Costa Rica Conservation

COSTA RICA CONSERVATION

While Costa Rica is lauded for its conservation ethic, environmental concerns remain in the country. Overdevelopment is tied to many issues, including pollution, degradation of ecosystems, deforestation, and soil erosion, while unsustainable fishing plagues coastal waters. Costa Rica wildlife is also directly affected by hunting as crop and livestock pests, predation and displacement by introduced species, and the illegal pet trade.
Alvaro del Castillo with a young kinkajou Many NGOs are working to address these issues. Most in Costa Rica rely on donations. Asís, a group that has developed a community outreach and environmental education program to reduce the number of animals injured, orphaned, and kept illegally as pets in the area around Arenal, a popular tourist destination. Instead of soliciting funds from donors, Proyecto Asís is largely dependent on revenue from its Spanish school and volunteer program. Both programs offer visitors unique learning opportunities and immersion in Costa Rica culture via homestays with local families. Alvaro del Castillo, the project's director, says Proyecto Asís, "deepens the cultural awareness of visitors, creating a more environmentally conscious global citizen." At the same time the initiative fosters greater awareness of environmental issues among local school children and communities. During a March visit to Proyecto Asís, mongabay.com caught up with del Castillo to learn more about the project and its mission.