The most widely accepted historical version of events related to the origin of Costa Rica’s name involves gold; or, more precisely, an embellishment thereof. When Columbus discovered the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica during one of his whirlwind voyages of exploration in 1502, he wrote to the Spanish Crown that he had found a coast that was rich in both nature and lots of gold. More than five centuries later, quite a few people still believe him.

A Costa Rican filmmaker is currently seeking monetary support for his documentary “El lugar indeseado” (The Undesired Place or Land of the Uprooted), which follows the lives of a group of people who dream of gold in the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically-rich regions of Costa Rica. Alvaro Torres Crespo lived in the Osa Peninsula for many years and got to learn quite a bit about the plight of the “oreros,” artisanal or improvised miners who pan the rivers and estuaries for gold.

In the years following the Costa Rican Civil War and the abolishment of her armed forces, political dissidents from Caribbean nations led by despots came to our country as refugees and to appeal to the late Presidents Otilio Ulate and Jose Figueres to help them liberate their countries from tyranny and bring peace. A noble cause, for sure, but Costa Rica was not in the business of overthrowing regimes and thus these non-conformists ended up settling down in the Osa Peninsula, which back then was considered an undesired region.

What follows is part of the film’s synopsis:

Years later, gold was discovered in the Osa’s rivers, leading to the arrival of hundreds of marginalized and adventurous fortune seekers.

They were followed by the machines and capital of foreign companies looking to get their hands on a piece of the pie. With the discovery of the biological importance of the region, a national park was established in the 1970s. Increased regulations led to the departure of the companies, and a few years later the [oreros] were expelled.

Today, in the midst of the hundreds of tourists, biologists, guides, realtors, and hotel owners who walk the paths and beaches of the world-renowned Osa Peninsula – home to nearly 3 percent of the planet’s biodiversity – a considerable number of [oreros] remains, all living next to the rivers and moving among the shadows.

During the administration of the late President Rodrigo Carazo, a new and strict legislative framework of mineral exploration in Costa Rica prompted even more mining firms to give up their search for gold. Some prospectors think that Columbus was probably bluffing and that there is not that much gold here to bother. That does not seem to stop attempts by the oreros, who are effectively breaking the law when they attempt to extract minerals from a national park, and by the tenacious Canadian mining firm Infinito Gold. What about that Florida firm that claimed to be able to extract gold from the black sand found in some Guanacaste beaches?

The belief that Costa Rica is a country rich in gold that begs to be extracted will be explored by The Undesired Place. To help the filmmakers finish this promising documentary, please consider helping with their crowdfunding effort at Hatch Fund.