Río Pacuare, Costa Rica
By Shannon Farley, Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA), Costa Rica
The Pacuare River in Costa Rica is a vital ecological artery sustaining rich biodiversity, primary and secondary rainforest, indigenous territories, agricultural and cattle ranching farms, and local communities. Its headwaters are found in the Cordillera de Talamanca, originating at an elevation of 3,340 meters (10,958 feet). The river flows 136.39 km (84.75 miles) down the Caribbean slope of southeastern Costa Rica to the Caribbean Sea, just north of Limon. [1]
The Pacuare’s exceptional biodiversity includes numerous species of fish, among them the endangered Bobo fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, insects, and a robust array of tropical rainforest vegetation. Among its iconic species are jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, endangered Great Green Macaws, and several species of sea turtles that nest along the beaches at the river’s mouth. The river basin's intricate ecosystem supports over 300 bird species, making it a notable destination for birdwatchers. The river also ranks in the world’s top 10 premiere rafting and kayaking destinations.
Impacts and Threats to the Pacuare River- The Pacuare River faces multifaceted threats, primarily stemming from human activities.
Ecotourism: Given the Pacuare’s international popularity as a rafting and kayaking destination, starting in 1992, ecolodges began being built along the banks of the middle watershed in a 26 km (16 mile) stretch from Tres Equis, Turrialba, to Siquirres, known as the commercial rafting section. Commercial rafting and kayaking trips had begun operating on the Pacuare River in 1978. As of May 2023, 11 lodges and 17 rafting companies operate along this 26 km stretch, all impacting the river by their very nature.
Historically, however, the rafting and kayaking community, along with environmentalists and indigenous Cabecar communities, have staunchly protected the Pacuare from hydroelectric dams, degradation, rampant deforestation, and overdevelopment.
Deforestation and other human impacts: Deforestation driven by cattle ranching, agricultural expansion, the timber industry, infrastructure development (in the lower river basin), and illegal extraction of river sand and rock leads to soil erosion and alters the river’s hydrology, jeopardizing water quality and aquatic habitats. Illegal logging exacerbates these issues, disrupting critical wildlife corridors and reducing the ecosystem’s resilience.
Illegal hunting and fishing pose an additional threat to the biodiversity of the Pacuare River basin, endangering vulnerable species, disrupting natural ecosystems, and further compromising the delicate balance of the region’s wildlife.
Agriculture: The lower section of the Pacuare River, from Siquirres to the Caribbean Sea, faces significant threats from nearby banana and pineapple plantations, where intensive agricultural practices contribute to the runoff of agrochemicals into the water. Pesticides and fertilizers used in these plantations contaminate the river, leading to water pollution, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss. Elevated nutrient levels and chemical pollutants can trigger algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and disruptions in the aquatic ecosystem, impacting fish populations and other wildlife. At the mouth of the Pacuare River are nesting beaches for endangered sea turtles.
Hydroelectric dams: Costa Rica’s national energy company, ICE (for its acronym in Spanish), has prized the vast hydroelectric potential of the Pacuare for decades. However, a stalwart resistance has saved the river from any dams thus far. In 2005, the citizens of the town of Turrialba held a plebiscite where 97% of the population voted not to dam the Pacuare. A presidential decree issued by President Luis Guillermo Solis on August 29, 2015, currently protects the Pacuare and Savegre rivers from large hydroelectric projects (>500KW) for 25 years until 2040. However, any other president could override this fragile historic agreement before then. The ultimate conservation goal is establishing lasting, legal protection for the Pacuare River.
Climate change: The Pacuare is not immune to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns have intensified flooding and droughts, exacerbating erosion and habitat loss. Increased sedimentation from deforested areas further degrades water quality, threatening aquatic life and downstream communities reliant on the river for drinking water and agriculture.
Possibilities for future legal conservation action: Costa Rica passed the National Wetlands Protection Act on March 6, 2017, which aims to preserve and revitalize the nation’s rivers, lakes, mangroves, other wetlands, and their biodiversity. The Act combines efforts from the Ministry of the Environment, the National System of Conservation Areas, and the United Nations Development Program. It is part of a national strategy to conserve and sustainably manage Costa Rica’s wetlands. Although no permanent legal protection has been established, this policy paves the way for that to happen. The Savegre River, protected by the same presidential decree as the Pacuare, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 15, 2017. The government must now ensure that the Biosphere Reserve maintains all the characteristics that made the UNESCO designation possible. However, it does not represent any substantial changes for the communities involved. A similar status might be a good fit for the Pacuare River Basin.
Addressing all the challenges impacting the Pacuare River demands concerted efforts from multiple stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, indigenous territories, tourism companies, agricultural companies, and conservation organizations.
[1] Instituto Meteorológico Nacional de Costa Rica, Estudio de Cuencas Hidrográficas de Costa Rica, Cuenca río Pacuare, 2011.