Post on 12-Jan-2016
description
JENNIFER E. ROMERO
MARCH, 2012
Costa Rica’s history and experience as an environmental leader in the developing world
What contributes to this image and its practice?
Outline
Introduction
Historical review
Conclusions
2
www.dviaje.info.com
Introduction
4% of the total world terrestrial
biodiversity (Gámez, 1993)
More birds species that are
found in the whole of the US
Export economy is dominated
by sugarcane, coffee and bananas+cattle
3
www.sinac.go.cr
Introduction
Who have been the political catalyst for conservation?
Who started the environmental groups, who created the regulatory agencies, who convinced the politicians, who led the protests?…the foreign influence disappears.
4
Historical review
1846: law for forbidding deforestation near the waterways surrounding Barba Volcano
1881: ban on dynamite fishing
1906: forest conservation Law
1909: Fire Law to regulate agriculture
Until the decade of 1940, government policies directly encouraged deforestation, requiring settlers to ·”improve”
wild areas as a precondition for ownership and providing credit to convert forests to pasture and cropland
5
Historical review
6
Poswar era:
Transnational relations among
Costa Rican and foreign scientists US concerns about collective
security in the region during the war
1942: Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Turrrialba (CATIE is its successor)
www.sinac.go.cr
Historical review
1948: abolition of the military. Fund for social investment
1950: First Natural resources Conservation Week, sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and industry Forestry Code: the Secretariat ignored agronomists offers
to make draft
1953: Soil and Water Conservation Law (Álvaro Rojas)
7
Historical review
1960`s, the short term view came to be challenged by individuals trained in ecology and wildlife biology
they promoted parks rather than reforestation as the appropriate policy response
1968: Colegio de Biólogos
Wave of foreign scientists with professional training + personal commitments
1969: The forestry Law (led by Álvaro Rojas)
8
www.sinac.go.cr
Historical review
1970s dramatic increase in social activism and environmental policy reform
Wildlife increasingly under threat
1970: Costa Rica`s first mass environmental protest, directed against the American Aluminum Company (Alcoa)
Creation and expansion of the Costa Rican Park System 1970-1986 Ugalde and Boza (two natural resources students)
9
Historical review
1971: Costa Rican Audubon Society
1973 Amigos de la Naturaleza
Tropical Science Centre Costa Rican Association for the Conservation of Nature
1974: Daniel Oduber (ranched and congressman) was elected president of the Republic
10
www.sinac.go.cr
Historical review
Daniel Oduber administration: National Parks have the legal backing of the government New Park Service with a mandate, at least on paper, for
expansion Park acreage nearly doubled Park service budget tripled; staff increased to 400
11
www.sinac.go.cr
Historical review
1980s Balance-of-payment problems
The park service staff was reduced by a fifthEnvironmentalists launched a foreign fundraising
campaign: $5.5 million in less than five years extensive coverage in the newsletter of American
environmental organizations people in wealthy countries learned of Costa Rican
protected areas Ecotourism industry
12
Historical review
1986: Costa Rican Ecology Party
Late 1980s: recommendation for a new environmental Ministry Tourism surpassed coffee and bananas
Costa Rica emerged as a leader in debt-for-nature swaps:
Allow environmental organizations to buy private commercial debt at discounted rates and retire the debt in exchange for promises of domestic conservation investments
13
Historical Review
National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)
National Biodiversity Institute (INBio): private, nonprofit, public-interest association
InBio ran into political trouble from an unanticipated quarter when it announced a “biodiversity prospecting” agreement with the “American” (US) Chemical firm Merk & Co.
14
Historical Review
1990s, a greenest society: hundreds of environmental organizations were formed; sustainable development
as economic model
The Humanist Ecology PartyNGOs affecting government policyPresident Figueres
Advisory Commission on Biodiversity, the nation`s most important source of biodiversity policy initiatives
Explored new ways to finance conservation
15
Historical Review
• Wildlife + forestry departments + park service placed under the new National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)
• Reorganization of the the park system into 10 conservation areas, each with a regional council designed to enhance community involvement
“President Figueres devoted more attention to the environmental cause than had any head of state in Costa
Rican History”
16
Historical Review
17
1995: Environmental Law (Ministry of Environment and Energy)
1996: New Forest Law (defines Environmental Services, provides funds)
1997: Payment for Environmental Services Program (PPSA): 600.000 ha (1997-2007)
1998: Biodiversity Law (reinforce SINAC)
26% of the territory is protected (1.3 Mha, 87% state – 13% private)
Historical Review
18
www.travelingcostarica.comwww.sinac.go.cr
Conclusions
Foreign scientific expertise and financial capital have been indispensable for the success of nearly every national park, government agency and regulatory reform
Timely application of domestic political resources (process expertise, social networks, agenda, setting resources and political learning)
All major policy reforms require a long-term commitment
19
Conclusions
Foreign environmentalists share great interest in conservation outcomes in developing countries, but they lack the political legitimacy and the long-term presence
They concentrate on other comparative advantage: technical and financial aid
20
Conclusions
Interpersonal bonds of trust often provide the “glue” that institutions cannot. The social networks that environmental leaders rely on are personal, reciprocal and no contractual
Where government institutions are weak, individuals are the primary source of institutional memory
21