Costa Rica on Wednesday celebrated World Environment Day by creating the country’s 29th national park.
During a ceremony held at the National Museum, President Carlos Alvarado signed a decree turning a protected area in Guanacaste into Miravalles National Park.
The park comprises 4,300 hectares around Miravalles Volcano, 15 km from the town of Bagaces. The volcano rises more than 6,600 feet above sea level.
Miravalles National Park will help Costa Rica protect species at risk of extinction, such as the Central American tapir (danta). The park is also home to important water sources and a number of endemic plants.
World Environment Day festivities also included an agreement between the Education Ministry, and the Environment and Energy Ministry to “promote the development of an environmental culture that facilitates the reach of sustainability, adaptation to climate change and the conservation of biodiversity,” according to Casa Presidencial.
Costa Rica also launched an online platform, Costa Rica Silvestre, which aims to be a hub for environmental education and to disseminate news about ongoing conservation efforts.
