In a town that is quickly growing, we face many environmental challenges daily and the Nicoya Peninsula Waterkeeper Organization has been working hard on coming up with more and more long-term solutions to protect and support our beloved natural resources.
N.P. Waterkeeper just had their seven year anniversary and continues to grow strong and expand with new ideas and exciting projects. They have already taken huge strides in promoting environmental protection by starting a weekly recycling collection route throughout the southern Nicoya Peninsula, building a state-of-the-art recycling center in Cóbano along with Bionic Yarn, monitoring and testing local water quality for data collection, as well as constantly coordinating beach clean-ups, organizing educational programs and promoting alternatives to single use plastics.
They are very excited to launch and announce their latest venture called, Ocean Friendly Business! The goal of this project is to certify businesses that have environmentally responsible practices for fresh water and ocean pollution prevention. The Ocean Friendly Business Certification Program is being funded by grants coming from the National Geographic Foundation! That’s huge!
Their idea is to help businesses in town by educating them and helping them transition and change their practices to be more environmentally responsible. And with this, celebrate and support the businesses that are committed to protecting our local and beloved resources. After all the main attraction of the Santa Teresa area is the natural beauty that surrounds us!
This will also provide an educational opportunity for both locals and tourists to get informed, and also give them a chance to get involved and support these certified businesses. Initially they are targeting restaurants to apply for the certifications and will follow with hotels in the greater Santa Teresa area.
Sixty restaurants have been invited to the initial meetings and so far and only eight have officially signed up.
The first evaluations will be in November and the first certificates will be granted in December! There is still time to sign up!
How to get certified?
• Appropriately dispose of your solid waste.
• No single-use plastics allowed.
• Appropriately dispose of your wastewater.
How will your business benefit?
• You will get training and free advice.
• Lots of publicity.
• You will become a part of a network of allies of the ocean restaurants, which will be shared with media and tourism promotion agencies.
• Last, but certainly not least, you will be taking good care of the ocean!
What are the registry requirements?
• Sign an agreement with us.
• Provide us with the necessary information.
• Participate in meetings and trainings.
• Maintain the agreed commitment once the certificate has been granted.
This is just another great example of a creative solution to bring awareness to water conservation, to get educated and to unite as a community to celebrate businesses that have good practices. Please spread the word and get in touch with the NPWK office to get involved!
Kenneth Alfaro is in charge of the Ocean Friendly Business Program.
He has worked on several projects related to wastewater sanitation, community water management and integrated solid waste management in the past. And the Nicoya Peninsula Waterkeeper’s are proud to have him on the team!
Please reach out to Kenneth if you are interested to learn more about this amazing program!
Email: kennethwaterkeeper@gmail.com
Phone: (506)26400871
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