Establishes Costa Rica's 24 indigenous territories as inalienable, imprescriptible, and exclusive. ILO Convention 169 adds the duty of free, prior, and informed consultation.
Establece los 24 territorios indígenas de Costa Rica como inalienables, imprescriptibles y exclusivos. El Convenio OIT 169 añade el deber de consulta previa, libre e informada.
64 documents in this topic.
Res. 03048-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Ampliación de plazo para implementar metodología de pobreza diferenciada para pueblos indígenas
The Constitutional Chamber reviews a subsequent motion filed by the Executive Director of SINIRUBE, requesting an 18-month extension to comply with the order in judgment No. 2023003645. That judgment ordered SINIRUBE to implement, within three months, a specialized methodology to determine poverty levels adapted to the economic, geographic, social, and…
Res. 06140-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Desafiliación de asociado indígena y legitimación en amparo contra ADI de Térraba
The Constitutional Chamber denies the amparo filed by a person self-identified as indigenous Brörán of Térraba against the Integral Development Association (ADI) and DINADECO. The complainant alleged arbitrary disaffiliations and reprisals for opposing the ADI, manipulation of membership rolls, use of a parallel roll, and requested the invalidation of the…
Res. 09107-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Consulta a niños y adolescentes indígenas para la Política Nacional de la Niñez
The Constitutional Chamber upheld an amparo action brought by the Office of the Ombudsperson against the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CNNA). The claimant argued that during the formulation of the 2024-2036 National Policy for Children and Adolescents, the CNNA failed to conduct a free, prior, and informed consultation with Indigenous…
Res. 15248-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Talando en los límites: el amparo de Keköldi que no demostró la invasión
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo filed on behalf of the Bribri Indigenous People of Keköldi, alleging that logging authorized by the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) through a certificate of origin under an agroforestry system had encroached upon their territory. The Chamber determined that technical inspections by INDER—the sole…
Res. 12885-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Inadmisibilidad de amparo abstracto contra ADI Térraba por falta de agravio personal
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by an indigenous resident of Térraba against the Integral Development Association (ADI) of that reserve. The claimant argued that the ADI, together with FONAFIFO, introduced payment for environmental services (PSA) programs and other projects like RED+ in the indigenous territory without conducting prior,…
Res. 17074-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Pesca indígena Malecu con trasmallos en Caño Negro y omisión de consulta previa
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by an indigenous person from the Malecu territory, who claims that the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) prohibited them from fishing with gillnets or nets in the Caño Negro Mixed National Wildlife Refuge, an ancestral subsistence practice. SINAC based its prohibition on opinion PGR-C-153-2023,…
Res. 29985-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Consulta previa y territorios ancestrales afrodescendientes en Cahuita y Talamanca
The Constitutional Chamber reviews two consolidated amparo actions filed by Afro-descendant residents of the southern Caribbean coast against the Municipality of Talamanca, the INVU, and the ICT. The petitioners allege violation of ancestral property rights, lack of public policies, failure to carry out prior consultation in the approval of the Cahuita…
Res. 29253-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra ADI Térraba por exigir aval para medidor eléctrico en territorio indígena
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by a woman identifying as indigenous of the Brörán people, resident in the Térraba Indigenous Territory, against the Integral Development Association (ADI) of that reserve and the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE). The petitioner claims that, after requesting installation of an electric meter, ICE…
Res. 31544-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Ampliación de plazo para consulta indígena en Plan Regulador Costero de Cahuita
The Constitutional Chamber reviews a request by the mayor of the Municipality of Talamanca to extend the deadline set in ruling No. 2023031756, which ordered a new public hearing for the Cahuita Coastal Regulatory Plan, ensuring the participation of the Keköldi Indigenous Territory Integral Development Association (ADI Keköldi). The municipality claims…
Res. 33417-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Negativa de aclaración sobre detención en Cahuita no analiza Convenio 169
The Constitutional Chamber denies the request for clarification and addition filed against ruling 2025-031663, which had dismissed a habeas corpus petition concerning the detention of a leader of the Cahuita Integral Development Association (ADIC). The petitioner argued that the Chamber failed to recognize the Afro-descendant ancestral nature of Cahuita…
Res. 35746-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Consulta previa al pueblo tribal afrocostarricense en el Plan Maestro Turístico del Caribe
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action against the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) for failing to conduct prior, free, and informed consultation with the Afro-Costa Rican tribal people during the formulation of the Caribbean Coastal Tourism Master Plan. The Chamber held that, although labeled as a non-binding guidance document, the plan…
Res. 01701-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Rechazo de acción de inconstitucionalidad sobre Ley Indígena y jurisprudencia de la Sala Primera
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed on the merits an unconstitutionality action against Article 2 of the Indigenous Law and the Supreme Court's First Chamber's jurisprudential line (decisions 920-F-S1-2015, 2046-F-S1-2020, and 2878-F-S1-2020) concerning Articles 2, 3, and 5 of that law. The action claimed that requiring non-indigenous persons to have had…
Res. 01752-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra Directriz 003-MJP por falta de consulta indígena
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by an indigenous person from the Quitirrisí territory of Mora against the Ministry of Justice and Peace and the Ministry of the Presidency, challenging Directive No. 003-MJP of August 9, 2022, which created an Interinstitutional Technical Roundtable for the indigenous population. The petitioner argued that…
Res. 31756-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Consulta previa a ADI Keköldi por Plan Regulador Costero de Cahuita
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action filed by members of the Keköldi Indigenous Territory Integral Development Association (ADI Keköldi) against the Municipality of Talamanca. The petitioners claim that the municipality failed to conduct a prior, free, and informed consultation process before approving the Coastal Regulatory Plan for the…
Res. 04504-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Consulta indígena condicionada a ubicación del tajo en reserva
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo filed by representatives of the Huetar Quitirrisí Indigenous Council against several public entities regarding the operation of a quarry allegedly within indigenous territory. The applicants claimed violation of the right to prior consultation and to a healthy environment. The Chamber reiterates its precedent:…
Res. 05033-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Improcedencia de revisar reserva indígena por acción de inconstitucionalidad
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses on the merits an unconstitutionality action filed by development associations from Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo de Talamanca against Executive Decree 7267-G-1977 and articles 1 and 2 of Indigenous Law 6172. The plaintiffs argued that including unexpropriated private lands and the maritime-terrestrial zone within the…
Res. 01622-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Anulación de la declaratoria de conveniencia nacional del Proyecto Hidroeléctrico El Diquís por omisión de estudios socioambientales e incumplimiento del Convenio 169 de la OIT
The Constitutional Chamber partially granted an unconstitutionality action against Executive Decree No. 34312-MP-MINAE, which declared the El Diquís Hydroelectric Project to be of national convenience. The Court annulled the decree as unconstitutional after confirming—based on the Minister of Environment's own report—that the Executive Branch failed to…
Res. 17397-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Aprovechamiento de agua en patrimonio natural sin consulta indígena
This key ruling by the Constitutional Chamber addresses a constitutional challenge against Law No. 9590, which authorizes the extraction of water for human consumption in the State's Natural Heritage areas. The plaintiffs, Brunca and Bribrí indigenous persons, alleged violations of the right to a healthy environment, the principle of science-based…
Res. 91839-2018 Sala Constitucional2018 · Sala Constitucional
Consulta indígena previa para aprovechamiento de agua en patrimonio natural del Estado
The Constitutional Chamber admits for processing an unconstitutionality claim filed by two indigenous citizens against Law No. 9590, which authorizes water extraction for human consumption and ancillary works in State natural heritage areas. The plaintiffs argue that the law permits land-use changes in protected areas without proper technical studies,…
Res. 05620-2016 Sala Constitucional2016 · Sala Constitucional
Decreto 27800-MINAE requiere consulta previa a pueblos indígenas
The Constitutional Chamber granted an unconstitutionality action against Executive Decree 27800‑MINAE, which regulates the use of forest resources in indigenous reserves. The Chamber found that the decree was issued in 1999 without the prior, free, and informed consultation required by Articles 6 and 7 of ILO Convention 169. Although the decree pursues…
Res. 15711-2016 Sala Constitucional2016 · Sala Constitucional
Consulta indígena obligatoria para proyecto hidroeléctrico El Diquís
The Constitutional Chamber annuls Article 8 of Executive Decree 34312-MP-MINAE (2008), which authorized material extraction sites within indigenous territories for the El Diquís Hydroelectric Project. Ruling 2011-12975 had conditioned the article's validity on the completion of a prior, free, and informed consultation required by ILO Convention 169 within…
Res. 17058-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Anulación del Reglamento al artículo 80 de la Ley de Biodiversidad por falta de consulta indígena
The Constitutional Chamber fully annulled Executive Decree No. 34958-MINAET-COMEX, the Regulation under Article 80 of the Biodiversity Law, for violating the right to prior consultation of indigenous peoples. The Court found that the decree directly affects indigenous communities' interests by regulating patent procedures that involve traditional knowledge…
Res. 12975-2011 Sala Constitucional2011 · Sala Constitucional
Obligación de consulta previa al pueblo indígena Térraba por el Proyecto Hidroeléctrico El Diquís
The Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica reviewed the unconstitutionality action against Articles 1, 4, and 8 of Executive Decree No. 34312-MP-MINAE, which declared the El Diquís Hydroelectric Project of national convenience and public interest. The action claimed that the project would affect the Térraba Indigenous Reserve territory without prior…
Res. 10787-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Tala en Reserva Indígena Zapatón y consulta previa
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against logging permits granted by MINAET on private properties within the Zapatón Indigenous Reserve in Puriscal. The petitioner, an IDA forest guard, claimed violation of the right to a healthy environment (Article 50 of the Constitution) and failure to consult indigenous communities under ILO…
Res. 14772-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Superposición entre Reserva Indígena Guaymí de Osa y Parque Nacional Corcovado
The Constitutional Chamber annuls Executive Decree 29957-G of 2001, which expanded the Guaymí de Osa Indigenous Reserve by encroaching on 5,668 hectares of Corcovado National Park and the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, both protected wild areas forming part of the State's Natural Heritage. The Court holds that the reduction of a protected area can only be…
Res. 09881-2009 Sala Constitucional2009 · Sala Constitucional
Daño ambiental en Reserva Indígena Quitirrisí por tala ilegal
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by members of the Quitirrisí indigenous community against various state and municipal authorities, alleging violation of the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment. The plaintiffs report illegal tree felling, damage to aquifers, and harm to primary forest areas within the indigenous…
Res. 11743-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso a información sobre personas en área del PH Diquís
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against ICE for refusing to provide information on the number, names, and qualities of indigenous and non-indigenous persons within the area of influence of the Diquís Hydroelectric Project, and for not providing technical studies that supported an executive decree declaring the project of public…
Res. 09931-2004 Sala Constitucional2004 · Sala Constitucional
Aprovechamiento forestal en propiedad privada dentro de reserva indígena sin consulta previa
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by the National Commission of Indigenous Affairs (CONAI) against a forest harvesting permit granted by MINAE on a private property located within the Cabécar Indigenous Reserve of Bajo Chirripó. CONAI alleged violation of the prior consultation right under ILO Convention 169, the right to a healthy…
Res. 08678-2001 Sala Constitucional2001 · Sala Constitucional
Inconstitucionalidad del plazo trienal de prescripción negativa en Ley de Titulación de Reservas Nacionales
The Constitutional Chamber ruled on a judicial consultation from the Agrarian Court of Liberia regarding the constitutionality of Article 15 of the National Reserves Land Titling Law (Law No. 7599). That article limited to three years from registration the period for third parties with superior rights to reclaim property, and allowed the titleholder's…
C-073-20252025
Actividades tradicionales indígenas en áreas silvestres protegidas y pesca del pueblo Maleku
The opinion responds to a request for reconsideration of criterion PGR-C-153-2023, filed by the Minister of Environment and Energy, regarding the possibility of authorizing indigenous traditional activities in protected wild areas and, specifically, the Maleku people's collective fishing practice in the Caño Negro Mixed National Wildlife Refuge. The…
C-105-20252025
Competencias del IGN sobre delimitación de reservas indígenas
The Attorney General's Office declares inadmissible the National Geographic Institute's (IGN) consultation on whether it has authority to certify, delimit, or formalize indigenous territories. The consultation repeats a previous one (DIG-0066-2024) already resolved in binding opinion PGR-C-139-2024, which found a negative conflict of jurisdiction between…
C-153-20232023
Actividades tradicionales indígenas en áreas silvestres protegidas y Convenio 169 OIT
The Attorney General's Office responds to a SINAC query on whether management plans and public use regulations may authorize indigenous peoples' access to Protected Wilderness Areas for traditional and subsistence activities under ILO Convention 169, Article 14. It concludes that such activities cannot be authorized if they differ from those allowed by…
C-253-20212021
Traslape de áreas silvestres protegidas y reservas indígenas
The Attorney General's Office responds to SINAC's consultation on four questions. First, it determines that the inalienability declaration of the 2000-meter zone on both sides of the South Inter-American Highway (Robledales zone) is NOT in force, following the repeal of Articles 7(a) and 10 of the Land and Colonization Law. Second, it analyzes the overlap…
C-125-20172017
Competencia para regular y pagar salarios de guarda reservas en territorios indígenas
The INDER asked the Attorney General's Office which institution is responsible for regulating, hiring, and paying indigenous reserve guards (guarda reservas) in indigenous territories, given that Decree 13590 assigned this function to the IDA (now INDER) but the 1996 Forestry Law gave MINAE jurisdiction over forestry lands. The Attorney General refuses to…
C-356-20072007
Cobro del impuesto a las construcciones en reservas indígenas tras derogatoria de exenciones
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether the Municipality of Mora must charge the 1% tax under Article 70 of the Urban Planning Law on constructions in indigenous reserves, or whether a valid exemption exists. It concludes that the objective exemption in Article 3 of the Indigenous Law was tacitly repealed by Article 1 of the Law on All Current…
C-286-20032003
Exención tributaria en reservas indígenas y alcances del impuesto sobre bienes inmuebles y patente municipal
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether the exemption in Article 3 of Indigenous Law 6172 applies to buildings and commercial activities in indigenous reserves. It concludes that the generic exemption was repealed by Law 7293, but under Law 7509, properties in indigenous reserves are not subject to property tax. Regarding the municipal business…
C-395-20032003
Aplicación de los artículos 3, 5 y 9 de la Ley Indígena en el traspaso de reservas
The Attorney General's Office clarifies the scope of the Constitutional Court's order to transfer the Boruca, Térraba, and Curré reservations to indigenous communities. It determines that non-indigenous owners or possessors in good faith —prior to the reservation's creation— must be relocated or expropriated with prior compensation, and the transfer does…
C-045-20002000
Prevalencia del Convenio 169 OIT sobre la Ley de Desarrollo de la Comunidad y criterios para identificar indígena
The Attorney General's Office concludes that, in the event of a normative conflict, ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples prevails over the Community Development Law (Law 3859) as it is an international instrument of higher rank than ordinary law, pursuant to Article 7 of the Constitution. It also states that there is no single criterion for…
C-228-19991999
Extracción y comercialización de madera en reservas indígenas
The Attorney General's Office responds to a query from SINAC on whether indigenous communities may extract and sell timber from their reserves. It concludes they are not legally authorized to do so, as the Indigenous Law No. 6172 and the Regulation for Forest Harvesting in Indigenous Reserves restrict forest use to domestic and artisanal purposes,…
Res. 00394-2025 Sala Primera de la Corte2025 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Buena fe en adquisición de tierras en territorio indígena Quitirrisí
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court, by majority, upholds the lower court’s decision partially granting the claim of a non-indigenous corporation seeking compensation for the encumbrance of its property, partially located within the Quitirrisí Indigenous Territory. The property, acquired in 1981, was 23% affected since 1979; the remaining 77% was…
Res. 06461-2025 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección V2025 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección V
Indemnización a propietario no indígena de buena fe dentro de territorio indígena Térraba
The Administrative Contentious Court, Section V, rules in favor of Pedro García Murillo, a non-indigenous owner of a 272-hectare farm within the Térraba Indigenous Territory. The judgment finds the plaintiff to be a good-faith acquirer, because ITCO (now INDER) itself created and sold the property in 1973 without any registry annotation linking it to an…
Res. 00760-2025 Tribunal Agrario2025 · Tribunal Agrario
Propiedad indígena y derecho consuetudinario Maleku en disputa de tenencia de tierra
The Agrarian Court upholds the ruling granting a better right of possession to the plaintiff, an indigenous Maleku person, over two parcels within the Guatuso Indigenous Territory, revoking only the cost award. The plaintiff claimed tenure of a five-manzana plot donated by his uncle via public deed and a three-hectare plot awarded by the Indigenous…
Res. 00006-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Rechazo de interdicto posesorio por pérdida de interés actual en territorio indígena China Kichá
The Agrarian Tribunal overturns a judgment that had upheld a possessory interdict claim filed by a non-indigenous person, Miguel Vargas Mata, against members of the China Kichá indigenous community and its development association. The plaintiff sought possession of several properties located within the China Kichá Indigenous Reserve. During the…
Res. 00293-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Improcedencia de interdicto de no indígena en territorio China Kichá por plan de recuperación estatal
The Agrarian Tribunal overturns a lower court ruling that had granted an interdict action for possession protection filed by Agropecuaria La Silva S.A., a non-indigenous company, against indigenous individuals in the China Kichá territory. The Tribunal finds that because the property lies within an indigenous territory and is part of the National Plan for…
Res. 08741-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Suspensión cautelar de ganadería en territorio indígena Salitre
The Administrative-Contentious Court resolved an anticipatory precautionary measure requested by Samuel Delgado Rojas against the State, the Integral Development Association of the Salitre Indigenous Reserve, INDER, CONAI, and two individuals. The petitioner claimed that after being dispossessed of a property located in Palmital de Salitre, Buenos Aires,…
Res. 00836-2023 Tribunal Agrario2023 · Tribunal Agrario
Ampliación del emplazamiento a persona indígena en condición de vulnerabilidad
The Agrarian Tribunal hears an appeal in an ordinary proceeding where the defendant is an Indigenous person from Talamanca, declared in default for failing to answer the complaint within the statutory period. The public defender requested an extension of the summons period, arguing that the client faces multiple vulnerabilities (poverty, geographic…
Res. 05406-2023 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2023 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Nulidad de adjudicación del IDA sobre parcela en territorio indígena Keköldi
The Administrative Appeals Court resolved two consolidated cases: a lesividad action brought by INDER against Felicia Cantillano Obando seeking annulment of a 1999 IDA agreement awarding her a parcel within the Bribrí Indigenous Reserve of Keköldi, and a claim by Ms. Cantillano for expropriation indemnification and damages. The Court upheld the lesividad…
Res. 02364-2022 Sala Primera de la Corte2022 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Conflicto de competencia en reclamo de indemnización por terrenos en reserva indígena de Salitre
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice resolves a jurisdictional conflict between agrarian and administrative litigation courts. The plaintiffs, possessors of lands in Buenos Aires, Puntarenas, request a declaration that their properties are part of the Salitre Indigenous Reserve and seek compensation for damages caused by the State. The…
Res. 00424-2022 Tribunal de Apelación Contencioso Administrativo y Civil de Hacienda2022 · Tribunal de Apelación Contencioso Administrativo y Civil de Hacienda
Improcedencia de integrar al Estado en litis por expropiación de tierras en reserva indígena
The Court of Appeals for Administrative and Civil Tax Matters upholds the denial of the defense of failure to join necessary parties. INDER sought to join the State, the Quitirrisí Indigenous Development Association, and SINAC in a case where a defendant company counterclaimed against INDER and CONAI for failing to conduct expropriation proceedings for…
Res. 00023-2019 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2019 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Omisión expropiatoria en reserva indígena — adquisición posterior a la delimitación
Ruling of the Administrative Court which, by majority, partially granted a claim against INDER and CONAI for expropriation omission. The plaintiff, a registered landowner, sought compensation because its property was encompassed by the expansion of the Huetar de Quitirrisí Indigenous Reserve through Executive Decree No. 29452‑G of 2001. The majority held…
Res. 01317-2011 Tribunal Agrario2011 · Tribunal Agrario
Ejecución por daños ambientales y despojo — Territorio Indígena Cabécar
The Agrarian Tribunal reviewed the enforcement phase of a reivindicatory action brought by the Cabécar Indigenous Development Association against three non-indigenous individuals. The prior judgment ordered the defendants to pay in the abstract for damages and losses caused by the dispossession of nearly 100 hectares over twelve years, including…