24 Guanacaste beaches earn Ecological Blue Flag

Apr 8, 2008

GUANACASTE, Costa Rica (The Guanacaste Journal - Infocom) —  

The Ecological Blue Flag Program, which rewards environmental improvement efforts, presented its 2007 recognitions last March 25 in Puntarenas. 

This time, a total of 24 Guanacaste beaches received the coveted award, including Panama, Hermosa, Buena, Coco Norte, Zapotal, Guacamaya, Langosta, Avellanas, Ostional, Junquillal, Guiones, Carrillo and Camaronal. Meanwhile, at the national level, 33 communities (for a total of 59 beaches) earned this recognition, along with 206 schools and 10 protected areas. 

However, a total of seven Guanacaste beaches — Arenilla, Ocotal, Pelada de Nosara, Tamarindo, Agujas, Dominical and Manzanillo — lost their Blue Flags due to water pollution issues. 

According to Education Vice Minister Silvia Viquez, the Blue Flag is a program of formation and learning, and that the mere fact that communities, schools or beaches join the program and follow its guidelines is a great gain for the country — as this initiative creates awareness among students, educators and community members about the importance of implementing sustainable practices that are friendly to the environment. 

“We congratulate not only the educational centers, beaches and communities that earned this recognition, but also those who participated in the program, as they have joined in the struggle to improve the country’s sanitary conditions, becoming promoters of the protection of water resources and the environment in general,” Viquez said. 

The Ecological Blue Flag Program’s goal is to establish an incentive to promote the establishment of local committees in coastal regions, communities, educational centers, protected areas and other tourism and environmental niches throughout the country — which would work toward the development of their local spaces in accordance with environmental protection practices and improvements in sanitary conditions and public health. 

This inter-institutional program is managed by a national commission, originally made up of representatives from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE), the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), the Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AYA). Later on, in 2004, the Ministry of Education joined the program as a category for schools was created. Furthermore, in 2006, the Costa Rican Private Natural Reserves Network joined the coordinating commission. 

Also, the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) has since joined the program as observer and collaborator. The Ecological Blue Flag national commission’s functions include coordinating the work of the program’s technical team, establishing annual work plans, and evaluating and selecting annual awardees in each category.  

Source: http://www.journalcr.com/