Courtesy
This Saturday, as part of the celebration of World Oceans Day, the Executive Branch signed two decrees seeking the protection of the marine territory. The signing was carried out on the beaches of the Playa Hermosa- Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge by the president, Carlos Alvarado and the Environment Minister, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez.
The first decree is called “Creation of the governance mechanism of marine spaces subject to the jurisdiction of the Costa Rican state.” It establishes spaces for society participation and inter-institutional coordination for the sustainable management of the seas and creates the Commission for Marine Governance formed by the Ministries of Environment and Energy, Public Works and Transportation, Public Security, Tourism, Agriculture and Livestock.
This commission must articulate and execute a work plan with indicators, deadlines, and goals that promote the sustainable use of marine resources and their conservation.
The second decree is called “Promotion of restoration and conservation initiatives for the recovery of coral ecosystems.” This seeks to protect these coastal spaces that have the largest biodiversity in the world.
Healthy reefs are capable of absorbing up to 90% of the impact of waves. We recognize its importance for productive activities such as fishing and tourism, and we see the need to protect coastal communities by reducing the impact of extreme events resulting from climate change,”
said Minister Rodríguez.
Costa Rica is 92% marine territory, of which 2.7% corresponds to marine protected areas, which is why actions to reverse the deterioration of the health of the oceans with concrete solutions are essential.