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This is to certify that the
thesis entitled ;

LA AMISTAD INTERNATIONAL PEACE PARK:
WHAT PART DOES IT PLAY IN THE PEACE PROCESS?

presented by

PAUL BABLADELIS

has been accepted towards fulfillment
of the requirements for the

MS. degree in RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

 

 

 

 

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MAY BE RECALLED with earlier due date if requested.

 

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LA AMISTAD INTERNATIONAL PEACE PARK;

WHAT PART DOES IT PLAY IN THE PEACE PROCESS?

By

Paul Gregory Babladelis

A THESIS

Submitted to
Michigan State University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE
Department of Resource Development
2003

ABSTRACT
LA AMISTAD INTERNATIOINAL PEACE PARK;
WHAT PART DOES IT PLAY IN THE PEACE PROCESS?
By

Paul Gregory Babladelis

La Amistad International Peace Park was created jointly by the nations of Costa
Rica and Panama in 1982 to protect natural ecosystems, model peace among
nations, and provide sustainable development initiatives while ensuring the well
being of indigenous inhabitants. It is Central America’s oldest and largest
international park and is both a UN. World Heritage Site and a Biosphere

Reserve under the UN. Man and the Biosphere Programme.

While historical data exists to determine the intended role of the park, there is no
single work that brings together diverse sources in a unified conceptual
framework. Further, there is little to document if the park is meeting its intended

goals.

This work provides a conceptual framework for the role of La Amistad as an
international peace park functioning on three levels; peace with nature, peace
among nations, and peaceful development. It then documents perceptions of
one indigenous group, the Bribri, and reports how well they feel it is functioning in

their lives and communities.

Copyright by
PAUL GREGORY BABLADELIS

2003

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The researcher gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following:

The Tinker Foundation for a travel grant to do field research.

The Julian Samora Research Institute for support and assistance with the

project.

Mr. Rodrigo Carazo Odio, President of Costa Rica from 1978 — 1982 and co-
founder of Parque La Amistad, for his interview which is included as part of this

thesis.

Dr. Oscar Arias Sénchez, President of Costa Rica from 1986 - 1990 and
recipient of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, for his interview which is included as

part of this thesis.

lnlingua, S.A., Costa Rica, for assistance in videotaping in Costa Rica, and to

Media Services, Michigan State University, for editing and production services.

The Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State

University, for satellite images of Costa Rica and La Amistad Park.

Cynthia Fridgen, Ph. 0., George Axinn, Ph. D., and Murari Suvedi, Ph. 0.,

members of my committee who provided invaluable guidance and support.

The faculty and students of the Department of Resource Development, Michigan

State University, for creating a rich learning environment.

Patricia Babladelis, my wife, for her help and support both in Costa Rica and in

the US.

PREFACE

The peace process is ever changing and what worked before may not work in the
present or the future. It is a dynamic process, fluid, and requires humans to
continually seek ways to realize and express peace. This thesis examines one

peace park and its role in the process.

Traditionally a thesis recognizes a problem, asks a question, and finds an answer
through sound scholarly research. The problem here is a complex one,
disappearing natural systems, poverty, increasing human consumption, and the
tensions that arise as stakeholders seek their interests. On a most basic level

humans must find a more complete peace with nature as well as with each other.

The question is what part does La Amistad Peace Park play in addressing this
problem? How is it intended to work and how is it working in reality? Through
research a conceptual framework has been developed and tested, at least
partially, through available data and the perceptions of residents living near the

park.

The author invites the reader to consider an answer that is constantly changing.
To do this a model was developed to stimulate thinking about possibilities. This
model, called A Matrix of Peace, is presented here in the preface for the reader’s

consideration. Placed here at the beginning it could just have easily been placed

vi

at the end and the reader is invited to come back and revisit the matrix once they

have reviewed the thesis.

Using this model the three central goals of peace parks are aligned one at a time
with four ways these goals can be realized. This encourages a way of thinking
about peace and how it can be practiced through the vehicle of a peace park.
After these goals have been examined one at a time the reader is encouraged to
consider the interrelationships of all three goals with all the ways in which they

can be realized.

Peace parks offer tremendous possibilities for humankind yet humans must have
the will to create them and participate actively over the course of generations.
This thesis examines one park, La Amistad, but encourages colleagues to use
this research as a platform to study other parks or to study La Amistad in more

detail.

The matrix of peace presented here is a tool to encourage dialogue and spark
new solutions in the ongoing process of peace and to help create the peace

parks of the future.

vii

 

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A.

International Peace Parks

A Matrix of Peace 1

Peace park goals are located on the three lines of the inner circle. Ways in
which these goals can be realized are listed on the outside square.

Rotate the inner circle to align one of the peace park primary goals with one of
the ways it can be realized. Repeat until all goals have been linked with all ways
to realize them. This represents a single dynamic system.

 

Discovery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace With Nature

/

Peace Among
Nations Development

 

 

 

 

 

uogemdooa

 

 

Respect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding

 

 

 

Source: Cynthia Fridgen, Ph. D., and Paul Babladelis

viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE ............................ vi

LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................... x

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................... xi

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1

CHAPTER 1

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: LA AMISTAD AS A PEACE PARK ........... 5
Peace With Nature ............................................................................ 11
Peace Among Nations ...................................................................... 14
Peaceful Development ...................................................................... 19

CHAPTER 2

INTERVIEW WITH RODRIGO CARAZO ODIO ........................................... 22

CHAPTER 3

INTERVIEW WITH DR. OSCAR ARIAS ...................................................... 33

CHAPTER 4 .

A SURVEY OF RESIDENT PERCEPTIONS ............................................... 46
Methodology ...................................................................................... 50
Survey Results .................................................................................. 55

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................ 68

APPENDICIES ............................................................................................. 79

COPY OF PRESIDENTIAL DEGREE TO CREATE LA AMISTAD PARK 80

MAPS SHOWING LA AMISTAD PARK AND SURVEY SITES .................... 86

SURVEY ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ........................................................ 88

SURVEY DOCUMENT IN SPANISH ........................................................... 89

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW WITH RODRIGO CARAZO ....................... 93

BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 109

LIST OF TABLES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 1 — Crosstabulation, Number of Surveys by Village p. 54
and Gender.

Table 2 - Frequency of Responses for Statement One. p. 55
Table 3 — Frequency of Responses for Statement Two p. 56
Table 4 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Three p. 57
Table 5 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Four. p. 58
Table 6 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Five. p. 59
Table 7 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Six. p. 60
Table 8 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Seven. p. 61
Table 9 — Crosstabulation of Responses for Statement p. 61
Seven by Village.

Table 10 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Eight. p. 62
Table 11 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Nine. p. 63
Table 12 - Crosstabulation of Responses for Statement p. 64
Nine by village.

Table 13 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Ten. p. 65

 

 

 

LIST OF FIGURES

 

 

Figure 1 — Map of Village Locations

 

p. 48

 

xi

 

INTRODUCTION
La Amistad lntemational Peace Park is Central America’s oldest and largest
international park and is home to Costa Rica’s highest mountains and tallest
forests. No other protected area in Central America contains as many viable
populations, species, or life zones, and it is estimated to contain almost four

percent of the varieties of all terrestrial species on earth‘.

Mr. Rodrigo Carazo, the Costa Rican president who was the primary architect of
this park, links its creation to a greater peace process. “We did a lot for the
politics of peace,” he said in a 2003 interview, “it wasn’t simply to sign some
agreement, it was to bring into reality an action, a permanent action. Peace is
practiced and works every day, not just one time. When we created Parque La

Amistad it was a park of harmony between two countries".2

This plan for linking peace and parks was carried forward and expanded under
the administration of Dr. Oscar Arias, Costa Rican president from 1986 to 1990,
and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. Dr. Arias fostered regional
cooperation and succeeded in putting an end to years of armed conflict in Central
America with the Esquipulas Il peace process, also known as the Central
American Peace Process, that required the agreement and cooperation of all

Central American presidents. He built upon this peace process and helped form

 

‘ (UNEP, 2001)
2 (Carazo, 2003)

the Central American Commission on the Environment and Development.3
Following the formation of this commission he proposed a series of peace parks

for every Central American border.4

While there are over 136 sites worldwide today with adjoining parks across
national borders, and at least 27 sites where three nations have adjoining parks,
there is still no clear and widely accepted definition of the term “peace park”.5 In
La Amistad we have a peace park that is rooted to specific concepts, to specific
actions, and with a history that spans more than 20 years. As the peace park

movement expands worldwide there are lessons to be learned from La Amistad.

This thesis will present a conceptual framework for La Amistad as a peace park
and document its operational goals. In development of this framework new
knowledge has been introduced through an interview with President Rodrigo
Carazo, the primary architect of the park, and with Dr. Oscar Arias, who carried
the peace park concept forward in his term as President of Costa Rica. Further,
the original presidential decree that established La Amistad is included in the
appendix of this thesis so that readers can have access to the original stated

goals of the park.

 

3 La Comisibn Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo (CCAD) was formed in 1989 by a
decree signed by the five Central American presidents.

‘ (Annis, 1992)

5 (Zbiez, 1999)

This thesis then goes on to test one of the conceptual goals of the park in a way
in which it had not been tested before. A survey was conducted among
indigenous Bribri living in buffer zones of La Amistad to determine their
perceptions of the park and its impact on their lives and communities. The
methodology of that survey and the results are presented in chapter four of this

thesis.

There are several limitations to this study that the researcher wishes to

recognize:

La Amistad is an international park yet all research takes place in Costa Rica.

Qualitative data was gathered through interviews with two past presidents and
does not reflect the many diverse opinions of others involved with the park

creation.

The survey of resident perceptions was conducted in one geographic region and
within one homogeneous culture. It does not reflect the perceptions of the many

diverse peoples living near the park in other areas.

Recognizing these limitations, this thesis seeks to provide the groundwork for

further study of peace parks, their intended goals and actual outcomes. Similar

surveys of resident perceptions could be administered in other buffer zones of La

Amistad or in other settings globally.

CHAPTER 1
Conceptual Framework: La Amistad As A Peace Park

La Amistad lntemational Park: Costa Rica - Panama, also simply called La
Amistad Peace Park,6 was created jointly by the nations of Costa Rica and
Panama in 1982. The original document, signed by Costa Rican President
Rodrigo Carazo and Panamanian President Dr. Aritides Royo, listed three
principal objectives for the park. These principal objectives are: to maintain
essential ecological processes and living systems, preserve genetic diversity,
and assure that species and ecosystems will continue to flourish. In addition to
these three principal objectives, ten additional considerations are offered, the last
of which recognizes the park’s extraordinary value for tourism, recreation,
teaching, and scientific study. This same consideration notes the importance of
sustainable development while ensuring the permanent well being of citizens and

future generations. 7

The park’s design also lists the objective of continued political cooperation along
the border between the countries of Costa Rica and Panama and mandates that
the park should serve as, “a symbolic gesture of excellent relations, friendship,

and fraternity between two peoples and their governments."8 When asked about

 

° The park was formally named Parque lntemacional de la Amistad: Costa Rica - Panama in the
1982 Presidential decree that brought it into existence. In Spanish this literally translates to
lntemational Park of Friendship: Costa Rica — Panama. The park has since often been referred
to as La Amistad Peace Park, most notably by Dr. Oscar Arias, past president of Costa Rica and
Nobel Peace Prize winner. This thesis will use both terms interchangeably, as well as the Costa
Rican colloquial expression, Parque Ia Amistad, to best fit the context.

7 ("La Amistad Creation Document," 1982)

° ("La Amistad Creation Document," 1992)

the connection between the park and the peace process, ex-president and park
co-founder Rodrigo Carazo replied, “it was formed at a time when Costa Rica
declared peace on the world.”9

The connection between international transboundary parks, or peace parks, and
the peace process was further developed and clarified by Dr. Oscar Arias,
president of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990, and winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace
Prize. Dr. Arias’ peace proposal, Esquipulas II, ended years of armed conflict in
Central America. This peace was attained only through dialogue, collaboration,

and a formal regional agreement among all Central American presidents.

Recognizing that regional problems require regional solutions, Dr. Arias, along
with co—author James D. Nations, proposed a series of peace parks on every
Central American border in a 1992 book chapter. In addition to protecting natural
resources, these parks are intended to serve as a vehicle for nations to
collaborate and model peace by working together to establish and manage these

parks. 1°

Several of the world’s peace parks are, or are proposed as, biosphere reserves.
According to Dr. Arias and Mr. Nations, “One of the most promising facets of this
new conservation movement is the emphasis on human communities in the park

design and management. In the buffer zones of La Amistad Biosphere Reserve,

 

9 A complete written transcript and a DVD recording of an interview with Mr. Rodrigo Carazo
Odio, are included as part of this thesis.
‘° (Annis, 1992)

for example, conservation organizations work with the Guaymi and Bribri Indians

living in both Panama and Costa Rica.”11

Neither of these indigenous groups
have ever been subjugated, and as such maintain a streng tribal heritage and

way of life.

Based on the documents that created the park, and the following work of Dr.
Arias, it is possible to say La Amistad Peace Park is intended to be an

operational example of peace on three levels:

1. Peace with nature. Preservation of natural ecosystems is central to the
primary objectives of the park. The park declares a peace between humans and
nature and seeks to protect natural ecosystems while at the same time providing
learning opportunities for humans. Peace with nature implies a symbiotic

relationship, humans conserving nature and nature nurturing humans.

2. Peace among nations. The park was designed to serve as an example of
friendly relations between two nations, Costa Rica and Panama, but park co-
founder, Rodrigo Carazo says, “It is a contribution from my country, from our

country, to the planet, to the planet earth and to humanity.”

Planning a peace park is in itself an exercise in peaceful relationships between or
among nations. Once created, the park and its ongoing management help

nations work together and further the process of collaboration on other issues.

 

“ lbid.

By inscribing La Amistad as both a UN. World Heritage Site and a Biosphere
Reserve, Costa Rica and Panama have agreed to participate in a worldwide
network that encourages nations to work together. Because La Amistad is
Central America’s oldest peace park it has served as a catalyst for other nations
to create similar parks and has contributed to a process that encourages them to

focus on common goals while diminishing differences.

3. Peaceful development. The park seeks to provide opportunities for human
development without harming nature. The original document that created La
Amistad notes the opportunity for sustainable development to “ensure the well
being of present citizens and future generations". Examples of sustainable
development identified in park documents include education, research,
recreation, and tourism. The potential for generation of hydroelectric power is

also noted.

Peaceful development is closely linked to the first goal, peace with nature. This
goal recognizes the human need to interact with nature in ways that sustains the

human population as well as natural ecosystems.

These three goals should be seen as dynamic and interacting with each other.
This conceptual framework views La Amistad Peace Park as a system with three

primary goals that manifest in an operational practice of peace.

A thorough literature review reveals that little information exists regarding park
function, and most of what does exist addresses only one aspect, or one part of
one aspect, without placing that research within the overall operational design of
La Amistad.

This thesis seeks to identify and present a theoretical framework of La Amistad
Peace Park Establishing this framework is a necessary first step in
understanding the park as a unified system with interrelating roles. Using this
framework it is then possible to conduct research and examine the park’s

functional outcomes.

La Amistad has been a Biosphere Reserve for over 20 years and as such it is
committed to a UN. sanctioned framework for sustainable development.
However, a serious problem is raised in one of the most recent publications on
biosphere reserves, “In all too many countries, public understanding of the
concept is poor (as is that of some conservation experts), and the public profile of

biosphere reserves may be so low as to be invisible.12

The field research component of this project seeks to test the third functional goal
of the park, sustainable development, by determining perceptions of Bribri living
in buffer zones of La Amistad Peace Park. While there are several possible

perspectives from which to test any of the park goals, this thesis seeks to

 

‘2 (Hadley, 2002)

measure this goal through the perceptions of indigenous people who have an

intergenerational link to the land.

10

Peace With Nature

La Amistad Peace Park is protected by law, in both Costa Rica and Panama,
from human modification of natural ecosystems. Logging is prohibited, mining is
prohibited, plants and animals living inside the park are protected from harm.
The park stands in stark contrast to the massive deforestation Costa Rica
experienced following World War II. La Amistad is the rough equivalent of a
cease-fire zone in which humans are forbidden to wage war on one another,

except in this case the forbidden war is one of humankind on nature.

This type of peace is a first level peace upon which survival itself depends. If it
can be argued that peace among men is at least the absence of military conflict,
it can also be said that peace with nature is at least the absence of aggressive
human modification of natural systems. Because of legislation and enforcement,
as well as public good will, La Amistad conceptually operates as a peace park on

this level.

Another aspect of peace with nature can be found in priorities that honor the
integrity of a natural biological system over a political boundary. Dorothy C.
Zbiez, Ph. D. writes in a 1999 paper, Transfrontier Ecosystems and
Internationally Adjoining Protected Areas, “Nature rarely notices political
boundaries. Most of the arbitrarily-drawn political boundaries dividing the Earth

into countries were delineated as a result of wars or political compromises, often

11

by geographers never even having set eyes on the land. As a result, these

political divisions frequently have severed functioning ecosystems.”13

Creation of La Amistad International Park officially recognized a natural system
that extends beyond national boundaries and asserts that both Costa Rica and
Panama will honor the integrity of that system. In La Amistad humankind
recognizes nature’s borders and pledges to honor a system beyond manmade
boundaries. This recognition, brought into action through creation of the park, is
an operational example of peace with nature institutionalized by two neighboring

nafions.

There is another sort of peace with nature, a personal peace, that has been a
common theme in art as well as literature. Some, like Mitchell Thomashow, the
Director of the Doctoral Program in Environmental Studies at Antioch New
England Graduate School, have suggested that humans have an “ecological
identity”, and that self is defined partially through its relationship with nature.
Thomashaw states, “Ecological identity has conceptual integrity because there is
evidence suggesting that people take action, or formulate their personality based
on their ecological worldview. Either a cognitive or intuitive understanding of

ecology may significantly reorient personal identity.” 1"

 

‘3 (Zbiez, 1999)
1‘ (Thomashow, 1995)

12

The potential to transform people through contact with nature, and provide them
with an enriching experience, was recognized by park founder Rodrigo Carazo.
According to Mr. Carazo, “A visitor to the forest should leave different from when
they entered. When I enter a forest, I leave, after seeing it, enriched, because
everything I see shapes me culturally. Parque Ia Amistad converts the tourist
from a simple observer into a student, a positive experience. This is done as a

partner, (the tourist implied) and the park.“'”’

This sort of peaceful relationship with nature not only transforms at an individual
level, it fosters peace and cooperation among human beings who feel a common

link to the living planet.

 

‘5 (Carazo, 2003)

13

Peace Among Nations

La Amistad was signed into being during an administration in which Costa Rican
President Rodrigo Carazo said his nation, “declared peace on the world.” Just
two years prior to creating La Amistad Park, Carazo had succeeded in
establishing the University For Peace in Costa Rica, a United Nations Charter
Institution that is still operational today. When asked if La Amistad was intended
to serve as a peace park from its inception, Mr. Carazo replied, “We did a lot for
the politics of peace. It wasn’t simply to sign some agreement; it was to bring
into reality an action, a permanent action. Peace is practiced and works every
day, not just one time. When we created Parque La Amistad it was a park of

harmony between two countries.”16

While there had been discussion about forming an international park with
Panama since the early 1970’s, it was Mr. Carazo’s diplomatic work with
Panamanian president Aritides Royo that enabled the park to be signed into
existence on February 4, 1982. This peaceful collaboration was written into the
presidential decree that created the park, and a legal mandate of La Amistad is
to serve as “the object of continuing political cooperation in border areas and a
symbolic gesture of excellent relations, friendship, and fraternity between the two

people and their governments.”17

 

‘6 (Carazo, 2003)
17("La Amistad Creation Document," 1982)

14

Dr. Oscar Arias Sénchez, President of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and
recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, defined a link between international
parks and peaceful relations among nations. He describes how peace parks
function as part of the peace process in a book chapter he co-authored with
James D. Nations in 1992 titled, A Call for Central American Peace Parks.18 In
this chapter he explains how a system of Central Amenwn peace parks can
function to improve regional peace among nations. Further, he explains the
relationship of his proposal to a specific peace process, the Esquipulas ll Peace

Process, which in 1987 ended years of armed conflict in the region.

In order for Esquipulas II to succeed, trust and cooperation had to be developed
among the presidents of all Central American nations. Dr. Arias explains the
process as follows, “The peace process - also known as Esquipulas ll -
assumed that when legal standards of conduct, negotiation, and implementation
procedures are clear and straightforward, mutual confidence among participants
may grow to exclude nationalistic attitudes. When problems are international,
and mutual confidence prevails over nationalistic behavior, governments willingly
cooperate because they perceive no threat to their sovereignty or political
independence. To build confidence among the presidents, negotiations had to
incorporate clear and determinate principles, rules, and procedures that most

participants shared and accepted as valid.”19

 

‘8 (Annis, 1992)
‘9 (Annis, 1992)

15

In 1989, nearly two years after Esquipulas II was signed by all Central American
Presidents, they signed another document which created the Central American
Commission on Environment and Development, La Commission
Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo.20 This commission was the first
regional effort of its type in the world, and represented a deepening peace
process that enabled cooperation among nations and recognized their common
relationship with natural systems that transcend national boundaries. Clearly, the
ability to create this commission drew upon the experience and process of

Esquipulas IL

Dr. Arias went on to propose a system of Central American peace parks that
could be developed and administered by this regional organization (CCAD).
While this system of parks has yet to be developed in its entirety, there have
been several accomplishments, including adjoining parks between Costa Rica
and Nicaragua, Honduras and Nicaragua, Belize and Guatemala, Guatemala and
Mexico, and three trinational parks among Nicaragua, Honduras, and El
SalvadonEl Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; and Belize, Guatemala, and
Mexico.21 La Amistad, located between Costa Rica and Panama, is the oldest of

these transfrontier parks and has served as the model for this initiative.

 

2° The five Central American presidents met in February 1989 at a summit in Costa del Sol, El
Salvador, and agreed to create a regional commission on the environment and development
The commission was formally created at a signing in Costa Rica later that year.

2‘ (Zbiez, 1999)

16

There is also evidence to show La Amistad Peace Park functioning as a vehicle
for peace among government and non-govemment agencies worldwide. In the
presidential decree that created the park five organizations are credited for their
conservation strategies and impact on the conceptualization of La Amistad.
These organizations are the World Conservation Union, Switzerland (UICN), The
United Nations Environment Programme (PNUMA), the World Wildlife Fund
(VWVF), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and
the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO).
Many of the ideas for formation of La Amistad came from the First Central
American Meeting on the Management of Natural and Cultural Resources held in
San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1974 and sponsored by the agencies listed above and

the OAS (Organization of American States).22

The UN approved La Amistad as a biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s Man and
the Biosphere Programme in 1982, the same year in which it was created, and it
was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1983. These designations are
important in that they indicate agreement on key conservation and development
principles that are applied by a global organization and monitored through UN
sanctioned agencies. The lntemational scope of La Amistad was intended from
its inception. Rodrigo Carazo, co-founder of the park, explains, “It (La Amistad)

is our gift to the planet."

 

’1 (MIRENEM (Ministerio de Recursos Naturales, 1990)

17

La Amistad lntemational Park was intended to function as a vehicle for the
expression of peace between and among nations. Even it’s name indicates this
intent, The Park of Friendship: Costa Rica and Panama; On another level it
represents friendship with the global community and serves as a vehicle for
maintaining and cultivating greater peace through cooperation and mutual

interest.

18

Peaceful Development

The presidential decree that created La Amistad lntemational Park notes “the
importance of sustainable development while ensuring the permanent well being
of citizens and future generations”. Park founders listed five examples of the
type of sustainable development they envisioned; tourism, recreation, teaching,

scientific study, and the generation of hydroelectric power.23

Since this 1972 decree a great deal has changed in scholarly thinking about
conservation, development, and sustainability. The tension between
conservation and development has been addressed in many ways since then
and there have been countless failures and some successes to inform the
dialogue. The tension among stakeholders and the struggle overwho has the
right to make the rules is as important as addressing the tension between
conservation and development. Wolfgang Sachs, editor of The Development

Dictionary, writes in a book chapter on environment,

“While environmentalists have put the spotlight on the numerous vulnerabilities of
nature, governments as a result discover a new conflict-ridden area in need of
political governance and regulations. This time, not peace between persons is at
stake, but the orderly relations between man and nature. To mediate in this
conflict, the state assumes the task of gathering evidence on the state of nature
and the effects of man, of enacting norms and laws to direct behavior, and
enforce compliance with the new rules. ...To cany out these formidable
objectives, the state has to install the necessary institutions like monitoring
systems, regulatory mechanisms and executive agencies. A new class of
professionals is required to perform these tasks while ecoscience is supposed to

 

P ("La Amistad Creation Document," 1982)

19

provide the epistemology of intervention. In short, the experts who used to look
after economic growth now claim to be presiding over survival itself.”24

This analysis by Sachs suggests that decisions regarding nature and human
options have been taken completely from the hands of those who have
intergenerational links to the land and usurped by the state. Recognizing this
criticism, peace parks are conceptually designed to include the vision, worldview,

and will of indigenous residents of the land.

The idea of development, “to foster economic and human development which is
socio—culturally and ecologically sustainable,” is listed as one of the three primary
functions of a Biosphere Reserve under the UN’s Man and the Biosphere
Programme.25 Because La Amistad National Park, Costa Rica, became a UN
Biosphere Reserve in the same year it was created, we can anchor the concept

of sustainable development to the provisions spelled out by this program.

According to the provisions of Biosphere Reserves, they are designed to answer
one of the most challenging questions facing the world today, “How can we
conserve the diversity of plants, animals and micro-organisms which make up

our living ‘biosphere’ and maintain healthy natural systems while, at the same

 

2‘ (Sachs, 1992)
’5 (UNESCO, 2003)

20

time, meet the material needs and aspirations of an increasing number of

people?”26 The potential for conflict is great as we try to answer this question.

As a Biosphere Reserve, La Amistad conceptually offers a peaceful answer that
is expressed through practice. According to a recent UN publication, “A
Biosphere Reserve, in addition to nature, conserves peoples, ethnicities and
cultures. A Biosphere Reserve is created not against a society but with and for

the society.”27

In this context La Amistad serves as a vehicle to reduce the tensions associated
with conservation and development, with growth in human consumption and
protection of natural systems, and among stakeholders who all feel a right and a
need to interact with nature in their own way. Simply put, La Amistad is intended
to be a vehicle for peaceful development, a way to address tensions and foster

peace among humans and with nature.

 

23 - -
lbld.
27 UN MAB, Biosphere reserves, Special places for people and nature.

21

CHAPTER 2

Interview with Mr. Rodrigo Carazo Odio, President of Costa Rica 1978 -

‘I 982, Father of La Amistad International Park; Costa Rica — Panama.

This interview took place at Mr. Carazo’s home in Escazu, Costa Rica, near the
nation’s capital, San Jose, on June 16, 2003. The interview was conducted in
Spanish with Paul Babladelis, a graduate student in the Department of Resource
Development, Michigan State University. The interview was video taped and a

complete transcription, as well as a DVD recording of the interview, is included in

the appendix of this thesis.

Mr. Carazo can be called “The Father of Parque la Amistad”. He was the primary
architect of the park and brought together experts in the field to help him with the
design. He solicited the cooperation of Panama in the project, and in 1982

signed it into existence by joint Presidential decree with Panamanian President

Dr. Aritides Royo.

He was, and is, a primary driving force behind the Costa Rican green revolution.
As a national legislator he helped draft and pass a law to ban lumber exports in
the late 1960’s which turned Costa Rica from the largest lumber exporter in
Central America to one with no lumber exports. During his presidency he
increased the size of the national park system by 230%, more than any president

before or since. Creation of Parque la Amistad was accomplished in the last

22

year of his administration and represented the culmination of years of work and

planning.

Mr. Carazo’s home in Escazu is surrounded by trees and a bamboo grove. It is
peaceful and unobtrusive yet elegant with expanses of beautiful natural
hardwoods. The interview took place in this home with family members going

about their business and Mr. Carazo taking time to hold a grandchild.

When asked about childhood influences that may have formed his early
relationships with nature, Mr. Carazo explained that he grew up in the rural areas
of Costa Rica and came from a long line of descendents who lived close to the
land. He credits family members for teaching him to notice the natural world that
surrounded him. To illustrate his point he suggested that in many cases a
person from the city might go into the country and pass right by an animal without
seeing it or knowing it is there. On the other hand, a person who is steeped in
knowledge of nature may pass by an animal without seeing it yet knows it is

there.

Mr. Carazo explained why he feels an education like the one he received as a
child is important, “I say that the most serious problem with people is that they
look but they don’t see. Because they don’t see, they don’t feel. The rural
person, who has lived with the land, knows what every one of nature’s gifts

means, and for the most part, is grateful for everything”

23

He talked about the massive deforestation Costa Rica experienced following
World War II, and how he fought to stop it. As a national representative, a
diputado, from 1968 to 1970, he pushed legislation to put a ban on all lumber
exports and turn Costa Rica from the largest wood exporter in the region to one
with no exports at all. Using the catch phrase, “Sell a tree a million times instead
of once,” he succeeded in securing the total export ban. This helped set the
stage for the green revolution in Costa Rica that launched it as a global

ecotourism destination

He also noted that this same legislature created reforestation programs in
addition to stopping lumber exports. However, it is clear that Mr. Carazo favors
preservation over reforestation, “I always say that reforestation is like an esthetic
solution, it makes things look better but they aren’t better, it’s just putting back
what was removed. Nonetheless, it is a demonstration of public interest in
keeping the country alive and green, in the case of Costa Rica, a country

extraordinarily rich in forests and natural resources.”

He summed up his attitude toward nature and tied it to his earliest influences,

“I’m able to say I was born, I grew up, I lived, and I live in the forest. I have

always enjoyed it and I will always enjoy it.”

24

Mr. Carazo then explained how he was able to carry these beliefs, ideals and
goals into his presidency. The creation of national parks became a priority and
he noted three special accomplishments, Parque de lsla del Coco, which he
called a treasure, Palo Verde, and La Amistad lntemational Park. His reason
was simple, “I always thought that coming generations deserve to know the

country that I knew."

When asked specifically about the origins of the idea to create La Amistad, which
would become Central America’s first peace park, he said that the ideas had
been around for several years but that he drew them together during his
presidency. He consulted with experts in the field and appointed one individual
to do nothing but work on getting ideas for La Amistad down on paper. He
realized that there was some urgency and wanted to have everything ready so
that when the moment came, and creation of the park would be possible, he
would be ready.

When documents were ready he approached the President of Panama, Mr.
Aritides Royo, and proposed that they formally create an international park, one
that recognizes nature over political boundaries. He said that Mr. Royo liked the
idea but that the Panamanians were thinking about large investments and big
international projects. Mr. Carazo decided to wait a little while, be patient, and try

again later.

25

Nearly a year later he approached Mr. Royo again and suggested they travel to
both coasts, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and meet there with leaders of the
Bribri and the Guaymis, the two largest indigenous tribes. In front of these

groups the two presidents promised to create the park.

He notes that there was resistance to the idea in Costa Rica and some people
didn’t want to create the park because they thought it was a huge fiscal burden
for the government. This argument didn’t sway Mr. Carazo who explains, “I

thought that money comes and goes, but when the forests are gone they don’t

come back.”

Not only did Parque Ia Amistad have the great majority of the diverse
ecosystems of Costa Rica, it was an opportunity to cooperate with-Panama on
conservation. Mr. Carazo explains, “ It is a zone full of historic mysteries, of
precious ecological zones, of the greatest forests and the highest mountains in
Costa Rica. And, what’s more, it is a zone that is shared with Panama, a country
that desperately needs to conserve its forests. It was a way to continue to
educate us both, together, and to invite Panama to an experience, an adventure

that was an adventure of two brother countries. “

Mr. Carazo was asked about the name, La Amistad Peace Park, and if the peace

park designation that is used commonly around the world today applied at the

time of La Amistad’s creation. To this question he replied, “We, in our

26

administration, created the University for Peace, which is a charter institution,
chartered by the UN, and we also created the Inter-American Institute for Human
Rights. We were able to bring the Inter-American Court for Human Rights to

Costa Rica and this country declared peace on the world.”

“We did a lot for the politics of peace, it wasn’t simply to sign an agreement, it
was to bring into reality an action, a permanent action. Peace is practiced and
works every day, not just one time. Then when we created Parque La Amistad it

was a park of harmony, between two countries.”

He went on to say that as director of the University for Peace he proposed a park
with Nicaragua that would be called, Si-a-la-paz, Yes to Peace. Although there
was a great deal of effort, and some progress was made, the park-was never
realized. Mr. Carazo opened and closed a desk drawer, pretending to throw a
piece of paper in it, and said, “These things, you either do them or you don’t.

You do it, and convert it into reality, or you simply leave a piece of paper in the

desk here”

When asked if the UN designations of La Amistad as a UN World Heritage Site
and also as a Biosphere Reserve are important, Mr. Carazo responded quickly,
“Without doubt. It is very important for many reasons. It is very important
because it makes it more difficult to touch, to hurt it. Correspondingly, it is easier

to defend. It is always difficult to defend a park, very difficult. Secondly, it is very

27

important for Parque la Amistad because it will become known internationally.
Important for the country because many people will come to know it over time
and it will be a great tourist attraction. Tourism should be practiced with the

national parks in a way that it educates people.”

He was then asked to differentiate between ecotourism, nature tourism, and the
role of tourism in national parks as well as La Amistad. To this question he
responded that Costa Rica must utilize its forests for tourism and identified a link
between the revenue generated through tourism and the ability to protect forests.
“If it (Costa Rica) doesn’t take good advantage of the forests it won’t be able to

take care of them because it won’t have the money.”

He went on to identify another link between creation of La Amistad and tourism,
“It was a contribution from Costa Rica to the world. It is a contribution from my
country, from our country, to the planet, to the planet earth and to humanity.
That is to say the park belongs to all human beings on the planet, but to belong

to means to be a friend and to learn what it means to be an educational park.”

He identified a relationship between non-consumptive development, human
development in education, understanding, and attitude, and the type of tourism
he envisioned. However, he said that not only should a visit to the park enrich
the tourist who visits there, it should in some way also enrich the park and the

people who live there.

28

In his view education extends even to the language people use to describe the
park and he differentiated between the term forest and jUngle. “(For many
people) the jungle is something to fear while the forest is something to love. You

need to learn this important difference,” he said.

When asked about the role of NGOs in managing La Amistad he made a
distinction between those with genuine intentions to help and those who
masquerade in good intentions while actually seeking to exploit the park. “I am
going to be very clear about this,” he said, “I have a lot of respect for NGOs when
they come with a desire to collaborate, and I have a great deal of caution when
they come with a desire to investigate potential natural resources industries.
Many believe they love nature and what they are really doing is taking away

nature to make a business. Of those I'm fearful, I watch out for them."

He elaborated on this theme of conservation, and stressed that development
initiatives must be indirect in the sense that they are non-extractive. “It is implicit
that a person who knows a forest knows that country, he said, “Costa Rica has
had a lot of that. I always tell those who are in charge of preserving the forests,
‘Do everything you can to deserve the title of a conservationist country because if
you don’t, then you’ve lost, because what you are doing then is a business.’

Costa Rica is a country that has done things like this, shut down gold mines so

29

that they don’t affect a forest like we did in the Osa Peninsula. Gold, gold no,

forests yes. Now we say oil no, forests yes.”

When asked if he thought Costa Rica was a world leader in conservation, Mr.
Carazo replied simply, “There’s no need to say it, you’ve got to do it. That’s

important. Be it, don’t say it.”

The interviewer noted that Parque La Amistad has been in existence for more
than twenty years and wondered if Mr. Carazo felt its original goals have been
met. To this he replied, “Greatly, and there’s still a great deal to go. When
Parque la Amistad completed twenty years they invited me to a ceremony and
those who spoke explained that when I signed the decree they protested
because we were, according to them, taking away the land they could plant. But
twenty years later they have learned that for them it was much better to have the
park because they have learned a lot and benefited a lot from the park. These
leaders are now a new generation. A new generation tied to the park, not a

generation tied to traditional Costa Rican forest exploitation.”

“It is an educational process, and their children would never permit anyone to cut
a tree for export, never, because now they have a different education. The way
in which the park is advancing is also teaching us to conserve it. The great
enemy of the national parks is an ignorant general public that doesn’t have the

faintest idea of what a forest is. It is a reality. What we need to do is continue

30

educating people because everything that signifies conservation is an

interminable process. It is an endless process without the least doubt.”

Asked about his current relationship with Parque La Amistad, Mr. Carazo
indicated that he is still in touch with the people who are in charge of the park
through MINAE, the government agency that administers it, and is aware of their

needs, challenges, and desires for the future.

Mr. Carazo was asked if there was anything he’d like to say to finish the interview
and he replied, “The number one prize that we Costa Ricans can receive for
having the will to create this park and other parks is that the world knows Costa

Rica for its parks...it’s the parks that have made this country great.”

When asked if he’d like to give advice to those people who are currently forming
peace parks around the globe today, he said, “Yes, there’s something that is very
important. Those people who make an international park know that they are
uniting peoples as brothers and sisters. What you must have (in creating a
peace park) is a common goal. Having a common purpose, that’s what you
accomplish with a park. This is accomplished because the countries and the
people want the same thing, they value the same thing. In other things people
look for differences, with a forest people unite. If it’s a soccer team, they look for

differences, if it’s a forest they want to unite.”

31

The interview concluded with a handshake and thanks to Mr. Carazo for taking
time from his busy schedule to conduct the interview and for contributing to a
deeper understanding of the conceptual framework that helped create Parque

lntemacional de la Amistad; Costa Rica — Panama.

32

CHAPTER 3
Interview with Dr. Oscar Arias Sénchez, President of Costa Rica, 1986 -

1990, and recipient of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize.

This interview took place in San Jose, Costa Rica, June 16, 2003. The country
was stressed by a teachers’ strike that had gone on for over a month and
protesters began blocking main traffic arteries of the capital to force an
agreement. A strike by ICE, the National Electrical Institute that controls
telecommunications as well as electricity, had just ended. Dr. Arias had been
exceedingly busy consulting with national leaders about the problems facing the

country.

A past President of Costa Rica, from 1986 -1990, and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize
recipient, Dr. Arias is also a likely candidate for the next presidential election. He
travels widely, and was scheduled to leave for Russia to meet with Michael
Gorbachev later in the week. Despite his extremely busy schedule he graciously

permitted this interview in his San José home.

We met in Dr. Arias’ study, a room full of books and mementos from his life as a
world citizen. A bust of John F. Kennedy sat in the middle of a coffee table,
given to Dr. Arias in the 1950’s. He spoke only Spanish as we prepared for the

interview although he has a fluent command of English.

33

I had requested the interview with Dr. Arias primarily because of a book chapter
he co-authored with James D. Nations in 1992.28 The chapter, A Call For Central
American Peace Parks, clearly defined the characteristics of peace parks and
linked their creation and maintenance to a greater regional political process.
Because La Amistad is the first Central American Peace Park, Dr. Arias’ proposal
seened to build upon the original conceptual framework of the park and place it
in a larger context. According to Dr. Arias, peace parks are as much a
manifestation of peace among nations as they are a vehicle to collaborate on

larger issues.

He wrote the book chapter at a time of increasing regional harmony, trust and
understanding. Dr. Arias had helped bring an end to armed conflict in Central
America in 1987 when all five Central American presidents signed an agreement,
Esquipulas II, to end armed conflict in the region. In 1989 he helped establish
the Central Amencan Commission on Environment and Development, La
Commission Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo, another initiative
signed by all five presidents. Now, a dozen years after writing , A Call for Central
American Peace Parks, he seemed less hopeful about world events and the
chances for expanded peace parks. He cited hunger, good drinking water,

schools and hospitals as issues that were competing for the same funds.

The interview began with a question for Dr. Arias regarding his attitudes toward

nature, his influences, and his beliefs. He paused, then began explaining what it

 

21’(Annis, 1992)

was like at the time of his presidency, in August, 1987 when the five Central
American presidents agreed internally to end armed conflict in the region.

“No one thought we’d ever reach an agreement,” he said, “because the pressure
from Washington was very strong. The government of President Regan was
convinced that my proposal wasn’t a good one. They were convinced that the

only real solution to the conflicts in the region was a military solution.”

Dr. Arias went on to detail some of the factions involved in the conflict and
reiterated that President Regan thwarted Central American pcace efforts until the

end of this administration and kept the war going.

Dr. Arias recalls when he went to Washington as President of Costa Rica and
addressed a joint session of congress with the message, “Give peace a chance.”
He feels the address may have contributed somewhat to a reduction in US aid to
the Contras since the US began to reduce support for insurgent groups in Central
America shortly after these hearings.

“When President Bush (Sr.) took over,” he continued, “I had a very frank
conversation with Jim Baker who was secretary of state. I told him that to me it
was a little ridiculous that the US would dedicate so much time to a region of
such little importance, and frankly to try and overturn a government instead of

dealing with the more important issues of the worId like establishing better

35

relations with Gorbachev. See, in that moment no one could imagine that in just
a short time the Berlin Wall would fall, and communism (as it was then) and the

cold war would end .”

“This is to say that when I received the Nobel Prize in October, 1987, the
Scandinavian countries really wanted to help me. They wanted to help me
because they were proud of a small country, with a 100 year democracy, with
great political stability, and that we were able to convince four other Central
American countries (to join the peace effort). We had in our hands the destinies
of 30 million Central American people, and we had to choose between life and

death for our children and we chose life.”

Dr. Arias used these incidents to contrast two approaches to conflict, the armed
solution proposed by the US, and his peace plan that required cooperation and a
degree of trust among nations. While he did not link this explanation to peace
parks, it paralleled what he had written about regional cooperation, protecting a
nation with its neighbors instead of against them. Peace parks become a
political possibility when regional neighbors are able to cooperate for mutual
benefit.

He then went on to explain how he was able to increase the size and number of
national parks by implementing a debt for nature swap. “Well, then they asked

me, ‘How can we help you?’ and I answered, Why don’t you help me with a debt

for nature swap? Then we were able to use what money we had to buy land to
make parks. That's how we began the whole process of buying land through
debt reduction until we finally had about 25% of the country in some sort of public

or private protected area.”

“Sweden was a big help’” he explained, “They helped negotiate a reduction in the
national debt and we were given choices as to where we wanted to use the
money, for education, or for other things. We chose to use the money for nature

conservation.”

He said that the debt for nature swap was important in another way, more than
protecting nature it helped develop a very strong ecological conscience that is
manifested in the Costa Rican government today. He points to the many current
national legislators who are dedicated to protecting flora and fauna as a primary

goal.

Dr. Arias made another link between parks and former areas of conflict when he
talked about a park he wanted to build on a site that had previously been a ranch
in the north of the country with an airstrip that had been secretly built with US
help to aid the contras in Nicaragua. It had been built during the administration
prior to his, and when Dr. Arias learned of its existence, he shut it down and
succeeded in stopping the aid to the contras that had been flowing from Costa
Rica without his knowledge. He believed that turning this land into a park, part of

37

a peace park with Nicaragua, would be a fitting transformation, an expression of
the peace park ideal that areas of conflict can be replawd by protected natural

areas that foster collaboration.

Dr. Arias was then asked about his ideas regarding boarders as regions of
conflict or cooperation. In the late 1980’s and 1990’s Costa Rica experienced
many difficulties along its border with Nicaragua and a flood of refugees
streamed into Costa Rica from this war-tom neighbor. This problem continues
today in Costa Rica and some estimates place the number of illegal Nicaraguans
working in Costa Rica at 500,000 or more. Dr. Arias was asked about his idea to
create peace parks along Central American boarders including the Nicaraguan

boarder.

“I’m not original in my proposal,“ he replied, “there are a lot of people who have
thought about that. We had a conference about developing our frontiers with
both Nicaragua and Panama. However, I believe it is going to be very difficult to
get the resources needed to do this (create the peace parks). You’ve got to
remember that Nicaragua is a very poor country and has remained a poor
country since the war. I think the per capita annual income is something like
$700 there versus $4000 here, that’s why we have such a big problem with

immigration.”

38

“Really there’s nothing more important right now than developing border areas
and allowing free movement like the Europeans are doing, but the problem here
is that you have to develop the entire country. There aren’t many people living in
the border regions. In the central valley, on the other hand, there are large
concentrations of people. It’s here that we must develop our infrastructure, we

simply don’t have a good infrastructure.”

Once again Dr. Arias points to a relationship between peace parks and larger
economic and social conditions. He believes peace parks are possible and
desirable among Northern Hemisphere actors but fears the current conditions in
Central America may impede efforts there. However, there is ongoing regional

economic integration, and he does see a positive initiative on the horizon.

“CAFTA (the Central American Free Trade Agreement) may be the best
opportunity Central America has,“ he said. “For the US the Central American
market represents 1%, for Central America the US represents half of the market.
There’s no greater benefit for us than to have access to the North American

market.”

He summarized by explaining that poverty was the big issue facing Central
America, poor nations and poor people. The tax burden on the national debt is a
concern. There isn't money to build highways, roads, schools, to provide

drinking water, housing, electrical systems, and that is where the pressure is. He

39

said that the idea of developing borders was a beautiful idea but that the
resources to do it would have to come from outside the Central American
countries. He said that the primary task for Central America is building an

infrastructure that is nearly non-existent at present and pants are not a top

priority.

With respect to sources of help coming from beyond the Central American
region, Dr. Arias was asked about the possible role of NGO’s in the process.
While he supported the concept of NGO help he remained skeptical about

chances for meaningful change.

“You have to start by purchasing land,“ he said, “and land is very expensive. It is
largely in private hands and has already been developed agriculturally. I don’t
think in the wond today there’s enough solidarity, philanthropy, or generosity for
NGOs to get the funds necessary to buy land on both sides of a border, for
example land along the San Juan River.29 Frankly, I think we can develop some
small parks, but a park all along the border...,“ he concluded without finishing

the statement.

He said that while Nicaragua would probably like to participate in creation of an
international park, their necessities are more basic, thus returning to an earlier

theme of this interview in which he linked social infrastructure, poverty, and

 

‘9 The Rio San Juan divides Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It has been an area of tension for
several years with disputes about control of the river. A peace park was proposed for the region
in the 1980's but was not realized.

40

addressing basic necessities before countries can seriously consider creating

large international parks.

This led to a question about the relationship of poverty and the destruction of
natural ecosystems. Nicaragua faces a serious problem in protecting natural
areas while rural poor struggle to find new land upon which to grow food to feed

their families.

Dr. Arias commented, “Indira Ghandi once said, ‘ Poverty is the biggest polluter.’
I think she was wrong in this respect. I think it’s the rich who are contaminating
the world, the excessive consumption of the rich nations.” He continued, “The
vision of many wealthy nation’s leaders is myopic, with all due respect, the vision

in Washington is very myopic.”

He explained that for many years he’s proposed creation of a new Marshall Plan
to help equalize the distribution of wealth in the America’s, and cited figures to

illustrate the huge inequities on the continent.

Dr. Arias then began to speak about the NGO he heads, the Arias Foundation,
and his central goal, disarmament, and his efforts to convince Latin American
countries not to spend money on arms purchases. He said that the children of
the world in developing countries be it Africa, Asia or Latin America, need

schools, medical care, basic necessities, not tanks or combat airplanes. “But you

41

know what the priorities are of the government of the United States are,” he said,
“The government of the US spends about 400 billion dollars each year in military
spending?0 This represents about half of what is spent worldwide on defense.
The US spends as much on the military as the rest of the countries of the world

combined.”

He cited several recent armed conflicts, recalled the wars in Central America,
and wondered where the next war would occur. “But that’s another subject,” he
said. “What I really want to say is that to reduce poverty, to supply drinking water
for the thousands of people who don’t have it, we have to use our resources to
protect nature and larger regions of our national territories for coming
generations. These are things we could do if the vision existed, but we need the

valor to say these are the things that are important.”

“I think the principal problem is that the values that have dominated during the
20‘" century are mistaken values, a great deal of materialism, egoism, greed, and
very little social justice. Really, I think it’s very difficult beginning the 21"t century
the way we have, trying to be optimistic that things will suddenly change, but I
don’t see it. I don’t see the illuminated changes in the rich countries that will
allow them to change their values which in turn would allow changes in
possibilities, to create a world with less inequality, more egalitarian, more justice,

but that’s just not a possibility with Washington (at this time)”

 

3° Since this interview it has been estimated that the US will spend approximately 600 billion
dollars on the war in Iraq alone.

42

Mr. Arias took a moment to reflect and then returned to the subject of peace
parks. “I would really like it if we could do more with this idea (of peace parks) to
sincerely protect nature, it we could get inversions of money into these poor
countries. But we can’t just leave it up to the NGOs, where are they going to get
the money to build parks? In reality they can’t exert that great a force. It’s true

that NGOs have a lot of resources, but they also have a lot of diverse interests.”

He spoke about the Arias Foundation, his NGO, and explained that the
foundation is focused on disarmament, reductions in military spending rather
than ecological issues, because there are already several NGOs working to
preserve nature. He and other peace prize recipients have proposed a plan to
change the code of ethics by which arms are bought and sold to third world
countries, and is pleased that most European nations have voluntarily adopted
this proposal. “What we hope to say clearly, together, is that each time you sell a
weapon to a poor country, the only thing you are doing is increasing that

country’s poverty, in Africa, in Asia, in Latin America.”

He said that they'd tried to persuade President Clinton not to lift the embargo to
sell high tech weapons in Latin America, but Clinton lifted the ban none-the-less
and sold arms to Chile. He stressed that Latin American has several necessities
as it enters the 21m century and that it certainly does not need to expend scare

resources to buy arms. However, the points to the case of Chile and says that’s

43

exactly what they did thanks to the US making the sale possible. He also pointed
out that North American arms have killed North American soldiers in Somalia, in
Panama, in Iraq, and speculated that there would be other places in the future

because of continued indiscriminate sale of arms.

“I’ve always said that we must put principles before profits,” he concluded, “but

up until now we haven’t had much luck.“

This interview with Dr. Arias placed the discussion of peace parks within a larger
fiamework. The theme of poverty emerged repeatedly as a constraining factor
with pressure to use scarce resources for human survival and basic services

rather than peace park initiatives.

A second theme of the interview is the current lack of cooperation among rich
and poor nations. He sees this as an ethical problem, misplaced values that
foster greed, and an unwillingness to share resources more equitably. While Dr.
Arias recognizes the urgent need to protect natural biological systems, he
questions the source of funding to purchase land from private hands, create, and

maintain these parks.

It may be interesting to compare Dr. Arias’ outlook on peace parks in his 1992
Call for A System of Central American Peace Parks and his current attitudes

expressed in this interview. Because Dr. Arias has always tied his peace park

initiative to a greater political process and climate he is less optimistic today than

he was a dozen years ago.

Interestingly, Dr. Arias flew to Russia two days following this interview where he
met with Mr. Gorbachev and other former world heads of state. Mr. Gorbachev,
who is president of the environmental organization Green Cross lntemational,
has since come out with an endorsement to transform what was once the Iron
Curtain into a peace park over 800 miles long. Both Nobel Peace Prize

recipients, these to men also seem to share an interest in peace parks.

45

CHAPTER 4
Survey of Resident Perceptions
According to a 2002 UN Man and the Biosphere publication, “...it also has to be
recognized that many biosphere reserves do not measure up to the grand ideal,
even remotely. Often the label has been added over a pre-existing protected
area designation without thought being given to the significance of becoming part
of a worldwide network. Many reserves suffer from a lack of funds and receive
little support from the government. Sometimes, the manager of the individual
reserve fails to seek the essential involvement of local people in the management
of the area. Trying to manage an area for both conservation and sustainable
management is much harder than doing so for one purpose only and calls for
highly skilled staff who are not easily found. In all too many countries, public
understanding of the concept is poor (as is that of some conservation experts),

and the public profile of biosphere reserves may be so low as to be invisible.”3’1

Resident perceptions of La Amistad International Peace Park, a UN Biosphere
Reserve since 1982, have largely gone unknown and undocumented. To
address this problem, a lack of knowledge about resident perceptions, a survey
instrument was developed and a methodology put into place to answer the
question, “How do rural residents living in buffer and transition zones of La
Amistad International Peace Park feel the park impacts their lives and

communities? It seeks to examine awareness of and attitudes toward some of

 

3‘ (Hadley, 2002)

46

the most critical components of the biosphere concept; core park, buffer and
transition zone land use, and opportunities for sustainable development. It also
asks perceptions regarding another critical goal, the ability of rural residents to

participate in park planning and operation.

The survey was conducted in three villages near the central eastern border of La
Amistad Peace Park. Bribri are the Native inhabitants of this region and many
live on indigenous reserves in the Talamanca Valley which serves as a gateway
to Amistad from the east. While there are Bribri living within the park boundaries,

a decision was made to interview inhabitants living near the park but not in it.32

The three villages were selected because of their proximity to the park, their
proximity to the Panamanian border, and the predominantly indigenous
population that has a strong intergenerational link to the land. Inhabitants of
these village are representative of the type of rural residents the park was
designed to help and Bribri leaders were marginally involved in the creation of

the park.

One of the villages surveyed, Amubri, is located less than three miles from the
park. The other two, Suretka and Yorkin, are about eight miles from the park in

Costa Rica as well as eight miles from each other. In addition, none of the

 

32 As a Biosphere Reserve, primary sustainable development initiatives take place in the buffer
zones or transition zones outside the core park area. This survey is consistent with Biosphere
Reserve guidelines.

47

villages are located more than six miles from the border with Panama. One
village, Yorkin, sits on a hill just above the Yorkin River which marks the Costa
Rica — Panama international border at that point, and as such Yorkin is closer to

the park in Panama than it is in Costa Rica.

Figure one below shows the location of the three villages and their proximity to

the park.

Figure 1 — Map of Village Locations

v-lzy‘r .. .911 ..~.

 

t 9
\‘EJ.’
”3:33 _-
#65“. fl

- -m-

; r t”

An exploration of resident perceptions in Panama could serve as the subject of
further study, especially given the international composition of the park, and offer

a comparison to the perceptions recorded in the three Costa Rican villages

La Amistad is a huge park, 584,592 hectares as a total Biosphere Reserve with
Panama”, and 193,929 hectares in La Amistad (Talamanca) National Park
Costa Rica alone.34 The approaches from the Pacific are dramatically different
from the Caribbean entrances.35 Even northern and southern Caribbean
entrances to the park are very different, culturally as well as biologically“. The
surveys were conducted in one geographic area with the recognition that results
may not be representative of other geographic regions. However, further study
could draw upon this same methodology to survey resident perceptions in these

other areas.

 

33 (UNESCO, 2002)

3‘ (UNEP, 2001)

35 Chiripo, perhaps the most dramatic Pacific entrance to the park, rises to 3,819 meters above
sea level, the highest point in the country. The eastern entrances that are the subject of this
survey are located in a dense, thick and lush tropical lowland valley.

3° Reserva Biologica Hitoy-Cerete is representative of a northern Caribbean entrance to the park.
The population is not predominantly Bribri and is a mixture of Costa Rican nationals, Ticos in the
national Spanish speaking dialect. It is a mountainous area and differs topographically from the
lowland tropical valley where this study took place.

49

Methodology

Peaceful development, one of the three primary park goals identified in this
thesis, proposes to provide“ sustainable development opportunities for indigenous
peoples who have lived for generations in what is now the park and its buffer
zones while at the same time protecting natural ecosystems. As part of this
same goal, these indigenous residents are stakeholders who must be included in

management and operation of the park.37

Although the goal is clear, little is known about how well it is actually manifested
in the reality of indigenous residents living near the park. This thesis seeks to
measure resident perceptions of how well this goal is realized in the communities

and in the personal lives of these residents.

A survey instrument was developed to measure resident perceptions and a target
sample was identified. The surveys were administered only to residents currently
living in buffer zones of La Amistad Peace Park. Conceptually these residents
should have access to or knowledge of sustainable development initiatives
because of their proximity to the park. They should also have some sense of

community involvement, or lack of the same, in managing the park.

 

37 The section on peaceful development beginning on page 17 of this work describes this goal in
detail.

50

Three villages were selected as survey sites based on this criteria, Amubri ,
Yorkin, and Suretka. The Suretka group included participants from the nearby
settlements of Volio, Watsi, and Bribri as well. All villages are located in the
Talamanca valley thereby controlling for substantial geographic differences. All
villages are primarily inhabited by Bribri, thereby controlling for substantial

cultural attitudinal differences

The Cahuita Computer Center located in Cahuita, Costa Rica, collaborated in
this project and selected research assistants from each of these three principal
villages. Operated by Opportunity Access, an international non-profit
organization registered in the US as a 501 (c) (3), the Cahuita Computer Center
offers outreach educational programs to residents throughout the Talamanca
region, and has students from each of the villages targeted for the survey. Adult
students taking classes at the computer center were identified as competent
candidates to serve as research assistants. Qualifications included the ability to
speak Bribri fluently, speak and write Spanish fluently, and the willingness to

participate in a training session prior to conducting interviews.

A decision was made to use residents of each community as research assistants
in'order to reduce the possible effect on responses that may be associated with a
foreign visitor entering a rural community and asking questions about attitudes

and opinions. None of the research assistants had a vested interest in the

51

outcome of the interviews, none held a position of power in the community, none

were disenfranchised.

All research assistants took part in a training session provided by Mr. Charles
Moore, Director of the Cahuita Computer Center, and did a practice interview that
was evaluated before actually beginning to collect data. Research assistants
were instructed to select a representative sample from the community,
approximately equal numbers of men and women from diverse economic and
social positions. They were asked to complete thirty interviews in each
community, ten interviews with people between the ages of 10 and 20, ten
interviews with people between the ages of 21 and 50, and ten interviews with
people over 50 years of age. While informed consent was obtained from all
survey participants, additional informed consent was required from parents of

participants under 21 years of age.

Mr. Moore conducted a pilot test of the survey prior to implementation, and
offered suggestions that helped frame the final survey instrument and the

instructions participants received prior to taking the survey.

Each interview began with a practice question to ensure the respondent
understood the process. The research assistant read a statement to the
respondent and asked them to chose from five responses to indicate how they

felt about the statement; agree very much, agree somewhat, don’t agree or

52

disagree, disagree somewhat, disagree very much. There were ten statements
in each survey and respondents were invited to comment in addition to selecting
from five possible responses. The data from statement one was formatted and
condensed to best express resident responses to the statement, “You know

where La Amistad Park begins.”

The verbal method of administering the survey was chosen because many Bribri,
particularly older adult participants, may not have the ability to read or write. The
Bribri language has traditionally been a spoken rather than a written language.

Young people have learned to read and write Spanish since testing for scholastic

grade level in Costa Rica is done exclusively in Spanish.

Surveys were completed between June 2 and June 16, 2003, then collected and
turned in to the Cahuita Computer Center where computer students entered
responses into an Excel spreadsheet. Data entry was checked and the Excel file

was imported into SPSS for analysis.

Paul Babladelis, the project manager and author of this thesis, visited two of the
villages after all data collection was complete and informally questioned residents
about the survey that had taken place in their communities. Due to adverse
weather conditions and transportation problems he wasn’t able to reach Yorkin
following data collection. (There are no roads into Yorkin and a visitor must get

there by traveling up river in a dugout canoe or walking a footpath through the

53

forest.) The purpose of this follow-up visit was to ensure the surveys had
actually taken place, that community members were satisfied with the process,
and to provide general background information about the communities. Table

one shows a crosstabulation of all survey respondents by village and gender.

Table 1 - Crosstabulation, Number of Surveys by Village and Gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENDER
__ _ F M Total
Village by Amubri Count 16 14 30
number % within Village
by number 53.3% 46.7% 100.0%
Yorkin Count 12 18 30
% within Village
by number 40.0% 60.0% 100.0%
Bribri, Shiroles, Count 14 16 30
Watsi, Volio, Suretka % within Village
by number 46.7% 53.3% 100.0%
Total Count 42 48 90
% within Village
by number 46.7% 53.3% 100.0%

 

 

Survey Results

Statement One: You know where La Amistad Park begins.

This statement seeks to Ieam if residents are familiar with the actual park
location. It also is an indicator if people have ever visited the park. Presumably
if they have visited the park they will know where it begins, at least at one point.

If they haven’t visited they may still know where the park is located.

Defining the actual park boundaries, and communicating that information to local
residents, is an important goal of biosphere reserves since it directly relates to

land use options.

Table two shows the frequency analysis for statement one:

Table 2 - Frequency of Responses for Statement One

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Statement One
L knows
on’t know not sure somewhat knows well Total

Wage by Amubri I 13 3 1 a 30
number 60.0% 10.0% 3.3% 26.7% 100.0%
Yorkin 30 30
100.0% 100.0%
Bribri, Shiroles, 19 2 8 1 30
Waist V0'i0- 30'6““ 63.3% 6.7% 26.7% 3.3% 100.0%
-T:0Tal 67 5 9 9 90
74.4% 5.6% 10.0% 10.0% 100.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most residents do not know where the park begins, 74.4% of all respondents.
Amubri is located closest to the park, less than three miles away, and reported
the highest percentage, 26.7% of the residents surveyed in that village, who

knew well where the park begins, Yorkin, less than three miles from the Panama

55

side of La Amistad, did not have any residents surveyed who knew where the

park begins.

Statement two: Living near the park very important for your community.

This statement seeks to determine if residents feel there is a relationship
between the community and the park. The type of relationship, and whether it is
perceived as good or bad, is not addressed in this question. Biosphere design is
built upon a strong relationship between core park areas and the residents living
in buffer and transition zones surrounding it. The statement includes a degree of

strength in that it says the park is “very important“ to the community.

Table three shows the frequency analysis for statement two:

Table 3 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Two

 

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 13 14.4 14.4 14.4
disagree somewhat 3 3.3 3.3 17.8
mfg?” °' 7 7.8 7.8 25.6
agree somewaht 10 11.1 11.1 36.7
agree very much 57 63.3 63.3 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most respondents agree very much with the statement that says the park is very
important for their community, 63.3%. Those who disagree very much with the
same statement represented 14.4% of the sample. Ten of the thirteen

respondents who disagreed very much were from the same village, Yorkin.

56

Statement three: There are Bribri and people of other tribes who live in the

park today in the same way their ancestors lived one hundred years ago.

This statement seeks resident perceptions about the park’s role in maintaining an
environment in which indigenous people can continue to practice a lifestyle that
is consistent with their traditions and beliefs. Presidential declarations issued
both in 1979 and 1982 emphasized the need to conserve joint natural and
cultural heritage. Costa Rican and Panamanian officials communicated and
planned with indigenous tribes prior to creation of the park. This question seeks
resident perceptions as to park success in protecting indigenous cultural

heritage.

Table four shows a frequency analysis for statement three.

Table 4 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Three

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 53 58.9 58.9 58.9
disagree somewhat 11 12.2 12.2 71.1
neither agree or disagree 10 11.1 11.1 82.2
agree somewaht 5 5.6 5.6 87.8
agree very much 11 12.2 12.2 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

 

Most respondents either disagreed very much, 58.9%, or disagreed somewhat,
12.2%, with the statement. When results are crosstabulated by village, residents
of Yorkin disagree strongly most often, 26 of 30 respondents, or 86.6% of those

surveyed in that village.

57

Statement Four: Because of the park your community has received money

or other help to create jobs.

Statement four examines resident perceptions regarding a relationship between
the park and development initiatives in their community. While park documents
are clear about the type of development initiatives that are acceptable, this

question does not distinguish among types of development opportunities.

Table five shows a frequency analysis for statement four.

Table 5 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Four

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 77 85.6 85.6 85.6
disagree somewhat 4 4.4 4.4 90.0
neither agree or disagree 1 1.1 1.1 91.1
agree somewaht 2 2.2 2.2 93.3
agree very much 6 6.7 6.7 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A large majority of respondents, 85.6%, disagreed very much with the statement.

Statement five: There are people in your community who go into the park

and know it well.

This statement examines resident perceptions of a physical relationship between

their community and the park. Ecotourism has been identified in park documents

as a desired sustainable development initiative, but the ability to realize programs

58

that involve the local community is partially dependent upon the presence of at
least a few members of the community who have a firsthand knowledge of the
park. Statement five seeks to measure resident perceptions as to the presence

of these individuals in their community.

Table six shows a frequency analysis for statement five.

Table 6 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Five

 

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 28 31.1 31.1 31.1
disagree somewhat 7 7.8 7.8 38.9
neither agree or disagree 7 7.8 7.8 46.7
agree somewaht 8 8.9 8.9 55.6
agree very much 40 44.4 44.4 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement five show a division with 44.4% of respondents agreeing very much,
and 31.1% disagreeing very much. A crosstabulation shows that there is a
difference by village with Yorkin reporting the highest rate of agreement, 26 of 30
respondents, or 86.6% of respondents in that village who agreed very much with

the statement.

Statement six: Your community has a say in how La Amistad Peace Park is

run.

Statement six seeks to measure resident perceptions as to their ability to

participate in operation of the park. Participation of rural residents in planning

59

and operation of the park is an often-stated goal in park documents and

Biosphere Reserve guidelines.

Table seven show a frequency analysis for statement six.

Table 7 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Slx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 60 66.7 66.7 66.7
disagree somewhat 13 14.4 14.4 81.1
neither agree or disagree 3 3.3 3.3 84.4
agree somewaht 2 2.2 2.2 86.7
agree very much 12 13.3 13.3 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

Most respondents either disagreed very much, 66.7%, or disagreed somewhat,

14.4% with statement six. The Suretka group disagreed most often and only one

respondent out of thirty in that group agreed at all. Of the twelve respondents

who agreed very much with the statement, 13.3% of the total sample, six were

from the village of Amubri and six were from the village of Yorkin.

Statement seven: Your community would welcome foreign visitors to the

park.

In the decree that created La Amistad, five examples of sustainable development

are listed, four of which are dependent upon human visitors coming to the park.38

The term “foreign visitors” roughly applies to anyone not living in or near the

 

3" ("La Amistad Creation Document," 1982)

60

 

community surveyed. Because of the homogeneous Bribri culture of the survey

respondents, a Costa Rican native from another part of the country may be

perceived as a foreign visitor by members of these communities. The use of this

term in the statement is intended to mean visitors who are not from that area.

Table eight shows a frequency analysis of statement seven.

Table 8 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Seven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 9 10.0 10.0 10.0
disagree somewhat 7 7.8 7.8 17.8
neither agree or disagree 15 16.7 16.7 34.4
agree somewaht 10 11.1 11.1 45.6
agree very much 49 54.4 54.4 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

 

Most respondents either agreed very much, 54.4%, or agreed somewhat, 11.1%,

with the statement. However, because the result differed greatly by village, a

crosstabulation of responses by village is presented in table nine.

Table 9 - Crosstabulation of Responses for Statement Seven by Village

 

 

 

Count
Statement Seven
disagree disagree neither agree agree agree very
very much somewhat or disagree somewaht much Total
Village Amubri 5 5 9 8 30
by Yorkin 2 0 0 0 28 30
number Bribri
Shiroles,
Watsi, 2 2 12 1 13 30
Volio,
Suretka
Total 9 7 15 10 49 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61

 

Statement eight: The natural areas around your village have been harmed

by human activity.

According to a recent UN Man and the Biosphere report, “Man’s impact on the
Indian reservations (near La Amistad Park) is considerable, with about 24,950
(2002) people maintaining their traditional lifestyles with free range grazing,
hunting, fishing and use of medicinal plants.”9 In theory, this type of impact
should not occur at all within park boundaries and only to a limited extent in the
buffer zones which include several indigenous reservations. This statement is
designed to work with statement nine to access resident perceptions about land

use and human impact both near and inside the park.

Table ten shows a frequency analysis for statement eight.

Table 10 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Eight

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 16 17.8 17.8 17.8
disagree somewhat 7 7.8 7.8 25.6
neither agree or disagree 4 4.4 4.4 30.0
agree somewaht 9 10.0 10.0 40.0
agree very much 54 60.0 60.0 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most respondents agree very much with statement eight, 60%, and another 10%

agree somewhat. Most of the respondents who disagreed very much are from

 

39 (UNESCO, 2002)

62

the village of Yorkin, eight respondents, or 26.6% of those surveyed in that

village.

Statement nine: The plants and animals living in La Amistad Peace Park

have not been disturbed and still remain in their natural state.

Statement nine is designed to work with statement eight to seek resident
perceptions regarding human impact on natural systems inside the park and in
the nearby buffer zones. There is a strict prohibition on human alteration of
natural ecosystems within the park, and statement nine seeks to measure

resident perceptions as to how well that prohibition is adhered to.

Table eleven shows a frequency analysis of statement nine.

Table 11 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Nine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 19 21.1 21.1 21.1
disagree somewhat 9 10.0 10.0 31.1
neither agree or disagree 25 27.8 27.8 58.9
agree somewaht 12 13.3 13.3 72.2
agree very much 25 27.8 27.8 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

There is no clear consensus of resident perceptions regarding statement nine.
Nearly equal numbers disagree very much, 21.1%, agree very much, 27.8%, or
neither agree or disagree, 27.8%. Because results vary greatly by village a

crosstabulation is included in table 12.

63

Table 12 - Crosstabulation of Responses for Statement Nine by Village

 

 

 

Count
Question 9
neither agree
disagree disagree agree or agree very
very much somewhat disagree somewhat much Tot_al_
WiTlaTe Amubri 5 7 5 10 3 30
by Yorkin 8 0 0 0 22 30
number Bribri,
Shiroles,
Watsi, 6 2 20 2 0 30
Volio,
Suretka
Total 19 9 25 12 25 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With crosstabulation analysis it is possible to see that most residents of Yorkin

agree very much, 22 of 30 respondents, or 73.3% of those interviewed in that

village. Most respondents from the Suretka group didn’t agree or disagree,
66.6%. Respondents from Amubri were widely varied and did not present a

consensus.

Statement ten: The park helps create peaceful relationships

Statement ten seeks to determine resident perceptions regarding a relationship
between the park and their sense of peaceful relationships. The potential for
conflict relating to human development and nature conservation has been noted
in many publications, and the Biosphere Reserve Programme seeks to reduce

the resulting tensions and allow peaceful development.4O

 

’° (Hadley, 2002)

This statement does not attempt to define the term “peace” and encourages
respondents to frame their answer based on their personal meaning of the term.
While it is difficult to measure feelings of peace in an empirical sense, responses
to this statement are meaningful in this context. The statement seeks
respondent perceptions of peace as they experience it, on their own terms, and

the relationship of that peace to La Amistad Peace Park.

Table thirteen shows a frequency analysis for statement ten.

Table 13 - Frequency of Responses for Statement Ten

 

 

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid disagree very much 17 18.9 18.9 18.9
disagree somewhat 6 6.7 6.7 25.6
neither agree or disagree 8 8.9 8.9 34.4
agree somewaht 2 2.2 2.2 36.7
agree very much 57 63.3 63.3 . 100.0
Total 90 100.0 100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most respondents agreed very much with statement ten, 63.3%. Those who
disagreed very much represented 18.9% of the sample. A crosstabulation shows
that one village, Yorkin, had 28 of 30 respondents who agreed very much with

the statement, 93.3% of those surveyed in that village.

65

Summary of Survey Results

Based on the results of the survey administered to predominantly Bribri residents
living in the Talamanca Valley which adjoins La Amistad Peace Park, we can say

the following about the perceptions of this group:

1. Most residents do not know where the park boundaries are yet they feel that

living near the park is important to their community.

2. Most residents, over 70% of those surveyed, do not feel there are Bribri living
in the park in the same way their ancestors lived 100 years ago. This indicates
that in the view of these residents the park is not meeting the goal of preserving
their cultural heritage. A comment offered by one Bribri man may help explain
the survey response, “We can’t even cut a tree, either in the park or on our own

reserve, without getting a government permit.”

3. A large majority of residents, 90%, do not feel their community has received
money or other help to create jobs because of the park. This indicates that these
residents do not feel the park is meeting the goal of providing sustainable

development initiatives.

66

4. A large majority of residents, over 80%, do not feel their community has a say
in how the park is run. This indicates the park is not meeting the goal of

including these indigenous residents in park management.

5. Most residents, 70% of those surveyed, recognize that human activity in
buffer areas of the park have damaged natural ecosystems. There is no
consensus on resident perceptions regarding the presence of pristine

ecosystems within the park itself.

6. A majority of residents, over 65%, would welcome foreign visitors to the park.

This may indicate a willingness to engage in ecotourism.

7. A majority of residents, over 65%, feel that in some way the park contributes

to peaceful relationships. .

Based on these general findings it is possible to say that most residents feel
living near the park is important for their communities and that in some way it
contributes to peaceful relationships. It is also possible to say that in the opinion
of these residents the park is not providing opportunities for sustainable
development and they do not have a voice in how the park is run. Further, they
do not feel the park has succeeded in protecting the traditional lifestyle of

indigenous people living within park boundaries.

67

CHAPTER 5

Conclusions and Recommendations

Sufficient documentation exists to present a conceptual view of La Amistad
International Peace Park as an operational expression of peace. This peace can
be systematically examined by looking at the three goals of the park; peace with

nature, peace among nations, and peaceful development.

There is substantial evidence to indicate that the park is meeting the first two of
these goals. Satellite photos reveal a land cover that is intact and virtually
unchanged from when the park was created.41 While fragmented, there are good
studies on certain aspects of the park’s biological condition, and the Costa Rican
government has established a mechanism to coordinate information.42 The park
is monitored by a global audience as part of the UN Biosphere Reserve
Programme and current reports do not indicate significant biological disruption in

the park area itself.43

The park also appears to be working well as a vehicle for friendly relations
among nations. On a most basic level there have been no wars. Costa Rica and
Panama continue with friendly relationships and both countries are attempting to

market ecotourism and attract international visitors. The positive relationships

 

‘1 Satellite photos provided by The Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan
State University and through landsat.org.

‘2 (MINAE, 2003)

‘3 (UNEP, 2001)

68

that grow from the ecotourism experience have value and utilize the vehicle of
the park to create and develop these relationships. Peaceful relationships also
emerge as NGOs try to help at the governmental level as well as on the ground

working directly with indigenous residents.

The third goal of La Amistad International Peace Park is the most difficult to
evaluate definitively. A perspective had to be Chosen from which to evaluate
sustainable development initiatives and for this thesis that perspective is
provided by those living closest to the park. Bribri, indigenous inhabitants of
what is now La Amistad and surrounding areas, shared their perceptions by

participating in a survey.

The answers gathered from that survey indicate that these residents do not
believe the park is substantially meeting the third goal, providing peaceful
development options. They do not feel they have a voice in how the park is run
and they do not feel much help has been given them, either financial or
otherwise, to participate in sustainable development activities. While it is
possible to document substantial efforts, and large financial investments in
programs, the target recipients do not believe these efforts reached them. One
report lists contributions totaling US $10,121,000 from seven different
international organizations during the years 1992 through 1997 to develop

programs and build capacity related to sustainable development in La Amistad

69

Peace Park and its buffer zones.“4 Further research would be required to identify
why residents seem to be unaware of these contributions although indigenous

peoples were targeted to benefit from the help.

There is a tension between goal one and goal three of the park. Absolute
preservation of nature requires development that it non-consumptive. As human
consumption increases, in both rich and poor nations, there is increased
pressure to exploit natural resources for human use. Goal three of the park,
peaceful development, seeks to address that tension and bring about a balance
by utilizing the Biosphere Programme precepts of maintaining a core park area, a
buffer zone and a transition zone, all with different land and resource use

policies.45

However, the indigenous residents who were surveyed as part of this thesis do
not feel a balance has been reached. While natural systems in the park are
currently protected, and goal one is realized, these residents have not enjoyed
an opportunity to participate in resulting sustainable development initiatives and

goal three remains largely unfulfilled.

The following recommendations are made based on the findings of this thesis:

 

“ (UNEP, 2001)
‘5 (Hadley, 2002)

70

1. Increase involvement of indigenous residents in sustainable

development initiatives and management of the park.

Moderate to strong sustainability can be attained by developing human attitudes,
awareness and understanding. Ecotourism and scientific study are two
examples of the type of sustainable development that could be implemented
while adhefing to natural conservation goals. The ecotourism and study
proposed here must not be confused with nature tourism that may actually
consume or diminish the resource through use."6 There has been recent debate

about Costa Rica’s ecological image and the realities of tourism impacts.“7

Further study would be required to identify best practices to implement this sort
of development, but by following Biosphere Reserve guidelines, an infrastructure
could be created to welcome tourists in buffer zones and conduct a variety of
activities there. Entrance into the core area of La Amistad would be limited and

regulated but would also serve an important function.

Indigenous residents should be involved both in planning and implementation of
these development initiatives. One report estimates that Costa Rica loses over
60% of its tourist dollars through rent leakage, money leaving the country of the

tourist activity.48 This same study recommends that this leakage be reduced and

 

‘5 (Hadley, 2002)
‘7 (Loaiza, 2003)
‘° (INCAE, 1997)

71

greater rent captured through increased involvement of indigenous residents.

This report offers these specific strategies:

1. Create employment in the ecotourism industry by training individuals to work

as guides and managers.

2. Use local modes of transportation whenever possible.

3. Improve linkages with agriculture and fishing. Ecotourists tend to be

interested in local cuisine.

4. New ecotourism constructions should be small scale and in remote locations

with the use of local labor and materials.

5. Develop local handicrafts and other souvenirs.

Further study is needed to determine how to effectively increase the participation
of indigenous residents in park planning and operations. Efforts to date have
largely failed and new solutions are needed. Indigenous peoples must have the
power and authority to participate in decision making as equals with government
agencies. This is not the case at the present time and efforts must be made to

address the problem.

72

2. Create an infrastructure for communication to link indigenous residents,

government agencies, national and international citizens.

The intemet continues to evolve as a viable tool to link human beings through a
shared communication network. However, a phenomenon known as the digital
divide has been documented to show that poor rural residents are left out of the
network. The United Nations Development Program explains:

“lnforrnation and communication technology (ICT) is transforming the global economy
and creating new networks that cross cultures as well as great distances. But access to
and use of these technologies remains extremely uneven. This disparity — the so-called
“digital divide” — is, in large part, a reflection of deeper social and economic inequalities
both between and within countries. And market forces, while the primary driver for ICT
deployment, will not alone close the global digital divide."49

This divide can be bridged but it will take a substantial commitment and

investment to bring these stakeholders into the system.

However, it appears that members of the Bribri community are eager to gain the
understanding and technology to participate fully with the global community via
the intemet. This is evidenced by current enrollment in computer training
programs that are available in the Talamanca region.50 Partnerships should be
established and cultivated to bring the necessary training programs and
equipment to indigenous residents living in buffer zones of La Amistad Peace
Park. There is evidence to indicate the ability of these residents to participate in

a worldwide communication system if given the opportunity and resources.

 

“(United Nations Development Program, 2003)
5° The Cahuita Computer Center has students from every major village located in the buffer
zones of La Amistad along the central eastern area of the park.

73

3. Develop and maintain a geographic information system for La Amistad
Peace Park.

GIS (Geographic Information System) tools have proven to be extremely useful
for public outreach programs.51 With intemet access this tool can be shared by a
wide variety of stakeholders and developed collaboratively. It is recommended
that this GIS capacity be developed as soon as possible in order to assist in

other sustainable development planning.

All three goals of the park would be addressed by development of a GIS tool.
Biological and physical data would be entered and land use options could be
studied and presented to local residents as part of collaborative planning efforts.
By using the system it would be possible to predict land use changes and their
possible effect on the park. It could further help residents see and understand
the interrelationship of activities in one geographic area of the buffer zone and

activities in other areas.

Development of GIS information is often shared in the process of adding layers

to the system, or by adding to existing layers, and development of the system

 

5‘ The Institute of Water Research at Michigan State University has developed a GIS system that
is used by educators, watershed councils, students, and private citizens to better learn about
watersheds, develop management plans, and predict how human behavior will impact water
systems.

74

can be an ongoing collaborative process that ties to goals two and three of the

park.

4. Construct and maintain a central website for La Amistad Peace Park to
link all current information about the park and provide a network for

stakeholders.

While there are currently several sustainable development initiatives pertaining to
La Amistad, these initiatives are often fragmented and project organizers may be
unaware of the activities of each other.52 The proposed website could serve as a
central location to share information about development activities and encourage
partnerships, dialogue, and collaboration through increased awareness and

communication.

Information regarding research in and about La Amistad is scattered among
several sources. A central website could facilitate dialogue among researchers
and provide a platform from which to initiate further study of the park. A single
source of comprehensive information would encourage the sharing of new

knowledge in a timely way.

This website would also increase global citizen awareness of the park, its goals,
accomplishments, and needs. Not only would the website provide a potentially

vast number of people with information about ecotourism, research, or

 

5’ (UNESCO, 2002)

75

educational options, it would help build partnerships with a variety of groups
dedicated to nature preservation, scientific exploration, or the needs of
indigenous peoples. These relationships have value, called social capital by
some economists, and a central website could serve as a vehicle to develop this

potential.

Indigenous residents should be included in website development and
administration. This capacity has been demonstrated by First Nations people
(indigenous North Americans) in Canada and potential partnerships could be
developed among indigenous groups worldwide to share this capacity.53 If
residents living in buffer areas of La Amistad are to have a real and meaningful
role in park management and associated sustainable development activities, they
must be able to communicate directly with global citizens and organizations that
have an interest in the park. As La Amistad’s electronic doorway to the world,

the website should reflect the vision of indigenous stakeholders.

This thesis asks a question, La Amistad lntemational Peace Park: What Part

Does It Play in the Peace Process? It answers that question in two ways.

First, it examines the intended role of the park and presents a unified conceptual
framework with three primary goals; peace with nature, peace among nations,
and peaceful development. This framework is supported by the documents that

created the park and by an interview with Mr. Rodrigo Carazo, co-founder and

 

5“ http://www.afn.cal

76

the primary architect of the park. It is further developed through use of UN
Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage documents which specify guidelines and

offer current evaluation of global biosphere successes and failures.“

In a book chapter Dr. Oscar Arias clearly defines the role of peace parks in a
larger political context and adds significantly to understanding goal two of the
park, peace among nations. An interview with Dr. Arias presents his current
views and sheds greater light on his view of peace parks today. Each of these
sources contributed to an understanding of peace parks and the framework

presented in this thesis.

Secondly, the thesis examines the park from an operational perspective, that of
indigenous Bribri who have an intergenerational link with the land that is now La
Amistad Park and its buffer zones. The answers gained through a survey of
resident perceptions do not provide a complete picture, yet they do provide
meaningful data and point to a disparity between conceptual goals of the park

and the realities experienced by the Bribri.

This study of La Amistad offers the case of a peace park that has been in
existence for more than 20 years, a park that is rooted to specific concepts and
actions. As the peace park movement continues to grow worldwide the lessons
learned from La Amistad may be valuable in informing current dialogue. Further,

the methodology of testing resident perceptions that is presented in this thesis

 

5‘ (Hadley, 2002)

77

could be replicated and used to examine the impact of other peace parks on
indigenous populations living there. Similar surveys administered over time
could help document changes in resident perceptions and help park

administrators more effectively implement their goals.

78

APPENDICES

79

COPY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE THAT CREATED
LA AMISTAD INTERNATIONAL PARK

1982, TOMO I, SEMESTRE I, PAGES. D 110 - 115

D-IIO D CRETOS

c
fi

duzcan en el area centroamericana; rodincs de bola; graxas- .tachuclas- decorating,
o no, one no se produzcan en el pals 0 en el resto do Centre merlca; pernes; arandelu
que no se roduzcan en el pals 0 en el resto de Centre America; disolventes de resin”;
peroxide e metil-etil-cetona; bandas elasticas; berra en polvo de textiles gusts on
forma de acolchado esponjosa de tibra sintétiea (lana y tela de fibra de vidrlo);
telas revestidas o no para muebles; respiraderos para almohadas y colchones; d...
mascos para tapiceria; charnelas para enlazar resortes; resbalones; rieles do baquellu;
rieles Iatonados; correderas de metal; tirafondos; mimbre en relies sin proce‘su,
para muebles; junco natural sin elaborar; tornillos con 0 sin tuerca de hierre y broeee
que no se produzcan en el pals 0 en Centre Aménca; tranca man 37 alcohol polivinib,_
Articulo 29—Este decreto rise a partlr de su publicacien.

Dado en la Presidencia de la Re dblica.—San Jose. a los echo dlas del mes do -
tebrero de mil novecientes ochenta y es. -

RODRIGO CARAZO

El Segundo Viocpresidente de la Repeblica
con recargo del Despacho de Economic, Industria

z Comercio,
JOSE MIGUE ALFARO RODRIGUEZ.

N913324oA

EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA
Y EL MINISTRO DE AGRICULTURA Y GANADERIA.

De conformidad con 10 dispueste per 108 articules 2°, inclse b) y 22 de la Loy
Forestal N9 4465 de 25 de noviembre de 1969, lo establecido per la ley’N9 6084 do 24
de agosto de 1977, y

Considerendo:

lit—Que la estrategia mundial (para la conservacien de lo: recursos vlvos con
el fin de lograr un desarrollo sosteni , elaborado per la Union lntemacional para la
Conservacien de la Naturaleza y de los Recurses Naturals: (UICN) con la asesorla,
coo eracien y apoyo financiers del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Media
Am iente (PNUMA) y el World Wildlife Fund (WF), 17 en colaboracien con la Or-
anizacien de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura (FAQ) )7 la Organizaclen do
a Naciones Unidas para la Educacion, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO), tiene tres
objetivos principales:

1. Mantener los procesos ecologicos esenciales y los sistemas vitales.
2. Preservar 1a diversidad genetics. ~
3. Asegurar e1 aprovechamiento sostenldo de las especies y de lo: ecosisternas.

, 29—Que e1 senor Presidents do Is Republics de Costa Rica, licenciade Rodrigo
Carazo Odie y el Excelentisimo senor Presidents de la Republics de Panama, doctor
Ari: tides Royo, se reunieron el 3 de marzo de 1879, en la re ion fronteriza de la Cor-
dillera de Talamanca, con el objelo de centinuar la politics e cooperacion en el area
fronteriza, y como geste simbelico de Ias excelentes relaciones de amistad y fraternidad
entre los dos pueblos y Gobiernos, ambos dignatarios intercambiaron impresiones
sobre el alto valor cientlfico y ecologico de la regibn, y ceincidieron en la necesidad
de conservar y preservar la flora y la fauna de la misma, para mantener el equilibrio
ecole ice y fundamentalmente los recursos hldrolegicos del area fronteriza y que, para
tal e ecto, los dos gobernantes decldleron y firmaron una declaracien conjunta para.
crear eI Parque Internacional de la Amistad: Costa Rica-Panama, en ambos lados
de la frontera. .

39—Que la Cordillera de Talamnaca es una de las regienes do mayor ri eza
flue existen en el pals, no 8010 per la variedad de su fauna y flora, representatives e la:

03 vertientes del territorio nacional, ast come bosques humedos y pluviales, sine
también por su extraordinarie potenCial hidroeléctrico dada su abrupta topografia y
condicion lluviosa, caracteristicas no aptas para uses agropecuarios.

49—Que por su posicien geogréfica y relieve general, la regien de la Cordillera
de Talamanca posee siete bieclimas de caracteristicas particulares comprendidos en
una centigua taja territorial lo cual hace posible la adecuada proteccien y desarrollo
evolutivo de la rica y varlada fauna y flora alli presentes.

80

DECRETOS ‘ I be 1 l 1 .

_5°—Qus la zona encierra asociaciones vegetales sspscialss unless an cl pals.
especralments en las elevaciones su riorss y sstribacionss de Ta amanca tales some
bosques de flsenomla (mica y actua snts ds caracter precise pose conocido, sabanas
naturales y ciénagas no presentss en ningt'ln otro sitio en s1 pals, as! como la (mica
regien defarame completamsnte inalterado y necesarie para la recuperaclen de las
zonas econ entales de la cordillera destruidas per fusgos en épocas asadas.

Gil—Que ssta zona constituer url banco genético de cornuni ades naturals: do

ran v or. - .
g 79—Que ssta zone constituye s1 scosistema ideal para sl desarrelle y rsproduccion
de la fauna on general, especialmente ds los mamiferes y eves grandss que en el resto
del terrrterio nacional estan amenazados 0 seal sxtlntos y one en esta reglen de la
Cordillera ds Talamanca min as conservan en cantidades relativamsnte abundantss.
Adamai, represents el habitat de especies unicas que 15610 as posible encentrcrlas en
estos st 103.

sit—Que la region poses zones do intsrés s importancia crqusologicc tales come
areas do csmentsrios indigenas signos pstroglificos.

99—Qus is cast totalida del firsa en msnclen se encusntra sobrs territories
deshabitados y sublertes per bosques, qus per su abrupta tepografia, pobres suelos,
sxcssiva precipitacien, no lee hacen aptos para practicar ningt'rn otro tipo de actirida

10.—Qus, hasta sl memento. debido a su aislamisnte y dificil acceso, la zone
56 ha mantsnido, en su mayor parts, inaltsrada. ' -

11.—-Que edema: de sus sspsctaculares paisales y su extraordinarie valor para
la snsefianza, el recreo y el turismo, y el sstudio cisntifico del pueblo costarricsnss,
ssta region silvestre es ds reconocida s incalculable imdpertancia para lograr un des-
erroilo sostenido y csegurar e1 biensstar psrmanente a todos los ciudadanos y las
generaciones futures,

Per tanto,
Dscas'rAN:

Articulo 19—Dsclarase Parque Nacional, con nombre oficial ds “P s lntema-
cional de la Amistad: Costa Rica-Panama (Parque Nacional de la Cord ra ds Ta-
lamanca)", la zona comprendida dentro de los lindsros descritos a cintinuacien ssgun
mapas topografices ba-sicos del Instituto Geografico Nacional: Partiendo del VertiCe
Echandi, en el cerre del mismo nombre, situado en la Cordillera de Talamanca en
la frontsra panamsr‘la-costarricenss, en coordenadas 331 675 N 592 850 E (hoja “Pttti_er”)
se sigue per la crests de la Cordillera de Talamanca, que es el limits mternacronai
ds Costa Rica-Panama basis 61 ossts y el norosste, pasando por los csrros Uru, Bins
y Shurivo haste llegar a un punto de coordenadas 336 925 N 580 300 E.

De alli e1 limits as aparta ds la linsa divisoria ds aguas entre e1 Pacifico y el
Atlantico, y continua rumbe al norts, siempre siguiendo la frontsra lntemacional Costa
Rica-Panama, hasta un punto de coordenadas: 380 300 N 580 250 E.

De este punto continua sl limits acerde a los limites politico-lsgalss sstablecidos
para la Reserva Indi ans de Talamanca (Decreto N9 6036-6, “La Gaceta” N9 113 del
strbadot 12 ds junio e 1976), iocalizados por los puntos cuyas coordsnadas son las
srguien es: .

380 320 N 579 600 E

380 700 N 578 500 E (Csrro Cumbre)
381 660 N 578 000 E '

381 660 N 576 600 E (Rio Urén)

De este punto y colindando siempre con la Reserva indigsna, se signs aguas
abajo per sl rio Ur hasta el punto ds coordsnadas 382 660 N. 576 720.8. continuando
basis at punto de ceordsnadas 382 660 N 572 650 E (Rio Lari). Ss continua aguas arriba
por el rio Lari hasta su union con el rio Kukuse, en coordenadas 379 350 N y 570 100 E,
siguisndo per este tiltime aguas a'rriba hasta s1 punto ds coordenadas 378 050 N 570 150
E. A part1: ds este punto se continua con los siguientes puntos cuyas coordenadas son:

376 000 N 570 000 E (Csrro Pricot)

374 750 N 570 760 E (Cerro Siola)

375 670 N 574 640 E

375 900 N 576 400 E (Rio Uréh)

374 000 N 580 200 E (Limits lntemacional Costa Rica-Panama)
370 750 N 580 200 E (Limits lntemacional Cosra Rica-Panama)
370 000 N 578 280 E (Union del rie Carbri y ds la quebrada Stuart)

81

D - 1 12 DECRETOS

*

Dc este punto ss signs aénas arriba, Ia quebrada Sinari hasts sn nacienis an
coordsnadas 369 700 N 577 260 ; ss contint'la con los puntos cuyas coordsnadas see:

369 720 N 577 040 E (Cerre 1193).
368 000 N 574 000 E '

368 000 N 572 400 E
370 350 N 572 400 E (Cerre Lumbstc)
371 825 N 570 450 E (Cerre Pat)
372 450 N 566 550 E (Union ds qnebrada Orutu son at rio Lari)
372 700 N 561 700 E (Union ds qnebrada sin nombre con sl rio Pars)
378 100 N 562 840 E
880 300 N 561 160 E (Unien ds qnebrada Sirio son at rio Sninxi)
381 060 N 556 880 E ‘
379 800 N 553 160 E
379 250 N 552 940 E .
379 580 N 552 030 E (Union ds qnsbrada Cnrai con sl rio Cosn)
382 490 N 552 300 E (Csrros Kurkiribeta)
385 000 N 552 000 E
386 000 N 553 000 E .
A partir ds este ultimo unto finalise sl Iindsre semen con la reserva indigena
ds Talamanca, y signs at lim ts rumbe cl Norts hasta nn unto do coordsnadas 890'
000 N 553 000 E (nacients de una quebrcda aflnente del rio at o Tqusy). De am, as
signs con los puntos ds coordsnadas:
390 500 N 552 600 E (Cerre Diehata)
391 150 N 549 700 E (Union del rio Chiqnsi 0 Xiqusy con nn cflnsnteJ .
392 150 N 548 880 E (Nacients de una qnsbrada cflnsnts sin nombre el rio Telire)
Ss signs agnas abajo per ssfiusbrada hasta sl punto ds coordsnadas 393 (09!
N 549 230 ; desds este punto sl ‘ ere del Parque continua acords con los limitss.

lsgales establecidos para la Reserva Indigena Cabécar ds Tslirs (dscreto N9 6036-6}
“La Gaceta” N9 113 del 12 ds jnnie de 1976). por los puntos cnyas coordsnadas son:

391 500 N 543 575 E (Quebrsdc Cuén)

De este punto ss toms aguas crriba de la qnebrada Cnén, hasta la union. con
uno de sus aflnentes en el punto ds coordsnadas 387 975 N 543 350 E, signisndo cfinas
crriba ds este aflnsnte hasta llsgar cl punto ds coordsnadas 388 200 N 541 900 , a
partir del cual ss continua con los sigulsntes puntos: .

388 525 N 540 875 E (Cerre Kicnacoro)

385 525 N 536 775 E (Vértice Isld)

384 650 N 532 300 E (Union ds los rios Broi y Tslirs)

388 900 N 532 800 E (Cerre Sebika)

388 900 N 536 700 E - ,

391 750 N 537 350 E

392 500 N 539 600 E (Union ds qnebrada Snjnn con el rio Naksagrs)
392 675 N 541 775 E (Unien ds quebradas sin nombre)

Se signs lnsgo agnas arriba de la qnsbrada hasta sl punto ds coordsnadas 393
400 N 542 450 E. De ahi ss signs con los signisntes puntos ds coordsnadas:

395 550 N 544 100 E
395 700 N 544 500 E (Rio List 0 Dzey)

Se signs aguas arriba per s1 rie Llsi (Dzsy) hasta la confluencia entre éste y la
qnebrada Namabak, en coordsnadas 397 540 N 544 040 E. Se signs agnas crribmr
Ia quebrada Namabak hasta el punto de coordsnadas 399 550 N 544 500 E; ds cl
punto de coordsnadas 399 800 N 545 100 E, en un afluents del rio lliorein o Muleyn, Ila-
mado Surquichari (sin nombre en sl mapa); ds ahi, agnas abajo per la qnebrada
Surqglchan hasta Ia confluencia con etra quebrada sin nombre, en coordsnadas 398
900 547 950 E; ds ahi cl punto de coordsnadas 399 430 548 750 E (confluencia entre
el rte Morsin y qnebrada Quitari); ds ahi aguas arriba per la quebrada Quitari hosts
an nacients en coordsnadas 401 620 N 548 350 E; de ahi a nn punto situado en sl rio
Seliari, aflnents del rie Estrella en coordsnadas 401 920 N 548 700 E (Sistema ds coer-
denadas Snr ds Costa Rica; en sl Sistema Norts las coordsnadas de este punto son:
183 730 N 621 850 E. Se signs la dsscripcion con bass en las coordsnadas del Sistemc
Norts de Costa Rica). Del unto anterior, as signs aguas abaje per la quebrada Seliari
hasta sir nnien con el rie strella (o Tay , en coordsnadas 187 550 N 622 650 E. De
ahl so signs a nas abajo per e1 rio Estre (o Tay) hasta la union con la quebrada
Sarpueri (0 Se pnri) en coordsnadas 190 600 N 629 075 E.

82

eEanros 0-113

 

7—

:cncrtir do este unto, s1 lindsro del Parque continua acords con los limitss lsgales
establ es para la eservc Indigena Cabécar do Tcynl, Estrella (dscrsto N9 122336,
“La Gccsta" N9 25, 5 do febrsro do 1981); del punto anterior, se signs agnss arriba per
la quebrada Sarpueri (e Salpuri) hasta el punto ds coordsnadas 192 550 N 628 000 E;
do alli ss signs por los puntos cuyas coordsnadas son:

195 525 N 633 150 E (Cerre Bueco, flla do Matama Busco)
196 750 N 631 850 E '
197 000 N 632 000 E

punto finalize oi Iindsre comt'ln con la Reserva Indigsna Cabscar

A rtir do sste
do Ta :1 signs sl limits del Parque por los puntos do coordsnadas signisntss:
197 000 N 630 250 E (Csrre Mace}, fila do Matama-Bncco)
198 100 N 628 250 E (Csrre, filc e Mutants-Russo)
199 200 N 627 500 E (Fila ds Matama-Bnoco)
200 900 N 624 100 E
202 400 N 622 900 E (Union del rio Banane con una quebrada sin nombre)
203 000 N 621 400 E (Como Itociilii-Matama)
203 200 N 620 280 E (Csrre Itocala-Matamc)
201 380 N 618 450 E (Cerre ltecttlti)
197 650 N 619 750 E (Csrre, union entre files Matama Norts y Matama Russo)
196 525 N 619 730 E (Vértics Matama)
194 530 N 617 625 E (vertics Turci)
190 600 N 614 950 E (Csrre Tadzlic filc Matcma)
188 950 N 613 050 E (Csrre anol. ’ a Matama)
187 900 N 613 150 E
167 500 N 612 880 E (Cerre Jubol)
185 680 N 612 530 E .
184 300 N 611 600 E
183 900 N 610 880 E (Ella Matama)

(Expresado sn coordsnadas “Snr do Costa Rica”, este ultimo punto tieno los
coordsnadas signisntes: 402 100 N 537 720 E. La descripcien signs con el slstema do
coordsnadas “Snr do Costa Rica”).

401 300 N 536 800 E (Vértico Sinsal).

399 125 N 526 375 E (Vértice Shio, Csrre Bakabata)
398 000 N 524 200 E ‘

396 000 N 524 200 E

A partir do este punto, so signs sebrs los limites del Parque Nacional de Chi»
rripe con los puntos cnyas coordsnadas son: .

396 000 N 527 000 E ~ ‘
365 000 N 527 000 E Punto donds el Iindsre so aparta del Parque Nacional ds Chi-

mm
365 000 N 535 450 E Punto donde ss inicia e1 limits comt'in con la Reserva Indi-
gsna ds Ujarraz-Salitrs-Cabagra . '

Do este punto so toms una orientacien NE sobrs la file montafiosa hasta s1 cerre
Brunka, c as coordsnadas son 367 250 N 534 680 E. Se continua per la crests de la'
Cordillera e Talamanca (lines diviseria do £31185), por los Csrros Alicia, Ell, Aka,
Dnrikc (vértics), Ake, Surf, Betsn, Betti, Arbola o, Hahn, Utynm, Dika, Dndu (vértice),
Nat, haste s1 punto de coordsnadas 351 600 N 565 300 E, continnande con los signientes
puntos cnyas coordsnadas son: ~

350 700 N 564 900 E (nactents del rio Hosea)

Continuando agnas shale hastc sncontrar un aflnents sin nombre on s1 punto
do coordsnadas 339 850 N- 559 700 E. De este punto el limits so sspara del Iindsre
comnn do Is Reserva Indigena, continnando aguas arriba del aflnsnts basis at punto
de coordsnadas 340 000 N 560 900 E; do alli signs por los puntos cuyas coordsnadas
son:

340000N562-000E ,
336600N563000E (Rio Guineal)

De este punto se centint’la aguas arrlba per 91- rio Gnineal haste sl punto de
coordsnadas 343 000 N 564 850 E; do alli, aI punto ds coordsnadas 343 000 N 567 150 E
(aflusnts del rio Sin ri); de alli so signs aguas abajo per este afluents, haste sn con-
fluencia con el rio S gri, on coordsnadas 341 150 N 568 000 E; do alli so signs agnas
131051;? a{kernel rio Singri, hasta su confluencia con otre aflusnts en coordsnadas 335 600

83

D -1 14 DECRETOS

 

fl...

De este punto, se continua aguas arriba del anuents hasta los puntos ds coor.
denadas 336 000 N 567 450 E. 336 000 N 571 100 E (rio Platananl). De este punto se
continua a nas abajo hasta sl punto ds coordsnadas 334 300 N 570 000 E, y se signs pox-
los puntos e coordsnadas: ,

331 000 N 570 000 E '
(Rio Gemelo)

331 000 N 578 100 E

332 650 N 582 400 E (Confluencia entre rio Hamaca y nn ailnente procsdsnte del:
cerro Pittier) '

330 350 N 586 750 E (Qnsbrada Snri)

329 425 N 590 100 E . (Rio Burn) .

329 530 N 591 925 E (Germs Burn)

31 000 N 593 480 E (Cordillera ds Talamanca, irontsra Panami-Costa Rica)

Ds alli as signs r la divisoria ds aguas entre Paciflco Atlintico (Cordillera
ds Talamanca, limits sta Rica-Panama) hasta ei vértics Ec di, punto inicial de:
la presents descri cidn.

Sn rficis sl Parque Internacional de la Amistad: Costa Riea-Panamé (Parque ‘
Naeiona ds 1a Cordillera ds Talamanca): Aproximadamsnts 190 513 hectarsas.

Articnlo 29—1.” Reserva: Nacionalss asi como los tsrrsnos rsducidos a dominio
articular qus edquisra el Estado comprsndidos por la anterior demarcacion, son
alienables y no snscsptiblss de scri cion msdiants informacibn posesoria, ssg‘tin

lo establecido por los articnlos 25 y 76 e la Ley Forcstal y 13 do Is ley N9 6084 do
24 ds agosto do 1977. V

Articnlo 39-La administracién del Parque estaré a car 0 del Servicio ds Par-
ss Naeionales, qus debsra preparar s ecutar los planes e mansjo y desarrollo.‘
1 Instituto Geograiico Nacional rose-er a demarcar en sl tsrrsno los linderos ds

este Parque. qnedando obligado s Servzcio ds Parqnes Nacionales a abrir y mantensr
los respectivos oarriles.

Articulo 49—En las zonas del Parque Nacional enclavadas entre Reservas Indi-
genas, y donds el acceso se ha a por sstas, los guardas sneargados ds vigiiar el Par us
Nacionai deberén ser seleee onados entre los vecinos indigenas, quienss son os
conocsdores ds sstas areas. A este efecto. e1 Servicio de Parquss Nacionalss snscribiri
un convenio cooperativo con la Comisién Nacional de Asuntos Indigenas (CONAI) y el
Institnto ds Tierras y Colonizacién (I'I‘CO) en el cual se tomaran acusrdos sobre ei
mayor smplso ds gnardas indigsnas de las reservas contiguas y demas aspectos qus
estimen convenientes.

Articnlo 59—Dentro del Parque qnsda prohibido:

a) La invasién de los tsrrsnos par 61 comprsndidos, caso en el coal is Guardia de
Asistencia Rural debera procsder ds inmediato al desalojo de los precaristasx

b) Sn coloniz—acion y establecimisnto de culin‘vos permanentss o tsmporarios.

c) La caza de animales silvsstrss.

d) La tala y aprovschamiento de sus productos forsstalss.

e) La recoieccién o extraccién de cualqnier objeto de intsrés histbrico, prehistérico
o arqneolégico.

Articulo 69—Ei MAG podra celebrar contratos 3' acuerdos con organizaciones
nacionales s internacionales con sl fin de procurar ion 03 para la proteccion, sstndios '
cientiiicos s infraestructnra de este Parque Nacional.

Articnlo 79—La Procnradnria General ds la Republiea hara inscribir los tsrrsnos
ds este parqus en ei Registro Publieo, como finca individualizada del patrimonio na-
cional. Estos tsrrsnos ss eclaran como inalienables.

Articnlo 89—Dsntro del Parriue, a los ocnpantss de tsrrsnos sin inscribir, no
amparados r la posesién dscsna , pero con derecho ds posssion, ss lss reconocsrén
finicamente as mejoras correspondientes.

Articulo 99—A fin de proteger sl Parque creado por este decreto, los miembros
ds la Gnardia de Asistencia Rural quedan mvsstidos del caractsr ds guardaparqnss.
Ssra responsabiiidad suya ayudar al MAG en la proteccién del parqne hasta tanto
no ss cree un cnerpo permanente de funcionarios residentes en el mismo.

Articnlo 10.—Ei Servicio de Parqnes Nacionaies debera roceder a hacer gsSo
tiones ants los organismos nacionales s lntemacionales compsten es para qus sl Parque
lntemacional de la Amistad: Costa Rica-Panama (Parque Nacional Cordillera de
Talamanca) y las areas silvestres aledafias pasen a formar parts de la red mundial
de reservas de la biosfera.

84

DECRETOS 0-115

Articulo 11.—El lnsiitnto Geograiico Naciunal publicara nn mapa de este parqne
nacional y confeccionara un mosaico iotografico.
Articuio 12.-Ests decreto rigs a partir ds su pubiicacion.

Dado en la Presidencia de la Re ublica.—San José. a los cnatro dias del mes de
isbrsro do mil novscientos ochsnta y as.

RODRIGO CARAZO

El Ministro ds Agricultura y Ganadsria,
HERNAN FONSECA ZAMORA.

N9 13325-A

EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA
Y EL MINIS‘I‘RO DE AGRICULTURA Y GANADERIA.

En uso de las facultadss qus lss confiersn los articulos 19, 29. inciso b). 27, 83.
86 y 87 de la Ley Forsstai N9 4465 del 25 do noviembrs ds 1969.

Considerondo:

19—Que cs sl deber dsl Estado orientar oi aprovechamiento do los recursos
iorsstalss en forma bécnica y para ass nrar qus los tsrrsnos ds vocacibn forestal
psrmanezcan siempre con su cobsrtura ds osque.

20—Qus la zona snrsste do is Cordillera ds Talamanca ss nna ds ias regionss
dc mayor riqneza qus exists en s1 pals, no selo ms“ varisdad ds sn fauna y flora.
sino también por su sxtraordinario potsncial hi léctrico s hidrogriflco, dads su
abrupta topograiia y condicién liuviosa, caracteristicas no aptas para nsos sgrops-
cnarios.

39—Qne esta zona constitnira un banco genético ds comnnidadss forestalos do
gran importancia ara s1 sostsnido crscimisnto ds los bosques nacionaies. _

49—Que es mprsscindible mantensr la estabilidad del actual regimen forestal
para evitar dssbordamientos ds rios ds consscnsncias catastroficas sobre la infra-
estructura, los usblos y las zonas agricolas del pis ds ias montafias, asi como de las
llanurao del Atl tico, en esta zona.

59—Qns ias tierras de esta zona y los bosques naturalss qus prsdominan sobro
sllas son ds insstimabls y critics importancia como reguladores de los regimenss
hidrolégicos de los rios qns silos afimentan.

69—Qns la Asamblea Legislative, segun lsy N9 6638, dsl 9 ds sstismbrs do 1981.
rsconocio sl alto valor ds nn sector de esta zona y por lo tanto, declaro una zona
protectora ds aproximadamsnts disz mil hectareas. 4

79—Qus, para mantensr la integridad ecologica y continuidad ds ias comunidades
iorsstalss ds ssta zona, segun rscientss sstuoios cisntificos, por ei Centro Cientiiico
Tropical. es necssario ampliar s1 érsa protegida por dicha ley N9 6638.

89—Que ssta zona, y, en prticular, sus Lo: ass, nscssitan ssr preservados intactos
por sl desarrollo economico sostsnido tanto :, ,‘ionai asi como nacional'y por s1 bis-
ncstar social a largo piazo. '

Por tanto.
Dscasrm:

Articulo 19—Se establscs la signisnts zona protectora, dsmarcada en ias hojas
cartograficas 1:50.000 del Instituto Geografico Nac onai. Cnbrs una extension ds apro-
ximadamsnte 19 602 hectarsas. Partisndo del punto situado en la frontsra panamefio-
costarricenss, de coordsnadas 316 225 N 600 000 E, e1 limits continua hacia sl norts y
noroests. en coincidencia con la frontsra panamefio-costarricsnse, pasando por los
csrros Qnijada del Diablo, Pando, y la divisoria ds agnas entre Pacifico y Atlantico
hasta llsgar al punto ds coordsnadas 331 000 N 593 480 E; ds ahi s1 limits ds la Zona
Protectors ss aparta de la frontera panamefia-costarricense continua por los limits:
del Parque lntemacional ds la Amistad: Costa Rica-Panam (Parque Nacional ds la
Cordillera de Talamanca) por los puntos cuyas coordsnadas son:

329 530 N 591 925 E (Csrros Euni)

329 425 N 590 100 E (Rio Burn)
330 350 N 586 750 E (Qnsbrada Suri)
332 650 N 582 400 E (Confluencia entre rio Hamaca y un aflnsnts precedents del

. Cerro Pittier)
331 000 N 578 100 E (Rio Gsmelo)

85

MAP OF COSTA RICA
La Amistad National Park is identified with the number five

 

Map showing La Amistad International Park
in both Costa Rica and Panama

Survey Organizational Chart

 

 

Cynthia Fridgen, Ph. D.
Principal Investigator, Thesis advisor

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Babladelis, MSU Graduate Student
Secondary Investigator, Thesis author

 

 

 

 

 

Opportunity Access Inc.
Cahuita Computer Center

Charles T. Moore Jr. Executive Director

Email: oa@icomm.ca

Phone: Costa Rica 011 506 755 0037 USA 610 565 6249

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Village One:

Research Assistant

Village Two:

Research Assistant

 

Village Three:

Research Assistant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helper for RA Helper for RA Helper for RA
Thirty survey Thirty survey Thirty survey
respondents from respondents from respondents from
village one. village two. village three.

 

 

 

 

 

 

88

 

 

 

Survey Document in Spanish, For Adults 21 and Over

Parque La Amistad

Consentimiento Informado Previo (Para mayores de 21 afios)

El asistente tiene que leer lo siguente en voz alta y en la lengua preferida por la
persona que va a contestar:

'Deseamos hacerle unas preguntas a usted sobre el lugar donds vive, su
communidad. Nosotros vamos a escribir sus respuestas en este papel y vamos a
utliizarlas en un estudio que serd publicado y tendré acceso libre al publico. Con el
andlisis de sus respuestas, y los de otras personas, deseamos aprender mas sobre el
Parque Internacional de Paz La Amistad, y como afecta esa parque a la vida del
pueblo.

‘No vamos a poner su nombre en el papel y el estndio solo va a utilizar las
contestaciones que esta’n anotadas en estos papeles. Usted puede dejar de
contestar las preguntas en cualquier momenta. Tambie’n, si decide que no quiere
participar mas en el estudio, solo diganos y no ntilizamos sus contestaciones. Todos
sus derechos estén protegidos por ley y nosotros garantizamos que no revelemos su
nombre ni ninguna informacidn personal.

'Si tiene cualquier pregunta sobre esta investigacién, por favor pongase en contacto
con el investigador principal, Cynthia Fridgen, Ph. D, ADJ B, 102 Olds Hall, MSU,
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, teléfono: 001-517-432-3898, fax: 001-517-432-
8255, email: fridgeanmsuedu. Si tiene usted cualquier pregunta, intere’s, o
preocupacién, sobre sus derechos como participants en esta investigacién, o no esta
contento con algdn aspects de esta investigacidn, puede ponerse en contacto,
anénimamente si quiere, con Ashir Kumar, M.D., representante de la Comité Sobre
Investigacién con Seres Humanos (UCRIHS), al teléfono: 001-517-355-2180, fax:
001-517—432-4503, email: ucrihs@msu.edu, 0 al correo: 202 Olds Hall, East
Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.

‘Esta entrevista dura mas o menos media hora.

‘Acepta usted participar libremente en esta investigacién? Digale si 0 no y nosotros
vamos a firmar en testigo."

Si No F irmar con iniciales: Asistente Ayudante:

89

Informacién basics:
Hombre Mujer__

Edad

Vive usted aqui? Si No Nombre del pueblo

 

Un asistente tiene que leer en voz olta coda declaracién en la Iengua preferido
de la persona que va a contestar. El asistente 0 el ayudante va a poner en
papel Ias contestaciones.

El asistente dice al snjeto (la persona que va a contestor):

‘Por favor, diganos si usted esté de acuerdo o no esta de acuerdo con las
declaraciones siguientes. Por favor, busque su contestacién entre cinco
posibilidades para expresar su opinion.

Muy deocuerdo, Poco deocuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacuerdo, poco desocuerdo, muy
desocuerdo.

Para practicar:
Un limén agrio es muy dulce.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deacnerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desocnerdo, poco desacuerdo, muy
desocuerclo.

(Ojald que todo el mundo contests que estdn muy desacusrdo. Si ellos don otra contestacién

el asistente debs que preguntar y discutir para estar seguro que la persona comprnede bien
el sistema antes de seguir con la investigacién.)

Pregun‘l'as: E l asistente de la investigacién lee en voz alta cada declaracién.
Después de que el sujeto contesta, el asistente 0 Sn ayudante hacen un circulo
alrededor de la contestacién que corresponds con lo que dice el sujeto.

1. Usted sabe donds comienza el Parque La Amistad.

Muy deocuerdo, Poco deacnerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacusrdo. poco desocnerdo, Inuy
desocuerdo.

90

 

2. Vivir cerca del Parque es muy importante para su communidad.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deocuerdo, ni deocuerdo ni desacuerdo, poco desacuerdo, Inuy
desacuerdo.

3. Hay Bribris y gents de otras tribus que viven en el Parque hoy dia de la misa
manera que Vivian sus antepasados hace cien afios.

Muy deocuerdo, Poco deacuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacuerdo, poco desocuerdo, muy
desacuerdo.

4. Debido al Parque, su comunidad ha recibido dinero u otras formas de ayuda para
proveer trabajos.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deacuerdo, ni deocuerdo ni desacuerdo, poco desacusrdo. muy
desocuerdo.

5. Hay personas en su comunidad que entran al parque y lo conocen muy bien.

May deocuerdo, Poco deocuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacnerdo, poco desocuerdo, muy
desacuerdo.

91

6. Su comunidad tiene voz para opinar sobre como se maneja el parque.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deacuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacuerdo, poco desacuerdo, muy
desocuerdo.

7. Su comunidad quiere aceptar a unos extranjeros para visitor el parque.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deacuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacusrdo, poco desocuerdo, muy
desocuerdo.

8. Las dreas naturales cerca de su pueblo se hon dafiado por acciones de los seres
humanos.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deacuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacuerdo, peso desocuerdo, muy
desacuerdo.

9. Las plantas y los animales que viven en el Parque La Amistad, no habian sido
molestados hasta hoy, y todavia se mantienen en su estado natural.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deacuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacuerdo, poco desacusrdo. muy
desocuerdo.

10. El parque ayuda a crear relaciones pacificas.

Muy deacuerdo, Poco deacuerdo, ni deacuerdo ni desacuerdo, poco desacuerdo, muy
desocuerdo.

Otras notas:

92

TRANSCRIPT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. RODRIGO CARAZO ODIO
President of Costa Rica 1978 - 1982,
Father of La Amistad lntemational Park; Costa Rica - Panama.
This interview took place at Mr; Carazo’s home in Escazu, Costa Rica, near the
nation’s capital, San Jose, on June 16, 2003. This is a translation of the
interview which was conducted in Spanish with Paul Babladelis, a graduate

student in the Department of Resource Development, Michigan State University.

Mr. Carazo can be called “The Father of Parque la Amistad”. He was the primary
architect of the park and brought together experts in the field to help him with the
design. He solicited the cooperation of Panama in the project, and in 1982

signed it into existence with a joint Presidential decree.

He was, and is, a primary driving force behind the Costa Rican green revolution.
As a national legislator he helped draft and pass a law to ban lumber exports in
the late 1960’s which turned Costa Rica from the largest lumber exporter in
Central America to one with no lumber exports. During his presidency he
increased the size of the national park system by 230%, more than any president
before or since. Creation of Parque la Amistad was accomplished in the last

year of his administration and represented the culmination of years of work and

planning.

93

PB: Mr. Carazo, it is a pleasure to be here with you, president of Costa Rica and

the man who signed the declaration to create La Amistad. It is a pleasure.

RC: The same to you.

PB: To begin I would like to ask you about your own life and your ideas and
beliefs regarding nature. Are there any influences from your childhood that

helped form these beliefs?

RC: Certainly, I am the son of a family that lives in the rural zones of Costa Rica.
..who for generations have been farmers, and for the most part, from a young
age they taught me to watch carefully everything that was around me. I say that
the most serious problem with people is that they look but they don’t see.
Because they don’t see, they don’t feel. The rural person, who has lived with the
land, knows what every one of nature’s gifts mean, and for the most part, is
grateful for everything. A person from the city can go into a forest and pass
beside an animal and not see it. On the other hand, someone who has lived in
the forest or in the rural areas, can pass by an animal and not see it but know it is
there. And for the most part I have lived in the forest and still live there. (note:
Mr. Carazc’s home, although it is in a metropolitan area, feels like it is in a forest,
set back away from roads, surrounded by trees and with a large bamboo grove.
He has another residence in the rural areas.) I was born in a country that

experienced the great tragedy of massive deforestation. After World War II,

deforestation grew to extraordinary levels, and Costa Rica became the leading

wood exporting nation in the region.

I also had the great good luck to be a national representative (diputado) in 1966
to 1970. That was when we put forth legislation to put the brakes on wood
exports, and we were able to pass a ban on lumber exports. We made it totally
impossible to export wood with the legislation of 1969, and at the same time we
put into place all of the reforestation programs. I always say that reforestation is
like an esthetic solution, it makes things look better, but they aren’t better, it’s
just putting back what was removed. None-the—less, it is a demonstration of
public interest in keeping the country alive and green, in the case of Costa Rica,
a country extraordinarily rich in forests and natural resources. I’m able to say I
was born, I grew up, I lived, and I live in the forest. I have always enjoyed it and I

will always enjoy it.

PB. Well, then you have many influences that you brought to your term as

president, right?

RC. Without doubt. From childhood to the parliament and from parliament to the
presidency of the republic y the creation of national parks with the honor of
creating the Parque de lsla del Coco, which is without doubt a treasure, and we
raised Parque la Amistad, and Palo Verde, and we enlarged many other parks

because we believed it was necessary to maintain biodiversity in its true

95

expression. I always thought that coming generations deserve to know the

country that I knew.

PB. That’s incredible, a very good idea. The origin of the idea for the creation of

an international park with Panama, where do we find the seeds of this idea?

RC. I am going to say we spoke about that for many years, and in the beginning
some thought we could do it and others said no, they thought it was a waste of
time. I thought it would be a good idea to study it well, to determine the
possibilities, and ask for help from people who understood this concept, to name
people to investigate more deeply something that we’d spoken about for a long
time, and put down on paper an idea that had been up in the air. I asked Morriy
Silverman, a personal friend of mine, and named him an assistant of mine in the
presidency and I told him, “Your only charge is Amistad Park. Work on that to
have everything ready before my administration is over, and that’s how it was.
With the help of him and many other associates we were able to have everything

ready.

When we had everything ready, about a year before we created the park, I spoke
for the first time with the president of Panama, and I said to President Aritides
Royo, “Why don’t we create a park together that crosses the borders of Costa
Rica and Panama and that gives to nature the property beyond political

boundaries that don’t exist?” He liked the idea, but the Panamanians had a big

96

problem. They were always thinking about large inversions of money, they had a
project, an inter-oceanic aqueduct for example. Well then, I decided to wait a
little while, I had patience, and finally I said, “Come and look with me. Let’s go to
Guavito and explain to the Panamanians there what we are going to do with the
park, and let’s go to the Pacific side, and we did the same thing. We went to
both sides and spoke with the Bribri and we spoke with the Guaymis, (the two
predominant groups of indigenous peoples) and before those two groups we
promised to create the park. Then we created it, and signed the document, and
for the first time an international park existed that promised to maintain

biodiversity in this very rich region.

PB. You mentioned a man...

RC. Morris Silverrnan

PB. Morris Silverrnan

RC. He lives in Miami now, I don’t have his address.

PB. Are there others? The vision for the park, did it originate with only a few

people or more from a group?

97

RC. Look, the idea for the park always existed from the time Chiripo National
Park was created, (Now part of La Amistad, Chiripo National Park protects the
nation’s highest peak) but people were afraid of the idea because it was so big.
They didn’t want to do it because they thought it was a huge fiscal burden for the
government. But I thought that money comes and goes, but when the forests are
gone they don’t come back. And what's more, I’ve always thought that the best
business for Costa Rica is to sell each tree a million times instead of once.

This was the catch phrase to pass the law when l was a representative, sell a

tree a million times instead of once.

This was the idea, and Parque la Amistad was a park that had the great majority
of the ecosystems of Costa Rica together, and what’s more, it was a means to
cooperate with Panama on conservation. lf Panama joined together with us, it
(the ecosystem) wouldn’t be separated. They would fall more in love with the

idea of conservation.

Then we were able to create it together, making the friendship we have always
had a reality, Panama and Costa Rica, that’s why we suggested the name La
Amistad, Park of Friendship between Costa Rica and Panama. That’s what we

would call it here and there as well.

The idea came from a lot of loose ideas, but my idea was to put them together,

as quickly as possible, to perpetuate the most beautiful zone of the country. A

98

zone full of historic mysteries, of precious ecological zones, of the greatest
forests and the highest mountains Costa Rica has. And what’s more, a zone that
divides the country with Panama, a country that desperately needs to conserve
its forests. It was a way to continue to educate us both, together. ..and to invite
Panama to an experience, an adventure, that was an adventure of two brother

countries. That’s basically it.

PB. Well, now from time to time they say, “La Amistad Parque de Paz” (La
Amistad Peace Park). The origin of the peace park designation, which is used

globally today, was it associated with La Amistad originally or did it come later?

RC. We, in our administration, created the University for Peace, which is a
charter institution, chartered by the UN, and we also created the Inter-American
Institute for Human Rights. We were able to bring the Inter-American Court for

Human Rights to Costa Rica and this country declared peace on the world.

We did a lot for the politics of peace, it wasn’t simply to sign some agreement, it
was to bring into reality an action, a permanent action. Peace is practiced and
works every day, not just one time. Then when we created Parque La Amistad it

was a park of harmony, between two countries.

99

We also suggested a park in the north that was called Si-a-la-paz, that’s what I
did as Director of the University for Peace. A park with Nicaragua, Si-a-la-paz,

Yes to Peace.

The park with Panama was a peace park with the earth, conserving ecosystems,
and giving to future generations the opportunity to live the creation in the same

way we received it in the past.

PB. And was the park in the north created or not?

RC. Yes and no. They worked a lotto put it together but it lacked something
political. These things, you either do them or you don’t. You do it, and convert it
into reality, or you simply leave a piece of paper in the desk here. (He opens a

desk drawer and closes it to make a point). It lacked political will.

PB. La Amistad has been recognized by the UN as a World Heritage Site and

also as a Biosphere Reserve. In your opinion is it very important...

RC. Without doubt. It is very important for many reasons. It is very important

because it makes it more difficult to touch, to hurt it. Correspondingly, it is easier

to defend. It is always difficult to defend a park. Very difficult.

100

Secondly, it is very important for Parque la Amistad because it will become
known internationally. Important for the country because many people will come
to know it over time and it will be a great tourist attraction. Tourism should be
practiced with the national parks in a way that it educates people. A visitor to the
forest should leave different from when they entered. When I enter a forest, I
leave, after seeing it, enriched, because everything I see shapes me culturally.
Parque la Amistad converts the tourist from a simple observer into a student, a
positive experience. This is done as a partner, (the tourist implied) y the park.

(As if speaking for the tourist he says) “I was in Parque la Amistad.”

That’s why I want you to go to Violet (spelling unconfirmed) because there are
some very well educated people there. There are other villages in which the

people still haven’t really grabbed hold of the idea, but there, yes.

PB. Well, on that point, there are some today who speak about tourism,
ecotourism, and nature tourism. They say that ecotourism has to be sustainable
without degrading a park. But another form of tourism, when people come,
enjoy, and leave but leave nothing behind (to help), and perhaps the park is a
little poorer because of their visit. Do you have an opinion about tourism and

national parks?

RC. I’m going to tell you this, if Costa Rica takes good advantage of its forests to

develop ecotourism it will have resources to conserve its forests. If it doesn’t

101

take good advantage of the forests it won’t be able to take care of them because

it won’t have money.

Secondly, when we declared La Amistad a National Park, we said it was a
contribution from Costa Rica to the world. (He says in English) “It is a
contribution from my country, from our country, to the planet, to the planet earth
and to humanity.” (Returns to Spanish) That’s what we said. That is to say the
park belongs to all human beings on the planet. But to belong to means to be a
friend, to be a home, and to learn what it means to be an educational park. Not
(Says in English) the jungle. (Returns to Spanish) Excuse me for using these

word in English...

PB. No, it’s fine.

RC. In the United States for example they speak about (In English) the jungle.
(Returns to Spanish) The jungle is something to fear. (In English) the forest
(Returns to Spanish) is something to love. One must learn the difference. When
a park is visited with a feeling of love one learns a lot. I always say, “Leave only
your footsteps, take only photographs, so that your presence is an enriching one,

it doesn’t destroy the beauty of the park.

102

PB. That’s great. (Mr. Carazo laughs) Yes. NGOs, like Conservation
International, there are lot’s of them, do they have a place in helping La Amistad
or in managing La Amistad?

RC. I am going to be very clear about this. I have a lot of respect for NGOs
when they come with a desire to collaborate. And I have a great deal of caution
when they come with a desire to investigate potential natural resources
industries. Many believe they love nature and what they are really doing is taking
away nature to make a business...things that they investigate. Of those I’m
fearful, I watch out for them.

PB. And that’s why you have to figure out who’s who.

RC. Without a doubt. Tell me who you walk with and I’ll tell you who you are.

PB. There was an interest in economic development, right, with creation of La

Amistad Park?
RC. No.
PB. No?

RC. Development is indirect.

103

PB. Indirect?

RC. Because a country with forests is richer than a country without forests.
That’s the idea of sell a tree a million times. What it means is that it will always

be there.

Secondly, it is implicit that a person who knows a forest knows that country.
Costa Rica has had a lot of that. I always tell those who are in charge of
preserving the forests, “Do everything you can to deserve the title of a
conservationist country.” (He pauses then says in English) “You have to do
your best in order to deserve the title of a conservationist country.” (Returns to
Spanish) If you don’t then you’ve lost, because what you aredoing then is a
business. In material conservation you never open a clean business, they
always get dirty, because it implies extraction. But Costa Rica is a country that
has done things like this, shut down gold mines so that they don’t affect a forest,
like we did in the Osa Peninsula. Gold, gold no, forests yes. Now we say oil no,

forests yes.

PB. That’s very important right?

RC. Then we’re speaking on a very honest level about protection of nature.

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PB. Do you think Costa Rica is a world leader in this respect?

RC. There’s no need to say it, you’ve got to do it. That’s important.

PB. Yes.

RC. Be it, don’t say it.

PB. Good. Now you can look back over more than twenty years to see the

creation of the park. In your opinion, have the goals of the park been realized?

RC. Greatly, and there’s still a great deal to go. When Parque Ia Amistad
competed twenty years they invited me to a ceremony and those who spoke
explained that when I went and signed the decree they protested because we
were, according to them, taking away the land they could plant. But twenty years
later they have learned that for them it was much better to have the park because
they have learned a lot and benefited a lot from the park. These leaders are now
a new generation. A new generation tied to the park, not a generation tied to

traditional Costa Rican forest exploitation.
It is an educational process, and their children would never permit anyone to cut

a tree for export, never, because now they have a different education. The way

in which the park is advancing is also teaching us to conserve it. The great

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enemy of the national parks is an ignorant general public that doesn’t have the
faintest idea of what a forest is. It is a reality. If you don’t know what it is good

for...

PB. It is a good perspective to include education and changes...

RC. Clearly.

PB. ...across time.

RC. Definitely. What we need to do is continue educating the people because
everything that signifies conservation is an interminable process. (In English) It

Is an endless process...(Returns to Spanish) without the least doubt.

PB. Very interesting. Very interesting. Well, for you personally, do you still have

a relationship with Parque la Amistad or with a project?

RC. Not directly. I live very close to La Amistad, close to those who are there,
with those who are in charge of protecting the zone. Like Louis just now (Mr.
Carazo had called Mr. Louis Sénchez, the man in charge of Parque Ia Amistad,
from his home a little earlier in the day) I called him there from my house. I am in
contact with them and know all the problems they have and all the projects they

hope to complete.

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PB. Well as far as I’m concerned it’s excellent to have a friend like you.

RC. Thanks a lot.

PB. Isn’t it true? They are grateful.

RC. No, well, it’s really that the park is without a doubt beautiful (In English)

Take the proper shoes and get into the park.

PB. Yes I will, I will with your...

RC. For sure, go on in there to see what it means to hear the song of a waterfall.

PB. Do you have anything you’d like to say at this time to finish this interview?

RC. The number one prize that we Costaricans can receive for having the will to

create this park and other parks is that the world knows Costa Rica for its parks.

What I’m saying is that the world knows Costa Rica because of its parks, not

anything else, it’s the parks that have made this country great.

PB. l have a report here that says at this moment there are more than 136

international parks in the world.

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RC. Yes, yes.

PB. ...and there are more every day. Can you give advice to those people who

are forming these parks?

RC. Yes, there’s something that is very important. Those people who make an
international park know that they are uniting peoples as brothers and sisters.
What you must have...have a common goal. (In English) Having a common
purpose, (Returns to Spanish) that’s what you accomplish with a park. This is
done because the countries and the people want the same thing, they value the
same thing. In other things people look for differences, with a forest people
units. If it’s a soccer team, they look for differences, if it’s a forest they want to

unite.

PB. Great. Well congratulations.

RC. No...well, thanks a lot.

PB. And many thanks to you. Because in this interview I’m really learning a lot

from you.

RC. Thanks.

108

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