Playa Grande – Under Threat  

 
   Playa Grande Under Threat
 
 
   
 

 

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The continued survival of the leatherback seaturtle depends upon the preservation of the beaches where these incredible creatures build their nests and lay their eggs. Current real-estate development plans in Costa Rica threaten one of the leatherback's major nesting colonies.

 
 
 Playa Grande

Playa Grande is a 3.5 km long white sand beach just north of Tamarindo in Guanacaste Province Costa Rica. It is the site of a world famous surfing beach and home to the last major nesting colony of the critically endangered leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, in the Pacific Ocean.

The beach is included in a national park called Parque Marino las Baulas which includes the beach up to 50 m above the high tide mark, the mountain to the north, Cerro el Morro, and the Tamarindo Estuary that winds behind the beach. The Park was established in law in 1995 and also includes Playa Ventanas and Playa Carbon to the north and Playa Langosta and the San Francisco Estuary to the south of Tamarindo.

click the map at right to enlarge

The difficulty is that the Park only protects the beach and not the land behind it. There is increasing development behind the beach both in the north and in the south. Only in the center is there open land behind the beach, and that is now threatened with development as well.

Leatherbacks nest primarily in the center of the beach where the land is open and where new development is planned. Open land is essential for leatherback nesting to reduce human disturbance. Leatherbacks used to nest on other beaches in the area such as Playa Flamingo and Playa Tamarindo. However, these beaches have been fully developed and the human disturbance has driven the turtles away.

A New Law to Protect the Beach

Therefore, in order to protect Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas and Playa Langosta it is necessary to expand the Park and to include a buffer zone for management to control lights, noise and pollution. A new law has been submitted to the Costa Rican Congress and is substantiated by a legislative environmental impact statement. This law would protect the area behind the beaches from development and the watersheds behind the beaches from pollution as well.

If this law is not passed and development is allowed to continue these beaches will be lost to the leatherbacks and this species will go extinct in the Pacific Ocean. Extinction is forever and no development, no short or long-term human profit justifies such a fate for this wonderful turtle, or any other species.

click to enlarge

click the map to enlarge

Changes

There is no doubt that when this law takes effect there will be changes at Playa Grande. The government to protect the beach will acquire some structures. Other structures will remain and owners will have to follow the conservation measures required by the law. Lights will have to be turned off at night or covered during the nesting season, trash will have to be picked up, access to the beach will be through controlled entrances.

However, conservation minded owners do not have to fear loss of their homes if they follow the rules of the Park. Surfing Surfing will continue at Playa Grande. In fact it will be even better because instead of riding the waves into a beach filled with big houses and hotels you will be riding toward the same natural beauty that you have for many years.

The new law is a win-win situation for both the leatherback turtles and surfers. Both will have a natural beach on which to land and both will continue to enjoy this special place for all time.

Before You Buy

Many developers are selling land to unwary foreigners. Small water front lots, large parcels behind the beach and land on the hills overlooking the beach are for sale. Be aware that all of those lands are scheduled to be included in the expanded Park.

Even in its current configuration the Park protects the beach and the 50 m behind it. It is illegal to cut the vegetation in that zone. It is illegal to place structures in that area, it is illegal to enter the Park except in designated locations, especially at night. If you buy a lot behind the beach you will probably lose it to the government through the process of eminent domain.

If you buy an existing house or other structure you will have to revegetate the zone between the house and the beach and cannot use the public zone for your personal front yard. You can live in harmony with the turtles but you will have to follow the rules, both those now in existence and those that will come with the new Law.

Before you buy any land in the area of these beaches you would be wise to meet with the Director of the Park and find out what the current rules are and what the future holds for the land in which you are interested. If you do not take this precaution then you may be very disappointed.

There are many beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, but there is only one area where the leatherback turtle nests in large numbers, that is the area of Playa Grande and its nearby beaches. You can help to preserve this area or you can make a bad investment. The choice is yours.

You Can Help

You can help save the leatherback turtle from extinction. If you are thinking of buying land behind these beaches don't do it. Buy land somewhere else on another beach. Wonderful opportunities are available south of Playa Langosta. If you now own land at Playa Grande you can coordinate with the Park Director to see how you can best protect the beach and avoid harming the turtles.

If you are from the US you could even donate the land or sell it at a fair price to The Leatherback Trust a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that is helping to preserve the Park. Finally you can make a donation to The Leatherback Trust. Any amount will help.



For more information see our web site at www.Leatherback.org

 

 

 
©2003 The Leatherback Trust