Marino Ballena National Park

Improvement of Infrastructure at the Marino Ballena National Park, South Pacific Costa Rica

~ by Dagmar Reinhard

Improvement of Infrastructure

Roy Vargas is the adviser to Dr. Edgar E. Gutiérrez Espeleta, Minister of Environment, Energy, Seas, Coasts and Wetlands of the Republic of Costa Rica. Roy has a doctorate in Law, a Master in Tourism, is a lawyer and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. For three years he has been working in the offices of MINAE (Ministry of the Environment, Energy, Seas, Coast and Wetlands) concerning a large project of special interest to the South Pacific.

Improvement of Infrastructure at the Marino Ballena National Park, South Pacific Costa Rica The mission is to improve the infrastructure for the visitation of the National Parks of the South Pacific of Costa Rica. This effort is in conjunction with JUDESUR (budget of 1.7 billion colones) and includes national regions such as the Protected Areas of Golfito Wildlife Park, Parque Piedras Blancas, Corcovado and La Amistad. The last one has an expanse of 400,000 hectares and is the least visited. However, the Marino Ballena National Park has noted a constant increase in visitors.

The project combines the actions of MINAE, JUDESUR, SINAC, ICT, INA, UCR, National Technical University, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Science and Technology and Development Banking System. Together with the Bahia Development Association, the Association of Guides and Tour Operators of Bahia, they proposed a comprehensive improvement of the facilities at the entrance Marino Ballena Natinal Park. A large reception building, sanitary bathrooms, lockers and souvenir shops are planned. Roy said that there will be a bridge that will allow the passage between Estero Villegas and Estero Negro.

It will be a non-profit project that includes the citizens and will work in strategic alliances with private companies for the purpose of generating jobs and income in the neighboring communities of the park.The work is scheduled to start for the first quarter of 2018.

 

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