Costa Rican authorities will launch a nationwide Holy Week operation aimed at protecting wildlife and national parks during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The enforcement effort, led by the National System of Conservation Areas and the Ministry of Environment and Energy, will run from March 28 to April 5 in protected areas across the country and along major highways.
The operation is designed to prevent poaching and the illegal removal, hunting, transport, captivity and trade of wild plant and animal species. Officials say the focus will be on national parks and other protected wilderness areas that typically see a surge in domestic and foreign visitors during Holy Week.
Authorities say prevention, protection and control activities are planned nationwide. Most will involve patrols and surveillance rounds, while other actions will include monitoring tourism in protected areas, responding to environmental complaints, staffing fixed checkpoints and setting up roadblocks to detect the illegal transport of wildlife and forest products.
About 700 people are expected to take part in the operation, including SINAC officials and personnel from other public institutions. The estimated cost is about ¢16 million, or roughly $34,000. Parks and protected areas will remain open under their normal schedules during the holiday period.
Authorities are urging visitors to check park hours and make reservations in advance through SINAC’s online booking system. The message ahead of Holy Week is simple: Costa Rica’s protected areas remain open, but enforcement will be stepped up as officials try to curb environmental crimes and reduce pressure on our country’s biodiversity during the Easter travel rush.
