MarViva creates $2 million trust for Marine Protected Area conservation

Details

Published on Friday, 02 December 2011 22:07

Written by MarViva

The strategy to set up a trust is based on the need to ensure the present and future availability of resources to effectively protect marine areas that have high economic and ecological relevance for the country. Photo © MarViva / Avi KLAPFERSan José, Costa Rica. 12/05/2011. The MarViva Foundation today signed a contract with Aldesa Trusts, SA, for the creation of the Administration Trust for Support to the Management and Conservation of Marine Protected Areas, in order to ensure sustainable financial support to the Government of Costa Rica for marine control and surveillance tasks.

The funds generated by the investment will be allocated to the maintenance and future replacement of a patrol vessel that the MarViva Foundation will donate to the National Coast Guard Service and for the protection of marine areas around Cocos Island, thus benefitting the National Conservation Area System (SINAC).

The initial endowment is for two million dollars and it can be increased by new contributions in cash or in-kind by MarViva or other natural or legal persons.

Additional donations to the trust will allow the incorporation of biological monitoring activities for evaluating the impact of the patrols on populations of marine species. Consideration will also be given to investing the interest in the maintenance of other vessels or equipment that are available for the protection and surveillance of Marine Protected Areas.

Since 2002, MarViva has supported the Government of Costa Rica with the execution of a Control and Surveillance Program to ensure compliance with the environmental laws in critical marine areas of the Costa Rican Pacific, such as Cocos Island National Park and subsequently, the Osa Peninsula.

The MarViva Foundation has contributed equipped boats, crew and all operational expenses required for joint patrolling operations. This was executed based on a tripartite collaborative agreement with SINAC and the National Coast Guard Service.

“MarViva aims to strengthen this public-private partnership and permanently ensure maritime patrolling operations in Cocos Island National Park and in the Seamount Marine Management Area surrounding the island,” explained MarViva General Director Jorge Jiménez.

More participatory work on behalf of the Government of Costa Rica and other entities is needed to protect and ensure the vitality of marine ecosystems. Photo © MarViva / Avi KLAPFER“The strategy to set up a trust is based on the need to ensure the present and future availability of resources to effectively protect marine areas that have high economic and. ecological relevance for the country,” added Jiménez.

In addition to this economic support, MarViva will continue offering guidance during the legal processes, in order to improve the effectiveness in the implementation of environmental regulation. Moreover, the Foundation will strengthen state human resource capacities through the training of judges, prosecutors and marine park guards.

The MarViva General Director concluded that “today, participatory work from the government and other entities is required, given that we are facing a problem of national security, food security, public and private investment security, and the security of ecosystems and their services, which requires a solution that will be sustainable over the long term.”

Notes for the editor
The MarViva Foundation is a non-profit, regional, non-governmental organization, whose area of action is the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Its mission is to promote conservation and the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources through processes for Marine Spatial Planning processes by means of:

• Creation of opportunities for discussion and harmonizing aimed at improving regulations and standards regarding human activities in the sea.
• Technical and scientific support to governments, communities, businesses and other decision makers for the formulation of policy and action.
• Strengthening community participation.
• Support to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
• Raising awareness and call to action via social communication tools.

• < Prev
• Next >