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Comparing Scenery and Special Features of The

Rio Puerto Viejo

Thomas  M. Philip Peter Ritson Kim Walsh David Wojnowski Anne Zellinger Technical Assistance by Paxie

Abstract

A Scenic River assessment was used to determine ecotourism potential of the Rio Puerto de Viejo in vicinity of La Selva Biological Research Station. The assessment indicated higher ecotourism potential along the Research Station as compared to upstream or downstream of La Selva.

Introduction

Ecotourism is one of the highest economic industries in Costa Rica.  Natural ecosystems are essential for continued interest in this industry.  Ecotourists are a specialized subset of the tourism industry who value pristine, natural areas to visit.  The preservation of these areas is essential to maintaining further development of this important economic activity. The North Carolina Rivers Assessment Surveys has been successfully used in North Carolina for several years to assess the aesthetic value of river corridors.  The hypothesis is that the River stretch along the Biological Research Station will have a higher rating according to the North Carolina Rivers Assessment Criteria.

Sites

We divided the river into three contiguous segments for this study. Segment one was the farthest upstream and ran from - Isla de la Heliconia to the bridge at La Selva. T  Large woody debris was frequent, typically every fifty meters.  Cichlids, tetras and bobos were observed in the river, along with otters, anhingas, turtles, iguanas, swallows, flycatchers, herons and kingfishers.  Spider and Howler monkeys were observed in trees above the river.

The 2nd Segment ran from the Bridge at La Selva to the downstream property line. The 3rd Segment continued from the end of Segment 2, the La Selva property line, to the boat launch site in Puerto Viejo. (The last segment includes confluence of Sarapiqui with Puerto Viejo which continues as Sarapiqui.)  The depth of the river varied from twelve centimeters to over two meters.

  The width varied from fifteen to twenty-five meters. The substrate was consistently gravel with occasional coarse sand.

Methods

Five observers floated down the river using pneumaticos, making visual observations of ecotourism features.  Each floater completed the North Carolina Piedmont Rivers Assessment Survey for three stretches of the river, upstream of the station, through the station and downstream of the station. 

A rating was applied to the observations to standardize results.  D received one point, C two points, B three points and A four points.   The eight criterion included land use, land form, views, vegetation, water character, water condition, special features and overall scenic experience. Complete descriptions of each criteria can be found on www.ncwater.org.

Results were compiled from each observer to assess any differences between inside and outside the biological station.   For example, if observer one gave a 2 point rating for inside La Selva and a 1 point rating for outside La Selva the difference was +1.   The point difference in land use criteria was assessed for each observer and then averaged for the five observers.

 Land use and water characteristics showed slightly lower value within La Selva reach as compared to the other two reaches (Fig 1).  Views, vegetation, water conditions, special features and overall scenic experience showed higher values within La Selva reach. Views and vegetation were a full step higher.

  Figure 1. Relative Aesthetic Value based on seven criteria

Negative relative index values indicate reaches outside the park had a higher value.  Positive values indicate that the La Selva reach had a higher value.  A one point difference indicated a full step higher. 

 The survey assessment indicates conditions in La Selva lend themselves more to ecotourism than reaches immediately up and down stream from the station. If this entire reach was to be used for ecotourism it would be beneficial to be modeled after La Selva, This, in turn, would tilt the balance away from more disruptive land use practices of grazing and agriculture (as seen on these reaches) towards a conservation minded policy.  With Costa Rica experiencing a high rate of deforestation, this could be an important model of preserving natural systems outside of parks.

 Reference

 NC DENR – NCRA :  www.ncwater.org

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources/North Carolina Rivers Assessment 

Thanks to: 

Tim from Isla de las Heliconias for letting us tube from his property.   Orlando Vargas provided us with information about the river and length of the reaches.  We would also like to thank  the La Selva receptionists for helping us find some pneumaticos and  Minor Hildalgo O. for discussing fish habitats and species in the river.  Also,  Fabrizio Gutierrez deserves much acknowledgement as he spent hours negotiating pneumatico prices and driving us to the put in spot and for picking us up from our second river excursion.