Costa Rican NGO “Nicoya Peninsula Waterkeeper” demands a regulatory plan from the Puntarenas Municipality to ensure a sustainable development of the tourist areas of Santa Teresa, Mal Pais and Hermosa.

A new aqueduct will soon be operational in the area of Cobano in Puntarenas, this project was created to solve some of the existing water-shortage problems that affect this region; however, neighbors and members of these communities are concerned since many investors and developers have been waiting for this aqueduct to become a reality to request construction permits for different tourism projects and other types of developments.

For this reason, the non-governmental organization “Nicoya Peninsula Waterkeeper” is calling on the community and population in general to come together to demand a regulatory plan, currently nonexistent, to prevent the irrational and disorganized exploitation of the area and the existing resources.

A petition was created through the page Change.org, the same explains:

“Mal País, Santa Teresa, Hermosa, and environs – primarily for their natural beauty, constant clean waves, pleasant beach ambiance and community of environmentally conscious and creative people – have been attracting national and foreign migration, making this town one of its kind in Costa Rica. Attracting a specific type of traveler, the spirit of Santa Teresa, Mal País, and Playa Hermosa helps to drive national tourism, further placing Costa Rica on the map for the adventurous tourist who may otherwise opt for a different destination.

Excessive and uncontrolled development driven by profit-only mentality and disregard for the environment and its inhabitants threatens to devastate everything that these towns are and aspire to be. Potential high-volume developments will not only jeopardize nature by deforestation and endangerment of wild animals; they will also increase pollution, drive up water consumption, augment traffic and vehicle density and place high demand on an already collapsing infrastructure, namely, sanitation, solid waste management, and access roads, undermining the quality of life for generations to come and, ultimately, deteriorate the value of all investment.

In order to maintain its uniqueness and preserve (if not enhance) the values this community thrives upon, the creators of this petition are pleading for everyone living here to come together and unite along a set of rules and regulations specifying development behavior that is in line with our community’s and visitors’ standards and expectations, as well with the National Pact for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), signed by Costa Rica in September 2016. Only then can we work together with the relevant, competent authorities ensuring such “by-laws” are not only passed but also enforced.
(…)

We are not against development, we merely wish this town to develop in a sustainable way, according to what is established in article 50 of the Political Constitution of Costa Rica and following the lines of the Sustainable Development Goals signed by Costa Rica.”