Costa Rica. July 2023. Costa Rica Green Valley works on actions that benefit both the overall biodiversity and fauna for a sector of the Central Valley’s western region. To do this, they took into consideration the area’s history, seeking alliances and implementing initiatives that promote well-being for the various species that inhabit this sector.
At the old La Argentina property, where the mixed-use project is located, there’s a point where it’s possible to observe passing wildlife. When this situation was first identified, the project initiated a strategic approach with the National Conservation System (SINAC), as well as with Primates de Grecia and the El Achiote Interurban Biological Corridor, with a goal of determining which advances could be made around the issue and uniting efforts to work together on this approach.
It was possible to identify a reporting system that the Primates de Grecia NGO uses to record road accidents – these reports are fed by both the NGO and several communities – that demonstrate that on Route 1, at the highest point of the La Argentina property, there is wildlife transit hotspot. Subsequently, they coordinated an exploratory property visit with the partners of Costa Rica Green Valley to identify the locations where vehicles have reportedly hit animals, and thus understand the problem in greater detail.
Additionally, a culvert running under Route 1 was discovered to be clogged with silt, thus forcing animals to cross via the highway. Therefore, the President of Costa Rica Green Valley, José Antonio Herrero, coordinated its cleanup. As a result, they identified a considerable decrease in road deaths and a camera trap was placed at that exact point to document, via video, the diversity of wildlife species that cross in that location.
It is necessary to implement measures that contribute to reducing the incidence of fauna deaths due vehicle accidents. In a study carried out by Primates de Grecia, a standout finding is that, over a period of eight months, there were recorded more than 30 road deaths, which affected more than 15 different species. Then, Portafolio Inmobiliario conducted a study of plant associations that recognized that there are no road measures in the area, such as regulatory wildlife crossings or signage regarding wildlife crossings, at any of the identified hotspots.
«Monitoring wildlife is vital to managing conservation actions. This work has led us to a project focused on reducing wildlife accidents at a specific section of Route 1. On behalf of the Primates de Grecia NGO, we believe and work to strengthen synergies that allow us to help create a safer and more sustainable future for our canton,» stated Lester Vargas Nájera, Natural Resources Manager of the Primates de Grecia NGO.
Some of the species that have been identified by camera traps and road death reports include armadillos, birds of prey, iguanas, raccoons, kinkajous, skunks, anteaters, coatis, opossums, gray foxes, jaguarundis, boa constrictors, coral snakes, frog snakes, savannah snakes, and terciopelo snakes.
«The study of plant associations carried out by Portafolio Inmobiliario in the area was part of the technical documentation prepared by Primates de Grecia to formally request recognition and support for fauna crossing efforts to SINAC; this was successfully achieved,” commented Arnoldo Estrada, Project Manager of Real Estate Portfolio.
With support from SINAC, all technical documentation was shared with the Route 1 Trust for the recognition and protection of the fauna crossing in future expansion works. Currently, the group of key players includes Zona Franca Grecia, Costa Rica Green Valley, Portafolio Inmobiliario, Primates de Grecia, SINAC, and the Foundation for the Development in Balance of the Environment (FUNDEMA, for its acronym in Spanish), which work in search of recognition for fauna crossings, together with the unit from the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT, for its acronym in Spanish), known as the Environmental and Social Management Process, for Projects in the Transportation and Infrastructure Sector (ProGAS, for its acronym in Spanish).
«Recently, we have jointly requested the placement of signage, to make the population aware of the species that transit the area. These wildlife transit signs would be the first of their kind on Route 1. The working group recognizes that this is only a small first step. The project’s main objective is to protect and promote biodiversity through the biological connectivity of species,» commented Estrada.
Steps to Follow and Reinforce
Based on documentation of specific species, the expectation is to continue with a series of important next steps, such as reinforcing awareness efforts; carrying out reforestation efforts with species that feed wildlife; and guiding fauna along the correct route, thus avoiding road deaths. Likewise, work is being done so that Route 1 expansions include this fauna crossing, thus conserving and improving it to protect the multiple species that cross there. In addition, to develop more actions at Costa Rica Green Valley to protect and promote biodiversity via the biological connectivity that exists in the area.
«The environment and biodiversity are not only a crucial part of Costa Rica Green Valley’s identity – implicit in its very name – but is one of the three pillars of the community relationship strategy. That is, just as the project seeks economic development of the western region, it is of equal importance to guarantee the protection of natural resources and native species in the area. Having recognized the existence and movement patterns for wildlife on the property, this is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how to address development in a sustainable way, while protecting and promoting biodiversity,» stated Herrero.
Costa Rica Green Valley will continue the work with Primates de Grecia to continue protecting wildlife.
Benefits of the Western Region, in Terms of Biodiversity and Fauna
Despite the fact that the region where Costa Rica Green Valley is located is predominantly an agricultural matrix, with limited tree cover and some material extraction industries, there are certain patches of riparian forests of importance for various groups of fauna. The Quebrada Valverde, which crosses the property and joins the Río Grande, is the facilitator for this vegetation and the wildlife crossing.
The La Argentina property borders both the Colorado and Rio Grande Rivers, which contain the largest patches of forest, and where most of the wildlife populations likely live; these house the fauna that heads onto the property. Also, the property adjoins the El Achiote Interurban Biological Corridor and is close to the Montes del Aguacate Biological Corridor and the Garcimuñoz Biological Corridor, which offers great potential to work on connectivity between forest patches.
From a broader perspective, the closest protected area to the study area is the Río Grande Protection Zone, which adjoins the project to the west. More than 15 km to the north are the Grecia Forest Reserve, El Chayote Protection Zone, and Poás National Park.