Locals Help Celebrate Environmental Day

People all over the world celebrated Environmental Day on June 5^th, and the locals of Tamarindo and Playa Grande were no exception. Led by Hotel Capitán Suizo of Tamarindo and the Las Baulas National Marine Park, locals everywhere did their part in helping the environment. Both groups helped to plant native trees in different parts of Costa Rica, increasing reforestation efforts and expanding environmental awareness throughout Guanacaste.

Capitán Suizo took about 20 students from the local school of Los Ranchos, as well as other schools in the Guanacaste area, to the University of Costa Rica. There, students from the schools and students from the university all planted trees together and did different workshops and activities related to the environment. The kids from Los Ranchos ranged in age from first to sixth grade, but the students from the other schools were of all different ages. In total, there were about 100 students all working together to promote environmental awareness.

In Playa Grande, both Capitán Suizo and Las Baulas National Marine Park worked together to plant trees in the National Park as part of an “Adopt A Tree” series. This was part of the Earth University’s movement to plant two million trees worldwide to celebrate World Environmental Day, address climate changes, and create more worldwide biodiversity. The reforestation activity in the park was a success, with 81 native tree species planted. These species included aceituno, almond of the mountains, madero negro, and guapinol. The native trees help reclaim spaces from foreign species, as well as create new vegetation in areas that were cleared. Children in the community, neighbors, park rangers, volunteers, researchers, and employees of Capitan Suizo, from the maids to the accountants, all participated.

All of the participants – from the students to the local employees – really enjoyed themselves at these reforestation activities. Capitán Suizo manager, Sonia Fuentes, said that the students were excited to participate because not only were they helping the environment and learning something new, but they got the chance to experience what the University of Costa Rica was like and to meet other students from all over. Local participants who helped at the park learned environmental responsibility and community responsibility.

Capitán Suizo’s participation in these events mirrors their commitment to helping with the environmental and social responsibilities. The hotel’s philosophy embraces the importance of supporting local communities, as well as the local nature and wildlife.

Las Baulas National Marine Park also recognizes their responsibility to the environment and is continuing to have “Adopt A Tree” days. Their second one was on June 9^th, and future ones are on July 3^rd and July 17^th. All people are encouraged to participate. If you want seedlings and cannot participate on the designated Saturdays, ask for a meeting with Adopt a Tree Chairman, Priscilla Meneses. For more information, call the Park office at 2653-0470, 2653-2233, or 2653-2234.