Transcript Restoration of the wetlands in Palo Verde National Park: a legal and ecological analysis Natalia Batista Mora, Zach Rogers, Chris Adair, Joelle Laing July 5,

Restoration of the wetlands in
Palo Verde National Park: a legal
and ecological analysis
Natalia Batista Mora, Zach
Rogers, Chris Adair, Joelle Laing
July 5, 2012
The inclusion in RAMSAR
That it plays a substantial hydrological, biological, or ecological
role in the natural functioning of a river basin that it borders
- Is an example of a specific type of wetland, rare or unusual in
the biogeographic region where it is
- Is of special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological
diversity of a region because of the quality and peculiarities of
its flora and fauna
- Is of special value as habitat for plants and animals in a critical
period of their life cycles
- It regularly supports a population of 20,000 waterfowl.
The 80’s: When the Ecological Tides Started
Turning in Palo Verde
Hydrologic Changes
Construction of a road to
Puerto Chammoro:
Flow from Quebrada Huerton
is blocked from reaching Palo
Verde
Tempisque Irrigation Project:
•
Increased nutrients
•
Altered hydroperiod
•
Decreased salinity
Changes in Palo Verde National Park Itself
Typha
hybridization
Decade of
Drought and Fires
Cattle Removed
(Reintroduced in 1991)
Enter: Cattail.
Decrease in pools for
wading birds
Regime
Shift
Decrease in plant species
Trama et al. 2009
Current Management at Palo Verde
Fangueo during
appropriate season
Limited Use of Cattle
Channel constructed to restore
flow from Quebrada Huerton
Questions to Set the
Stage for Restoration
Planning
Can Cattail truly be eradicated over the
long term??
How is Important is Hydrologic Restoration
for Achieving Desired Goals?
Is Grazing Necessary for Restoration??
Burnidge 2000 Thesis, McCoy
and Rodriguez 1994; Jorge
Gamboa, personal
communication:
YES, it helps
Osland et al. 2011:
NO
* No study on grazing at different
intensities with a comparison with
other management strategies
Osland et al. 2011
This just in…….
7/5/12
An Approach for Restoring Palo Verde
and Getting it off the List
Consistency
and Planning
1)
2)
3)
Restoration
Goals
Montreux
Removal
Criteria
Monitoring
Program
Proposed Restoration Goals




Diversity of wading birds should be restored to pre-1980
numbers.
The PVNP should provide sufficient appropriate habitat
for supporting the above number of bird species.
Populations of each of the listed endangered species
should be present and stable in the park.
Typha domignensis cover should be no greater than 10%
in the park. Plant community should generally resemble
that of a wetland in a tropical dry forest region.
RAMSAR and “Wise Use”
“the maintenance of their ecological character,
achieved through the implementation of ecosystem
approaches, within the context of sustainable
development”
Ecological character = “the combination of the
ecosystem components, processes and
benefits/services that characterise the wetlands at a
given point in time.”
Originally made with waterfowl in mind
The Montreux List
For RAMSAR sites that have gone or are in
danger of going through ecological change as a
result of human interference with their
ecosystems
Only contracting state has ultimate authority to
add or remove site
Montreux Delisting Process
• Submit questionnaire
• Report sent by
Ramsar
• Ultimately the
contracting party’s
decision
Removal from the Montreux list
What constitutes “restoration?”
The Lake Oswin Site:
Building of a dam causes hydrological changes in the lake
- Destroys ecosystem / biodiversity decreases
Parc National du Diawling
Invasive species
Restoration?
Return of the original hydrological regime
+
Signs of return of biodiversity to the site
+
Detailed management plan for monitoring changes
What does Costa Rica see as the
“ecological character” of Palo Verde?
Long history of ranching in Palo Verde
+
Vested interest in revmoal from Montreux List
+
RAMSAR focus on waterbirds
=
RESTORATION OF INITIAL ECOSYSTEM ELEMENTS
+
SIGNS OF WATERFOWL RETURN
+
MANAGEMENT PLAN
If intensive cattle ranching works:
A re-creation of the hacienda ecosystem
=
Restoration of the hydrological element in Lake Oswin
If cows don't work
A more broad approach to “restoration” is needed
Fangueos
UNESCSO Biosphere Reserve
Legal hierarchy in Costa Rica
Constitution
International Treaties
National Law
Executive decrees
Reglamentos
Others
Constitution
International Treaties
National Law
Executive decrees
Arts. 50, 89.
Ramsar
Convention
LSPN, LOA, LB,
LCPNPV
27345-MINAE
Reglamentos
PVNP’s management plan
Others
Wetlands National Plan
Apparent legal conflicts
Ramsar
Convention
NPSL
NPSL
Wetlands
laws
Ramsar Convention vs. NPSL
•
•
Wise use vs. no grazing or commercial
activities
International Treaty vs. national law
NPSL vs. Wetlands laws
(BL, LOA)
No grazing or commercial activity vs. Active
management for conservation and restoration
•
•
Special law supersedes general law
Recommendations
Legal / Research /
Restoration
Recommendations
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Conduct preliminary research for setting appropriate
restoration goals for Palo Verde National Park (hydrology,
grazing, Typha ecology)
Establish a core network of personnel from PVNP, OTS,
MINAET, and Ramsar to plan Palo Verde restoration.
Using this established team, set clear restoration goals
for the park. These goals should align as much as
possible with Palo Verde’s original Ramsar listing criteria.
Develop criteria for removal of PVNP from the Montreux
Record. These criteria should correspond to restoration
goals.
Develop an implementation plan for achieving
restoration goals with available resources.
Establish a clear monitoring program.
Legal recommendations
•
•
•
Strengthen environmental education
Assure the economic resources to maintain
the fangueo tractors
Publish the Management Plan as an executive
decree
1. No changes in the legal
framework
2. Add an article to the NPSL allowing
some activities in order to achieve
restoration
7/5/12
Create a Biosphere Reserve
• Attempt to reconcile
conservation w/ sustainable
use
• Consistent w/ “wise use”
• Allows for areas of economic
activity outside of core areas
• Requires significant
cooperation in transition areas