Off the wire
Aust'n woman dies on Mt Qomolangma, body could stay on mountain indefinitely  • Xinhua China news advisory -- May 23  • Asian tourists scammed with fake "Made in New Zealand" alpaca duvets  • Japan posts about 7.5 bln USD trading surplus in April  • Australian consumer watchdog appeals lenient fine imposed on multi-national drug maker  • S. Korea calls for DPRK's denuclearization stance before military talks  • Chinese shares open higher Monday  • China treasury bond futures open mixed Monday  • China Hushen 300 index futures open mixed Monday  • (Fukushima Aftermath) Hasty return of "nuclear refugees" raises grave concerns in Japan  
You are here:   Home

Costa Rica to enhance preservation of bio-diversity

Xinhua, May 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Realizing the challenges it faces in the sustainable development of bio-diversity, Costa Rica has acted to augment environmental protection preserve as it celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity on Sunday.

Costa Rican authorities have got to know that the current level of conservation is not enough, elaborating the First National Biodiversity Policy 2015-2030 to reduce direct and indirect threats.

"This policy sets out a vision over 15 years to promote conservation, sustainable economic development and make use of the knowledge and innovation present among indigenous peoples," said Deputy Environment Minister Patricia Madrigal.

Mauricio Alvarez, president of the Costa Rican Conservation Federation, listed the challenges putting bio-diversity at risk, telling Xinhua that the weakness of environmental protection institutions is a particular challenge.

"There are institutions which are weak in terms of resources, strategy and management," he said.

"Another gigantic threat is climate change which causes the extinction of species. We are seeing migrations happen in new ways. Data shows that pit vipers are being found at higher altitudes when they are usually found in warm areas. Frogs have also been moving in the area of Monteverde (tropical cloud forest)," said Alvarez.

"Many species are being threatened by the wearing down of coastlines, the reduction of water, the disappearance of mangroves and the drop in rainfall," he added.

Costa Rica is a world leader in environmental protection with a national system of national parks, conservation areas and biological reserves, which cover over 25 percent of the country.

It houses approximately 3.6 percent of the world's biology, with 94,753 species registered within its borders. Endi