Only 500 Park Wardens
Twenty-six percent of
the territory of Costa
Rica is protected, but
there are only 500 park
wardens for the
prevention of
deforestation, poaching
– particularly of
endangered species –,
and the misuse of
wilderness areas.
According to the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC in Spanish),
the 500 have to cover
1.3 million hectares
(over 3.2 million
acres).
If it were possible to
divide that area, it
would mean that each
warden is responsible
for 2,654 hectares
(6,558 acres).
According to The Nature
Conservancy, as of 2005,
an additional 888
wardens were a must, but
in the last two years
only 12 new positions
have been opened.
To add to their woes,
the protectors of
wildlife are underpaid
(a little over $465 a
month), work 20 days in
a row, and lack even
basic equipment, SINAC
sources pointed out.
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