{ "id": "case-98-002860-0007-co", "citation": "Exp. 98-002860-0007-CO", "section": "case_summaries", "doc_type": "case_summary", "title_es": "Límites a concesiones en zonas de protección de nacientes en bosque", "title_en": "Limits on concessions in forest spring protection zones", "summary_es": "La Sala Constitucional declaró parcialmente con lugar una acción de inconstitucionalidad contra varios artículos de la Ley Forestal (Ley 7575) y de la Ley General de la Administración Pública. Los accionantes alegaban que la prohibición de otorgar concesiones en zonas de protección de nacientes en terrenos cubiertos de bosque violaba el derecho a la propiedad privada y el principio de razonabilidad. El tribunal determinó que dichas limitaciones no son irrazonables pues buscan proteger el recurso hídrico y el ambiente, fines de interés público superior. Sin embargo, declaró inconstitucional un párrafo de la Ley Forestal que prohibía absolutamente la tala de árboles en esas zonas sin considerar la posibilidad de autorizaciones excepcionales para el aprovechamiento del recurso, ordenando que se interprete en el sentido de que sí pueden existir esas excepciones. Asimismo, se pronunció sobre la necesidad de que las restricciones al dominio por razones ambientales cuenten con fundamento legal y respeten el equilibrio entre el interés público y los derechos individuales.", "summary_en": "The Constitutional Chamber partially granted a constitutional challenge against several articles of the Forestry Law (Law 7575) and the General Public Administration Law. Petitioners argued that the prohibition on granting concessions in spring protection zones within forested lands violated property rights and the principle of reasonableness. The court held that such limitations are not unreasonable because they pursue the protection of water resources and the environment, which are superior public interests. However, it declared unconstitutional a provision of the Forestry Law that absolutely prohibited tree felling in those zones without considering the possibility of exceptional authorizations, ordering that it be interpreted to allow such exceptions. It also emphasized that property restrictions for environmental reasons must have a legal basis and balance public interest against individual rights.", "court_or_agency": "", "date": "", "year": "", "topic_ids": [ "water-law", "forestry-law-7575" ], "primary_topic_id": "water-law", "es_concept_hints": [ "nacientes permanentes", "zona de protección", "concesión de agua", "Patrimonio Natural del Estado", "Ley Forestal 7575", "inconstitucionalidad", "razonabilidad" ], "concept_anchors": [ { "article": "Art. 33", "law": "Ley 7575" }, { "article": "Art. 34", "law": "Ley 7575" }, { "article": "Art. 145", "law": "Ley 276" } ], "keywords_es": [ "agua", "bosque", "nacientes", "concesiones", "inconstitucionalidad", "ambiente", "propiedad privada", "razonabilidad", "interés público" ], "keywords_en": [ "water", "forest", "springs", "concessions", "unconstitutionality", "environment", "private property", "reasonableness", "public interest" ], "excerpt_es": "De manera que la potestad otorgada a la Administración Pública para autorizar —de manera excepcional y sujeta al cumplimiento de determinados requisitos— la explotación de recursos naturales en terrenos que forman parte del Patrimonio Natural del Estado (dentro de los que se encuentran las zonas de protección de los naciente permanentes), es absolutamente armónica y compatible con el criterio del legislador de prohibir la tala de árboles en los terrenos cubiertos de bosque donde existan nacientes, en tanto no se deriva necesariamente de esa prohibición, la imposibilidad total y absoluta de autorizar el aprovechamiento del recurso de manera controlada; por lo que la norma cuestionada —en el tanto establece una prohibición absoluta— sí resulta contraria al Derecho de la Constitución.", "excerpt_en": "Therefore, the power granted to the Public Administration to authorize —exceptionally and subject to compliance with certain requirements— the exploitation of natural resources on lands forming part of the State’s Natural Heritage (including permanent spring protection zones) is entirely harmonious and compatible with the legislator’s criterion of prohibiting tree felling on forested lands where springs exist, as this prohibition does not necessarily imply the absolute impossibility of authorizing controlled resource use; thus, the challenged provision —insofar as it establishes an absolute prohibition— is contrary to Constitutional Law.", "outcome": { "label_en": "Partially granted", "label_es": "Parcialmente con lugar", "summary_en": "The absolute prohibition on tree felling in forest spring protection zones is unconstitutional, allowing regulated exceptions, but limits on concessions are upheld as reasonable.", "summary_es": "Se declara inconstitucional la prohibición absoluta de tala en zonas de protección de nacientes en bosque, permitiendo excepciones reguladas, pero se mantienen las limitaciones a concesiones por ser razonables." }, "pull_quotes": [ { "context": "Considerando V", "quote_en": "Limitations on the use and disposition of property for natural resource protection must be based in law and pass the test of reasonableness and proportionality, insofar as they respond to a prevailing public interest.", "quote_es": "Las limitaciones al uso y disposición de la propiedad por motivos de protección de recursos naturales, deben estar fundadas en la ley y superar el examen de razonabilidad y proporcionalidad, en tanto respondan a un interés público prevalente." }, { "context": "Considerando VII", "quote_en": "Thus, the power granted to the Public Administration to authorize —exceptionally and subject to compliance with certain requirements— the exploitation of natural resources on lands forming part of the State’s Natural Heritage... is entirely harmonious and compatible with the legislator’s criterion of prohibiting tree felling on forested lands where springs exist.", "quote_es": "De manera que la potestad otorgada a la Administración Pública para autorizar —de manera excepcional y sujeta al cumplimiento de determinados requisitos— la explotación de recursos naturales en terrenos que forman parte del Patrimonio Natural del Estado... es absolutamente armónica y compatible con el criterio del legislador de prohibir la tala de árboles en los terrenos cubiertos de bosque donde existan nacientes." }, { "context": "Considerando VIII", "quote_en": "The General Public Administration Law contemplates the possibility of environmental limitations on property, and this does not imply a violation of property rights.", "quote_es": "La Ley General de la Administración Pública contempla la posibilidad de que por razones ambientales, limitaciones al dominio y ello no implica que exista violación al derecho de propiedad." } ], "cites": [], "cited_by": [], "references": { "internal": [ { "target_id": "nexus-sen-1-0007-80061", "kind": "case_sentence", "label": "Ver texto del voto" }, { "target_id": "nexus-sen-1-0007-80027", "kind": "case_sentence", "label": "Ver texto del voto" }, { "target_id": "nexus-sen-1-0007-80042", "kind": "case_sentence", "label": "Ver texto del voto" }, { "target_id": "nexus-sen-1-0007-83741", "kind": "case_sentence", "label": "Ver texto del voto" }, { "target_id": "norm-41661", "kind": "concept_anchor", "label": "Ley 7575 Art. 33" }, { "target_id": "norm-11950", "kind": "concept_anchor", "label": "Ley 276 Art. 145" } ], "external": [ { "ref_id": "nexus-sen-1-0007-82827", "url": "https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-82827", "kind": "case_sentence", "label": "Ver texto del voto", "nexus_id": "sen-1-0007-82827" } ] }, "source_url": "https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-002860-0007-CO&strTipM=E&strAsunto=norma", "tier": 2, "_editorial_citation_count": 1, "regulations_by_article": null, "cascade_only": false, "amendment_count": 0, "body_es_text": "", "body_en_text": "{\n \"page_type\": \"asu_case_summary\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-002860-0007-CO&strTipM=E&strAsunto=norma\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-002860-0007-CO\",\n \"nexus_links\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_document\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-82827\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_document\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-80061\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_document\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-80027\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_document\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-80042\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_document\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-83741\"\n }\n ],\n \"related_cases\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"constitutional_case_summary\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-002860-0007-CO&strTipM=E\",\n \"label\": \"Expediente\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-002860-0007-CO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"constitutional_case_summary\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-004498-0007-CO&strTipM=E\",\n \"label\": \"98-004498-0007-CO\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-004498-0007-CO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"constitutional_case_summary\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-004508-0007-CO&strTipM=E\",\n \"label\": \"98-004508-0007-CO\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-004508-0007-CO\"\n }\n ],\n \"links\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgr.go.cr\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr:443/scij/avanzada_pgr.aspx\",\n \"label\": \"INICIO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/main.aspx\",\n \"label\": \"PGR SINALEVI\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_link\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/\",\n \"label\": \"PODER JUDICIAL\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"hacienda_jurisprudencia\",\n \"url\": \"https://scij.hacienda.go.cr/SCIJ_MHDA/default.aspx\",\n \"label\": \"HACIENDA\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"corte_idh\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.corteidh.or.cr/index.php/es\",\n \"label\": \"CORTE IDH\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/actas_constituyente.aspx\",\n \"label\": \"ACTAS CONSTITUYENTE\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/ayuda_pgr.aspx\",\n \"label\": \"AYUDA\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/mapa_sitio.aspx\",\n \"label\": \"MAPA DEL SITIO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr:443/scij/avanzada_pgr.aspx\",\n \"label\": \"Menú de Búsquedas Avanzadas\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"constitutional_case_summary\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-002860-0007-CO&strTipM=E\",\n \"label\": \"Expediente\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-002860-0007-CO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_normas_cuestionadas.aspx?param1=ASN&nValor1=1¶m5=98-002860-0007-CO&strTipM=NC\",\n \"label\": \"Normas cuestionadas\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-002860-0007-CO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"pgr_scij\",\n \"url\": \"https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_informe_pgr.aspx?ContInforme=0¶m1=AIP&nValor1=1¶m5=98-002860-0007-CO¶mInf=1&strTipM=IP1\",\n \"label\": \"Informe de la PGR 1\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-002860-0007-CO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"constitutional_case_summary\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-004498-0007-CO&strTipM=E\",\n \"label\": \"98-004498-0007-CO\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-004498-0007-CO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"constitutional_case_summary\",\n \"url\": \"http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/asunto_cons/asu_asunto_const.aspx?param1=ASC&nValor1=1¶m5=98-004508-0007-CO&strTipM=E\",\n \"label\": \"98-004508-0007-CO\",\n \"expediente\": \"98-004508-0007-CO\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_link\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-82827\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_link\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-80061\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_link\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-80027\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_link\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-80042\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"nexus_link\",\n \"url\": \"https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0007-83741\",\n \"label\": \"Ver texto del voto\"\n }\n ],\n \"next_actions\": [\n \"NEXUS LINKS: These are court documents in Poder Judicial system\",\n \"Use scrape-nexus.py to fetch nexus_document URLs\",\n \"Related cases may cite the same laws - follow for complete picture\"\n ]\n}" }