Dredging Project Controversy

In the recent article, "Pastora: Dredging project a done deal" Adam Williams reports on an interview conducted by The Tico Times with former Sandinista fighter Edén Pastora and his controversial project of dredging the San Juan River. The river runs along the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican border and Nicaragua is in favor of the project which will make the river easier to navigate, hopefully increasing tourism, while Costa Rica opposes the project.

This article doesn't provide Costa Rica's opposing argument, but it appears that they may be in opposition to the destruction of more forest, and the fear of encroachment onto their territory. It is interesting that Pastora's response to their opposition is as follows: "What are 172 trees cut down in comparison to millions and millions of trees that Costa Ricans have cut down along the river? They are the ones that have done ecological damage for years. For decades." Is it really a justification to destroy forest because someone else has destroyed much more?

I think Nicaragua sees the prosperity that Costa Rica has experienced due to its booming tourism industry and wants to see the same results in its own country. In a related article "Could the dredging project bring more tourism to Costa Rica?" Williams reports that "in southeast Nicaragua, a sign in front of the mayor’s office boasts: “With the arrival of tourism, poverty recedes.” It is clear that Nicaragua is looking to be as successful as Costa Rica has been economically, but Costa Rica realizes the environmental consequences of their economic success.