Over the next few years, the sublime and mysterious stone spheres at the Palmar Sur park indigenous park in Costa Rica will witness the construction of the Brunca Region International… Read more » Continue reading →
Over the next few years, the sublime and mysterious stone spheres at the Palmar Sur park indigenous park in Costa Rica will witness the construction of the Brunca Region International Airport, Costa Rica’s latest effort in expanding its lucrative tourism industry. While many residents and landowners rejoiced at the news, others groaned about what they describe as the Guanacastezation of the pristine southern zone of Costa Rica.
According to Evelyn Fernandez Mora of business weekly El Financiero, the Directorate of Civil Aviation in Costa Rica is currently waiting on a couple of government entities to complete their environmental impact studies before they can start construction. This process could take quite a while and might present obstacles due to the proposed location of the airport: About five kilometers southwest of Palmar Sur and just east of the Terraba-Sierpe wetlands, which are part of Costa Rica’s extensive network of nature preserves.
Regional landowners are anxiously awaiting the completion of the environmental impact studies since the process of land acquisition would follow. The initial development phase would entail construction of a runway at least 2,200 meters long and 45 meters wide. The airport terminal would be ready to welcome flights of about 150 to 200 passengers, and future expansion could lengthen the runway to 3,300 meters.
The landowners currently rubbing their hands in excited expectation are those whose properties are close to Fincas 9 and 10 in the Osa Canton. Hoteliers and real estate speculators are also keeping a close eye on any developments. There are some concerns, however, with regard to the type of aircraft expected to land at this new airport. Besides the traditional Airbus A-320s and Learjets, civil aviation officials have mentioned C-130 Hercules aircraft as well. These airplanes are typically associated with foreign military operations, to which the indigenous residents of the region are vehemently opposed to.
Environmental activists opposed to the Brunca Region International Airport claim that people who have settled Fincas 9 and 10 for many decades are not willing to be relocated, and that sonic pollution will damage the purity of the nearby Corcovado National Park and the wetlands by the Sierpe River. As reported by Carlos Monge of PerezZeledon.net, these activists believe that the Osa Peninsula should not be overrun by real estate developments and tourism like Guanacaste has in the 21st century.