Mesoamerican Biological  Corridor                                

A bridge for life…                    By: Alfonso Mata Jiménez

Chemist & Environmental Technician.

Former Dean of the College of Science

of the University of Costa Rica

Founder of the Center for Investigation

of Environmental Pollution

When this geological transformation ended, an extraordinary biological process began that converted this narrow equatorial stretch of land into one of the most ecologically important areas in the planet. Over this new land surface and very particularly over the Costa Rican portion of this territory, life flourished and diversified in all its splendor.

The special topography of the country with its beautiful dorsal mountain range, transverse valleys, extensive plains and coasts on two important oceans, provided a diversity of new habitats, new routes and new opportunities for a great number of species.

This land bridge, insular at the onset and then continental, served as a passage to an innumerable amount of living beings, and at the same time it became an astonishing barrier for the marine species between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.

To preserve this treasure trove of life and to protect the work done here by nature over thousands of years, at the center of this corridor, “La Amistad” Biosphere Reserve was established; a corridor of wilderness whose biologic and geographic relevance is incommensurable.

In recognition of this, in 1982 UNESCO declared it an oficial “Biosphere Reserve” and a year later designated it as a “Patrimony of Humanity”.

It is lamentable that decades later, the role and the global importance of this area is not understood by the national politicians in charge of assigning the resources for its optimum protection.  It is very difficult to comprehend that some people believe that the country already has enough protected territory and that it is better to allocate the resources to propaganda for tourism than to the conservation of the fountain that gives life to that tourism. 

Fortunately, there are other government entities, foundations and private businesses led by people with vision for the future, whose support makes it possible to fill some of the voids left by the current lack of political initiative towards conservation.

Nevertheless, the adequate protection of the biologically rich areas that have been preserved up to now, cannot depend on the good will of a few. It should be guaranteed by the government on a permanent basis, not subject to the feelings of those currently in power.

We must also understand that conservation isn’t only important due to the central role nature plays for tourism in this the country.  The true value lies in the future biological diversity of life on our planet for years to come.

The well-being and future of our planet is the real importance of the areas presently protected. 

Parks and reserves are the security for the future of life on Earth.

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