Costa Rica to enhance preservation of bio-diversity

Realizing the challenges it faces in the sustainable development of bio-diversity, Costa Rica has acted to augment environmental protection preserve as it celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity on Sunday.

Costa Rican authorities have got to know that the current level of conservation is not enough, elaborating the First National Biodiversity Policy 2015-2030 to reduce direct and indirect threats.

"This policy sets out a vision over 15 years to promote conservation, sustainable economic development and make use of the knowledge and innovation present among indigenous peoples," said Deputy Environment Minister Patricia Madrigal.

Mauricio Alvarez, president of the Costa Rican Conservation Federation, listed the challenges putting bio-diversity at risk, telling Xinhua that the weakness of environmental protection institutions is a particular challenge.

"There are institutions which are weak in terms of resources, strategy and management," he said.

"Another gigantic threat is climate change which causes the extinction of species. We are seeing migrations happen in new ways. Data shows that pit vipers are being found at higher altitudes when they are usually found in warm areas. Frogs have also been moving in the area of Monteverde (tropical cloud forest)," said Alvarez.

"Many species are being threatened by the wearing down of coastlines, the reduction of water, the disappearance of mangroves and the drop in rainfall," he added.

Costa Rica is a world leader in environmental protection with a national system of national parks, conservation areas and biological reserves, which cover over 25 percent of the country.

It houses approximately 3.6 percent of the world's biology, with 94,753 species registered within its borders.