The non-governmental organization Volcanes Sin Fronteras (Volcanos without Borders) has suggested the possibility of creating geoparks in the areas involving the Poas, Turrialba and Irazu volcanoes with the purpose of reactivating the economy in these communities.

As it has been reported recently, the closure of the Poas Volcano for more than a year now has resulted in losses not just for the National System of Areas of Conservation (SINAC) but also for the businesses in the area that depend on tourism and that have seen the number of visitors to the area decrease considerably.

A geopark is a territory that contains geological heritage and a strategy of local development, geoparks promote awareness regarding the geological hazards in the area while at the same time educate and inform on the sustainable use of resources and their importance; with this in mind geoparks use the geographical character of a place to promote visitation, community based , rural, cultural and eco-tourism.

“The success of these policies of sustainable development leads to the protection of georesources and ecosystems, territorial equity, social cohesion and economic growth. For Volcanes Sin Fronteras, developing this concept in the country is of special interest. People can discover, through tours with local guides, geological treasures and their surroundings, where they will see the volcano beyond the crater, representing life, production and development”, explains the NGO.

The proposal was presented to Government authorities since July 2017; and suggests the creation of Poas Volcano Geopark, which would include an area of 520 square kilometers involving the counties of Poas, Alajuela, Valverde Vega, Rio Cuarto, San Carlos and Heredia.

“The route would include the area known as ‘red dot’ which is where the volcano is located, all the way to Rio Cuarto, where another perspective of sites such as the Alajuela geological fault can be observed, the volcanoes of Sabana Redonda, areas of production with rich volcanic soils where coffee plantations and strawberry fields are found as well as archaeological and historic sites that are part of the country’s history. All these brought together in a common project that must be accepted by the communities, with active participation”.

This project could be a solution to the communities located nearby the volcano and that are affected by its activity, by increasing visitation to the areas.