Costa Rica just made a huge step towards protecting its amazing wildlife by voting to require wildlife crossings for new and existing roads. This means that any new infrastructure projects will have to include plans for wildlife crossings from the very beginning, and existing roads might need to add them if they’re shown to be necessary. The goal is to help animals safely cross roads and connect their habitats, which is super important for their survival.
The new regulation is a big deal because Costa Rica is home to so many incredible species, and roads can be a major threat to them. In fact, the country is a global biodiversity hotspot, and millions of ecotourists visit every year to see the wildlife. But ironically, those same roads can be deadly for the animals. Wildlife crossings, like bridges, tunnels, and ropes, have already been shown to be lifesavers, and at least 59 species have been spotted using them in Costa Rica.
The type of wildlife crossing needed can vary depending on the environment and the local wildlife. For example, in some coastal areas, crabs migrate from land to sea every year to lay their eggs, but many get killed crossing roads. A tunnel could help prevent these casualties. The founder of the Sloth Conservation Foundation, Rebecca Cliffe, is even planning a citizen science project to gather data and request bridges where they’re needed. It’s all about finding a balance between development and conservation, which is crucial for Costa Rica’s ecotourism industry and the amazing wildlife that calls the country home.