Strengthening the management of protected areas, environmental impact assessment and monitoring under authorisation in Costa Rica, Uruguay and Spain

Partnership
Project

Background

Uruguay and Costa Rica have previously established ties on environmental matters, especially through RedParques de Latinoamérica y el Caribe (Latin American Network for Technical Cooperation on National Parks, other Protected Areas, and Wild Flora and Fauna), in which Uruguay's National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) and Costa Rica's National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) have actively collaborated in technical groups. Moreover, the signing of a Cooperation Agreement on Environment and Sustainable Development between the Ministry of Environment of Uruguay and the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica preceded this initiative to identify priority areas.

Uruguay and Spain, on the other hand, have maintained close ties in the field of protected areas. The technical and financial support provided by the National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has been fundamental in the implementation and development of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). Both have also contributed to RedParques, particularly in the formation of the Capacity Development working group, which Uruguay initially led in the period 2018-2020.

Among the institutions in charge of the environmental impact assessment, this collaboration is an initial approach, resulting from a previous dialogue made possible by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a visit by the Uruguayan Minister of Environment to Costa Rica.

Entities and roles

Beneficiary entities

Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE) / Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC)

Costa Rica

Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE) / Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental (SETENA)

Costa Rica

First provider entities

Ministerio de Ambiente / Dirección Nacional de Calidad y Evaluación Ambiental (DINACEA)

Uruguay

Ministerio de Ambiente / Dirección Nacional de Biodiversidad y Servicios Ecosistémicos (DINABISE)

Uruguay

Second provider entities

Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) / Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales (OAPN)

Spain

Development challenges

Today, countries are aiming to reduce negative environmental impacts in order to move towards a green transition.

They are engaged in a technological development process that has enabled the formulation of effective environmental impact assessment tools, which make it possible to extensively measure the effect of projects, policies and actions on the environment. This is crucial for taking informed decisions and mitigating negative impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity and the quality of life of communities.

In addition, it has become necessary to preserve protected areas and the biodiversity they harbour, while promoting financial and social development that is both sustainable and respectful of the environment. Uruguay has worked diligently on the preservation of its natural areas since the establishment of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) in 2005.

While countries such as Costa Rica and Spain have advanced processes in place, Uruguay continues to face the challenge of implementing ecosystem restoration actions, monitoring conservation effectiveness, and evaluating the results achieved with the creation and management of protected areas. Therefore, the aim is to achieve economic sustainability of its natural areas, working towards the creation of marine protected areas, which are currently being planned.

To contribute to the strengthening of protected area management as well as environmental impact assessment and monitoring in Costa Rica, Uruguay and Spain, through the exchange of information, knowledge, experiences and effective management tools.

Triangular approach

This triangular approach is carried out between the Ministries of Environment of Uruguay and Costa Rica, along with the National Parks Autonomous Agency of Spain.

On the one hand, Uruguay has the role of First provider, transferring its good practices in innovation in environmental management to Costa Rica. SETENA, which is responsible for assessing and balancing the environmental impact of Costa Rica's production processes, has shown an interest in continuous improvement; seeking to learn about the technical aspects behind the methodologies and instruments for assessing environmental impact projects implemented by DINACEA. In this regard, it aims to strengthen sustainable productive development in Costa Rica and provide a transparent, efficient and quality service to its users.&

On the other hand, Uruguay will benefit from the knowledge and experience of Costa Rica and Spain in the management of protected areas. SINAC, the institution in charge of the administration of Costa Rica's national and marine protected areas, has the technical capacity to support Uruguay with the restoration and monitoring of ecosystems, as well as to guide its teams in the implementation of management plans and the economic sustainability of its protected areas.

Spain was also identified as the Second provider, thanks to its well-established instrumental capacity to support biodiversity conservation activities, share knowledge and experiences, and engage society in the new environmentally-conscious culture.

Sectoral approach - Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

Primary SDG

Goal 11.6 By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

Secondary SDG

Goal 14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

ADELANTE SDG

Goal 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

Goal 17.14 Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development

Goal 17.16 Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries

Goal 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships

Territorial approach

Intervention methodology

Specific objectives:

O1. Strengthen the capacities of Uruguay, Costa Rica and Spain in planning, management and monitoring processes for protected areas.
O2. Strengthen information and knowledge management for decision-making in protected areas.
O3. Analyse the effects and effectiveness of tourism in public areas for communities in Costa Rica, Spain and Uruguay.
O4. Strengthen the technical capacities of SETENA and DINACEA to contribute to the development of the EIA processes of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica.

Results:

R1.1. Plans for: a) restoration of degraded ecosystems; b) monitoring of conservation targets in two protected areas; c) financial sustainability of two protected areas in Uruguay.
R1.2. Governance proposal for marine protected areas in Uruguay, based on the transfer of good practices from Costa Rica and Spain.
R2.1. Strengthened capacities for information and knowledge management on biodiversity conservation processes and ecosystem services.
R3.1. Strengthened capacities for monitoring the effectiveness of public use in the protected areas of Uruguay, Spain and Costa Rica.
R4.1. Strengthened technical capacities on methodologies for evaluation and monitoring of low environmental impact projects in both countries.
R4.2. Strengthened technical capacities for managing environmental safeguards in both countries.

Direct beneficiaries (individuals)

All persons participating in the activities of the project.

The project activities will involve 332 direct beneficiaries, the vast majority of whom belong to the Partnership member entities at both the managerial and technical levels.

Budget

EU contribution: 132,329.00 €

Co-financing - Triangular Cooperation Partnership: 45,550.00 €

Total budget: 177,879.00 €

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