(SOURCE: http://wri.org/publication/content/7882)
REEFS at RISK in
Costa Rica
About 30 sq km of coral reefs are situated along the southern portion
of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coastline. They are situated where hardrock
promontories interrupt the high energy shoreline in three distinct
zones: between Moin and Limon; Cahuita; and between Puerto Viejo and
Punta Mona. [1]
According to the Reefs at Risk analysis, all of Costa Rica’s reefs
are threatened by human activities. Both overfishing and sedimentation
were rated as threatening all reefs, while coastal development was
estimated to affect over 85 percent of reefs. Marine-based pollution was
estimated to be a threat to nearly a quarter of reefs.
The main cause of damage to Costa Rica’s reefs is the excess of sedimentation from logging, land clearing and agriculture, [2]
such as banana plantations. Pressure from coastal populations also
poses a threat to the reefs through sewage discharge and coastal
development. Uncontrolled tourist activity is a significant and growing
problem from the associated coastal development to The direct impact of
swimmers and snorkellers , anchor damage from tourist boats, and in
general the coastal development associated with uncontrolled tourist
activity are all significant and growing problems.
Elevated water temperatures during the 1982/83 El Ni
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