World Environment Day: the legal commitment behind sustainability

Costa Rica stands out internationally for its natural wealth and extraordinary biodiversity, a condition that is reflected in the extensive protection of its terrestrial and marine territory. According to data from the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), by 2023 the country had 52 National Wildlife Refuges, 33 Protected Areas, 30 National Parks, 12 Wetlands, 9 Biological Reserves, 9 Forest Reserves, 4 Marine Management Areas, 2 Absolute Natural Reserves and 1 National Monument. Overall, Costa Rica has 13,031.87 km² of Protected Wildlife Areas, equivalent to 25.5% of its national territory. In the marine area, the protected area reaches 165,022.21 km², representing 30.3% of the country's Exclusive Economic Zone.

"This reality imposes a shared responsibility on society as a whole, as the conservation of natural resources requires concrete, coordinated and sustained actions over time. In this context, Costa Rica has consolidated a solid legal framework for environmental protection, whose foundation is even at the constitutional level", explains Marco Quesada, director of Environmental Law at ECIJA Costa Rica, in his column for Delfino.cr.

Continue reading here