Costa Rica

Franz Tattenbach

Ref Batch
D
Focus Area(s)
Natural Resources
Ref Batch Number
7
Country of Reform
Costa Rica
Interviewers
Blair Cameron
Name
Franz Tattenbach
Interviewee's Position
Former CEO, FUNDECOR
Interviewee's Organization
FUNDECOR (Fundación de Cordillera Volcánica Central – Foundation for the Protection of the Central Volcanic Mountain Chain)
Language
English
Town/City
San Jose
Country
Costa Rica
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Keywords
deforestation
payments for environmental services
carbon tax
expropriation
land use change
forest management
Abstract

In this interview, Franz Tattenbach shares his experiences as Executive Director of FUNDECOR (Foundation for the Protection of the Central Volcanic Mountain Chain) regarding forestry management and environmental services. He describes how FUNDECOR negotiated with the conservation community to pass the 1996 Forestry Law that allowed environmental service payments (PES) and explains how these reforms were implemented.  He then evaluates the successes and impacts of the PES program before going on to describe FUNDECOR’s activities and roles in the conservation community since the 1996 law. 

Other Key Terms: Cordillera, FUNDECOR (Foundation for the Protection of the Central Volcanic Mountain Chain) 

 

Transcript
D7_FT_BC_Tattenbach_FINAL.pdf
D7_FT_BC_Tattenbach_FINAL.txt
Profile

At the time of this interview, Franz Tattenbach José was­­ the US Agency for International Development Regional Climate Change Program’s Chief of Party and a Distinguished Fellow of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Previously, he served as IISD’s President and CEO for two years and FUNDECOR’s Executive Director for seventeen, where he worked to reverse deforestation and establish sustainable forest management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, a master’s degree in Regional Science and Spatial Economics, and a doctorate in Economic Development and Peace Science from Cornell University. 

René Castro

Ref Batch
D
Focus Area(s)
Natural Resources
Ref Batch Number
12
Critical Tasks
Conserving forests
Country of Reform
Costa Rica
Interviewers
Blair Cameron
Name
René Castro
Interviewee's Position
Minister of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mines from 1994-1998 & Minister of Environment and Energy from 2011-2014
Language
English
Town/City
San Jose
Country
Costa Rica
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Keywords
trust fund
carbon tax
forestry
deforestation
Abstract

In this interview, Dr. René Castro explains the inception and implementation of the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) program during his tenure as Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines from 1994 to 1998. He describes how disputes regarding the best practices for cutting down deforestation resulted in the legal reforms, which helped propel the need for the PES. He discusses the role of members of the opposition party and the president in these reforms, including the passage of a carbon tax. Furthermore, he notes the organizational challenges of transitioning to multiple new agencies, hiring and training staff for these agencies, and balancing power among them. Finally, he reviews the program’s successes and failures and provides his advice to other developing countries pursuing similar programs of forestry reforms.  

Additional Key Terms: national parks, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines, National Forestry Funding Fund (FONAFIFO), Costa Rican Petroleum Company (RECOPE) 

Transcript
D12 FT BC Rene Castro_Final2.pdf
D12 FT BC Rene Castro_Final2.txt
Profile

At the time of this interview, Dr. René Castro was the former Costa Rican Minister of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mines from 1994 to 1998. Castro received his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Costa Rica, and both a master’s degree in Public Administration and a doctoral degree in Design from Harvard University. In addition to his tenure as Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines, Castro served as Vice Minister of Interior from 1984 to 1986 and the Head of Transportation Division of the Ministry of Transportation and Vice Minister of Interior from 1982 to 1984. He also served as the President of the Municipal Council of the City of San Jose. From 2010 to 2011 he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and from 2011 to 2014 served as Minister of Environment and Energy. While in office, he was a board member of the Costa Rican Petroleum Company (RECOPE), the Public Transportation Council and the National Emergency Commission. He also worked as a consultant for the United Nations, World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and other development organizations. He serves as a Full Professor at INCAE Business School.  

Alvaro Ugalde

Ref Batch
D
Focus Area(s)
Natural Resources
Ref Batch Number
2
Critical Tasks
Conserving forests
Country of Reform
Costa Rica
Interviewers
Blair Cameron
Name
Alvaro Ugalde
Interviewee's Position
Co-founder of SPN (merged into SINAC)
Interviewee's Organization
National Parks System, Costa Rica
Language
English
Town/City
Heredia
Country
Costa Rica
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Keywords
forests
certification systems
collective action problems
common pool resources and public goods
crime and natural resources
resource monitoring
resource protection and enforcement
Abstract

In this interview, Alvaro Ugalde speaks about discovering his own love for conservation biology and for Costa Rica’s biodiversity, especially in Osa, which he describes as one of the most difficult conservation regions to manage. He also explains the role of the Director of the Park Service. Ugalde recalls Costa Rica’s environmental history, detailing his process of founding and supporting expansion of the parks system. He explains that despite much progress in the recent past, the protected areas today are not sufficient. Ugalde emphasizes the importance of proper management of the parks, and explains his belief that educating locals about the ecosystem they inhabit will encourage them to take responsibility for their environmental impact. Ugalde says there can be no conservation without justice, and also talks about compensation efforts for those displaced by conservation projects. 

Transcript
D2 FT BC Alvaro Ugalde_Final.pdf
Profile

At the time of this interview, Alvaro Ugalde was retired after a career in Costa Rica’s National Parks System. He was widely celebrated as one of the fathers of Costa Rica’s National Parks System. He gained experience and an interest in conservation as a graduate student studying Natural Resource Management at the University of Michigan. He also completed the Park Operations Course at the Grand Canyon and started volunteering at Costa Rica’s national parks even before finishing his BS. He spent three years working as a volunteer and as a park administrator at Santa Rosa National Park, served as the Regional Director of the Osa Conservation Area, and as the Director of the Park Service for Costa Rica. Along with Mario Boza, he co-founded the country’s national parks system, which now protects more than a fourth of the land in Costa Rica. Ugalde passed away shortly after this interview, on February 15, 2015.