Success with sea turtles in Nicaragua

By the Wildlife Conservation Society news staff

A Wildlife Conservation Society team in Nicaragua reported a dramatic increase in nesting of critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles including the highest nest counts since a conservation project began there in 2000.

The total nest count for hawksbill turtles in the project area in Nicaragua’s Pearl Cays region has increased some 200 percent from 154 in 2000 to 468 in 2014.

Of the areas monitored, poaching rates have decreased by more than 80 percent. Poaching in 2014 was one of the lowest in project history at approximately 5 percent. Nest success has averaged approximately 75 percent this season, with over 35,000 hatchlings going to sea as of the end of November.

Before the project began, a preliminary study of the Pearl Cays on the Caribbean coast showed that almost 100 percent of nests laid were poached and most eggs were removed for human consumption.

The Wildlife Conservation Society established the Hawksbill Conservation Project in 2000 to reduce poaching and create awareness. In 2010, it helped contribute to the establishment of the Pearl Cays Wildlife Refuge, which safeguards nesting, foraging, breeding and migratory areas for sea turtles, while protecting other marine species and important habitat types.

“These recent nest counts show that by working with local communities, we can save sea turtles from extinction,” said Caleb McClennen, the society's executive director of marine conservation. “Communities partnering with WCS are directly involved with safeguarding their own natural resources. Without their help and commitment, this project would fail, and Nicaragua’s hawksbill turtles would be doomed.”

In addition to monitoring nesting success Wildlife Conservation Society scientists satellite-tagged three nesting females this year. The turtles are currently being tracked as they move northward near the Honduran border. Since 1999, the Wildlife Conservation Society has captured and released nearly 3,000 sea turtles in the Pearl Cays. Staff record the date, size, and location for each sea turtle encounter as part of the tag and release program. This information can help improve the understanding of the species for informed management and development of conservation efforts in the region.

The society has been working on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua since 1999 focusing primarily on marine turtle conservation and public education and awareness.

ROAD TRIP CHECK LIST

Even with the price of gas, the road trip remains a viable and relatively inexpensive vaction option for a lot of people. But prior to embarking on your adventure, it is best to have the car prepared so you need not come back for forgotten supplies or buy them on the road at vastly elevated prices.

1. Plan a road trip 

The great thing about road trips is the flexibility you have while exploring a new place. However, you should have a rough route in mind. Check out the approximate route you will be driving. Driving without a target can be fun but getting lost in the middle of nowhere isn’t. Also let friends and family know where you will be approximately.

2. Prepare your vehicle for a road trip

Coolant: Engine coolant (or antifreeze mixture) is usually changed every 25 thousand miles or once in two or three years. However, if your last coolant change was a year or more back (or 15K miles) you might want to consider changing the coolant before a long trip to increase its effectiveness in keeping the engine under control.
Engine Oil: Check your vehicle’s engine oil level and its color to make sure that it is good enough for a few more thousand miles. If the oil is already very dark or has blackish sediments within, it is advisable to change oil before your long drive.
Wiper fluid: A lot of people don’t care about the wiper fluid. Well, if you run out of wiper fluid you could actually fill it with distilled water but it’s always good to have the viscous fluid mix as purchased from auto shops. Smoothly running wiper blades are needed for highway driving.

It is very important that when going on a road trip that you check your vehicle before you leave. You might want to check tires, engine, oil level etc…

3. Pack only things you really need for a road trip

The following would be the typical road trip check list on top of the points mentioned above:

• Jack and basic toolkit
• Breakdown triangle or reflector
• Jumper cables for jump-starting
• Tire sealants (Use only if you can’t change the tire)
• A flash light
• A Swiss knife
• Warm clothes
• Couple of gallons of water

An advantage of a road trip is that you can carry much more than you would take with you when you would fly somewhere. You don’t need to carry all that camera gear etc… 

4. Use your stops on a road trip

If your traveling in the states. Use every gas station, every toilet and every restaurant you can find on the side of the road. In some states rest stops are few and far between.

5. Use the time on the road

When driving for a longer time, use your time to check the itinerary and make plans with your passengers. Also prepare some road games for the quieter time in the car.

You can also use the quiet time to read a book. When traveling for such long distances and in order to safe some space I would always recommend to travel with a tablet iPad.

Get out there and see this great country.

Buying Property in Costa Rica Information

Buying Property in Costa Rica

Facts about purchasing your property in paradise

Buying property in Costa Rica is a fairly tranparent process.  However, as with business transactions anywhere in the world, it is important to do your due diligence and work with professionals. The information below can help you to understand the purchase process, agents are also available to answer your questions and streamline the experience should you decide to go ahead with buying real estate in Costa Rica.  

Foreigner Friendly Property Laws

Unlike some of the other countries, foreigners have the same rights

 when purchasing land in Costa Rica as locals do. You can own property outright in your own name or in the name of your corporation. You do not need a local partner, except in cases of beachfront concession property, where special rules apply. There is absolutely nothing to prevent you from purchasing Costa Rica property in your own name, but the majority of buyers form a corporation with the help of a reputable lawyer and then purchase property through that corporation. The reason for this is threefold. One - it may be more beneficial to have your income (from rentals) or capital gain (from sale of the property) taxed within a Costa Rican company rather than having it taxed as personal income. Of course, this depends on the tax laws of the country from which you originate. Two - it allows for simplified estate planning, whereby you can give or will shares of the corporation that owns the property to members of your family. Three - if you ever decide to sell your property, you can avoid paying property transfer taxes a second time by simply transferring the shares of the corporation to the new owner.

The Real Estate Registry

 Another plus for property purchasers in Costa Rica is its central land registry which allows your lawyer to confirm that there is clear title to your property, as well as to discern if there are any restrictions on the property before the deal goes through. Further, if you would like to have the added protection of title insurance, the services of international title insurance companies such as Stewart Title are now available in Costa Rica. Also attractive are Costa Rica's very low property taxes - 1/4 of 1% annually. That means if you buy a condominium or home with an assessed value of $200,000, the property taxes per year would be $500.

How to Choose an Agent

The actual nuts and bolts of purchasing are similar to those in North America. Dealing with a real estate company you recognize can provide additional security, since international franchises are governed by standard rules and regulations. Also, find out if your Costa Rica real estate agent lives in the community where he or she is working.  Do they know the local market?  Are they owners themselves?  These are important questions as there are some large databases operating in the country run by individuals that don't even live in the country.  Ask yourself if you want to be represented or advised by someone who is largely ignorant of your target market, and who cannot advise you of pricing, deals, lifestyle and issues peculiar to that location.

Since real estate agent status in Costa Rica remains for the most part unregulated - another way to determine if your agent is a professional is to inquire if he or she belongs to a national associations such as NAR (National Association of Realtors).  Similarly, though membership is not obligatory, most professionals also belong to a national or regional association, such as the CCBR (Costa Rican Real Estate Association) or CRGAR (Costa Rican Guanacaste Association of Real Estate).

More importantly, work with a realtor with a good reputation. One of the best ways to find someone you can trust is simply to ask around. Given that most communities in Costa Rica are relatively small, it won't take you long to come up with some names of reputable realtors in the area.

Also of importance in the process is to secure your own lawyer to represent your interests in a property purchase. Your lawyer should check the title on your property in the central registry, and can also assist with forming corporations, opening bank accounts and doing other business related to land purchase.

How to Make an Offer on Costa Rica Real Estate

Many foreigners who travel here come specifically with the intent of buying property in Costa Rica. Others travel to Costa Rica on vacation and decide on the spur of the moment to make a financial or lifestyle investment.  Whatever your situation, dealing with professionals can simplify the purchase process.

What is the process for making an offer?  First, you and your agent will write an offer that suits your circumstances. The offer will be presented to the seller, whether that is a developer or private owner. Either the seller will accept the offer, or negotiations will ensue regarding price, terms or both. 

Once buyer and seller have come to an agreement and have signed the contract, a deposit (usually 10%) is expected. The normal time period for receipt of deposit is two weeks, but this time period may be negotiated according to the buyer's circumstances. All funds should be held in a SUGEF or government registered escrow account.  It is common for buyers and sellers to use third party companies such as Stewart Title for escrow purposes.  

Final closing would normally be anywhere from 30 - 60 days after both parties agreeing to the terms and signing the contract. If you need to borrow funds, it is normally simpler and interest rates are usually lower in your home country. Your best option for financing in Costa Rica is via owner financing, and there are several legal structures in place that can make owner financing safe for both seller and buyer.  

Costa Rica Travel Information

Costa Rica is certainly an exquisite and promising travel destination. Located in Central America, this part of the Isthmus covers a minuscule 0.01 percent of the planet's surface, and yet holds approximately 6 percent of the world's entire biodiversity.

This country is reknowned for its amazing scenery, well developed national parks and biological reserves, as well as many other advantages related to social aspects and infrastructure.

Its 32,000 square miles are bathed on the coastlines by both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. You will be surprised: it only takes three to four hours by land (or 45 minutes by air), to travel from one coast to the other.

This geographical situation can also cause quite an impact on the climate. There are only two distinct seasons year round: from May to November (rainy) and December to April (dry). The average temperature in the Central Valley is 72°F (22°C). Along the coast, it can vary from 70° to 90°F (21° to 32°C).

Facts

Location: Bordered on the North by Nicaragua and to the South by Panama.

Time Zone: In the Central standard time zone. Does not observe daylight savings time.

Population: 4 million plus inhabitants.

Language: Spanish is official, but English is widely spoken.

Currency: The official currency is the colon. However US dollars are widely accepted.

Government: The three branches of government are the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The President and members of the Legislative Assembly serve four-year terms.

Education and healthcare: education is an important part of the national budget. The country has a literacy rate and average life expectancy that resemble more a Western European nation than most Latin American countries. A socialized medical system has been in place for nearly half a century, and schools and clinics are found throughout the country.

Telecommunications: One of the most advanced telecommunications systems in Latin America can be found here, with telephones and fax machines all over the country, and an increasing number of businesses online.

Transportation: Getting around Costa Rica is simple, and the use of public transport is quite inexpensive. There is bus service to practically every town and city, and buses that serve main travel destinations are quite reliable. Taxis are also plentiful. However, the quickest way to reach far away travel destinations is by air. Car rental agencies are easy to come upon, and most rent four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Main cities: The capital is San Jose, head of one of seven provinces. The others are Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limon.

Entry requirements: citizens holding valid passports from a wide range of countries are permitted to stay in Costa Rica from 30 to 90 days without a visa. Once in the country, it is possible in some cases to apply for an extension. Other nationalities require a visa before arrival. Make sure to contact a Costa Rica embassy or consulate while making your travel plans.

Dates to Remember:

March / April – Easter Week

April 11th – Juan Santamaria day

May 1st – Labor Day

July 25th – Annexation of Guanacaste Celebration

August 2nd – Celebration for the Virgen de los Angeles

August 15th – Mother's Day

September 15th – Independence Day

Some holidays can be great opportunities for travelers. During the last week of the year, parades and other activities are held in San Jose and throughout the country. The Caribbean port of Limon holds its annual Carnival during the week of October 12, and is a delightfully colorful affair.