguars, ocelots, macaws, agoutis, and kinkajous roam among immense oak trees. In all, the
area has about 600 tree species, 300 orchids and 200 ferns, 100 mammals, and more than
2,000 flowering plants and over 500 different types of butterflies. The 10,500 ha reserve is
one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica for ecotourists because of its cloud forest
reserve. The number of tourists increased from about 300 in 1973 to nearly 13,000 in 1987,
and by 1994, Monteverde was drawing 15,000 tourists per year. Tourism earnings are now the
second largest source of income for local residents after dairy production. The increase in
tourism has increased pressure on the area, especially new tourist developments such as
restaurants and hotels. The area is threatened by subsistence agriculture, logging, and land
speculation. Monteverde, as a private reserve, was able to.
Perspectives for the integrated management of the Tempisque river basin, Costa
Rica [La cuenca del Río Tempisque: perspectivas para un manejo integrado] / JiménezRamón, J.A, (ed.).; González-Jiménez, E, (ed.).; Mateo-Vega, J, (ed.). (Organización para
Estudios Tropicales, Apdo. 676-2050, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). San
José: Organización para Estudios Tropicales, 2001. 24 p. ISBN: 9968-9717-5-8. Introduction:
The Tempisque River Basin is one of the most beautiful landscapes of Costa Rica. It contains
an impressive diversity of environments that range from cloud forests in the summits of
volcanoes to swamps and marshes in the lower sections of the basin. This region is particularly
important due to the economic activities that are carried out within its boundaries. Tourism,
aquaculture and sugar cane and rice plantations have brought prosperity and employment to
the area. In addition, the cultural heritage of the basin is one of the richest in the country. The
marked cultural mix that originated in the XVI century has generated a strong identity among
the people and resulted in the emergence of a very interesting and colorful popular folklore.
During the last decades, the proliferation of tourism megaprojects and agricultural
infrastructure have caused considerable impacts on the region's natural systems, which
already suffer from regular impacts caused by natural processes, including floods and
droughts. The development of infrastructure projects to control floods, as well as the
unrestrained extraction of superficial and groundwater's for irrigation threaten the ecological
integrity of the region. As a result, the appropriate management of the basin's waters is one of
the most pressing issues that this area currently faces, particularly considering that the
productive capacity and development of the region depend on this critical resource. The search
for equilibrium between the requirements of productive systems (i.e. in irrigation and flood
protection) and the hydrologic needs of ecological systems in the region (i.e. occasional floods
and permanent flows), is one of the greatest challenges faced in the basin. However, the most
certain course of action seems to be the integration . of both necessities through the
integrated management of the area. The opportunity to make this basin a model of this
approach will depend upon steps taken in the next few years. This publication summarizes the
discussions and presentations of two workshops held in the Palo Verde Biological Station in
2000. Many of the discussions centered on water issues considered the unifying theme for the
establishment of a management process for the basin. However, the subsequent chapters also
discuss the impacts of the irrigation megaproject managed by SENARA, potential impacts of
proposed dams and dikes, uncontrolled extraction of water resources, lack of institutional
coordination and limited public participation in the basin. We hope that these discussions will
help to initiate a political-social movement that should result in the implementation of an
integrated management process in this important basin. The country cannot afford the luxury
of delaying such a critical course of action.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.917 P467. NBINA-1185.
Ecotourism [Ecoturismo] / Garrod, B.; Garrod, B. (University of the West of England, Bristol,
GB). In: International Journal of Sustainable Development (ISSN 0960-1406), v. 5, p. 227371. 2002. This journal explores the concept of ecotourism in the context of sustainable
development, and examines some of the major issues underlying the concept, planning,
140
practice and management of ecotourism. The journal contains contributions on the following
topics: ecotourism within the wider context of sustainable tourism development; the evolving
concept of ecotourism and its potential environmental, economic, and sociocultural impacts;
the spread and backwash effects of ecotourism and the impact of ecotourism on wider
discussions about tourism development; a case study of Canadian ecotourists in Costa Rica to
examine how ecotourists have changed their behaviour over the last decade; case studies on
conservation in Costa Rica; social movements and governance of tourism in Thailand; marine
ecotourism as a potential agent for sustainable development in Kaikoura, New Zealand; and
the use of monetary valuation as a tool for planning and managing ecotourism.
Local involvement in managing tourism [Involucramiento local en el manejo del turismo] /
Scheyvens, R.; Singh, S, (ed.).; Timothy, D.J, (ed.).; Dowling, R.K, (ed.). (Massey University.
Geography Programme, PO Box 11222, Palmerston North, NZ). In: Tourism in destination
communities Wallingford: CABI Publishing, 2003. p. 229-252. ISBN: 0-85199-611-6. This
chapter discusses possibilities for host communities to play a management role in tourism,
rather than assuming that they should be satisfied with simply gaining economic benefits from
tourist activity. Forms of empowerment (economic, social, psychological, and political) for
communities involved in tourism are discussed. Examples of community management of
tourism from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Costa Rica are presented.
Recommendations for the future growth of Monteverde, Costa Rica [Recomendaciones
para el crecimiento futuro de Monteverde, Costa Rica] / Oltremari, F.A. Syracuse, NY: State
University of New York, 2002. 203 p. ISBN: 0-493-74673-0. Thesis, M.Sc., State University of
New York, College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13078 (USA).
Monteverde is a community on the Tilarán Cordillera of Costa Rica. Its economy is driven by
ecotourism of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve (MCFP) that holds a rare habitat with
unique species of plants and animals. The main attractions are the birds, especially the
quetzal. Many of these species follow the fruiting of a few tree species in an altitudinal
migration. Consequently, they leave protected habitat to feed on unprotected forest patches.
Ecotourism has caused unprecedented growth in the area. As land is developed to
accommodate for more visitors and residents, it threatens to eliminate critical unprotected
habitat and cause local extinctions. This project develops recommendations for the future
growth of Monteverde in order to preserve rare habitat and its species. The process creates a
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database for the study area, and takes into account
Costa Rican law, conservation principles and landscape ecology theory to promote areas of
reforestation, conservation, and development. The conclusions suggest methods to implement
this environmental plan.
Conservation strategies for a scarlet macaw (Ara macao) population in Costa Rica
[Estrategias de conservación para la población de la lapa roja (Ara macao) en Costa Rica] /
Vaughan-Dickhaut, C. (University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Wildlife Ecology,
Madison, WI 53706, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). Madison, WI: The
University of Wisconsin, 2002. 125 p. ISBN: 0-493-76115-2. Dissertation, Ph.D., The
University of Wisconsin at Madison (USA). The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) population in the
Central Pacific Conservation Area, Costa Rica, was monitored over an 11-year period (1990 2000). Non-linear models were fitted to analyze the dynamics of the time series, which
included cyclical seasonal changes and annual changes based on a quadratic trajectory of
initial decline followed by an increase. This stabilization and modest recovery is correlated
temporality with intensified management practices (including artificial nest boxes, nest
protection and local community involvement). Reproductive phenology and nesting ecology
were studied. Individuals began courtship in November and nest in December with chicks
fledging between May and June. Tree cavities were used for nesting. Of 46 trees identified
with nest cavities, Schizolobium parahybum (37%) and Ceiba pentandra (22%) were most
commonly used. A one-month (July, 2001) environmental education course on Scarlet Macaw
141
conservation and natural history with pre-test and two post-tests to measure learning and
retention. Students demonstrated "learning"; on about 71% of the questions (18 of 21),
parents on about 38% (11 of 21) and a control group of adults without children who took the
course on 0% (1 of 21). To assess retention, the same test was given eight months later
(March, 2002) to the same three groups. Comparing pre-test and the March (2002) test
scores, students demonstrated retention on 67% of the questions (14 of 21), parents on 52%
of the questions (13 of 21), and the control group on 29% of the questions (9 of 21). We
suspect extra-classroom education went on between children and especially between adults in
this village, partly explaining the increase in "learning"; rates by parents and controls. Two
regional workshops (1994, 1999) outlined a conservation strategy. Both workshops
recommended strong environmental education programs, protecting chicks in nests, increasing
macaw food and nesting sources, studying and monitoring the macaw population, and
promoting economic returnsfor local inhabitants. A local conservation organization, LAPPA, was
created after the first workshop to carry out the strategy.
Propuesta de ordenamiento territorial y ambiental para el desarrollo ecoturístico
sector Volcán Barva, Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Costa Rica / Cordero-Cordero,
J.M. Santiago: J.M. Cordero, 2000. 243 p. (No abstract).
Localización: Biblioteca del Consejo Nacional de Producción: T149.
A brief history of Costa Rican tourism and its relation to its biodiversity [Breve historia
del turismo costarricense y su relación con su biodiversidad] / Arce, R. In: "Raus auf's Land-": ländlicher Tourismus als Boomfaktor. Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz. 1999. p. 16. (BfNSkripten; no. 15) [Papers of a conference held in conjunction with the 9th Reisepavillon
(Forum International for Sustainable Tourism) in Hannover in January 1999].. (No abstract).
¿Quién se tragó la selva? Cuatro novelas ecológicas costarricenses (Carlos Gagini,
Anacristina Rossi, Fernando Durán Ayanegui, Fernando Contreras Castro) / ZúñigaLomeli, S.M. Santa Barbara, CA, 2003. 276 p. Dissertation, Ph.D., University of California,
Santa Barbara, CA (USA). Among the few countries that are actively protecting Nature, Costa
Rica stands out as an example in Latin America where an ecological consciousness developed
in the twentieth century. Costa Rica distinguishes itself in two ways: as a natural meeting
place for the flora and fauna of North and South America, plus its long-standing tradition of
peace and economic stability which has allowed it to establish ecosystems as a patrimony for
humanity. But the fact that this country has assigned more than 20% of the national territory
as parks and natural reserves does not mean that the governing systems are perfect, or
devoid of any political and economic overtones. In search of viable solutions to its population's
basic needs, this Central American country has experienced growth in playing host to an
endless stream of visitors lured by a campaign for ecotourism. As a result, Costa Rica has
been perceived as a place where Nature is well protected and all levels and aspects of society
are permeated by an ecological consciousness. It is within this premise that this study
proposes to analyze four novels that represent an important contribution to the Costa Rican
ecoliterary discourse: El Árbol Enfermo (1918) by Carlos Gagini, La Loca de Gandoca (1993)
by Anacristina Rossi, Cuando Desaparecieron los Topos (1994) by Fernando Durán Ayanegui,
and Única Mirando al Mar (1993) by Fernando Contreras Castro. These works question and
expose the impact of foreign intrusion in Costa Rican traditions and economy; the lack of
fulfillment of the law that purportedly protects the environment; the excessive production of
trash as a consequence of an uncontrollable urban growth; the consumerism and its effects as
problems for the future; and the dilemmas and possible victimization of Nature in the name of
ecotourism and sustainable development. Although Costa Rica's ecological image is challenged
differently in each of these works, they all conclude that Nature is not doing well, and its
human counterpart needs to realize that an ecological crisis means a human crisis. In other
words, humans are one with Nature and the demise of Nature is the demise of humanity.
142
An introductory field guide to the flowering plants of the Golfo Dulce rain forests
Costa Rica: Corcovado National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park ("Regenwald
der Österreicher") [Guía introductoria de campo a las angiospermas de los bosques lluviosos
de Golfo Dulce - Costa Rica: Parque Nacional Corcovado y Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas
("Bosque Lluvioso de los Austríacos")] / Weber, A, (ed.).; Huber, W, (ed.).; Weissenhofer, A,
(ed.).; Zamora-Villalobos, N.A, (ed.).; Zimmermann, G, (ed.).; Baumgartner, T.; GonzálezRamírez, J.; Grayum, M.H.; Estrada-Chavarría, A.; Hammel, B.E.; Jiménez-Madrigal, Q.;
Kastinger, C.; Malzer, O.; Morales-Quirós, J.F.; Pamperl, S.; Rodríguez, A.; Sánchez-González,
J.; Schembera, E.; Till, W.; Weissenhofer, A.; Will, S. (Universität Wien. Institut für Botanik
und Botanischer Garten, Renweg 14, A-1030 Wien, AT). Stapfia: Biologiezentrum des OÖ
Landesmuseums, 2001. 462 p. (Catalogue of Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum. New series;
no. 172). ISBN: 3-85474-072-7. Biological diversity is intimately related to the topological,
geological, and chemical diversity within a given physical environment. Therefore, an outline
of the surroundings in the Golfo Dulce region seems appropriate to understand its ecology,
flora and vegetation, and need for conservation. The Golfo Dulce region encompasses a wide
variety of environmental conditions and harbors some of the most species-rich life zones in
Costa Rica. Its forests are by far the most luxuriant in Central America, with strong floristic
affinities to the Colombian Chocó-region. The vegetation comprises of a number of very
distinctive plant associations whose composition and distribution depends on rainfall, slope,
drainage, soil ttipe, and other factors. Species found in one place are often completely lacking
in another, even though the distance separating them may very short. Thus, superficially
identical situations may support entirely different populations, and may sometimes be the
result of fortuitous circumstance rather than basic ecological conditions. It is reasonable to
assume that a high number of constraints are responsible for generating a highly specialized
or locally unique plant association. Normally, a single species is not dominant. The great
majority of tree species is confined to one or very few major ecological associations. The
hillsides with their clay ridges and rocky slopes support a rich tree flora. The local conditions of
soil, slope, drainage, exposure to wind, and past history are reflected in the type of vegetation
and its floristic composition. For example. the nearly pure stands of Vochvsia ferruginea are
very conspicuous during the flowering season in May. when the forest is dotted with yellow
flowers. Large colonies of Vochysia (e.g., Fila Gamba, Fila Cruces) probably originate from
older clearings, as all species of the genus in Central America invade cleared forest. Climatic
formations are limited by rainfall distribution and edaphic formations are determined by
conditions of soil or topography. Transitional formations, however. have been often shaped by
human impact. Due to forest clearings for banana and oil palm plantations as well as for
pastures or timber exploitation, flat forest types are no longer preserved in the Golfo Dulce
region, except those in the Corcovado National Park. The following chapters present a brief
survey of the natural history of the Golfo Dulce area. The first chapter sketches the
geographical location and the climatic conditions of the area. Withregard to the latter, special
emphasis is put on the situation in the Piedras Blancas National Park, as this is the only site
where temperature and precipitation measurements are available from both outside and inside
the forest. The next chapter presents a brief introduction to the flora and vegetation of the
two national parks in the region. A more detailed account of the vegetation can be found in
Allen's classic book on the Golfo Dulce rainforests (1956), as well as in Hartshorn's general
introduction to plants in the Natural History of Costa Rica (Janzen 1983). Although Allen's
pioneering book is now nearly 50 years old, it comprises a wealth of important and interesting
information and is still a must for everyone who wants to learn about the scientific aspects of
the Golfo Dulce forests. A brief survey on the uses and the threats to rainforest plants can be
found in the chapter "Utilization and conservation of the Golfo Dulce rain forests". Another
chapter deals with the soils of the Golfo Dulce area. It was written by Mrs. Susanne Pamperl,
who conducted soil investigations in the Esquinas forest as part of her diploma thesis. The
chapter on the geology and geological history, compiled by the geologist Dr. Otto Malzer, is
more comprehensive. Not only does it deal with the geological situation in the Golfo Dulce
area, but it also provides an overview of the geological history of the Middle American land
bridge, which has enormous significance for the understanding of present-day flora and fauna
in Central America. As the reader certainly wants to know whether and how he can visit (and
eventually perform studies in) the rainforests and national parks of the Golfo Dulce region,
143
some basic information on tourist (and research) facilities is given in another chapter. Finally,
some general remarks are made on the structure, scope, limitation and use of the
Introductory Field Guide.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 581.997286. LC. Centro de Documentación OTUS (INBio):
581 BAU.
Costa Rica. Ekoturismens forlovade land [Costa Rica. Ecotourism and land relationship] /
Wirdheim, A. In: Vaar Faagelvaerld (ISSN 0042-2649), v. 61, no. 3, p. 19-23. 2002. (No
abstract).
Threats to the conservation of tropical dry forest in Costa Rica [Amenazas para la
conservación del bosque seco tropical en Costa Rica] / Quesada-Avendaño, M.; Stoner, K.E.
(Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas,
Apartado
Postal
27-3
(Xangari),
Morelia,
Michoacán
58089,
MX
<E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
In:
Biodiversity
conservation in Costa Rica: learning the lessons in a seasonal dry forest. Frankie, G.W.; MataJiménez, A.; Vinson, S.B., (eds.) Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2004. p. 266280. ISBN: 0-520-24103-7. In this chapter we discuss the major factors that have affected
tropical dry forests in Costa Rica and some of the effects that they have had on this
ecosystem. We also discuss current management practices used by the Tempisque
Conservation Area in Parque Nacional Palo Verde and Reserva Biológica Lomas Barbudal that
may threaten the preservation of tropical dry forests. Finall, we present some
recommendations for the future successful conservation of tropical dry forest.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: 333.9516097286 b615.
Ecología y conservación del manatí (Trichechus manatus L.) en el noreste de Costa
Rica: base de datos de los humedales del noreste de Costa Rica asociada a un
sistema de información geográfica / Jiménez-Pérez, I. (Universidad Nacional. Programa
Regional en Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Apdo. 1350-3000, Heredia, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). Heredia: Universidad Nacional,
1998. 110 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc. en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad
Nacional, Programa Regional en Manejo de Vida Silvestre para Mesoamérica y El Caribe,
Heredia (Costa Rica). I carried out research on the ecology and conservation status of the
West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in Northeastern Costa Rica and established
management and research priorities to conserve the species in the region. I also developed a
GIS data. base that described local wetlands and compiled manatee sightings. The relationship
between habitat variables and use of watercourses by the West Indian manatee was studied
through general lineal models in 87 watercourses at North-eastern Costa Rica and Southern
Nicaragua. Presence of manatees in watercourses was assessed through direct and reported
sightings of individuals and feeding signs on aquatic vegetation. Water courses used by
manatees have abundant aquatic vegetation; warm, deep and slowwaters; high forest cover,
and are wider than those where the species is absent. Though habitat variables that explain
habitat use of manatees differ for two sectors of the study area, manatees use lagoons more
than any other watercourse in both areas. This study highlights the possible impact of
deforestation for manatee conservation in watercourses surrounded by rainforest, and offers a
tool that helps classify potential manatee habitat in these ecosystems. Interviews, manatee
stalks and feeding sign surveys were carried out to to assess the conservation status and
ecology of the species in the region, and to compile local knowledge about manatees. The
species is more common than previously reported with an almost continuos distribution within
the study area that coincides with reports from the mid century. Local manatees feed as
generalists and they are most active at dawn, twilight and night and when, the tide is rising.
Hunting of the species has decreased during the last years, though there is still some, while
the illegal use of gillnets is rising. Though boat traffic has seen an spectacular rise in the last
ten years, it doesn't seem to be one of the main causes of mortality. Deforestation, use of
pesticides, alteration of river basins and mining activities occur upstream from the wetlands
used by manatees and could be threatening their survival. Although conservation status of
144
manatees in northeastern Costa Rica is better than previously assessed, it is in a delicate
balance and measures should be taken to secure their long term survival. I developed a
population viability analysis (PVA) for the local population of manatees to identify
management and research priorities in the area. Southern subpopulations in the study area
actas sources while the northernmost subpopulation behaves as a sink fur the whole
metapopulation. Research activities to conserve manatees should focus un the animals
movements and a more precise estimate of hunting ratess at both sides of the border.
Management activities highlighted by the PVA as must needed are: 1) enforcement of laws
against poaching and illegal gillnetting in local watercourses, 2) habitat conservation focused
in the southern area, and 3) development of binational conservation activities
betweenNicaragua and Costa Rica. I developed an updated GIS data base for local wetlands
and a fine-grained classification of watercourses based en intensive field surveys and remote
sensing. This data base includes the following biophysic variables: water temperature and
turbidity, watercourse depth and width, current velocity, forest cover on the shores,
abundance of aquatic vegetation and boat traffic intensity. Data on manatee sightings were
included in the GIS.
Squirrel monkey viewing and tourism in Costa Rica [Vistazo al mono tití y turismo en
Costa Rica] / Wong-Reyes, G.; Carrillo-Jiménez, E. (Universidad Nacional. Programa Regional
de Maestría en Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Apdo. 1350, Heredia, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Occasional Papers of the
IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) (ISSN 1026-4965), v. 12, no. 12, p. 37-39. 1996.
(No abstract).
Situación del turismo rural en las Américas: experiencias y programas nacionales
[Situation of rural tourism in the Americas: national programes and case studies] Rural
tourism in the Americas and its contribution to job creation and heritage conservation,
Asunción, PY; May 12-13, 2003. , 2003. p. 117-204. ISBN: 92-844-0663-3. Characteristics
are outlined of rural tourism in South America (Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Chile,
Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador), Central America (Costa Rica and Nicaragua) and North
America (Mexico). The concept of rural tourism, history of tourism development, and
development of organizations for promotion and support of tourism industry (e.g. APATUR
(Paraguayan Association of Rural Tourism) and SERNATUR (National Service of Tourism,
Chile)) are discussed. Opportunities for rural tourism and ecotourism, special tourism
programmes, positive and negative tendencies in marketing of tourist services, aspects of
supply and demand, and development strategies are considered. Information is included on
some itineraries (i.e. gourmet itinerary "Alta Argentina" and a wine itinerary in Argentina
including characteristics of hotels and activities). Opportunities for local businesses, prospects
for development, tourism products, generation of income and profits from international
tourism areconsidered.
Rural tourism in the Americas and its contribution to job creation and heritage
conservation, Asunción, PY; May 12-13, 2003. 304 p. ISBN: 92-844-0663-3. The
proceedings are presented of an international seminar on rural tourism in the Americas and its
contribution to job creation and heritage conservation held in Asunción, Paraguay, on the 1213 May 2003. The relevance and potential of rural tourism as a development tool in the region
is highlighted. Chapter I provides an introductory report with an analysis of rural tourism in
the Americas. Chapter II presents 12 papers on national programmes and case studies
relating to rural tourism In: Paraguay; Uruguay; Brazil; Argentina; Chile; Colombia; Bolivia;
Peru; Ecuador; Costa Rica; Nicaragua; and Mexico. Chapter III presents two papers on gastroeconomic itineraries in America. Chapter IV focuses on the private sector and contains three
papers on: (1) practical experiences of four rural tourism companies in Paraguay concerned
with agritourism, adventure, events and ecotourism; (2) rural tourism as an instrument for
the promotion of employment and micro-economies in rural territorial development; and (3)
145
the role of associations in the promotion and development of rural tourism. Chapter V outlines
the conclusions of the seminar which indicate: rural tourism should be considered as a means
of regional development; investment in business development is most important to rural
tourism success; and there is a need for coordinated action between the private and public
sectors.
Los cocodrilos del Río Grande de Tárcoles: biología y ser humano / Abadía-Klinge, G.
(Universidad Nacional. Programa Regional en Manejo de Vida Silvestre para Mesoamérica y El
Caribe, Apartado Postal 1350-3000, Heredia, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). Heredia:
Universidad Nacional, 2000. 72 p. Tesis, Mag. Sc. en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre,
Universidad Nacional, Programa Regional en Manejo de Vida Silvestre para Mesoamérica y El
Caribe, Heredia (Costa Rica). This study compared four different counting methods (day
counts and night light-counts from a boat, aerial surveys and nest counts) used to estimate
the size of crocodile populations. The study was carried out along 9.62 km of the Tárcoles
River in Costa Rica from February 1998 to November 1999. An 18-foot boat with an 85 HP
outboard was used for both day counts and night light-counts, and an ultralight aircraft was
used for aerial surveys. Results suggest that aerial surveys and night light-counts from a boat
were complementary to each other. Aerial surveys, daytime counts and night light-counts
differed with regard to number of crocodiles seen per km. The greatest number of crocodiles
were seen during night-light counts. The counting methods alsodiffered in percent of size
classes seen. Aerial surveys detected large-size classes better, while the small-size classes
were most detected during night light-counts. Daytime counts by boat were valuable to verify
the presence of crocodiles and the various size-class present, but were not a reliable way of
estimating population density. Aerial surveys over the Tárcoles River suggested that there was
a fraction of big, wary adult crocodiles that went unseen in counts from a boat. Nine nests
were found during the 1999-breeding season but nest counts did not seem to be a reliable
method to estimate the crocodile population of the Tárcoles River. This study also measured
the value of crocodiles as an incentive for ecotourism at the Río Grande de Tárcoles in Costa
Rica using the travel cost method. By analyzing travel behavior the study revealed that
foreigners are willing to pay considerably for the experience of visiting the site to see
crocodiles. The present value of the crocodile population, based ontourism, was found to be
19.5 magnitudes greater than the purchase price currently paid for the hides.
Legacy tourism: the search for personal meaning in heritage travel / McCain, G.; Ray,
N.M. (Boise State University. College of Business & Economics, Department of Marketing and
Finance, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, US <E-mail: [email protected]> <Email: [email protected]>). In: Tourism Management (ISSN 0261-5177), v. 24, no. 6, p.
713-717. 2003. This paper describes heritage tourism market, discusses distinguishing
characteristics that identify legacy tourists (those that travel to engage in genealogical
endeavours, to search for information on or to simply feel connected to ancestors and
ancestral roots), and emphasizes to tourism managers the importance of recognizing and
responding to this segment. It is based on data from 114 surveys of tourists during or after
their trips to Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Provence region of France and Alaska in the
USA.
Histoplasmosis associated with exploring a bat-inhabited cave in Costa Rica, 19981999 [Histoplasmosis asociada con la exploración de una cueva habitada por murciélagos en
Costa Rica] / Lyon, G.M.; Bravo, A.V.; Espino, A.; Lindsley, M.D.; Gutiérrez, R.E.; Rodríguez,
I.; Corella, A.; Carrillo, F.; McNeil, M.M.; Warnock, D.W.; Hajjeh, R.A. (Emory University
School of Medicine. Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, 1639 Pierce Drive,
Woodruff
Memorial
Building,
Room
2101,
Atlanta,
GA
30322,
US
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ISSN 00029637), v. 70, no. 4, p. 438-442. 2004. Between October 1998 and April 1999, 51 persons
belonging to two separate groups developed acute pulmonary histoplasmosis after visiting a
146
cave in Costa Rica. The first group consisted of 61 children and 14 adults from San José. Costa
Rica 44 (72%) were diagnosed with acute histoplasmosis. The second group comprised 14
tourists from the United States and Canada 9 (64%) were diagnosed with histoplasmosis.
After a median incubation time of 14 days, the most common symptoms were headache,
fever, cough,and myalgias. Risk factors for developing histoplasmosis included crawling (odds
ratio [OR] 17.5,95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3-802) and visiting one specific room (OR 3.4,
95% CI 1.0-12.3) in the cave. Washing hands (OR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.01-0.6) afterexiting the
cave was associated with a decreased risk of developing histoplasmosis. Histoplasma
capsulatum was isolated from bat guano collected from inside the cave. Persons who explore
caves, whether for recreation or science, should be aware of the risk bat-inhabited caves pose
for developing histoplasmosis, especially if they are immunocompromised in any way.
Tourism development and local participation in Latin America [Desarrollo del turismo y
participación local en Latinoamérica] / Dahles, H, (ed.).; Keune, L, (ed.). Elmsford: Cognizant
Communication Corp., 2002. 177 p. ISBN: 1-882345-43-6. This book focuses on communitybased tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean. Topics covered include: the economic
significance of tourism in Latin America; ecotourism; local participation in tourism
development; women in tourism; and the future prospects and perspectives of Latin American
and Caribbean tourism policies. Case studies from Jamaica, Cuba, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Belize, and Ecuador are presented. The book has 10 chapters and a subject index.
Tourists and other people: governments, institutions, and entrepreneurs in Jamaica,
Cuba, and Costa Rica [Turistas y otra gente: gobiernos, instituciones y empresarios en
Jamaica, Cuba y Costa Rica] / Groen, B. In: Tourism development and local participation in
Latin America. Dahles, H.; Keune, L. (eds.) Elmsford: Cognizant Communication Corp., 2002.
p. 43-59. ISBN: 1-882345-43-6. Based on a literature review, the first part of this chapter
explores the opportunities and problems of tourism in Jamaica, Cuba, and Costa Rica. The role
of governments and entrepreneurs in (eco)tourism in the three countries is also analysed. In
the concluding section, the future of tourism and, especially, ecotourism in the three countries
is discussed.
How eco is Costa Rica's ecotourism? [¿Cuán eco es el ecoturismo de Costa Rica?] / van
der Duim, R.; Philipsen, J. In: Tourism development and local participation in Latin America.
Dahles, H.; Keune, L. (eds.) Elmsford: Cognizant Communication Corp., 2002. p. 60-71. ISBN:
1-882345-43-6. This chapter examines the contributions of Costa Rican (eco) tourism to
nature conservation. In order to illustrate the relationship between tourism and nature
conservation, examples from Monteverde (a private reserve) and Manuel Antonio (a national
park) are presented. It is revealed that the contributions of Costa Rican tourism to nature
conservation are contradictory. On the one hand, it cannot be denied that tourism provides a
very significant financial contribution to maintaining both national parks and private nature
reserves. On the other hand, tourism development in the immediate vicinity of these nature
reserves has led to negative impacts on nature and the environment and has given rise to a
serious concern. In addition, the income derived from ecotourism does not benefit the local
people sufficiently and the tourism sector is still to a very large extent in the hands of foreign
business.
How 'eco' is ecotourism? A comparative case study of ecotourism in Costa Rica
[¿Cuán 'eco' es el ecoturismo? Un estudio de caso comparativo del ecoturismo en Costa Rica] /
Stem, C.J.; Lassoie, J.P.; Lee, D.R.; Deshler, D.J. (Foundations of Success. Program Associate,
17 Avery Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 1286, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Journal
of Sustainable Tourism (ISSN 0966-9582), v. 11, no. 4, p. 322-347. 2003. This paper
examines the potential of ecotourism as a tool for promoting conservation and community
development, based on a comparative study in Costa Rica. Study findings were mixed
147
regarding ecotourism's effectiveness as a conservation and community development tool.
Survey respondents saw legal restrictions as more influential than tourism in prompting
declines in deforestation and hunting rates. Likewise, respondents did not feel tourism
operators were significant players in raising environmental awareness. The research also
revealed that direct employment in ecotourism was associated with pro-conservation
practices, but indirect benefits showed stronger associations in generating pro-conservation
perspectives. Little evidence was found to suggest that people are investing tourism-generated
income in environmentally threatening practices. Research findings also indicated that scale
influences tourism's benefits and negative impacts and that, where ecotourism dominates local
economies, towns may become economically vulnerable. The paper concludes by recognizing
that ecotourism would be most effective as a component of a broader conservation strategy
and offers suggestions to improve ecotourism's potential.
Locals
and
foreigners: tourism development,
ethnicity,
and
small-scale
entrepreneurship in Cahuita, Costa Rica [Lugareños y extranjeros: desarrollo del turismo,
etnicidad y la relación empresarial en pequeña escala en Cahuita, Costa Rica] / van
Schaardenburgh, A.M. In: Tourism development and local participation in Latin America.
Dahles, H.; Keune, L. (eds.) Elmsford: Cognizant Communication Corp., 2002. p. 72-85. ISBN:
1-882345-43-6. This chapter raises the question as to what extent and in which ways the local
community in Cahuita, Costa Rica, benefits from the opportunities offered by tourism
development. In order to answer this question, the role of two actors are highlighted.The first
is the role of the government as a facilitator of or impediment to local participation in tourism.
The second is the role of small-scale entrepreneurs, and in particular the factors that
determine their success or failure in local tourism development. It is revealed that although
tourism has brought prosperity to Cahuita, it does not mean that local people have control
over tourism development in the community. The local residents are not empowered, but have
become more dependent on tourism. Decreasing numbers of visitors not only put the local
economy under pressure, but also jeopardize the social relations between ethnic groups and
generations. Therefore, small-scale tourism development without proper government support
does not enhance sociocultural stability, but can be quite disruptive.
Seaweeds and coral reefs on the SW Pacific coast of Costa Rica: a pilot study of the
potential anthropogenic impact with increasing tourism [Algas marinas y arrecifes
coralinos en el suroeste de la costa Pacífica de Costa Rica: estudio piloto del potencial impacto
antropogénico con el incremento del turismo] / Nagy, M. In: Fisheries Development Series
(ISSN 0280-5375), v. 78, p. 1-120. 1994. (No abstract).
La educación ambiental en el Refugio Privado de Vida Silvestre Cerro Dantas: un
diagnóstico y propuesta de Trabajo. Heredia, Costa Rica / Fallas-Barboza, P.; Landry, M.E.
Heredia: Universidad Nacional, 2004. 150 p. Tesis, Lic. en Educación Ambiental, Universidad
Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Programa de Licenciatura en Educación Ambiental,
Heredia (Costa Rica). Introducción: El Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cerro Dantas, es un centro
privado dedicado a la conservación y protección de flora y fauna, en donde uno de sus pilares
fundamentales es la realización de actividades de educación ambiental. El proceso de trabajo
realizado en la actualidad, da a conocer la necesidad de replantear las actividades y métodos
de trabajo, en materia de educación ambiental. La ausencia de un programa de educación
ambiental, ha causado que las actividades de educación ambiental desarrolladas en el refugio,
no cumplen con las necesidades de la población visitante, de ahí el deseo de mejorarlas para
la construcción de nuevos hábitos, costumbres y actitudes. La modificación de patrones de
trabajo es fundamental, ya que se cuenta con el equipo y capacidades necesarias para realizar
las acciones. Cerro Dantas cumple un rol fundamental como área de amortiguamiento del
Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. Su valor ecológico lo convierte en un sitio de atracción en
términos del turismo ecológico y como área de apoyo para la educación ambiental de la
población nacional y extranjera. Objetivo general: Diagnosticar las actividades de educación
148
ambiental del Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cerro Dantas, base para elaborar una nueva propuesta
de trabajo en educación ambiental con la población visitante. Objetivos específicos: Identificar
las potencialidades del Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cerro Dantas. Analizar las actividades de
educación ambiental en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cerro Dantas para identificar sus alcances
educativos en la población visitante. Elaborar el perfil de la población meta para determinar
acciones de educación ambiental de acuerdo a sus características. Formular una propuesta de
educación ambiental integral para el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cerro Dantas.
Causes and consequences of bird extinctions [Causas y consecuencias de las extinciones
de aves] / Sekercioglu, C.H. (Stanford University. Department of Biological Sciences, Center
for Conservation Biology, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, US <E-mail: [email protected]>).
Stanford, CA: Stanford University, 2003. 130 pp. Dissertation, Ph.D., Stanford University,
Stanford CA (USA). Human domination of the planet is driving species extinct. Each species
has not only intrinsic value, but ecological functions of organisms are also essential for the
integrity of ecosystems that allow people to benefit from key ecosystem services. In order to
retain global biodiversity, we must study the factors behind species' declines, understand their
consequences, improve biodiversity capacity of human-dominated landscapes, and persuade
human communities to preserve their natural heritage. I address these issues by modeling
bird extinctions in the 21st century, investigating effects of habitat degradation on tropical
forest birds, and reviewing birdwatching tourism. Analyzing a database of all bird species, I
found that certain groups, such asfrugivores, piscivores and scavengers, are more extinctionprone than average, and oceanic islands and forested landscapes have more threatened
species than average. These patterns are likely to deteriorate in the 21st century, signaling
the potential loss of crucial ecosystem services such as pest control, pollination, and seed
dispersal. In Uganda, I found that past forestry practices had long-term negative impacts on
forest birds, whereas low intensity forestry was compatible with the preservation oflocal
biodiversity. In Costa Rica, I showed that understory insectivorous birds disappeared from
forest fragments not due to lack of food, but because of limited mobility. Three forest bird
species that persisted in agricultural countryside did so eitherby being pre-adapted to
disturbed habitats (Catharus aurantiirostris ) or by being mobile and making efficient use of
11% of the landscape still covered by trees (Tangara icterocephala and Turdus assimilis).
Radio telemetry underlined the importance of remnant trees, riparian strips, and small forest
patches for native forest species. Analysis of birdwatching tourism revealed that, just as
human-dominated landscapes are often excluded from conservation initiatives, most local
people in less-developed areas are also excluded from income generated by birdwatching that
is overwhelmingly conducted by wealthy citizens of developed countries. If the combination of
large scale habitat clearance, exclusion of human-dominated landscapes from conservation
policies, and alienation of local communities from ecotourism initiatives continues, consequent
disappearance of species is likely to cause collapses in ecosystems and their services that are
crucial for humanity.
Localización: Biblioteca OET: NBINA-1767. Tesis 437.
Community participation in ecotourism benefits: the link to conservation practices
and perspectives [Participación de la comunidad en los beneficios del ecoturismo: el eslabón
a las prácticas y perspectivas de conservación] / Stem, C.J.; Lassoie, J.P.; Lee, D.R.; Deshler,
D.D.; Schelhas, J.W. (Foundations of Success. Program Associate, 17 Avery Street, Saratoga
Springs, NY 1286 <E-mail: [email protected]>, ). In: Society and Natural Resources (ISSN
0894-1920), v. 16, no. 5, p. 387-413. 2003. Conservationists have increasingly turned to
ecotourism to provide local economic benefits while maintaining ecosystem integrity. Research
conducted in Costa Rica to examine models linking conservation and development indicates
ecotourism's effectiveness as a conservation strategy has been mixed. Where ecotourism
offers a viable economic alternative, tourism opportunities have induced people to abandon
cultivated land, allowing forests to regenerate. Employment in tourism, however, reveals
minimal influence on conservation perspectives. Other factors, including indirect tourism
benefits and education levels, show stronger associations with conservation behaviors and
149
perspectives. Results also indicate ecotourism might be most effective as a component of a
broader conservation strategy.
Conservation narratives in Costa Rica: conflict and co-existence [Narraciones sobre
conservación en Costa Rica: conflicto y coexistencia] / Campbell, L.M. (University of Western
Ontario. Department of Geography, London, Ontario N6A 5C2, CA <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Development and Change (ISSN 0012-155X), v. 33, no. 1, p.
29-56. 2002. This article examines narratives about nature conservation in Costa Rica,
specifically those related to wildlife and biodiversity, and their evolution with the growth of
tourism and bioprospecting industries. It outlines a traditional conservation narrative and two
streams of an emerging counter-narrative, and discusses problems and prospects for each in
contemporary Costa Rica. The use of narrative and counter-narrative follows Roe (1991,
1995), Fairhead and Leach (1995), and Leach and Mearns (1996). The article focuses
particularly on the ways in which the narratives are increasingly drawing on, informing, and
sometimes conflicting with one another; it is based on the author's research undertaken in
various protected areas in Costa Rica since 1994 and on research published by others.
Combining conservation and development on private lands: lessons from Costa Rica
[Combinando conservación y desarrollo en tierras privadas: lecciones de Costa Rica] /
Langholz, J.A.; Lassoie, J.P. (Monterey Institute of International Studies. Program of
International Environment Policy, MIIS IEP, 425 Van Buren Street, Monterey, CA 93940, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Environment, Development and Sustainability
(ISSN 1387-585X), v. 3, no. 4, p. 309-322. 2001. Privately owned parks continue to attract
interest across the tropics for their ability to blend biodiversity protection with sustainable
development. Despite rapid proliferation of these privately owned protected areas, the
conservation community knows little about them. We interviewed owners of 68 private parks
in Costa Rica to learn more about their contribution to that country's national conservation
effort. Key findings include: (1) the total number of private reserves is estimated to be in
thevicinity of 250; (2) reserves fell into a wide variety of categories, ranging from formal
parks and ecotourism reserves to biological stations and hybrid reserves; (3) total nationwide
coverage is approximately 63,832 ha, or 1.2% of the national territory; (4) reserves were
protecting ecologically important habitat, particularly primary rain forest; (5) reserves were
owned mostly by Costa Ricans; (6) reserves were used for a wide variety of activities,
especially ecotourism and for the owners' personal enjoyment; (7) reserve owners' biggest
problem was poaching of mammals; (8) reserves were protecting key corridor and buffer zone
areas between and around larger national parks. Results from this study should help enhance
our understanding of this little-known conservation and development tool. They should be of
interest wherever biodiversity remains threatened and wherever new conservation and
development partners are being sought - which includes most of the developing world.
Nature tourism and rural development in Tortuguero [Turismo natural y desarrollo rural
en Tortuguero] / Place, S.E. (California State University. Department of Geography and
Planning, 400 West First St, Chico, CA 95929-0425, US <E-mail: [email protected]>).
In: Annals of Tourism Research (ISSN 0160-7383), v. 18, no. 2, p. 186-201. 1991. Costa
Rica's national parks have profoundly affected local populations by causing rural economies to
move from resource extraction to resource protection. This study focuses on the establishment
of Tortuguero National Park and its impact on a neighboring population. Park-based tourism
has become important to the local economy, yet few of the villagers are aware of the
economic value of the park, nor is there any systematic attempt to promote nature-based
tourism as a development strategy. Small-scale, community-based, and nature-oriented
tourism development in similar Third World countries is presented as a model for Tortuguero.
Ecotourism and its potential contribution to Costa Rica's overall economic development is also
considered.
150
Assessing a voluntary environmental initiative in the developing world: The Costa
Rican Certification for Sustainable Tourism [Evaluando una iniciativa medioambiental
voluntaria en el mundo en vías de desarrollo: La Certificación Costarricense para el Turismo
Sustentable] / Rivera, J. (George Mason University. Department of Economics, Fairfax, VA
22030-4444, US). In: Policy Sciences (ISSN 0032-2687), v. 35, no. 4, p. 333-360. 2002. The
public policy literature has paid little attention to evaluating the ability of voluntary
environmental programs to generate economic benefits for firms. Yet, given their voluntary
nature, provision of economic benefits to firms is a necessary condition for these programs to
become effective environmental policy instruments. Additionally, little is known about why
firms operating in developing countries would participate in these initiatives. This paper
provides some of the first cross-sectionalempirical evidence about voluntary environmental
programs established in developing countries. Specifically, the paper focuses on studying hotel
participation in the Costa Rican Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST program). The CST
program is probably the first performance-based voluntary environmental program created by
a developing country government. Results indicate that hotels with certified superior
environmental performance show a positive relationship with differentiation advantages that
yield rice premiums. Participation in the CST program alone is not significantly related to
higher prices and higher sales. The evidence also indicates that participation in the CST
program was significantly related to government monitoring, trade association membership
and hotels focus on green consumers.
An ecotourist's Costa Rican odyssey: a search for the strawberry poison frog [Una
odisea ecoturista costarricense: la búsqueda de la rana venenosa fresa] / Topilow, A.; Quinn,
J. In: Reptile Hobbyist, v. 1, no. 5, p. 86-96. 1996. (No abstract).
Women and "sustainable development" in the Costa Rican rainforest: Questioning
the politics of corporate environmentalism [Mujeres y "desarrollo sostenible" en el
bosque lluvioso costarricense: Cuestionando las políticas de ambientalismo colectivo] / Isla, A.
In: Women & Environments International Magazine (ISSN 1499-1993), no. 52/53, p. 30-31.
2001. One of the major sources of social tension today is the incompatibility of the demands of
corporations and "national" governments for global economic growth and the needs of local
communities for security and livelihood. Sustainable development (SD) is commonly believed
to resolve these tensions by reconciling global economic interests with ecological interests.
One of the core mechanisms of SD is debt-for-nature investments (DFNI) in which debt
instruments held by creditors are exchanged for the debtor's natural resources, DFNI were
proposed by corporate environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) traditionally
involved in identifying ecologically-sensitive areas and negotiating commitments for research
and scientific data collection in Third World Countries. Today, DFNI also include the
establishment of ecotourism and micro-enterprises. Supporters of DFNI argue that this
approach addresses both the environmental and debt (or poverty) crises. They claim that the
environmental crisis is addressed through the establishment of Conservation Areas that
protect vulnerable eco-systems while the poverty crisis is relieved through microenterprises.
However, my research on the impact of a Canada/Costa Rica DFNI project on women in three
Costa Rican communities reveals that this is very far from being the case. In my doctoral
work, I document the processes by which the Canada/Costa Rica debt-for-nature investment,
used by The Arenal Project in the Arenal Conservation Area, is radically altering ownership
claims and the regulation of forest access. The Arenal Project, carried out by the World Wildlife
Fund-Canada (WWF-C) and the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE),
involved the development of a Land Plan for SD. In the plan, approximately half (116,690 ha)
of the land was declared as a protected area within the Arenal Conservation Area (250,561.5
ha). Of these, about 35% (76,707 ha.) was reserved for biodiversity research purposes only.
Although the Land Plan affected the resource use of 108 communities in the area, the local
residents were neither informed of the process nor included in the decision-making that was to
significantly change their lives and livelihood. These changes not only raise ethical and social
151
justice questions but also cast doubt on the effectiveness for ensuring environmental
protection. In general, the Land Plan has resulted in the following changes: *Biodiversity has
been redefined as "natural capital." Once ecologically, socially, and culturally embedded in
local communities, "nature" has now become a resource for free appropriation by industries
and corporations; *Wildlife has been appropriated as a mere resource for scientific research
and for the exclusive use of researchers to maximize the exploitation of genes; *Land has
been confiscated and separated from people's intimate knowledge. This separation of people
from nature has created a sense of disorder, alienation, fragmentation, and uncertainty among
the poorer members of the community; *Local economic livelihood has been undermined.
Land enclosure has destroyed the rights of the communities to their own territory and
resources, and thus, transformed community members into criminal intruders. In my fieldwork
I saw how the people in three of these communities - the Arenal Basin of La Fortuna Area, ZTrece and Abanico - have been affected by this Plan. In La Fortuna and Z-Trece areas, for
example, land was enclosed for the exclusive use of research and eco-tourism. However,
deforestation continues as a result of a clandestine economy that includes agriculture, cattle
ranching, and rural tourism. In those communities, poor women and men have a common
interests in resisting the Land Plan effects. Significant from an ecofeminist perspective, the
appropriation of the means of survival in the rural areas also has powerful effects on the
sexual division of labour. Poor rural women have common interests in resisting patriarchal
oppressions. As part of the Arenal Project, rural women in Albanico get loans to develop
biodiversity related micro-enterprises (e.g., medicinal plant and organic agriculture) which
have come to be considered by SD advocates as the "gender equity and environment" model.
Forest-dwelling women who use the land of their fathers or in-laws are the preferred
workforce in organic agriculture as a result of their knowledge of traditional agricultural
methods, their location in strategic zones, and the devalued economic status of women's
work. Micro-enterprises have favoured women's incorporation into paid productive activities
and thereby increase their participation in the market. However, while the ten women involved
in the micro-enterprise project I studied have experienced some increased status and agency
in their community, my research suggests that there was a greater trend toward the reduction
of their economic and social status. My analysis of the Arenal micro-enterprise project reveals
that: *The women's personal and collective indebtedness has increased. Loans using debt-fornature funds ranged from 20% to 33% interest rates; *The women earn well below the
minimum agricultural wage. The earnings are too small to cover the survival of even one
family member; *The women have a very heavy work load. Their workload typically consists
of an average of nine hours tending to their medicinal plant plot and endless hours in
household and community work. *There is increased dependence on NGOs. The aim of microenterprises is to earn income from the export of products and so, to be successful, the
projects must meet the demands of the international market. The women have become
dependent on NGOs because they do not have the skills or resources to negotiate within the
international market themselves. Findings such as these challenge the assumption that
sustainable development, using debt-for-nature investments, is an effective means of
redressing environmental and economic crises in developing countries. Instead, as my
research has shown, the practice of sustainable development as a framework for international
donor and NGO intervention can lead to the intensification of women's subordination and to
the suppression of the human rights of local communities in favour of the rights of
corporations.
Localización: Biblioteca OET:
Science and Technology: Freelance conservationists; Private nature reserves [Ciencia
y tecnología: Conservacionistas autónomos; Reservas naturales privadas] / Anonymous. In:
The Economist (ISSN 0013-0613), v. 360, no. 8236, p. 62-63. 2001. Many conservationists
see government-run national parks as the key to the survival of endangered species. In
America, however, between a third and a half of such species are believed to live only on
privately owned land. In many other countries the role of private reserves is even more
crucial. The national parks in impoverished tropical countries are often poorly protected or
even poached with the connivance of corrupt officials - and some exist only on paper. In these
places, private parks may actually offer better protection to wildlife than their publicly owned
152
counterparts. Governments that care (or wish to be seen to care) about wildlife conservation
would thus do well to encourage the growth of private reserves.
Localización: Biblioteca OET:
Evaluación de la calidad de lugares recreativos y preferencias por lugares y
actividades recreacionales: la perspectiva de los turistas nacionales y extranjeros
sobre las áreas protegidas públicas de Costa Rica [Evaluation of the quality of
recreational places, and preference for places and recreational activities: the perspective of
national and foreign tourists about the public protected areas in Costa Rica] / DeShazo, J.R.;
Monestel-Vega, L. (University of California. School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA 90095, US
<E-mail: [email protected]>). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Institute for International
Development, 1999. 31 pp. (Development Discussion Papers; Central America Project Series
no. 685). The quality of services in public protected areas as perceived by visitors provides
further understanding on the use of those areas, and measures for implementing actions to
affect the quality of the services. To this end, this paper presents the results of a survey in
Costa Rica in which the opinions of the tourists were investigated. This study was conducted
by the Central America Project of the Harvard Institute for International Development. In
order to plan appropriately for the future of theseprotected areas, it is necessary to have
sufficient information about the opinions of the tourists in correlation to their socioeconomic
characteristics (income, education level, origin, age, etc.). This study presents that
information and seeks to provide civil servants in the tourism sector with information to assist
in distribution of resources for investment in infrastructure and services in and around public
protected areas in Costa Rica. In addition to obtaining information about the services, it is
possible to understand the activities enjoyed by the tourists during their visit to the country.
With that information, the study seeks to evaluate the convenience of developing services
focused on satisfying those preferences, both of foreign and domestic tourists.
La importancia de las áreas protegidas en el desarrollo del turismo en Costa Rica:
evidencia sobre el comportamiento del gasto de los turistas nacionales y extranjeros
[Importance of public protected areas in the development of tourism in Costa Rica: evidence
about the spending behavior of national foreign tourists] / DeShazo, J.R.; Monestel-Vega, L.
(University of California. School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA 90095, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Institute for International Development, 1999.
17 pp. (Development Discussion Papers; Central America Project Series no. 684). When a
domestic or foreign tourist visits a public protected area in Costa Rica, they spend money on
food and drink, lodging, transportation, and often guided tours. These generate profit for
business people and employees, and at the same time they generate income derived from
taxes that will be reinvested in the economy. This study attempts to understand the volume
and distribution of the capital spent by tourists when they visit a public protected area and its
surroundings. This document tries to answer the following four questions: 1) How much
money does an average tourist spends in the different sectors of the economy? 2) How does
that spending vary with the different characteristics of the tourists? 3) How does that spending
vary as a functionof the length of the stay and the use of the public protected areas? And 4)
how much does spending vary with the type of place visited? Furthermore, this document is
intended to aid in the process of analysis and reflection in this defining moment of corporate
vision in the tourism sector in Costa Rica. This document is meant be considered along with a
previous document and two documents that follow this in an analysis based upon a recent
tourism survey carried out in Costa Rica by the Central America Project of the Harvard
Institute for International Development.
Turismo en Costa Rica: el reto de la competitividad / Sánchez, J.A.; Barahona, J.C.;
Artavia, R. [Alajuela]: INCAE / CLADS, 1996. 115 pp. (CEN; no. 650). Introducción: La
prosperidad de una nación no es consecuencia inevitable de la abundancia de sus recursos
naturales. Por el contrario, la abundancia de recursos naturales ha evitado que muchos países
en el pasado, sintieran la necesidad de desarrollar destrezas competitivas reales. La
153
prosperidad de una nación depende del nivel de productividad y competitividad de sus
empresas. En un mundo globalizado, las ventajas comparativas son fácilmente copiadas y
mejoradas por los competidores; por ello, la ventaja competitiva se determina por la habilidad
de una empresa o grupos de empresas de innovar y mejorar continuamente sus productos y
servicios. Ningún país es competitivo en todas las industrias. Japón, por ejemplo, no es
competitivo en la industria de "software", en productos de consumo masivo como detergentes
y cereales o en productos químicos. Por el contrario, es altamente competitivo en máquinas de
fax, cámaras fotográficas y otros productos electrónicos de uso doméstico. La competitividad
no esun atributo de los países, sino, por el contrario, es un atributo de las empresas. Un país
próspero es aquél que cuenta con una masa significativa de empresas competitivas a nivel
mundial, en uno o varios de sus sectores productivos. La investigación empírica de Michael
Porter' sobre la ventaja competitiva de diferentes naciones evidenció que las empresas líderes
en cualquier campo, tienden a agruparse en áreas geográficas relativamente pequeñas. Esas
agrupaciones se han denominado "clusters" competitivos. De esta forma, dentro de un país o
una región se van creando grupos completos de industrias relacionadas o clusters, altamente
eficientes, que permiten crear una ventaja competitiva sostenible. El fenómeno de los
"clusters" competitivos se presenta en todo el mundo: Dinamarca en insulina, Holanda en
flores, Portugal en productos de corcho, Inglaterra en carros de carrera, el norte de Italia en
calzado y prendas de vestir de alta moda, etc. En turismo, también la competitividad se
genera en lugares focalizados. Hawai, España, Cancún en México, Jamaica y Dominicana en el
Caribe son ejemplos de "clusters" turísticos altamente competitivos. Pero, ¿cómo se explica
esto?, ¿cuáles son los atributos de un país o región que promueven la capacidad de sus
empresas de innovar y mejorar continuamente en una industria, y de turismo en particular?
Contested space in Cahuita, Costa Rica: Conservation, community and tourism on the
Caribbean Coast [Espacio disputado en Cahuita, Costa Rica: conservación, comunidad y
turismo en la costa caribeña] / Martin, G.R. Davis, CA: University of California, 2003. 225 pp.
Dissertation, Ph.D., University of California at Davis (USA). Spanning a period of three
decades this study examines how contrasting visions of conservation and development have
been played out in the village of Cahuita, Limón Province, Costa Rica, since the establishment
of a conservation area that encompassedformer agricultural and fishing areas in 1970. It
presents Cahuita as (1) community space where local residents carry out their livelihood
activities, (2) conservation space embodied in the contiguous Cahuita National Park and (3)
tourism space that provides the basis for the current local economy. It is a case study of a
once isolated, agrarian, Afro-Caribbean community whose people and landscape have been
shaped by an exogenous conservation agenda, in this case manifested by the presence of a
nationalpark. The park, with its forest, coral reef and beaches has, in turn, functioned as a
tourist destination. The scope of the project includes assessment of both environmental and
sociocultural preservation and change. By articulating how various stakeholders view
themselves and others operating in the contested space, the research design results in a
reflexive triangulation of perspective, key to understanding either potential for common
ground or persistent discord. The author seeks to contribute to thediscipline of geography, the
field of political ecology, and the literature of conservation and communities.
Helikonien & Kolibris Der "Regenwald der Österreicher" in Costa Rica [Heliconias y
colibríes del "Bosque Lluvioso de los Austríacos" en Costa Rica] / Aubrecht, G.; Fahrnberger,
M.; Fischer, H.; Fischer, R.; Hinterwirth, A.; Hödl, W.; Wanek, W.; Weber, A.; Weigl, S.;
Weissenhofer, A.; Zimmermann, G. (Universität Wien. Institut für Botanik und Botanischer
Garten, Renweg 14, A-1030 Wien, AT). Wien: Universität Wien / Institut für Botanik und
Botanischer Garten, 2002. 61 pp. (No abstract).
Aprenda sobre las ballenas y los delfines del PN Ballenas, Bahía Drake-Corcovado e
Isla del Caño: recopilación bibliográfica / May-Collado, L.J. [San José]: Biocursos OET,
s.f.. 53 pp. (No abstract).
154
Tourist expansion and development of rural communities - The case of Monteverde,
Costa Rica [La expansión del turismo y el desarrollo de las comunidades rurales - El caso de
Monteverde, Costa Rica] / Moragrega-Martin, L. (Urbanización Alfred Nobel 4-A, San Rafael de
Montes de Oca, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Mountain Research and
Development (ISSN 0276-4741), v. 24, no. 3, p. 202-205. 2004. Central America harbors
some of the most important remnants of tropical vegetation at a global level. Its rainforests,
among the most representative tropical ecosystems, cover only 5% of the Earth's surface but
are home to half of the world's biological diversity. Costa Rica, the second smallest country on
the Central American isthmus, has been able to establish a national network of protected
areas safeguarding tropical biodiversity on more than 25% of its territory. These areas serve
educational purposes and attract scientists and tourists, with important implications for the
development of the surrounding rural communities. The creation in 1972 of the Monteverde
Cloud Forest Preserve brought important socioeconomic and environmental changes to
adjacent communities. These changes were both positive (eg introduction of new rural
production methods) and problematic (sudden urban development without prior land use
planning).
Institutional pressures and voluntary environmental behavior in developing
countries: Evidence from the Costa Rican hotel industry [Presiones institucionales y
comportamiento ambiental voluntario en países en vías de desarrollo: Evidencia de la industria
hotelera costarricense] / Rivera, J. (George Washington University. School of Business,
Department of Strateg. Management & Public Policy, Washington, DC 20052, US <E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Society and Natural Resources (ISSN 0894-1920), v. 17, no. 9, p.
779-797. 2004. This study aims to identify how institutional forces, such as regulatory and
stakeholder pressures, are related to proactive environmental behavior by hotel facilities
participating in Certification for Sustainable Tourism, a voluntary environmental program
established by the Costa Rican government. This program is among the first third-party
performance-based environmental certification initiatives implemented in the developing
world. Findings suggest that voluntary environmental programs that include performancebased standards and third-party monitoring may be effective in promoting beyond-compliance
environmental behavior when they are complemented by isomorphic institutional pressures
exerted by government environmental monitoring and trade association membership. These
results are consistent with neo-institutional theory from the organizational sociology literature.
Surprisingly, findings also indicate that compared to locally owned hotels, foreign-owned and
multinational subsidiary facilities do not seem to be significantly correlated with higher
participation and superior environmental performance in Certification for Sustainable Tourism.
Recognition schemes in tourism - from 'eco' to 'sustainability'? [Reconocimiento de
esquemas en turismo - ¿de 'eco' a 'sostenibilidad'?] / Tepelus, C.M.; Castro-Córdoba, R. (Lund
University. International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), P.O. Box
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
196,
221
00
Lund,
SE<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: The Journal of Cleaner Production (ISSN 0959-6526), v. 13,
no. 2, p. 135-140. 2005. Proliferation of voluntary instruments such as eco-labelling schemes
and codes of conduct for tourism has been characterized by a strong environmental focus. This
paper discusses the feasibility of creating recognition schemes that could address not only the
ecological implications, but also the social and economic impacts of tourism activities. The
analysis was performed by using a case study of the 'Certification for Sustainable Tourism'
(CST), a labelling programme developed in Costa Rica, which was found to address not only
environmental performance, but also cultural, economic and social impacts of tourism
activities.
155
Small firms embracing technology and tourism development: evidence from two
nations in Central America [Empresas pequeñas que aceptan la tecnología y desarrollo del
turismo: testimonio de dos naciones en Centroamérica] / Croes, R.R.; Tesone, D.V. (University
of Central Florida. Rosen School of Hospitality Management, Orlando, FL, US <E-mail:
[email protected]> <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: International Journal of
Hospitality Management (ISSN 0278-4319), v. 23, no. 5, p. 557-564. 2004. This research
note reports the findings of a study that explored the types of technology used within
hospitality-related small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The
study investigated the perceptions of value and the levels ofawareness of entrepreneurs and
managers regarding various technologies commonly used in similar organizations in the United
States. The results suggest that there are minimal technology applications in back-office and
front-office processing activities in SMEs in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The evidence further
suggests that the levels of awareness of entrepreneurs and managers concerning these
applications are practically non-existent.
Political regimes and sustainable development: Environmental and tourism
development policies in Costa Rica and Cuba [Regímenes políticos y desarrollo sostenible:
Políticas de desarrollo ambiental y de turismo en Costa Rica y Cuba] / Muñoz-Brenes, C.L.
Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College, 2003. 75 pp. Thesis, M.A., Boston College, Department of
Political Science, Chestnut Hill, (USA). The type of political regime affects the country's
capacity for enhancing social welfare, improving economic growth and maintaining
environmental sustainability. Forces among state institutions, organizations, and interest
groups are the key elements in the process of sustainable policy making. Also, international
forces play a key role in shaping development in these countries. The experiences of Costa
Rica and Cuba show that open participatory process increases state activism and capacity for
establishing sustainable development policies in democratic regimes. The centralized decisionmaking process in the communist regime reduces policy effectiveness and increases the cost
for the state. The collective effort of civil society played a major role in the case of Costa Rica,
while in Cuba this has been a state driven process.
Abiotic and biotic effects of trails in a Costa Rican premontane tropical rainforest
[Efectos abióticos y bióticos de los senderos en un bosque lluvioso tropical premontano] /
Wood, R. (Villanova University. College of Arts & Sciences, Biology Department, Villanova, PA
19085, ). Villanova, PA, 2003. 160 pp. Thesis, M.Sc., Villanova University, College of Arts &
Sciences, Biology Department, Villanova, PA, US. (No abstract).
La observación de aves y el turismo de naturaleza en la zona de amortiguamiento del
Parque Nacional Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte [Bird watching and natural tourism in the
buffer zone of the Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park] / Rodríguez, O.; Villalobos-Soto,
R.; Campos-Arce, J.J. (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza. Area de
Manejo de Bosques Tropicales y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Turrialba, CR <E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>
<E-mail:
[email protected]>). In: Recursos Naturales y Ambiente (ISSN 1659-1216), no. 43, p.
62-71. 2004. This paper seeks to determine the tourism potential of birds, and its contribution
to the sustainable development of three towns located in the buffer zone of the Tapantí-Macizo
de la Muerte National Park: Villa Mills (2800 masl, San Gerardo de Dota (2200 masl) and
Copey de Dota (1950 masl). Supply and demand were characterized first, and then, strategic
considerations were defined for the planning and management of tourism based on bird
watching. In the area, 216 bird species were registered 49 endemic, 32 migratory, 4 in the
Red List of endangered species, and 25 attractive for bird watchers. From the last group, eight
species were chosen by bird watching guides as the most attractive. Endemism was the most
relevant criterion for attractiveness. The selected species were: Quetzal (Pharomachrus
mocinno), Zeledonia (Zeledonia coronata), Long-tailed silky flycatcher (Ptilogonys caudatus),
Silvery-fronted tapaculo (Scytalopus argentifrons), Volcano hummingbird (Selasphorus
156
flammula),
orange-throatedhummingbird
(SelAsphorus
argentifrons),
Fiery-throated
hummingbird (Panterpe insignis), and Volcano junco (Junco volcani). Among the foreign
tourists interviewed, 84.8% participates in bird watching and defined it as the most important
attraction in the area. A similar percentage of national tourists considered that relax, trout
fishing, hiking and horseback riding are the best attractions. The three communities evaluated
are within the same region and share similar ornithological characteristics; even though, the
tourism development is quite different. In Villa Mills, tourism relates mainly to scientific and
educative activities associated with forest characteristics and forest management. In San
Gerardo de Dota, bird watching has existed for 20 years; local dwellers have developed
infrastructure to cope with this type of tourism. In Copey de Dota, it was not until recently
that local settlers showed interest on promoting bird watching both nationally and
internationally.
Chief executive officers and voluntary environmental performance: Costa Rica's
certification for sustainable tourism / Rivera, J.; de León, P. (George Mason University.
Department of Economics, Fairfax A 22030-4444, US). s.f. 33 pp. This study evaluates
whether the education, environmental expertise, and nationality of firms' chief executive
officers (CEOs) are associated with greater participation and environmental performance in a
voluntary environmental program implemented ina developing nation. Specifically, we
collected data from the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, a voluntary
initiative aimed at promoting beyond-compliance environmental performance by hotels
operating in Costa Rica. Our findings suggest that CEOs' level of formal education and
environmental expertise appear to be significantly associated with higher corporate
participation in voluntary programs and also with higher beyond-compliance environmental
performance ratings. Contrary to conventional expectations, CEOs from industrialized
countries (as opposed to developing countries) do not appear to show a statistically significant
association with participation in the CST program and with higher beyond-compliance
environmental performanc.
Does it pay to be green in the developing world? Participation in a Costa Rican
voluntary environmental program and its impact on hotels' competitive advantage /
Rivera, J. (George Mason University. Department of Economics, Fairfax A 22030-4444, US). ,
2001. 7 pp. The empirical research examining incentives and economic benefits of
participation in voluntary programs still shows contradictory results. Is higher performance in
voluntary environmental programs related to higher prices and/or higher sales for
participants? What factors and firm characteristics are associated with participation in
voluntary environmental programs (VEPs)? This paper aims to answer these two questions by
providing empirical evidence from a sample of hotels participating in the Certification for
Sustainable Tourism (CST), a voluntary initiative established in Costa Rica. Additionally by
focusing on service firms in a developing country this study tries to begin providing evidence
beyond manufacturing firms located in industrialized nations. The business and the
environment literature almost exclusive attention to the manufacturing sector of developed
countries is one the main weaknesses of the field (Starik and Marcus 2000). Results indicate
that participation in the CST program alone is not significantly related to higher prices and
higher sales. Only hotels with higher environmental performance show a significant
relationship with price premiums. The evidence also indicates that participation in the CST
program was not only related to economic rationality factors but also to institutional factors
such as trade association membership and the level of regulatory oversight. Hotels and other
tourism related businesses have become the second most important sector of the Costa Rican
economy generating about 20% of its foreign income, approximately 5% of its gross domestic
product and employing about 12% of the country's labor force (Rivera 1998). The number of
hotels has grown more than 400% from 433 hotels in 1987 to about 1800 in 2000 (INCAE
1999). This expansion is due to a significant increase in the number of tourists; from about
250,000 in 1987 to 1 million in 1999. Most hotels offer very basic services, have an average
size of 16 rooms, and compete primarily based on price and proximity to national parks or
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beaches (INCAE 1999). On average, tourists visit three national parks and about 87% consider
the rainforest to be the most important place to visit in the country (INCAE 1999). The growth
in tourism has, nevertheless, led to adverse environmental problems. The Costa Rican Ministry
of Tourism responded to these problems in 1997 by launching a third-party VEP for hotels, the
Certification for Sustainable Tourism. The CST program aims to promote beyond compliance
environmental management practices by rating hotel environmental performance. An
independent National Accreditation Commission regulates the CST standards and supervises
the hotel certification process (Jones et al. 2001). At the end of 1999, 115 hotels had decided
to enroll in the program. The first 52 hotels have been evaluated and their environmental
performance ratings are available at www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr.
Tourism without threat? Excerpts from rural Costa Rica [¿Turismo sin amenaza?
Extractos de la Costa Rica rural] / Jackiewicz, E.L. (California State University at Northridge.
Department of Geography, Northridge, CA 91330, US <E-mail: [email protected]>).
In: Annals of Tourism Research (ISSN 0160-7383), v. 32, no. 1, p. 266-268. 2005. This
research note examines the host-tourist relationship in rural Latin America. Its purpose is to
illustrate how tourism can be structured in a way to improve the benefit to local communities
and is targeted particularly to communities in the incipient stages of tourism development. In
the summer of 2002, this author led one of the first groups of tourists to spend an extended
period in the small, rural community of Quebrada Grande de Veracruz de San Carlos, Costa
Rica. They were 11 university-level student "volunteers", earning course credits by working on
a community development project alongside local residents. The majority of the locals are
farmers who relocated there as part of a government settlement plan approximately 15 years
ago. The standard of living is relatively low, even by local standards. In Quebrada Grande, the
small-scale, nature-based tourism facilitated partially by the creation of a preserve luring
tourists from the surrounding areas as well as volunteer tourists from abroad, has had a
galvanizing effect in the community and is helping to distinguish it from other small farming
villages in the area. In this form, tourism can help build solidarity, foster pride, enhance selfesteem, increase opportunities for women, and provide material benefits for the residents.
Tourists are increasingly in quest of, among other things, difference and authenticity and are
less likely to visit places multiple times. This increases the competition among tourist spaces
as they need to consistently seek out "new"tourists rather than rely on people returning. An
increasing number of tourists are rejecting mass tourism (although it still the dominate type)
and seeking alternative forms (such as education, ecotourism, and adventure). These
arebecoming increasingly popular to satisfy diverse demands. In these instances, tourists
often find the mundane aspects of life extraordinary. For example, in Quebrada Grande picking
pineapples, milking cows, and building trails were quite thrilling, provided it was only for two
weeks. In this condensed format, it becomes a sample of the exotic or an experience to share
with friends back home. Ironically, people often travel to get a break from the monotony of
their own lives, but then sometimes seek out new experiences which are the monotony of
someone else's existence.
Cultural heritage and tourists: one reads what others see [Patrimonios culturales y
turistas: unos leen lo que otros miran] / Santana-Talavera, A. (Universidad de La Laguna.
Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Politicas y Sociales, Departamento de Prehistoria,
Antropología e Historia Antigua, La Laguna, Tenerife, ES <E-mail: [email protected]>). In:
PASOS (Costa Rica) (ISSN 1016-9857), v. 1, no. 1, p. 1-12. 2003. This paper deals with the
role of cultural heritage in activating tourist flow towards a destination. It is argued that even
for the same place, different forms of cultural heritage can be used to attract tourists
depending on the target groups and uses. Cultural heritage can thus be promoted and
consumed, or not, depending exclusively on the economic interests linked to tourism
development.
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Ecolodge performance goals and evaluations / Osland, G.E.; Mackoy, R. (Butler
University. College of Business Administration, Marketing & International Management,
Indianapolis, IN 46208, US <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Journal of Ecotourism (ISSN
1472-4049), v. 3, no. 2, p. 109-128. 2004. The success of ecotourism depends in part on the
performance of ecolodges, an infrequently researched component in this field. On-site, indepth interviews were conducted with owners and managers of 21 ecolodges in Costa Rica and
Mexico to discover their performance goals and to assess the performance of the lodges. The
ecolodges were sampled from a range of ecolodge types: casual, dedicated, scientific, and
agri-ecolodges. A total of 84 performance goals were identified and classified using a new
framework, partially derived from organizational strategy and management literatures.
Sustainable economic development goals were mentioned most frequently. Performance goals
varied by ecolodge type, with, for example, managers of scientific ecolodges expressing the
goal of education of ecotourists more consistently than the other types. While individual
ecolodges have multiple types of performance goals, managers and owners actually used
objective, financial goals to evaluate the overall success of their ecolodges. About two-thirds
of the interviewees evaluated their ecolodge as successful overall.
Aves sobresalientes de Palo Verde / Boza-Loría, M.A. (The Leatherback Trust Fideicomiso
Baulas, Ap. 11046, 1000 San José, CR <E-mail: [email protected]>). In: Biocenosis
(ISSN 0250-6963), v. 3, no. 1/3, p. 23-25. 1981. Comentario sobre la importancia de la
creación del Parque Nacional Palo Verde, especialmente al constituirse en una de las áreas
más importantes de Costa Rica para la protección de aves acuáticas residentes y migratorias.
Se calcula que alrededor de unas 272 especies de aves se concentran en las lagunas y
pastizales inundados del Parque, por lo que se constituye en una zona ideal para el turismo
científico y el disfrute de la diversidad de sus hábitats y vida silvestre.
The role of ecotourism in conservation: panacea or Pandora's box? [El papel del
ecotourismo en la conservación: ¿panacea o una caja de Pandora?] / Kruger, P. (University of
Cambridge. Department of Zoology, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, GB <E-mail
[email protected]>). In: Biodiversity and Conservation (ISSN 0960-3115), v. 14, no. 3, p.
579-600. 2005. Does ecotourism contribute towards conservation of threatened species and
habitats or is it just a marketing ploy of the tourism industry? Using 251 case studies on
ecotourism from the literature, I looked at the distribution of case studies over continents,
habitats and flagship species types and what factors influenced whether an ecotourism regime
was perceived as ecologically sustainable by authors. Over 50% of ecotourism case studies
were reported from Africa and Central America. The overall distribution of ecotourism case
studies did not reflect vertebrate endemism, nor overall tourism distribution in terms of tourist
numbers and receipts. There were significant differences between continents and habitats with
regard to the proportion of sustainable case studies: ecotourism is perceived to be less
sustainable in South America and Asia, and in island and mountain habitats. The type of
flagship species also influenced whether ecotourism was classified as sustainable or not:
ecotourism with no flagship species was rarely classified as sustainable while charismatic bird
and mammal species were associated with a higher probability of sustainability. In a
multivariate analysis, flagship species type and local community involvement were important
predictors of sustainability in ecotourism. Detailed a priori planning, local involvement and
control measures were perceived by authors of case studies to increase the success of
ecotourism in conservation. They also perceived that ecotourism can only bean effective
conservation tool under certain conditions. If these are met, the evidence indicates that
ecotourism can make a contribution to conservation.
Clouds over a Quaker forest [Nubes encima de un bosque de Cuáqueros] / Gundersonk, J.;
Cole, B, (phot.). In: Américas (English Edition) (ISSN 0379-0940), v. 57, no. 3, p. 6-13. 2005.
Located along the coutinental divide in Costa Rica is one of the the earth's unique
environments and a forest rich in natural treasures. Climate gradients from Pacific and
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Caribbean-facing slopes collide, giving rise to cloud outbursts that swep through a dense
tropical canopy. Over relatively short distances, temperature, humidity, and elevation change
dramatically, creating explosions of abundant biodiversity. Costa Rica's Monteverde Biological
Cloud Forest Reserve is regarded as one of the most spectacular ecological areas in the world.
Spawling over twelve thousand acres, the Reserve encompasses several different ecosvstems
boasting more than three thousand plants species, hundreds of mammal and bird species, and
thousands of insects. These ecosystems are as diverse as thee are unique. Cloud forests are
prevalent among the upper elevations, straddling the continental divide. Seasonally dry forests
are found on Pacific-facing slopes. Along the lower reaches of the Caribbean-facing side are
lush rain forests, fueled by an average annual rainfall of 240 inches - two and a half times that
of the Pacific side. The Reserve is located in Monteverde, a sprawling mountainous community
in the country's central highlands that, due to the Reserve's allure, has gradually been
transformed from a remote and sleepy locale into one of the Western Hemisphere's most
popular destinations for ecotourism. Incredibly, not one acre of this extraordinary habitat
would be protected if not for the conservation efforts of Quakers who migrated from the U.S.
state of Alabama nearly fifty-five years ago. Founded by this peace-loving sect, the
Monteverde Reserve in Costa Rica is facing challenges of its booming ecotourism business.
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