host posted on March 12, 2009 11:08
The environmental efforts in Costa Rica continue strongly as the country seeks its goal to be the first carbon-free nation. Recently in this area, the country has been awarded one of the highest ecological awards while Nature Air has also begun commercialized biofuel sales.
Programa Bandera Azul Ecologica, Costa Rica’s Blue Flag Ecological Program, awarded Rios Tropicales with the Blue Flag with Three Stars award for its El Tigre private rainforest reserve. The esteemed award places El Tigre above Pacuare River, in terms of ecological and conservational efforts, as Rios Tropicales now has achieved the highest possible level of recognition from the government of Costa Rica.
The Blue Flag program recognizes both costal and land communities. It also recognizes educational organizations that have made significant progress, with regards to adopting practices meeting environmental standards set by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewage Systems (AyA.) Blue Flag winners go through onsite assessing through government ministries and the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR,) before making a final decision on the award. One, two, or three stars are awarded to show the level of environmental protection, involvement with the community, or conservation. Communities are awarded one star if they meet 90% of environmental protection criteria, two stars for meeting all of the criteria, and three stars for promoting social responsibility in addition to meeting all of the criteria.
Rios Tropicales is a private rainforest of 800 hectares adjacent to the famous Pacuare River. The Rios Tropicales Lodge is located along the river and offers a full tropical experience from sights to sounds. Activities including ecotours, hiking, horseback riding, and rafting are available. The lodge operates according to clean energy and sustainability standards, one of the reasons for its recognition. Rios Tropicales is the only adventure rafting location in the nation to be awarded a Blue Flag with the full three stars in both years of the Bandera Azul awards. Rios Tropicales was the first company to buy land for protection to create a private reserve when it did so in 1985. Currently the reserve is twice the size of the next largest reserve in the region, at 2000 acres.
Also recently in Costa Rica’s environmental pioneering is NatureAir’s entrance into the biofuel market. NatureAir, calling itself the world’s first carbon-neutral airline, has entered talks with government officials for permission to sell biodiesel fuels to other companies. NatureAir, serving 17 locations across Costa Rica and Panama, opened Costa Rica’s first alternative fueling station last June to fuel its own diesel-powered ground equipment.
Aerotica, the fueling company owned by NatureAir, produces biofuel by using recycled cooking and vegetable oils. NatureAir claims to be the first airline company in all Central America to run its entire fleet and ground operations off fuel which is biodegradable. The company estimates nearly 50,000 gallons of fossil fuel are cut as a result of their actions. NatureAir states roughly a million gallons of Costa Rican river is polluted per gallon of cooking oil placed in drains.
Costa Rica is well on its way to achieving their goal of carbon neutrality. Conservational efforts, new sustainability efforts funded by the tourism industry, and the inspection efforts of the new tribunal will aid the country in reaching its goal while setting an example for the rest of the world.