Biodiversity decreases rapidly(2010-27-10)
According to a recent study of the California Academy of Sciences, published in October, 20% of vertebrate species are threatened with extinction. So the biodiversity takes off rapidly.
Led by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) expert Michael Hoffmann, current environmental studies and compared studies on biodiversity which were done brought this frightening result.
What species are endangered, can be read on the red list of IUCN.
Extinction of certain animal species may lead to the fatal chain reaction in the ecosystem.
It is a natural process that some species die and new are created again.
However, to follow the study in the last 40 years, the extinction rate has increased on the 20- to 30-fold of the normal value.
Causes are: excessive hunting and fishing, but also restricting the habitats for the animals.
However, current calculations of researchers show that conservation measures can be quite useful and successful.
If there had not been conservation projects for the past 40 years, the decline of biodiversity by 20% would be worse.
According to researchers the status of 64 species has improved.
In addition, there are species that were extinct in the wild already and have been successfully introduced again, such as the
California condor in the U.S. or the wild horse in Mongolia.
This study provides clear demands for the currently held UN Summit in Nagoya, Japan. Whether this
claims are taken seriously is doubtful which show similar cases from the past.
25% of Costa Rica is a nature reserve. Thus, this country is a great role model for the protection of biodiversity.
Coffee cultivation in Santa Elena, Canton Nicoya (2009-08-08)
Walter Zeledon Agüero is one of the small coffee farmers in Santa Elena, between Nicoya and Hojancha who pays attention that his coffee grows naturally. Only once a year, he uses herbicides to protect his coffee against pests. He always tries to protect his coffee with natural measures. For example, he plants shrubs and certain trees between the coffee bushes, which will discourage the insects to attack the coffee. It is a beautiful location to grow coffee on several natural slopes and you can recognize that Walter does his job with his heart. The coffee farmers have joined together in local cooperatives, which regularly account for production and processing of coffee, and so require a good quality of coffee.
Health risks posed by climate change(2009-05-20)
Recently, physicians warned again against famine and disease caused by climate change. Famines, novel patterns of infection are the biggest global threat of the century in previously temperate climates, British physicians are convinced.
For the physician Anthony Castello are melting glaciers, dying coral and acid seas just a part of the problem, by the Climate change billions of people will have health problems in the near future. Especially physicians should intervene more in this topic, also Health organizations have been too late in this discussion of health, the expert says.
Pig flu is another phenomenon of the change, for the first time the virus from person to person transmission has been. Worldwide, more than 165,000 people are infected with the H1N1 virus. 80 of hundred fatalities came from Mexico, the source country of the disease.
In the U.S., according to official data from 5. august more than 44 000 people affected by the H1N1 virus in Costa Rica are now more than 738 confirmed cases.
Worldwide, also in Europe come more and more tornadoes, with their vast potential for destruction. They arise within a short time, before they destroy all the villages and leave behind a scene of devastation.
From a team of researchers has now been in the medical journal the Lancet published a study which describes the Current state of the environment.
One barrel oil decrease to 113 Dollar
The price for one barrel oil on the world market was falling again, at the present time in an amount of 113 Dollar.
The main reasons for this could possibly be the currently bad economic situation of the United States,
which is related to the biggest decline of the demand for oil of the United States since the last 20 years,
and the end of the military operations of Russia in Georgia.
Through the Caucasus Mountains proceed the most significant oil pipeline of the whole world.
The Aresep (authorized Regulator of Public Services) published yesterday the new
prices for Costa Rica: the prices for one litre super gasoline increased to 732 Colones,
the regular gasoline to 721 Colones and the diesel to 726 Colones.
Climate change, also in Costa Rica
The climate on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is divided into 2 seasons. The summer (Verano), from December to May is also known as the dry season means, and the winter (Invierno), from late May to late November, also known as the rainy season.
The correct term is the green time, not only because the term rainy season so with some neck hair come up, but because usually and on average, not more than 1-2 hours a day raining.
The weather changes worldwide, and also in Costa Rica we have in recent years brisk hour in the dry season, which is very helpful for the vegetation, agriculture and the whole nature. But we have also the negative impact of the heating of the oceans and the extreme weather conditions. Dead animals in the sea by toxic algae, and the increasing hurricanes and tropical storms.
The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) says of the now coming season 15 storms ahead, 8 were hurricane. The El Nino phenomenon send greetings.
Fines and Derecho de Circulation pay by Internet
Fines by traffic offence can be paid from now on on the Internet with Internet banking with Banco National and Banco de Costa Rica. With his number of the driving license one comes to the fines list and then can pay. Also Annual-expensive for vehicles (Derecho de Circulation) can be paid on Internet banking about these banks.
51.6% voted SI
Last Sunday finally the international commercial agreement, the contract of free trade in Central America (Cafta) between Costa Rica and the United States was approved.
After more than six years of waiting 51.6% of the population agreed to the support of the trade relations in plebiscite
Until the 29th of February an according law will be approved by the Congress.
If this decision is a positive one for the people in Costa Rica will be seen.
Events on the university campus in Nicoya
On the campus of the University Nacional in Nicoya, events like dissertations on different subjects, presentations (the youth dance group UNA and the group Bury Dancehall amongst others), a yoga presentation, discussions, a football tournament as well as some concerts take place from 18th to 22nd September, 2007. During these days there are daily festivals in front of the university at 7 p.m. On Monday night there will be fireworks.
For further information please have a look on our program.
VIPs in Guanacaste
First Hollywood-Stars like Elisabeth Taylor came to Guanacaste to spend a relaxed vacation, now Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi invest here in a hotel project of US-multimillionaire Steve Case. Paris Hilton gets connected in sharing in an estate on the Four Seasons Hotel in golfo de Papagayo, the Hilton Hotels have now signed a franchising contract with Hilton Garden Inn in Central America and Michael Owen bought a property in Nosara and Hollywood-film manager Mel Gibson one in Sámara, more and more celebrities seem to come to Guanacaste.
Brad Pitt stayed in the Four Seasons on Christmas with his family and now, the prince of Saudiarabien came for a visit. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal has announced another six to plan to establish another six hotels in Costa Rica. In a meeting with Costa Ricas president Oscar Arais Sanchez and his construction representative expressed Al-Waleed that he intends to build two of the hotels in golfo de Papagayo, Guanacaste where also a luxury hotel of the chain Four Seasons is located. As a reason for his plans he mentioned the high tourist development and the political and economic stability of Costa Rica.
During his stay in Central America the multimillionaire rented 48 rooms in the Four Seasons Hotel in Liberia.
Mel Gibson bought recently a premise at the Playa Barrigona in Northguanacaste to live there private and to possibly shoot movies at this place in future. He intends to establish an integral nature reserve there. On 9 July he met the president of Costa Rica to talk about donations which are aimed to go to the native Indians.
Problems with refuse disposal in Guanacaste
The disposal problem is not really new and also known by the responsible authorities for years. While in the areas of high population density
as San José and surroundings there are waste deposits, there is no running garbage pick-up service available for all parts of Guanacaste. There the garbage is still poured in pits and simply burned. Businessmen and inhabitants of Nosara are now incorporating to enlarge the pressure on the responsible authorities. If Costa Rica wants to call itself the environmental country number one, it should worry more about the problems that appear with a increasing population and a dramaticly growing tourism industry.
Quick telephone lines for Esterones and Samara
According to the information of Lic. Mario A. Diaz B., Chef of the ICT Agencia Telefonica in Nicoya the region ought to be equipped with quick telephone lines at the end of September. For the affected tourism companies this would be a blessing after the long waiting period.
