Costa Rica Considers Tougher Legislation to Combat Rising Environmental Crimes
New legislative efforts aim to enhance penalties for ecocides as environmental crimes surge in the country.
Costa Rica, renowned for its commitment to environmental sustainability, is facing a significant challenge from a rising tide of environmental crimes.
This includes illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and other forms of ecocide that threaten the nation’s rich biodiversity and, consequently, its economy.
Environmental Prosecutor Luis Diego Hernández has called for legislative reform to address these pressing issues, arguing that current penalties are insufficient to deter offenders.
Hernández emphasized the need for more stringent legal frameworks, stating that the current maximum penalties of three years for severe environmental offenses do not reflect the seriousness of these crimes.
In response, he is advocating for a proposed bill, numbered 23,952, which seeks to increase prison sentences for environmental crimes linked to organized criminal activities to up to eight years.
The bill, introduced by the Frente Amplio party, has already garnered majority approval from a legislative committee and is awaiting a full debate in the Legislative Plenary.
The rise in these environmental offenses can be attributed to various factors, including illegal land grabs and poaching.
Hernández also brought attention to the issue of 'green crimes,' which involve corrupt activities related to land-use planning and insufficient enforcement of environmental protections.
He noted that the integrity of environmental laws is often compromised by systemic corruption, hindering efforts to effectively combat these issues.
Additionally, Hernández highlighted the alarming connection between environmental crime and organized crime syndicates, particularly drug cartels, which have begun to exploit Costa Rica's natural resources.
He cited instances of transnational organized crime merging wildlife smuggling with drug trafficking, where environmental degradation serves to facilitate illegal activities, such as the construction of airstrips for drug transport.
Last year, law enforcement seized 88 tons of cocaine concealed within fruit shipments, revealing a troubling intersection between narcotics operations and crimes against the environment.
The repercussions of such activities extend beyond ecological damage, impacting local economies that heavily rely on ecotourism—a sector worth approximately $4 billion annually, fueled by Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, including 5% of the world's species.
Community members, like tour guide María Gómez from Liberia, express growing concern over the potential loss of natural attractions that draw tourists and support local livelihoods.
As the climate for environmental enforcement evolves, the legislative focus on addressing and criminalizing ecocide marks a critical juncture in Costa Rica’s ongoing battle to preserve its natural heritage amid mounting pressures from crime and corruption.
This includes illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and other forms of ecocide that threaten the nation’s rich biodiversity and, consequently, its economy.
Environmental Prosecutor Luis Diego Hernández has called for legislative reform to address these pressing issues, arguing that current penalties are insufficient to deter offenders.
Hernández emphasized the need for more stringent legal frameworks, stating that the current maximum penalties of three years for severe environmental offenses do not reflect the seriousness of these crimes.
In response, he is advocating for a proposed bill, numbered 23,952, which seeks to increase prison sentences for environmental crimes linked to organized criminal activities to up to eight years.
The bill, introduced by the Frente Amplio party, has already garnered majority approval from a legislative committee and is awaiting a full debate in the Legislative Plenary.
The rise in these environmental offenses can be attributed to various factors, including illegal land grabs and poaching.
Hernández also brought attention to the issue of 'green crimes,' which involve corrupt activities related to land-use planning and insufficient enforcement of environmental protections.
He noted that the integrity of environmental laws is often compromised by systemic corruption, hindering efforts to effectively combat these issues.
Additionally, Hernández highlighted the alarming connection between environmental crime and organized crime syndicates, particularly drug cartels, which have begun to exploit Costa Rica's natural resources.
He cited instances of transnational organized crime merging wildlife smuggling with drug trafficking, where environmental degradation serves to facilitate illegal activities, such as the construction of airstrips for drug transport.
Last year, law enforcement seized 88 tons of cocaine concealed within fruit shipments, revealing a troubling intersection between narcotics operations and crimes against the environment.
The repercussions of such activities extend beyond ecological damage, impacting local economies that heavily rely on ecotourism—a sector worth approximately $4 billion annually, fueled by Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, including 5% of the world's species.
Community members, like tour guide María Gómez from Liberia, express growing concern over the potential loss of natural attractions that draw tourists and support local livelihoods.
As the climate for environmental enforcement evolves, the legislative focus on addressing and criminalizing ecocide marks a critical juncture in Costa Rica’s ongoing battle to preserve its natural heritage amid mounting pressures from crime and corruption.
