On October 5, 2022, the legal action 6-011132-0007-CO against the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge Law and its regulations was sustained.

The ruling in favor of the legal action resulted in the annulment of law Nº 9348, which purpose was to establish a special legal regime for the Ostional Wildlife Refuge to regulate land use, a special concession regime, and reasonable and sustainable use of natural resources through providing legal security to those who currently occupy land in the refuge.

The Nosara Civic Association (NCA) has dedicated the last few years to be an active part of comprehensive solutions for the sustainability and legal framework of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge (RNVSO). The NCA is a permanent member of the Interinstitutional Advisory Council of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge (CIMACO) in its legal and management plan commissions and in the technical advice of the Regulatory Plan Commission of the Municipality of Nicoya.

The NCA is aware of this ruling; however, since it does not have the complete ruling yet, there is no precision about its foundations, scope, and impact on the economic, environmental and social dynamics of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge.

The Civic Association maintains its commitment to ensuring that neither the Ostional Refuge nor the communities and economic activities that depend on it -that have even been there long before the Refuge- are put at risk.
The NCA acknowledges having learned that the only way to find these alternatives is by respecting people, nature, and life, which has made the RNVSO a global model of community organization and citizen empowerment. That’s why the Association makes a vehement call to maintain and promote integral solutions considering all the dimensions and actors involved.

Nosara, Guanacaste. Oct 6th, 2022.