Costa Rica Week in Review

Week in Review: Updated every Friday.

from nacion.com and www.bolsadeempleo.info

Orchid capital of the world Over 175 researchers from all over the world meet in Costa Rica to discuss the current state and the future of orchids in the planet. The experts attending the 3rd International Congress on the Preservation of Orchids are to analyze some one hundred studies on the topic. They aim at finding the factors that threaten orchids around the world, in order to define strategies for their restoration and preservation. Even though there are 30,000 species of orchids around the world –1,400 of them in Costa Rica alone–, all of them suffer some degree of extinction. The preceding congresses were held at Perth University, in Australia, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Florida.

World reforestation example
Forests around the world decreased 3 percent between 1990 and 2005. However, Costa Rica was one of the very few countries that can boast of a recovery of tree coverage. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization included this fact in a report on the world’s forests printed in Rome. The survey acknowledges that Costa Rica recovered a forest area amounting to 10 percent of its land in the last 20 years. Julio Calvo, from the Costa Rican Institute of Technology, added that a survey by the University of Alberta, Canada, confirms the Costa Rica success in increasing the forested areas.

Undecided about CAFTA
Four in every ten Costa Ricans are undecided about the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). According to a survey by UNIMER for the daily La Nación, 39 percent Costa Ricans would rather have further discussion on the issue, 35 percent are in favor of approving it, and 26 percent are totally against it. Meanwhile, the positive appreciation of the CAFTA is also decreasing. This is confirmed by the fact that, in September 2006, 51 percent of the citizens expected positive effects from the Agreement, while the figure is now down to 37 percent. In the meantime, the CAFTA is already under way in the other Central American nations and the Dominican Republic.

Aid from Gates
President Oscar Arias said that he will hold an interview with Microsoft boss Bill Gates on March 19. He will do so in Cartagena, Colombia, where Gates will also meet Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. President Arias will ask Gates –the wealthiest man in the world, according to Forbes—for aid destined to Costa Rican schools.

Protection for the leatherback
Some 200 scientists and environmentalists from all over the world asked President Oscar Arias for help to preserve the leatherback turtle. They did so in a letter requesting a larger commitment of the country to protect the nesting sites of the leatherback at Las Baulas National Marine Park, Playa Grande, near Tamarindo Beach. The leatherback is on the brink of extinction; its population has suffered a 90 percent reduction over the last 20 years. Playa Grande is the major nesting site for the leatherback in the East Pacific Ocean, and the fourth at world level.

The most women in Congress
In Congress, women occupy 38.6 percent of the seats, thus making Costa Rica the second country in the world with the largest female representation in the Legislative. It is surpassed only by Sweden, with 47.5 percent. At world level, women account for 16.7 percent of people at congress.

Congressmen’s popularity low
While a vast majority of Costa Ricans know that former soccer star Hernan Medford is the head coach of the National Team, only very few of them can quote the name of a congressman or a minister of the Arias Administration. A UNIMER survey for the daily La Nación found that while 89 percent of the people know who Medford is, only 7 percent know that Federico Tinoco is a congressman. Moreover, the latter’s name is mostly known because of his involvement in a sexual harassment case.

Growing demand for horses
The exports of the “Iberoamericana” breed, fully developed in Costa Rica are 95 to 120 horses a year, sources of the breeders said. On the other hand, the domestic market reaches some 250 horses, with prices ranging between $10,000 and $35,000 each. These animals feature strength and beauty and are very active, thus attracting buyers both locally and abroad, , according to the sources.