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Local Gathering for Sustainable Development a Smashing Succes (NAD) On Saturday afternoon Feb. 16th, as many as 900 people visited the soccer field in Tamarindo to publicly manifest their concerns over the dire consequences of high density, non-sustainable development which is occurring in Tamarindo without controls or planning. Local Guanacastecos outnumbered foreigners in attendance by at least a 3 to 1 margin. The presence of so many locals brought home the fact that high density/high rise construction is about a lot more than some rich foreigners having their ocean views blocked. The Mayor of Santa Cruz, Jorge Chavarria, made as speech as did many others. Multiple concerns were voiced about the widespread destruction of wildlife habitat and the displacement of native fauna, the lack of infrastructure to support high density development; a waste water treatment plant, adequate roads & parking, a sufficient supply of potable water, and that this type of development here in Tamarindo has resulted in a decline in tourism and a corresponding loss of jobs and the failure of businesses. In attendance were people from all the towns and villages of the district of Tamarindo as well as from other coastal communities in Guanacaste and Ncioya; Nosara, Samara, Junquillal, Marbella & Flamingo. Even communities from the interior of the Canton de Santa Cruz such as Bolzon and Ortega were in attendance. The people of the entire region are truly concerned about over development in Tamarindo and the loss of jobs and business opportunities. Some fear that the very future of tourism along all our beaches is in potential jeopardy if development elsewhere proceeds as it has been allowed to here. Bruce McKillican, a father of three and resident of Tamarindo succinctly stated that "It is about the environment and seeing it protected. Tamarindo is the tip of the spear for development in Costa Rica. Where the tip goes, so goes the rest." Tamarindo is, or was, the most popular tourist destination in Northern Costa Rica. If over development hurts tourism here, it does not bode well for other destinations or the national tourism industry as a whole. Tourism is the mainstay of the Costa Rican economy and could be in danger, if non-sustainable constructuion practices are allowed to continue unchecked along our coastlines The organizers of the Save Tamarindo Campaign have put their money where their mouth is and donated $10,000 to the Asociacion ProMejoras de Tamarindo (APMT) to be spent on completing the Urban Plan for Tamarindo! Many people have questions about our existing Plan Regulador. In particular why will this new Plan be enforceable when our existing Plan has not been? In 1999 a comprehensive plan for the development of Tamarindo from the estuary to Punta San Francisco and 200 meters inland was established by ICT. One of the major objectives of this campaign is to raise awareness of the fact that there are more than 20-high rise condominium structures planned for Tamarindo! These structures would have a devastating impact on National Leatherback Turtle Marine Park (Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas) and these structures do not have the road access, potable water, waste water treatment facilities, fire protection or other infrastructure to support them. This campaign most certainly has achieved greater awareness and has allowed people to openly express their opinions about non-sustainable development. Over 400 hundred people signed a petition requesting an immediate halt to this type of development until the new “Plan Regulador” (Urban Plan) for the District of Tamarindo is approved and put into effect. It remains to be seen if this petition will have any impact on these proposed buildings that many, perhaps most, regional residents find objectionable. This petition now has over 2,000 signatures in just 1-month! You can sign this petition online at www.savetamarindo.com and you can read the comments of hundreds of these signers which are published here. This campaign appears to be gaining momentum exponentially and it is hoped that it will gain the attention of both regional and national government officials to seek temporary measures to address this problem. Please help us preserve this special place; Tamarindo. Please fax a copy of your deposit receipt to 653-1679 and specify Donation to Plan Regulador and your name and e-mail address as we will put you on our mailing list. Many Thanks.
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