Last October, President Laura Chinchilla and the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Francisco Jimenez, declared the necessity for the construction of a new international airport in southern Costa Rica. The area that has been proposed lies approximately 2 or 3 miles from the hugely important Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands,near the town of Sierpe. These wetlands are important for many ecological reasons including storm protection, natural drought mitigation, natural habitats for numerous avian, mammalian, reptilian and aquatic species and other public services, which are nonexcludable, benefiting to everyone.
The area is recognised as a Wetlands of International Importance with current ecosystem services valued at approximately $2billion annually. The entire region is home to some of the country's most impressive rainforest is home to some of the worlds' most endangered species.
For more background information on the ecological importance of the area please read:
https://www.uvm.edu/~AMOULAER/bluemoon/finalreport/Earth%20Economics%20Ecosystem%20Services%20Valuation/Terraba-Sierpe%20ESV.pdfAnd for an up-to-date report (shockingly one of only a few written on the subject) please read the following:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/controversial-airport-is-planned-for-costa-rica/Please do sign up and hopefully our voices can be heard over the development clamour that grows ever persistent yet ignores the environmental and ecological impacts they might cause.
