No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaNASA image shows how well Costa Rica has prevented forest fires

NASA image shows how well Costa Rica has prevented forest fires

The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) shared a NASA image Thursday that demonstrates the relatively low number of forest fires in Costa Rica compared to other countries in the region.

The image appears to come from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System, or FIRMS, which you can explore here.

Although El Niño’s drought effect caused the largest number of forest fires in Costa Rica since 2000, SINAC says “rapid and efficient attention allowed that the impact be controlled.”

“Forest fires are a global problem that affects us all; therefore, the preparation must be constant and countries must allocate more and more resources to face each season,” said President Carlos Alvarado in a statement. “As Costa Ricans, we must be a model of sustainable development.

“Forests, mangroves and wetlands are ecosystems that are there for a reason. They protect us from natural disasters and are part of the identity of our country.”

SINAC credited Costa Rica’s  National Strategy for Integrated Fire Management Plan 2012-2021 — which developed national guidelines to limit the impact of uncontrolled forest fires — as part of the reason for the country’s success.

Despite the Fire Management Plan, some Costa Rican communities rely on volunteer firefighters, such as Bomberos de Nosara, as a first line of defense against wildfires.

And while limiting fires is often a positive, NASA notes that not all of them are bad.

“Fire clears away dead and dying underbrush, which can help restore an ecosystem to good health,” the organization explains.

Humans burn an average of 175 million acres of forest and grassland every year, NASA says and are “by far” the leading cause of fire around the world.

 

Trending Now

Bills Target Crucitas Gold Mining Mess in Costa Rica

Crucitas ranks among Costa Rica's most severe environmental setbacks. Illegal gold mining has ravaged the area for years, bringing crime, community unrest, water pollution,...

AI in Latin America Nears US, Europe Use—But Talent Lags, says Google

The outlook for artificial intelligence in Latin America is promising, but the region still has low levels of training in this technology, says Google’s...

FIFA Fines El Salvador Federation Over Racist Chants in Suriname Qualifier

FIFA has slapped the Salvadoran Football Federation with a fine and attendance cuts following racist slurs from fans aimed at Suriname players in a...

Costa Rica Unveils $800M Electric Train for San José Metro Area

Costa Rica has rolled out plans for a new electric train system aimed at easing traffic snarls in the Greater Metropolitan Area. President Rodrigo...

US Marines Head to Panama Jungle for Joint Drills

US Marines plan to join forces with Panamanian security teams for a joint exercise in the country's thick jungle next month. The move comes...

Costa Rican Court Orders Uber to Pay Millions in Driver Benefits

Costa Rican courts have dealt another blow to Uber, ruling that the ride-hailing company must treat drivers as employees rather than independent contractors. In...
spot_img
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