Costa Rica's image as a green country committed to environmental conservation is being threatened by the rapid growth of real estate and tourism development, according to the State of the Nation report released yesterday.

This yearly report found a big difference between “talk and practice” in terms of environmental policies, which makes for nonsustainable conservation practices and puts the environment at risk.

About 26% of Costa Rica's territory is protected, but there are important ecological areas at risk, the report found. For example, only 0.7% of the ocean territory is protected.

The report points to the northwestern Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces, where there has been a construction boom in recent years.

Fragmentation of forests, threats to coastal ecosystems and a lack of protection of mangroves as well as overuse and contamination of rivers and poor management of trash are among problems the report cites as resulting from rapid growth.

The State of the Nation report has been prepared by a group of independent academics for the past 13 years.

-ACAN-EFE