No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeCosta Rica seeks to bring water to drought-stricken Guanacaste

Costa Rica seeks to bring water to drought-stricken Guanacaste

Costa Rica will start a project to bring water to more than half a million people in the arid region of Guanacaste. The government announced the project on Thursday after receiving international financing, putting a proposal that had been pending since 1983 in motion. 

The initiative to bring safe drinking water to the people of Guanacaste will also help 746 farmers irrigate of 19,000 hectares of land, the government said.

The project will cost an estimated $457.8 million, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) will finance $425 million of it.

The project is just waiting for the Legislative Assembly’s to approve the BCIE loan.

The CABEI noted in its approval that the project would benefit a historically dry zone with problems that have been exacerbated by climate change.

The targetted zone is also one of the biggest tourist hotspots in Costa Rica and home to some of the most-visited beaches in the country.

The project plans on using irrigation canals that go through the Lomas de Barbudal biological reserve in the of Bagaces. The government will have to flood 113 hectares of the reserve to complete the projection.

As compensation, the government said it will incorporate 531 hectares of the surrounding area into the biological reserve.

Severe drought in Guanacaste causing millions of dollars in losses

Trending Now

Hondurans March to Mark 2009 Coup as Election Battle Heats Up

Thousands of government supporters marched Saturday in the capital of Honduras to commemorate the anniversary of the 2009 coup that ousted then-leftist President Manuel...

Honduras Seizes $2 Million, Gold-Plated Pistols in Drug Raid

Honduran authorities struck a blow against drug cartels, seizing over $2 million in cash, war rifles, and flashy gold-plated pistols in Copán, a northwest...

Life After MS-13 in El Salvador as Residents Seek a Fragile Peace

Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighborhood, a former stronghold of the...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

A Costa Rica Love Story: From Rustic Cabina to Separate Dreams

My Tica wife and I have been together for over a quarter century. When we met, I was living a simple life here. Three...

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica