The National Forestry Office reports that illegal logging has dropped significantly in Costa Rica in the last 3 years. In 2001 35% of the wood used in the country was brought out of forests illegally.  In 2004 the rate was 15%. 

Juan José Jiménez, Coordinator for the Strategic Control of Illegal Logging for SINAC (National System of Conservation Areas) attributed the success to to the use of satellite technology to watch the forests. Since 2001 each forest inspector visits farms with a laptop computer which has GPS technology.  In this way the inspector can compare the state of the land in 2000 with the current growth.  He or she also has access to the permits issued for that farm.  In this way the inspector can determine whether illegal logging has occurred and issue a citation to the owner.   If convicted, the owner would face 3 months to 3 years of prison. 
This threat is a deterrent to many landowners

The technology also eliminates a tactic frequently used in the past for obtaining permits under false pretenses.  In the past, a farmer could clear sections of forest little by little, clearing out undergrowth and secondary growth.   After a prudent amount of time they could go to MINAE asking for permission to log in "the pasture".  The new technology eliminates the possibility of using this tactic.

Even so authorities fear that forest is being lost. Maps made in 2000 showed that 45% of the country was covered in forest, mangrove swamps or tree plantations.  Jiménez fears that new maps being made from data compiled in 2005 will show the forest receding under the pressure from pineapple farmers and tourism.

During his most recent to Costa Rica as a special guest for the Festival of Lights, Franklin Chang revealed plans to open a 100% Costa Rican Laboratory here in the country.

The lab will be a subsidiary of his company Ad Astra Technologies Inc. The company is working on development of Chang’s plasma motor and the lab here will support that work. Only Costa Ricans will be hired, many that have worked with Chang in NASA or who have worked in other countries.

The importance for Chang is that Costa Rica can export space technology and at the same time keep local talent employed here: ” Here we have a natural resource that is even better than biodiversity, it is the gray matter. We have people who are capable and highly educated, now instead of going to Switzerland, Germany, or England, they can stay here because we are going to pay them well. “

If you plan on going to the festival in Zapote, you’d bring a little extra for the “watchiman”. Local media reports that the famous car watchers are charging 3000 to 4000 Colones to care for your car parked on the street. The few official parking lots in the area are charging 5000 colones. Unofficial lots (front yards) are charging 4000.

Too many cars and not enough rhythm complained most spectators that turned out to see the annual Carnaval in San José yesterday. Organizers were blamed for allowing too many participants and for not arranging correctly their order.

On the bright side, the disenchantment was likely to mean that less drivers would be ticketed, as compared to the 352 citations issued after the Tope on Monday. Drunk driving, no seat belt and no technical inspection were the most popular violations.