128Canopy Blog

This past weekend, representatives from the Abangares Agricultural Center in Guanacaste organized a get-together with the local produce representatives in order to encourage them to grow Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas).

As part of a plan to produce Biodiesel in the future, the Agricultural Center has proposed for local farmers to plant at least 10,000 shrubs in the region. The town of Abangares in the province of Guanacaste offers the perfect conditions for the successful planting of the Physic Nut plant due to the region’s high degree temperature. In addition, the Physic Nut does not compete with food crops thus making it harmless to other plantations.

The president for the Agricultural Center in Abangares, Joaquin Talavera, mentioned that they have pointed out two types of production: the agroforestry that is intended for those who plant simple grains and the other is the grass system.

Talavera also mentioned that since the Physic Nut, or tempate in Spanish, does not compete with food crop, it is a great alternative to local farmers and will lead to a positive future in biodiesel production in Costa Rica.

The Agricultural Center’s president also mentioned that they will be looking to satisfy the local industry’s demand of biodiesel for which they are taking early action in order to have an advantage.

Currently, there are approximately 25 farmers in Abangares who are growing Physic Nut. The initial stage requires for the planting of 6,000 to 7,500 acres of tempate.

The Central Bank of Costa Rica has announced that is accumulated reserve increased by US$48 million during the month of November and has brought the total reserve up to US4 billion.

The increase comes as very good news since towards the end of October, 2008 the reserves reached its lowest point since May of 2007.  The Central Bank’s accumulated reserves are funds that are to be used in order to attend difficulties due to external issues such as the recent fuel crisis.

The Costa Rican Central Bank’s reserve can increase due to a series of situations such as the purchase of international currency in the wholesale market as well as the collection of loans or a significant change in currency conversion rates.

In addition, the market also experienced a slight increase in the dollar’s value which will come as very good news to foreign investment as well as tourists seeking to spend their holidays in a destination where the dollar is still strong.

The current exchange rate for the public is of CRC₡525 per one US dollar.  A family of four, 2 adults and two children, can travel to Costa Rica for a week’s stay for just a little under US$2,500.  This will include accommodations at a 3 to 4 star hotel, transportation, meals and tours.

South Pacific Coastal Highway Will Finally be Completed

Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast is finally starting to believe that the much awaited (30 years) Coastal Highway might actually soon be completed.  The Costa Rican National Comptrollers Office agreed on the contract for the construction of the highway’s final stage.

According to the Department of Transportation, the construction work will start mid-December and the completion of the 42 kilometer stretch has not been stated.  The South Pacific Coastal Highway will finally bring peace of mind to locals as well as tourists as it will allow for better access of one of the country’s most beautiful regions as well were the most biodiversity can be found.

According to government officials, the construction of the highway’s final stage will be divided in two even though work will be carried out simultaneously.  The complete stretch of the final stage will include the recently inaugurated 7 major bridges as well as 58 minor bridges, sidewalks, pedestrian cross sections and bus stops.

The highway will have mainly two lanes and will open to three of four lanes in certain sectors that tend to have the most traffic.  One team will work on the Quepos to Savegre section while the second team will work on the Savegre to Baru section.

According to the information released by the Transportation Department, the highway will have an average daily transit of 4,000 vehicles of which 15% will be considered heavy traffic.  The total cost of the last portion of the South Pacific Coastal Highway is of US$60 million.