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Save Rio Tigre Committee
Asociación Conservacionista
de Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre
PRESENTS
RIO TIGRE
ENDANGERED!
Updated
September 2009
Osa Peninsula - Costa Rica
PENINSULA
de
OSA
One of the most
biologically diverse places
remaining on Earth.
Although much of the Osa remains natural and is protected
by Corcovado National Park and the
Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce,
Unsustainable Development
threatens to endanger the Osa Peninsula
as it has already done to the Nicoya Peninsula to the north.
OSA PENINSULA &
GOLFO DULCE
A complex and fragile relationship
•
13 major ecosystems
•
50% of the species known in Costa Rica, including:
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–
–
–
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5000 species of plants (2 to 3% endemics)
375 species of birds (18 endemics)
124 species of mammals
8,000 species of insects
117 species of reptiles and amphibians
•
Largest population of endangered Scarlet Macaw in
Central America
•
5 species of cats including Jaguar, Puma and Ocelot
•
25 species of Dolphins and Whales
•
Important nesting sites for endangered Sea Turtles
OSA PENINSULA &
GOLFO DULCE
Eco-Tourism for Every Interest
•
Search for birds and frogs in Dos Brazos
•
Hike on local trails
•
Try gold panning in Rio Tigre
•
Snorkle or scuba over Pacific coral reefs
•
Ride the the waves in any of the surf spots in the
area
•
Take a Dolphin watch cruise
•
Look for turtles on the beach
•
Explore mangroves in a kayak
•
Discover pristine beaches and forests
•
Gaze at the stars
•
Participate in various yoga groups
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Go horseback riding
Following the Rio Tigre, the route to Dos Brazos is the
only road going deep into the heart of the Osa.
From Dos Brazos, nested into the Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce,
Corcovado National Park is but a 30 minute walk away.
A few months ago,
one company received final approval
for gravel mining in the Rio Tigre,
and it is already a complete disaster…
UP RIVER FROM METAL BRIDGE – CHECK IT OUT WHEN YOU PASS BY
In December 2008, we learned that
five other companies are engaged in the
legal process to acquire sand and
gravel mining concessions
in the Rio Tigre…
MINING CONCESSIONS ON RIO TIGRE
4 new applicants, 1 pending, 1 approved
GALLARDO
CONSTRUCTORA
HERMANOS BRENES SA
ASOCIACION
DE DESARROLLO INTEGRAL
DE PUERTO JIMENEZ
PENDING: IMPACTO AMBIANTAL DE SETENA
PALMA TICA SA
AGROINDUSTRIAL
LA UNION SA
DOS IGUANAS
VERDES SA
DOS BRAZOS
DE RIO TIGRE
MATERIALES
DE
OCCIDENTE SA
APPROVED
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
HUGE OPEN MINE
IN THE HEART OF THE OSA!!!
A MAJOR ECOLOGICAL DISASTER
40% of the river will be mined!
The impact of one concession now — let alone
five additional concessions within the year — is more
than the river can handle.
A SERIOUS SOCIAL & ECONOMIC DISASTER
Three companies will be affecting the immediate surroundings
of our quiet village, Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre.
One concession extends to the border of the
Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce!
ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS
Sedimentation and changes in river turbidity, temperature,
speed and oxygen balance will affect the entire river ecosystem
and food chain with direct repercussions on…
THE GOLFO DULCE
and
THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE ENTIRE WATERSHED!
Sedimentation is rapidly increasing as the approved concession
works. Coral reefs recovering from the heavy logging and
mining days are again under assault.
The Golfo Dulce is threatened by concessions on the Rio Tigre
Hunted to near
extinction,
neotropical otters still
live in the Rio Tigre.
Most of their diet is
freshwater
shrimps and fishes.
Many of these need
to migrate to the sea
as part of their life
cycles.
Neotropical Otter, Nutria
Lontra longicaudus
A CITES Appendix 1
Endangered Species
 FAUNA
•
•
•

Macroinvertebrates: essential components of any ecosystem, they are very important to
maintain water quality and are highly affected by Gravel Mining (cf. Will Flower report).
Fishes, freshwater shrimps, birds, bats, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, etc., feed on
Macroinvertebrates
Freshwater shrimps and some fishes need to go to the sea for their first molt and will be
directly affected by sedimentation and turbidity.
DISAPPEARANCE OF VEGETATION ALONG THE RIVER’S BANKS
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•
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Reduction of organic particles, reduced quantity of prey and microhabitat diversity
Vegetation is used by amphibians for breeding vocalizations and protection during
the day.
Protective vegetation is used by mammals to access river.
 DISAPPEARANCE OF SMALL PONDS AND WET AREAS ALONG EDGES OF RIVER
•
Amphibians species use these temporary slow moving ponds for reproduction.

EROSION UPSTREAM CREATING LANDSLIDES AND ADDITIONAL SEDIMENTS

QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF WATER REACHING AQUIFER IS AFFECTED

POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION OF THE RIVER BY HYDROCARBONS AND OILS

GOLFO DULCE: SEDIMENTATION IN MANGROVES AND REEFS
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS
DOS BRAZOS DE RIO TIGRE
• Dos Brazos is a beautiful peaceful little village surrounded by luxurious nature and primary
forest attractive to eco-tourists.
• At the door of Corcovado National Park and within the Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce, we
have dozens of kilometers of beautiful natural trails.
• The two rivers joining in the village (“Dos Brazos”) are our main attraction. Extending deep
into the rainforest they boast amazing waterfalls and natural pools where it easy to observe
large numbers of frogs and lizards along the river’s edge as well as evidence of the cats that
use the rivers and local trails.
• MINAET is about to open a new entrance into Corcovado National Park in the village. With
close and easy access from Puerto Jimenez, it will surely become a primary access to the
Park.
DOS BRAZOS’ REVENUES ARE MAINLY BASED ON
ECO-TOURISM AND ARTISANAL GOLD MINING
193 villagers depending directly on Eco-Tourism and Artisanal Gold Panning
Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre
IF CONCESSIONS ARE APPROVED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
NOISE, DUST, DANGEROUS ROADS, CONTAMINATION, LANDSCAPES DESTROYED
END OF THE VILLAGE PEACEFULNESS AND RELAXING BANKS ALONG THE RIVER
= DEATH OF A NATURAL PARADISE
NO TOURISM, NO PARK ENTRANCE
= DEATH OF THE TOURISM BUSINESS
NO MORE GOLD PANNING
NO RESOURCES FOR A LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION
= DEATH OF THE VILLAGE
SOLUTIONS
HALT THE APPROVAL PROCESS ON ALL CONCESSIONS
TO ALLOW A THOROUGH SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
The potential for irreparable damage to the river ecosystem is too great to allow end-to-end
extractive activities. The entire watershed and all it nourishes could be destroyed!
Gallardo
CONSTRUCTORA
HERMANOS BRENES SA
ASOCIACION
DE DESARROLLO INTEGRAL
DE PUERTO JIMENEZ
PENDING: IMPACTO AMBIANTAL DE SETENA
PALMA TICA SA
AGROINDUSTRIAL
LA UNION SA
DOS IGUANAS
VERDES SA
Dos Brazos
de Rio Tigre
MATERIALES
DE
OCCIDENTE SA
APPROVED
IF ANY CONCESSION IS APPROVED
REGULAR MONITORING & CONTROL MUST BE ENFORCED
Monika Springer, M.Sc.
Aquatic Entomologist - University of Costa Rica
 CONDUCT A THOROUGH INVENTORY OF THE WILDLIFE BEFORE ANY ACTIVITIES
IN THE RIVER COMMENCE (To obtain baseline data for future monitoring)
 IMPLEMENT PERIODICAL MONITORING BY SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONALS
An excellent tool: biomonitoring of the Macroinvertebrate fauna
Monitoring the aquatic wildlife and riparian environment with its fauna


Every 6 months
In three sites: river above the concession, within and below the concession
 PRESERVATION OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION
 CONSERVATION OF ONE OF THE BANKS OF THE RIVER
(To allow the movement of species including migratory shrimps and fishes)
 CONTROL OF SEDIMENTS RELEASE
 MONITORING OF SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES
 TO NOT ALLOW WORK VEHICLES IN THE WATER. THEY SHOULD WORK ON THE
DRY BANKS
 AVOID ROADS WITHIN THE RIVER BED
 STRICT MONITORING OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
(Adequate distance from the river course to wash vehicles and change oil, etc)
WHAT WE HAVE DONE
GEOLOGY & MINES
•
•
Made copies of entire files of each company.
Met with Geology & Mines Lawyer, Rosa Maria Ovares, to review the issues and
discuss the status of each company.
SETENA
•
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Made copies of entire files of each company.
Met with Engineer responsible for revising files, Oscar Umaña, to review the issues.
ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS
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We are working with UCR scientists and specialized researchers to put together a
scientific file on river impacts and how these will affect the Rio Tigre drainage.
Photos and video with GPS data points of entire river.
SOCIAL IMPACTS
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Census of Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre.
Map of the village with GPS location of each building.
Petition opposing the concessions signed by villagers.
COMMUNICATIONS and MEDIA
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Press: Two articles in The Tico Times: www.ticotimes.net
Attended the RainforestAid 09 Music Festival June 19-21, 2009.
Websites under construction: riotigre.tripod.com and www.ascodobrarti.org
Have river photos posted on Facebook and are blogging on that site and others.
Possibility of doing a professional documentary.
WORK IN PROGRESS
We have retained M.Sc. Alvaro Sagot Rodriguez, an accomplished
environmental attorney and professor. Don Alvaro’s fee to watch movements of
each concession, basically his retainer, was paid through donations by local
property owners and their families. He will continue to assist though the
process, and to submit our statement of scientific findings for additional fees.
 Elaborating the best strategy to win.
 Analyzing each Company’s files and reporting irregularities.
 Maintaining a continuous surveillance of each company file at SETENA.
 Relaying information to relevant ministries.
 Defending our position all the way to the Costa Rica Supreme Court if needed.
WORK IN PROGRESS
•
We have put together a team of professionals and naturalists, including two residents
of Dos Brazos with considerable biological and environmental education experience.
•
M.Sc. Eduardo Chacón Madrigal, our contracted biologist, is finalizing his
environmental impact evaluation. This report incorporates recent biological studies of
riparian flora and fauna conducted in Costa Rican rivers, and data specific to the Rio
Tigre.
•
Bruce Melton, the hydrologist/engineer we brought in from Austin, Texas has
completed his hydrological assessment. This report is now being reviewed by a Costa
Rican hydrologist who was not available when we needed to get things started.
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These near-final draft reports are being studied by our attorney. Additional
information is being added as requested, including details concerning the anticipated
social and economical impacts of the extraction operations. The safety of school
children, noise and dust pollution, and other social impacts are as important as the
biological impacts.
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We have acquired the Environmental Impact Statement of the active concession and
are reviewing it for irregularities and deficiency in government monitoring of the
ongoing extraction activities.
WORK IN PROGRESS
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The first edition of Rio Tigre Endangered! was sent to nearly 100 people. This second
edition has been sent to an additional 50+ people. A version in Spanish is now being
shown locally and being distributed.
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Our website features a secure PayPal ‘Donate’ button accepting debit/credit cards.
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We have raised $7948 as of September 1, 2009.
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We continue seeking donations from Dos Brazos guests, visitors and property owners.
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We continue contacting Costa Rican and international conservation organizations for
their assistance.
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We have started local public relations including public presentations, brochures, and
preparing for media coverage of the issues.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN IMMEDIATE FUTURE
•
Secure additional funding for lawyer and scientists and to develop cooperative
relationships with other conservation groups as needed — to WIN!
HELP US
REACH OUR GOAL
Our opponents are big companies
with huge budgets, and likely have
powerful political connections
at upper levels of government.
We are a small but serious and
determined association of villagers
and conservationists.
We Can
SAVE THE RIO TIGRE!
THE AMAZING OSA
INHABITANTS, VISITORS, AND NATURE LOVERS
AROUND THE GLOBE
WE ARE ALL CONCERNED!
WILL YOU LET THIS HAPPEN???
HELP US SAVE THE RIO TIGRE
HELP US PRESERVE THE OSA PENINSULA
DONATE NOW
Ventanas en Corcovado Foundations,
an Arizona 501©3 charitable organization, is accepting tax-deductible Rio Tigre donations with
debit/credit cards through our website using PayPal. Click below.
Checks can also be sent to
Ventanas en Corcovado Foundations
733 S. Kenyon Dr.
PLEASE SEND CHECKS TO:
Tucson, AZ 85710
Ventanas
en Corcovado Foundations
write ASCODOBRARTI
in memo section
733 S. Kenyon Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85710
Write ASCODOBRARTI in memo section
In Costa Rica
Asociación Conservacionista de Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
Account Number 100-01-094-003571-4
Swift Number BNCRCRJS