Number 1 - July 1998

©Fundacion TUVA 1998

This is an information bulletin, hopefully the first of many, intended for the information of landowners participating in the proposed Osa National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR) and other interested people. At present this bulletin is being produced by staff of TUVA.

The aim of this bulletin is to provide people with an update on progress, to clarify what being part of a private refuge entails and to generate feed-back and discussion especially regarding future activities.

Some of the unique opportunities provided by the ONWR include not only biological research but also the development of truly sustainable livelihoods and examination of the area's cultural history.

Progress so far

The impetus generated by TUVA since 1990 and by the participating landowners has led to a Government Decree, currently being studied by the minister. We await news of its progress. This decree would cover all participating landowners whose documentation has been accepted by the Ministry (ACOSA). According to ACOSA, other interested landowners will be able to join the refuge at a later stage as it is expanded in Phase 2.

An essential requirement of wildlife refuges in Costa Rica is the existence of a Management Plan accepted by the ministry. Following research financed by TUVA and its donors an outline management plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of the Environment (MINAE). This plan now has to be fleshed out by the individual owners.

Benefits

In addition to specific benefits to Corcovado buffer zones, to the Osa overall environment and the preservation of unique habitats for future generations, the ONWR is also expected to provide the following specific benefits to the participating landowners:

• No property taxes (territorial taxes)

• Protection against land invasions

• Access control and wildlife monitoring in general

• Programs (training, research, marketing, etc. see below)

• Training opportunities in conservation management/projects for finca workers

• Access to construction materials (light-gap fallen timber management)

• Existing project infrastructure

• No limitation of private property rights (buying, selling, renting etc.) except those self-imposed in the management plan relating to development that is incompatible with conservation.

Requirements

According to MINAE a wildlife refuge must have a management plan setting out what activities may be carried out and where. Of specific interest here is the proposed use zoning of each finca and the refuge programs (training, control and monitoring, research and infrastructure).

As an integral part of a wildlife refuge the MINAE requires the implementation of a zoning plan in order to rationalise resource use and impact. For zones are proposed by MINAE in the management plan: (but we feel these have to be further)

Zone 4 - Maximum Protection Area

Use limited exclusively to research, no changes allowed, visits to be carried out only under supervision by refuge staff.

Zone 3 - Moderate Restriction

This area may have paths for visitors designed by refuge staff, visitors will be accompanied by local guides.

Zone 2 - Sustainable management

This area is dedicated to ecosystem recovery where research, education and wildlife management are allowed including fallen timber extraction, reforestation, nurseries and secondary forest enrichment. These activities will be designed in collaboration with ACOSA and the Municipality.

Zone 1 - Residential and tourism

Basic infrastructure will be built to respond to low density visitation and lodging requirements. Basic services will be offered such as education and first aid. These services would be best associated with the existing Piro Biodiversity Center (CBP) already set up for this purpose with trained staff.

Management Plan Programs

The programs proposed in the management plan are intended to provide the best sustainable management of the refuge and peripheral areas. These are based on the experience of TUVA and refuge partners with successful programs such as tourism, research, fallen timber extraction, coastal monitoring, solar energy, ethnobotanical studies, agro-forestry and appropriate agriculture.

Training and information program

A permanent training program in resource protection and management is required, targeting workers from the refuge properties and other users. Bimonthly workshops are proposed and printed material should be distributed, including a regular Newsletter/Information Bulletin. All partners are encouraged to take part in sharing their experience, research results etc. Expenses for this program are the responsibility of the refuge. Special courses could also be offered on resource management to ACOSA staff or other interested persons (wildlife management, forest management, environmental services, women and development etc.)

Administrative capacity building program

Intends to enable communication channels between refuge staff and government, municipal and official institutions. Once accomplished staff should be able to understand and carry out the management of a Protected Area. Finca workers will be able to participate in this program that will co-ordinate closely with the training program (above).

Research program

Research activities will be the basis of decision making for the refuge. A very close relationship with the ACOSA research program needs to be established in order to obtain official approval. Hopefully results will be shared through the training program as mentioned above.

Control and monitoring

Article 7 of the Conservation and Wildlife Law requires control and monitoring in order to comply with both national and international environmental policy. The control program must perform monitoring and poaching control activities and will emphasise environmental education and public awareness as a first step in enforcing protection. TUVA proposes to recruit 3-4 local people for these tasks to work in close co-ordination with the ACOSA control program.

Marketing

ONWR partners should work together to define the strategy for marketing the refuge products: tourism, forest products, non-timber forest products, agriculture etc. A co-ordinated pricing strategy would be useful. All products should include information about the Osa and the refuge as a tourist destination to foster the sustainable economic development of the region.

Infrastructure

This program aims to provide basic services for the refuge and visitors and researchers such as administration, housing, conference rooms, visitor center, restaurant and paths. As TUVA's Centro de Biodiversidad de Piro is already equipped for most of these functions it is proposed as the nucleus for these infrastructure requirements and developments.

ONWR land types per property in Ha. (source: TUVA research program) NOW BEING UPDATED

The law covers requirements to be met by any developments in a wildlife refuge, the full wording of the law should be consulted for details (available at TUVA) but covers restrictions on: the size of glass windows, introduction of exotic plants, sound equipment and discos, height of buildings (ones story, 5m), artificial lakes and lagoons, asphalt and cement paths, swimming pools within the maritime coastal zone, lights shining on beach or forest amongst others. It also requires proper treatment of sewage and solid wastes and adequate fire prevention and fighting facilities.

These restrictions may be made more stringent and others included in the management plan as agreed by the participants. Some suggestions include: restrictions on aerial electrical wires, limitations on the proportion of landholdings to be developed and tighter restrictions on the maximum size of facilities developed without approval by the administration and the consensus of members/owners (e.g. 15 beds).

Wildlife Refuge Committee

Owing to the variety of owners participating in the ONWR, the refuge administration will need to be guided by a Refuge Committee bringing together representatives of the various owners, TUVA and ACOSA. Advice will be taken on the exact composition of the committee. Some of the areas that the committee may address include paths (new and maintenance), visitors (loading, destinations), research, building, access (routes, roads etc.).

Administration and refuge staff

The ONWR will require day to day administration to fulfil the monitoring and conservation duties, programs, liaison with owners and ACOSA and so on. These day to day duties would be carried out in accordance with the management plan and with the guidance of the Committee.

It is proposed that Refuge staff and administration should be recruited from the area and build on the TUVA experience, combining local knowledge and relations with local stakeholders with the objective of providing sustainable livelihoods for local people. People with the skills and experience include Miguel Sánchez and Ricardo Bedoya (Refuge administration), Juan Mendoza Suarez and Juan José Ortiz García, other candidates can be recommended.

Finance

Of course running the refuge will cost money. Various ways of raising the necessary finance have been proposed, most likely it will have to be a mixture of these. The amount to be raised would probably be between $20-50,000 per year depending on the programs and activities that the owners envisage. TUVA can contribute a lot of its existing infrastructure and administrative capacity and a joint fund raising strategy could be implemented. Possible sources of funds include contributions from owners, donations, grants, carbon taxes from the areas under protection (CPB, initially our biggest hope but the government program appears to be under threat) etc. It is important that owners start considering and discussing what the most suitable options may be.

What next?

Ideally a meeting will be held of all interested parties as soon as feasible. This, though, is quite difficult to accomplish given that all owners are not usually in residence at the same time. It is important to advance the management plan and to establish points on which owners agree and others which need more discussion. All thoughts on these and any other matters should be sent to the contacts below (Manuel Ramirez, Ricardo Bedoya or Hugh Govan). Also owners should consider what the desired zoning as explained above would be in their respective areas. Again these should be passed on to Manuel and Ricardo as the man on the spot whose job it is to map out the eventual zoning plan and finalise the management plan.

Contact details

Aptdo 8-3870, San José

7000

Fax: 253 4963

Manuelru@sol.racsa.co.cr

Aptdo 54, Puerto Jiménez,

Tel (506) 735-5013

Fax (506) 735 5094

tuvafor@sol.racsa.co.cr

Aptdo 54, Puerto Jiménez

Fax: +44 171 6917525

HGovan@csi.com