ELAW Costa Rica Protects Tropical Coastline

October 2000
Costa Rica`s Caribbean coast shelters prime habitat for marine and coastal wildlife. Much of the coast is protected by national parks and wildlife refuges. Despite these protections, the Costa Rican government has offered oil and natural gas concessions to U.S. oil companies.

Costa Ricans value their natural environment. When citizens learned of plans to drill for oil, a broad coalition of local community organizations, tourism boards, small farmers, indigenous and Afro-Caribbean cultural interest groups and environmental organizations rallied to protect the coastline.

Despite this opposition, Texas-based Harken Energy Corporation began exploring for oil. The company set off 20,000 seismic explosions several kilometers off Moin Bay. Afterwards, the company prepared an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) seeking permission to extract oil and natural gas.

In January, lawyers representing the local community filed for an injunction in the Constitutional Court of Costa Rica. The lawyers argued that citizens were illegally denied the opportunity to participate in the decision to allow exploration. ELAW sponsored community workshops to help citizens understand their rights and learn about the environmental consequences of oil drilling.

Lawyers at ELAW Costa Rica called on the ELAW network for support. ELAW U.S. Staff Scientists provided information on the effect of seismic blasts on marine mammals, including manatees, sea turtles and lobsters; and the physiological damage these loud explosions can cause. ELAW U.S. scientists and lawyers reviewed the EIS and found that the company was relying on outdated engineering studies to defend its exploration techniques. ELAW Costa Rica used this critical information in its court briefs.

Last month, the Court ruled for the local communities. It annulled the oil contracts and ordered the state to consult with local indigenous communities before allowing oil exploration.

The communities are continuing work to protect Costa Rica`s coastline from oil exploration. They are asking the government to establish a national energy program based on renewable energy and an economic development program based on environmentally sustainable projects.

For more information about this ELAW Impact, please contact: Justicia para la Naturaleza, Apartado Postal 1637-2050, San Pedro, Montes de Oca, San Jose, Costa Rica.