Costa Rica Government: Nicaraguan Soldiers Cut Down Trees in Protected Wetland

The Costa Rican government filed a formal complaint against Nicaragua on Tuesday before the Organization of American States (OAS) for alleged environmental damage to its national territory.

Costa Rica claims that during the dredging of the San Juan River, which serves as the northeast border between the two countries, Nicaraguan soldiers felled trees on Isla Calero on the south side of the river, a protected wetland. Costa Rica also claims that Nicaragua’s dredge for the project deposited sediment in the wetland.

The government requested an assessment from the Secretary of the International Convention on Wetlands (RAMSAR) to determine the severity of the damage.

RAMSAR included the area on its list of internationally important wetlands on March 20, 1996. Costa Rica and Nicaragua both claim parts of the territory as their own.