The Central Volcanic Mountain Range Conservation Area (ACCVC, its initials in Spanish) invites residents in the western Central Valley towns of Zarcero, Naranjo, Grecia, Sarchí, and Bajos del Toro to participate in a participatory process to create a management plan for El Chayote and Río Toro protected areas, said Costa Rican conservation officials.

The plan will specify measures to be taken over the next 10 years to protect the soils, forests and aquifers in these protected areas, said the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC, in Spanish)

The participatory process will begin with a series of dialogues to gather inputs for a baseline study, a zoning plan, a list of strategies and actions needed, and a final written plan.

The meetings will be facilitated by the Tropical Science Center (CCT), an NGO dedicated to environmental conservation and sustainable management of natural resources, with extensive experience in citizen participation processes.

According to Rafael Gutiérrez, director of the ACCVC, “the participation in this process by communities, NGOs, land owners, local governments, academia and other key players is of utmost importance, and gives great value to the process, in conjunction with the government, who will work together to implement strategies and actions over the next 10 years.”

“Many organizations have worked to strengthen these protected areas, which is why we look forward to active participation in achieving consensus to enable the conservation and sustainable use of the natural resources that protect these two important protective zones,” added Gutiérrez.

The first community meeting will be this Wednesday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at the meeting room of the Valverde Vega Municipality, and the second will be held Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. at the  ASADA in Dulce Nombre, Naranjo.

Throughout the year, new sessions will be convened to continue the joint development of the general management plan.

For more information and consultations, the CCT is responding to comments via social media. You can also contact Juan José Rodríguez at [email protected] or Mauricio Arias at [email protected].