Álvaro Ugalde, was one of the most important promoter of the Costa Rica system of national parks has just pass away last february at 68 years old because an infarct.

Ugalde aside with Mario Boza promoted on the 70s a initiative for defending Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity which ended in the foundation of many national parks and nature reserves.  Nowadays those protected areas cover almost 25% of the Costa Rica territory.

Being the tourism one of the most important economic factors of our central america country, is safe to said that Alvaro legacy is of great importance in Costa Rica actual history.

All the protected nature areas receive thousands of visitors every year.

Thanks Alvaro, for taking care of our flora and fauna.

Costa Rica reassures it’s compromise with the environment, winning a case against the oil company Harken. The resolution is catalogued as historical by the Costa Rica government and many civil and ecologist associations that are part of ADELA (Accion de Lucha Anti Petrolera) which helped the Costa Rica state in this litigation.
Harken Energy demanded Costa Rica almost thirteen years ago in the CIADI because the government rescinded the contract that allowed the oil company to start the search for petroleum deposits in the caribbean zone of the country, because the company didnt meet the legal requirements in that moment, one of these requisites was the approbation of the Setena´s environmental impact report, which Harken never got, plus the company never fulfilled the payment the 10% of the guarantee compliance for the exploration fase or the 1% of enviroment guarantee, which is actually a ridiculous number since in the case of enviromental disaster, the costs of solving it would be much higher.
No matter what, the case was never seen on the CIADI, because the contract between Costa Rica and Harken is clear that any conflict should be resolved in the local instances at the central american country.
Harken finally decided to take the case to the “Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo” which the last December 16th finally decided to reject all the points presented in the demand made by the oil company.
This is a great advance in Costa Rica environmental protection history, remarking the the country’s first compromise is with the environment, protecting it for the next generations…

Fighting climate change using different initiatives is one of the most relevant and important points of the German Embassy in the country.

Costa Rica receives reinforcement from Germany for multiple conceived in environmental protection programs. For example, the German Agency for development cooperation (GIZ), working on 16 projects, 70 of whom work on German and Costa Rican. The organization invests a total of 50 million euros in the country.

“Climate change is a fundamental issue, because this depends on the life of future generations, both in Germany and Costa Rica. Internationally, our countries are strategic partners in this field, “said Ingo Winkelmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in San Jose.

Likewise, politics, culture and economy are other priorities of the Germans in the country.

By the Chamber of Commerce economic relations between the two governments are strengthened. “Companies want fundamental factors such as high levels of education staff, good logistics and infrastructure, low overhead, and little bureaucracy before making investment decisions,” Winkelmann said.

An example is Bayer, German chemical and pharmaceutical company, which invested about 2 billion euros this year at its facility in Costa Rica.

A cultural agreement established between the two governments is the Goethe Centre, an institution where courses are offered to learn German at different levels.

The training center is the only recognized in the country by the German State. It is open to the public at the offices located in the Humboldt School in Pavas and Bible College in San Pedro.

Also, if the Costa Rican students wishing to apply to a university in the country, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships for masters and doctorate in about 37 areas.

The first step to apply for this financial support is to meet the requirements to continue graduate studies at a German university and then approach the company website to discover more information.

In the last 10 years, the DAAD has provided scholarships to 2,400 students in Central America.

“I want to maintain good relations we have maintained both countries during previous years. Costa Rica is our partner for excellence in Central America, due to the political stability and democratic culture, “said Winkelmann.

People in the area of Los Santos devoted themselves to intense reforestation of Mount La Trinidad forest which suffered last year 2008 a terrible fire that swept over 45 acres and put in grave danger important aquifers for the area.

Reforestation efforts aim to protect these waters, the project required an extensive planning, a task that had the support of institutions such as the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, ICE, College of Environmental Law and Natural Resources (Cedarena) and the private company, the Guardian Tork SCA Water program.

Thanks to this project, people successfully replanted until 8.7 hectares, equivalent to 4,700 square meters, which directly benefit the more than 35 thousand citizens of the three counties of the Los Santos.

Zumaloft, Montezuma, Costa Rica.

The Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados AyA has reported that the project “Vigilantes del Agua” has just saved 325 millions liters of water in the past 5 years here on Costa Rica. This project was born early 2009, since then more than 58000 students from 56 schools and high schools has been taught about the right use and saving of the water resource.

The goal of this project is not only to teach the children about the rational use of the water, but to improve the infraestructure of the schools that has been participating in the program.

“In this way we will sow the seeds in the fertile population, children, promoting a new culture of the value of water in our country” said Yamileth Astorga, current executive AyA president.

“Vigilantes del Agua”, or Water Watchers in english consist in three important phases, the first step is to identify the oportunities of saving water on the schools, improving the facilities and training the students.

Some of the facilities han received water storage systems, so the lessons continue without interruption in case there is not enough water, along low water consumption toilets and timer devices.

In this 2014 the goal of the project is to train more than 3000 students from 120 schools from all Costa Rica.

Zumaloft, Montezuma, Costa Rica.

The soccer team of Costa Rica, continues to set history in this World Brazil 2014, reaching the quarter-finals after defeating penalties for soccer team of Greece, in an agonizing game where Costa Rica played with 10 men from minute 60 after the expulsion of Oscar Duarte by accumulation of two yellow cards.
The expulsion of the Costa Rican player caused that Costa Rica has very few offensive options. Almost locked up for the remaining 60 minutes of the match, including extra time, the Costa Rican team was able to hold the constant attacks from Greek team, with some good saves by the goalkeeper Keylor Navas. After the imminent draw, penalties came, no Costa Rican player missed his shot, while Keylor interrupted the shot from the Greek Gekas. From there there was only shot left coming from the defender Michael Umana, who executed a superb penalty to medium height, passing above the body of the Greek goalkeeper.
It is the first time in its history Costa Rica reaches quarterfinals in World Cup Soccer.
Now the opponent of the national selection of Costa Rica will be the Netherlands, in a match that promises to be of high caliber and good Soccer.
Montezuma, Costa Rica.

Staff  from Royal Botanical Gardens of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), are developing studies Pacuara National Park in Costa Rica, on fungal diseases in marine turtles, especially the Leatherback turtles.
As part of the GLOBAL-FUNGI scientific department of Mycology at the Royal Botanic Garden Javier Dieguez Uribeondo project has been investigating for 15 days in the nature reserve, one of the most important places in the world for nesting leatherback turtles, species endangered.
Studies have focused on studying the fungi that cause emerging diseases in endangered species, in this case sea turtles.
For the first time it was possible to identify two fungal species present in these marine creatures, this has resulted in three publications in various scientific journals.
The Leatherback turtles so called from its resemblance to the musical instrument, is the largest of all sea turtles, reaching 2.3 meters in length and weighing more than 600 kilograms. In less than 30 years, the number of leatherback turtles has declined by 80%, seriously threatening the survival of this species.
GLOBAL-FUNGI The project works to identify the conditions that favor the development of these fungi and also to create conservation programs that take account of the diseases that develop turtles from these fungal agents.
Thanks to this research work, the Pacuare Nature Reserve has laid foundations for signing a cooperation agreement between the National Park and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), with the aim of carrying out conservation programs and study of biodiversity present.
Montezuma, Costa Rica.

UNESCO declared the stone spheres of Costa Rica Diquís Valley World Heritage.
The Ministry of Culture and Youth asked Unesco since 2012 and since 2013 this organization sent specialists to analyze.
For Unesco, these spheres found in pre-Columbian settlements in Costa Rica, “represents an exceptional testimony to the artistic traditions and craftsmanship of these pre-Columbian societies.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Fonseca, Minister of Culture, the statement is a privilege and also a challenge for further research and preserve the heritage.
The announcement was made by the government of Costa Rica in a press conference in which he participated President Luis Guillermo Solís who said “The Cultural Heritage and Archaeology of a people is essential, not only because it represents a particular moment in its history, but because it is undeniable foundation of his memory, a mirror through which we can look at the greatness of our past, intelligence and worth of those before us and made possible our place on this earth. I welcome it with great joy and pride, this recognition of our pre-Columbian cultures, who left us the legacy of her greatness, “the president Solis said.
The report of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) found that sites with stone spheres Diquís are globally unique, which was demonstrated from comprehensive comparative analysis.
These spheres have been found so far at four sites: Batambal, El Silencio, Grijalva Finca 6 and 2, all south of the country.
The National Museum has prepared a Management Plan for the archaeological sites Diquís Delta where goals that must be met in areas such as research, cultural management, conservation, community participation and infrastructure were proposed.
Montezuma, Costa Rica.