According to a study by FONAFIFO (National Forest Financing Fund) and the University of Alberta, Canada, Costa Rica has reforested an area equal to 10% of its territory in the last 20 years.

In 1960 the country was 70% forest, however by 1986 only 40% was covered.  This cutting was due to agricultural policies and techniques, when the only way to own a farm that had no owner was to “improve” it, by cutting down the forest and putting livestock on i, according to Arturo Sánchez, director of the University of Alberta’s Earth Sciences  Observation Center.

A large region of Guanacaste was deforested in this way, as well as the Southern Zone and the Caribbean. HOwever in the 1990s the trend was reversed. According to FONAFIFO, in 1997 forest coverage was 42%, in 2000 it increased to  47% and last year to 51%. (26,000 km2 of 51,100 km2)

FONAFIFO conserves 300,000 hectáreas (3.000 km) through its reforestation payment program and stated that the largest areas of recuperation are in Guanacaste, the north Caribbean and the Southern Zone.

Olimpia of Honduras won the battle, but lost the war as Puntarenas became the third Costa Rican team to beat them in the tournament finals.  The Puntarenas strategy of trying to avoid an early goal and maintain their 3-2 advantage failed, as Olimpia opened the scoring in the 13th minute.  Minor Figueroa fired a long range shot that Puntarenas goalie Shane Orio was able to touch, but the rebound off the crossbar was headed in by Brazilian Luciano Emilio, the leading scorer in the Central American tourney.

But the inexperienced Puntarenas side did not fold and was able to keep Olimpia from scoring again.  In the second half Puntarenas took control of the actions and created some good scoring build ups, but the expulsion of Michael Barrantes (2 yellow cards) allowed Olimpia to regain control and pressure the Puntarenas goal.

When regular time ended in a 3-3 tie, the teams went straight to the penalty shootout, where Olimpia suffered a collapse, only scoring 1 shot.

Olimpia: Danilo Tosello missed wide.

Puerto: Max Sánchez scored (0-1)

Olimpia: Gol de Arnold Cruz scored (1-1)

Puntarenas: Roberto Wong scored (1-2)

Olimpia: Shane Orio blocked Juan Pedro Yalet (still 1-2)

Puerto: Alvaro Guerrero scores (1-3)

Olimpia: Minor Figueroa shoots high and Olimpia loses.

Mercedes Agüero R. - La Nacion

Despite growing complaints from users, the ICE can do nothing about the barrage of text messages users receive.  According to the company, the majority of these messages come from another cell phone and in general they are sent to random numbers.

“There is nothing the user can do, particularly since on many occasions it is their own fault. They have left their number in marketing databases of different companies. “  said ICE.  ARESEP also stated that there is no regulation that permits them to sanction those who send these messages.

66 Authorized Companies

There are companies that are authorized to send mass messages, but only to those who have opted in.  If they send junk messages, their license can be revoked.  Milena Schroeder, general manager at Servicios de Mercadeo Móvil Multimedia S. A, complained that although their contract prohibits them from sending mass messages, there is no regulation that prevents others from doing it. “this marketing technique is very effective when properly applied, however right now it  is a big mess.”

This company offers traffic reports for 9 colones each and a daily horoscope for 50 colones each.

Jairo Villegas S. - La Nacion
The Minister of the Environment, Roberto Dobles, anulled the water concession obtained by a group of investors to capture water from the La Cuecha and La Máquina watercourses in Monteverde. (Puntarenas province)

The water is used for ranching and farming.  Dobles sided with a group of residents, who opposed the project, saying that it would damage the environment.
José Miguel Zeledón, Water Director for MINAE, said that the resolution could affect other users who have authorization to utilize resources in Monteverde. He announced that they would analyze all the cases.

Agustín Atmetlla, lawyer for those opposed to the project, said that the concessionaire did not give true details during their application. “They did no mention that this area is forest or of interest for tourism.  The neighbors are very happy, the community is not against investment that is above board.”

After a 16  week regular season where  only 4 of the twelve teams were eliminated, the playoffs for the national soccer championship began Sunday.  In a marathon session, 4 games were played at different times between the  8 playoff teams.  The 1st place team from each group played the 4th place team from the other group while the second and third seeds also squared off.

Number 2 seed Puntarenas visited and beat Cartago  1- 0.

Number 1 seed Alajuela visited and beat Brujas 1-0.

Number 1 seed Saprissa visited and beat San Carlos 3-0.

Number 2 seed Heredia was the only home team to hold serve, beating Perez Zeledon 3-0.

The next games are Sunday December 3rd.

The residents of Mansiones, in San Rafael de Montes de Oca, blocked their access route yesterday in order to demand that the potholes be fixed.

Marcela Sánchez, of Neighborhood Comittee, explained that for 3 years the neighbors have put up with more and more potholes, and despite multiple requests to the city government the holes have not been repaired.  Plus, on Monday the bus company suspended service to the community. “Neighbors, children, workers, women and seniors must now walk 2 kilometers to get the bus, exposing themselves to danger”, she said.
During the protest, the neighbors placed signs in potholes along the route, naming each for a government minister.

Olimpia of Honduras almost had their counter attacking tactic pay off, but Puntarenas was able to win 3-2 at home yesterday and can now go to Honduras next week with a slight advantage.

Puntarenas came out swinging, but was unable to score due to some good plays by the Olimpia defense. And, as often happens, Olimpia was able to score first in the 30th minute.  Their only scoring chance of the first half. Kurt Bernard of Puntarenas was able to salvage the first half for the home squad, equalizing the score in the 43rd minute after a lovely pass from Vicente Rocella.

For most of the second half it was more of the same.  Puntarenas possessing the ball and trying to work through the strong Olimpia defense.  And on a blistering counter attack the Honduran side saw their strategy pay off in the 75th minute.

But 2 minutes later, before they had time to get blue about their bad luck, the porteños were able to equalize after a foul shot from outside the penalty area, which was slightly altered by Alvaro Guerrero to beat the keeper.  In the rest of the game Puntarenas again had more ball possession, while the Hondurans lurked waiting for a counter strike.
Just when it seemed the Hondurans would walk away celebrating a tie, Guerrero put through a header as time was running out to give Puntarenas the victory.

The return match is next Wednesday in Honduras.

According to meteoroligists at the IMN, yesterday was the coldest November day in the last 25 years.  The highest temperature in the Central Valley was 17.2 degrees Celsius.  (about 62 Farenheit).  The weather people predict at least 2 more days of the cold front. (please stop giggling those of you hailing from the northern climes)

Night time low temperatures in San Jose reached 12.5 degrees (55 F), when normally at this time of year 18.9 degrees Celsius would be expected.

Communities near the Irazu volcano experienced temperatures as low as 1.2 degrees (35 F), and even Liberia (Guanacaste) reported lows of 16 degrees.

The high winds accompanying the front caused power outages and property damage throughout the country.

The government has already prepared an offer to propose Costa Rica as the ideal location for the Meso American refinery project.  The project was outlined last December in the meeting of Presidents and Heads of State in Cancun, Mexico.  360 million barrels of fuel would be produced daily in the refinery, along with natural gas and electricity.

The project is worth $ 8 billion and should be operating in 2012. Roberto Dobles, Minister of Energy and the Environment stated that Costa Rica has many advantages: political stability, stable economy, human resources, central location, and infrastructure for petroleum on both coasts.

Costa Rica would see 15,000 temporary jobs during the construction of the refinery, 1500 permanent jobs operating the refinery, and 4500 indirect positions are expection to be generated by activities related to the refinery.  Dobles guaranteed that the refinery would not harm the environment.

A man who believed he had planned the perfect crime rounded up a gang of amigos and went to the Quick Photo in San Ramon to execute the plan.  Entering the store, he said ” I came to get my picture taken” and was seen to by store employees.

With this distraction manuever executed, his partners in crime put into action the second part of the plan.  “This is an assault” they cried, and the mastermind came out to assist them in stealing cameras, cell phones, and other valuables from the store and its employees.

As they say though, the devil is in the details and the criminal overlooked a crucial one, his photo was on the memory card of the camera!

The Quick Photo employees called the police and provided them with their “artist’s” rendition of the gang leader in full color, passport scale shots.  Say Cheese!