Costa Rica's 1996 Forestry Law prohibits land-use change in forested areas, defines forest legally, and limits intervention to 10% for ecotourism. Includes the criminal penalties of Articles 58–62.
La Ley Forestal de 1996 prohíbe el cambio de uso del suelo en áreas boscosas, define legalmente el bosque y limita la intervención al 10% para ecoturismo. Incluye las penas criminales de los artículos 58–62.
149 documents in this topic.
Ley 108912026
Reforma del artículo 65 de la Ley Forestal
This law reforms Article 65 of Forestry Law 7575, updating the procedure for the disposition of seized forest products. It mandates that seized timber and other products be auctioned publicly within one month from the filing of the complaint, with a minimum bid set by the State Forestry Administration. If the auction fails, any person may exploit the…
Ley 102102022
Adición de los artículos 33 bis y 33 ter a la Ley Forestal
This law adds Articles 33 bis and 33 ter to Forestry Law No. 7575, authorizing civil infrastructure and low-impact works in water body protection areas, both urban and rural. Article 33 bis allows the installation, maintenance, and replacement of works such as dikes, walls, sewers, bridges, and aqueducts, as well as infrastructure for stormwater and…
Ley 80582001
Aprobación del Contrato de Préstamo para Programa de Pagos de Servicios Ambientales
Law 8058 approves Loan Agreement No. 4457-CR signed between the World Bank and Costa Rica for up to US$32,630,000 to finance a five-year environmental services payments program. It designates MINAE and FONAFIFO as the executing unit, allowing them to use their own personnel, equipment, and facilities, and to request technical staff from other public…
Ley 8058-A2001
Aprobación del Contrato de Préstamo 4557-CR — Proyecto Ecomercados para Pagos de Servicios Ambientales
This Law approves Loan Agreement No. 4557-CR signed between the Republic of Costa Rica and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) for up to US$32,630,000 to finance the Environmental Services Payments (PSA) Program over a five-year period. The agreement, annexed to the Law, sets out the conditions for executing the…
Ley 77611998
Reforma de los artículos 27 y 31 de la Ley Forestal, No. 7575
Law 7761 introduces a targeted reform to the Forestry Law (No. 7575) to adjust the authorization regime for tree felling on agricultural lands without forest and the transportation of wood from forest plantations. Specifically, it amends Article 27 to allow only up to three trees per hectare per year to be cut on such lands, requiring authorization from…
Ley 75751996
Ley Forestal
The Forestry Law (No. 7575) establishes the legal framework for the conservation, protection and management of natural forests and the promotion of forest resources in Costa Rica. It defines key concepts such as forest, forest plantation, forest ecosystem and environmental services. It declares the State's essential function to ensure the adequate and…
Ley 71741990
Ley Forestal 7174
This law, enacted in 1990, repealed and replaced Forestry Law No. 4465 of 1969, establishing as a state priority the protection, conservation, utilization, industrialization, administration, and promotion of forest resources, under the principle of rational use of renewable natural resources. It defined the objectives and general guidelines for forestry…
Ley 70321986
Ley Forestal (1986)
Law 7032, enacted on August 1, 1986, comprehensively reformed the previous Forestry Law (No 4465 of 1969) to establish a new legal framework for the protection, conservation, use, industrialization, administration and promotion of Costa Rica's forest resources. It declares forests and forest-aptitude lands to be of public utility and places all such areas…
Ley 53851973
Derogatoria de la zona protectora de robles en la Carretera Panamericana y regularización de tierras
Law 5385 repeals the provisions of the Land and Colonization Law that declared a two-kilometer strip on both sides of the Pan-American Highway, where oak trees existed, a National Park and subject to a restrictive regime. It eliminates the special forest protection for oak forests along that road. The law also establishes a land tenure regularization…
Ley 44651969
Ley Forestal de 1969
This law established Costa Rica's forestry regime, defining the State's functions in protecting, conserving and using forest resources. It created the Dirección General Forestal, the Forest Fund and the National Forest Council. It regulated state and private forest property, management plans, tax incentives such as the forest credit certificate, and…
Decreto 449652025
Creación del Sistema Nacional de Certificación "Madera Legal Costa Rica"
This executive decree creates the voluntary national certification system 'Madera Legal Costa Rica', administered by the National Forestry Office (ONF). Its objective is to promote the use and consumption of legal and sustainable national wood, strengthening the forestry sector through a legally, technically, administratively, and financially viable…
Decreto 450652025
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional del Proyecto Acueducto Costero de Santa Cruz II Etapa
Executive Decree 45065-MINAE declares the public works project 'Expansion and Improvement of the Santa Cruz Coastal Aqueduct. Phase II, Component II: Equipment of Well Lorena 2, Well Lorena 2-Bis and Impulsion Line to Lorena Well Field' to be of national convenience. The project is executed by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and…
Decreto 452402025
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional Sendero Universal El Gavilán
Executive Decree No. 45240-MINAE declares the construction of the El Gavilán Universal Trail in the Cuatro Esquinas sector of Tortuguero National Park, Limón, to be of national convenience. This declaration authorizes the cutting of trees in forested areas and in protection zones defined in Article 33 of Forestry Law No. 7575, activities normally…
Decreto 445582024
Reforma al Reglamento de la Ley Forestal para el pago de servicios ambientales en bosques de mangle
This executive decree incorporates Article 62 into the Forestry Law Regulation (Executive Decree No. 25721-MINAE) to regulate payment for environmental or ecosystem services plans and projects in mangrove forests. The amendment authorizes the execution of these mechanisms as recognition for organized rural communities that carry out sustainable harvesting…
Decreto 445602024
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional del Proyecto Ampliación del Embalse de la Central Hidroeléctrica Doña Julia
Executive Decree No. 44560-MINAE declares the Doña Julia Hydroelectric Plant reservoir expansion project, developed by COOPELESCA R.L., to be of national convenience and public interest. This declaration exceptionally permits tree felling on privately owned forested land and in protection areas, pursuant to Articles 19(b), 33, and 34 of the Forestry Law…
Decreto 445942024
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional del Proyecto Geotérmico Borinquen
Executive Decree No. 44594-MINAE, issued by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Environment and Energy, declares the Borinquen Geothermal Project of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) to be of national convenience. This declaration authorizes the cutting of trees and land-use change in forested areas and protection zones, pursuant to…
Decreto 446072024
Reforma del Programa de Pago por Servicios Ambientales mediante el Decreto 44607
Executive Decree 44607-MINAE fundamentally reforms Costa Rica's Payment for Environmental Services Program. It establishes a new payment model for forest protection that differentiates three environmental services: a base payment for GHG mitigation and general biodiversity, a biodiversity plus for high-biodiversity areas, and a water resource plus. It sets…
Decreto 447262024
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional del Proyecto Eólico El Quijote
This executive decree declares the El Quijote Wind Project of national convenience. The project is an 8-turbine wind farm (4.3 MW each) to be built in Bagaces, Guanacaste, by Proyecto Eólico Quijote S.A. The declaration is based on Articles 19(b) and 34 of the Forestry Law, which prohibit land-use change and tree cutting in forests and protection areas,…
Decreto 446732024
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional del Proyecto Mejoramiento y Ampliación del Sistema de Agua Potable de Guácimo-Limón
This executive decree declares the Guácimo drinking water system improvement and expansion project in Limón to be of national convenience. The project is to be carried out by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). Under the Forestry Law, tree felling in forests and protected areas is only allowed for projects declared of national…
Decreto 448732024
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional del Proyecto Mejoras al Sistema de Abastecimiento de Agua Potable Orotina-Caldera (Sistema Ojo de Agua)
Executive Decree No. 44873-MINAE declares the Orotina-Caldera drinking water supply system improvement project (Ojo de Agua System), carried out by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), to be of national convenience. This declaration, based on a social-economic analysis showing social benefits outweigh socio-environmental costs,…
Decreto 443702023
Declaratoria de conveniencia nacional del Proyecto Quinta Ampliación del Acueducto Metropolitano
This decree declares the Fifth Metropolitan Aqueduct Expansion Project (PAAM), developed by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), to be of national convenience. The project involves diverting 2.1 to 4.6 m³/s of water from the ICE's Río Macho Hydroelectric Plant to the Central Valley via tunnels and pipelines for potabilization and…
Decreto 396602016
Políticas y Criterios de Priorización del Programa de Pago por Servicios Ambientales
This executive decree formalizes the policies and prioritization criteria for the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) Program for the 2016-2021 period, in accordance with Forestry Law No. 7575 and the Organic Environmental Law. It establishes four strategic policies: promoting environmental protection and improvement in selected areas; managing the…
Decreto 383232014
Pagos de Servicios Ambientales para 2014
This executive decree sets the conditions for the Environmental Services Payment Program (PPSA) for 2014, under Forestry Law 7575. It establishes the number of hectares and trees to be contracted per modality: reforestation (4,000 ha), natural regeneration (3,000 ha), forest protection (38,250 ha), forest protection in conservation gaps (1,000 ha), water…
Decreto 388632014
Reglamento para el trámite de permisos y control del aprovechamiento maderable en terrenos de uso agropecuario, sin bosque y situaciones especiales
This Executive Decree No. 38863-MINAE standardizes the procedure for processing timber harvesting permits on agricultural land without forest and in special situations in Costa Rica. It establishes permit categories: small (up to 10 trees per property per year), forest inventories (more than 10 trees), and special permits (national convenience projects,…
Decreto 376602013
Fomento Forestal y PSA para el Año 2013
This executive decree establishes the provisions for forest promotion and payment for environmental services (PSA) during 2013 in Costa Rica. It defines the amounts, priorities, and modalities of PSA contracts under the framework of the National Forest Financing Fund (FONAFIFO). It details per-hectare values by forest type and modality (protection,…
Decreto 374802013
Decreto 37480 — Estrategia Nacional de Manejo Integral del Fuego
This executive decree declares the National Integrated Fire Management Strategy 2012–2021 and its National Action Plan as the official instruments for planning, control, monitoring, and evaluation of forest fire and agricultural burning prevention and control actions. It ratifies the National Forest Fire Commission (CONIFOR) as the inter-institutional…
Decreto 377332013
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional para el Proyecto Hidroeléctrico Balsa Inferior
This executive decree declares the Balsa Inferior Hydroelectric Project of CNFL, located in San Ramón, Alajuela, and its associated works to be of national convenience and public interest during construction, operation, and maintenance phases. The declaration is based on the need to expand electricity generation capacity with renewable sources, in line…
Decreto 377462013
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional Proyecto Santa Rita-Cóbano
Executive Decree No. 37746-MINAE declares the Santa Rita-Cóbano Electrical Transmission Project and its associated substations to be of national convenience and public interest. This declaration permits, in accordance with Articles 19(b) and 34 of Forestry Law No. 7575, the cutting, pruning, or removal of trees of any species, including protected or…
Decreto 365162011
Pago de Servicios Ambientales 2011
This decree sets the available hectares, maximum payment amounts per hectare or tree, priority areas, contract terms, and deferred payment conditions for the 2011 Environmental Services Payment Program (PPSA) administered by FONAFIFO. It establishes quotas and rates for modalities such as forest protection (45,180 ha, $320/ha), reforestation with…
Decreto 365292011
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional del Proyecto de Mejoramiento Ambiental del Área Metropolitana de San José
Executive Decree No. 36529-MINAET declares the studies and works of the San José Metropolitan Area Environmental Improvement Project —to be carried out by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA)— to be of national convenience and public interest. Based on the severe pollution of the Tárcoles River and its tributaries, which threatens…
Decreto 366292011
Ampliación Línea Río Macho-El Este 230 KV
Executive Decree No. 36629-MINAET declares the electrical transmission works of the Río Macho-El Este 230 KV Transmission Line Expansion Project to be of national convenience. The project, located in El Guarco, Cartago, involves a joint construction by ICE and JASEC to provide an additional power supply point, enhancing reliability for over 82,000…
Decreto 367662011
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional e Interés Público del Proyecto Modernización y Ampliación Planta Hidroeléctrica Cachí
Executive Decree 36766-MINAET declares the construction of the Cachí Hydroelectric Plant Modernization and Expansion Project, located in Cartago province, to be of national convenience and public interest. The decree is grounded in Articles 19(b) and 34 of Forestry Law 7575, which allow exceptions to the prohibition on land-use change and tree cutting in…
Decreto 367852011
Declaración de interés público de la Estación Experimental Forestal Horizontes
This executive decree declares as a matter of public interest the activities carried out at the Horizontes Experimental Forest Station, located within the Guanacaste Conservation Area. The 7,317-hectare station focuses on tropical dry forest restoration, silvicultural research, environmental education, ecotourism, and biodiversity conservation. The decree…
Decreto 368182011
Oficialización de los Mapas de Cobertura Boscosa 2000 y 2005
This executive decree officially adopts the mandatory use of Costa Rica's forest cover maps for the years 2000 and 2005, prepared by FONAFIFO, as a reference tool for land-use planning and decision-making. The 2000 map serves as the baseline for determining land-use change and enforcing the prohibition in Article 19 of the Forestry Law, while the 2005 map…
Decreto 369352011
Pago de Servicios Ambientales 2012
This executive decree establishes the terms for Costa Rica's Environmental Services Payment Program (PPSA) for 2012. It sets the number of hectares and trees to be contracted per modality, maximum payment amounts, priority areas and prioritization criteria, contract durations, and disbursement schedules. FONAFIFO administers the program and may reallocate…
Decreto 369452011
Plan Nacional de Desarrollo Forestal 2011-2020 (PNDF)
This decree amends Article 1 of Executive Decree 33826-MINAE to formally adopt the National Forest Development Plan 2011-2020 (PNDF) as the official planning instrument for the use, management, and protection of Costa Rica's forest resources. It recognizes the forest sector's role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, water provision,…
Decreto 365352011
Modificación del Considerando XI del Decreto 34417
Executive Decree 36535 amends Recital XI of Executive Decree 34417, which declared the Los Santos Wind Project to be of national convenience and public interest. The original Recital XI stated that the forest cover in the project area was in the process of being removed in accordance with forestry legislation. The amendment clarifies that the development…
Decreto 358682010
Reglamento del artículo 18 de la Ley Forestal sobre actividades en Patrimonio Natural del Estado
This executive decree regulates Article 18 of Forestry Law No. 7575, which allows the State to conduct or authorize research, training, and ecotourism activities within the State Natural Heritage. It defines the types of activities permitted both inside and outside Protected Wild Areas, establishes a detailed procedure for obtaining use permits, and sets…
Decreto 358832010
Modificación del artículo 36 y adición al artículo 2 del Reglamento a la Ley Forestal sobre intervención en bosque privado
This Executive Decree amends the Forestry Law Regulation to clarify the procedure for authorizing interventions in private forests under Article 19 of Forestry Law 7575. It establishes that the State Forestry Administration (AFE) may authorize the use of up to 10% of a property's forest area for infrastructure such as housing, ecotourism, and similar…
Decreto 357622009
Decreto 35762 — Hectáreas para PSA 2010
Executive Decree 35762-MINAET sets the annual coverage targets and maximum payment amounts per hectare (or per tree in agroforestry systems) for Costa Rica's Payment for Environmental Services (PES) Program during 2010. The decree allocates available hectares by modality: reforestation (3,916 ha), natural regeneration (1,000 ha under CDM and 500 additional…
Decreto 345592008
Estándares de Sostenibilidad para Manejo de Bosques Naturales
Executive Decree 34559-MINAE establishes the sustainability standards governing natural forest management in Costa Rica. It repeals the previous standard (Decree 30763) and enacts a set of interconnected instruments: Principles, Criteria and Indicators (which safeguard ecological integrity and legal certainty of management); a Code of Practices (which…
Decreto 317502004
Reglamento de Ecoturismo
This executive decree, issued in 2003, regulated the term 'ecotourism' as provided in Article 18 of the Forestry Law. It set out definitions, principles and procedures for authorizing ecotourism activities on State Natural Heritage lands, under MINAE supervision and with possible environmental impact assessment. Its goal was to align ecotourism with…
Decreto 307632002
Principios, Criterios e Indicadores para el Manejo Sostenible de Bosques Naturales
This executive decree, repealed in 2008, established the official set of Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PCI&I) for the sustainable management of natural forests in Costa Rica, which constituted the mandatory technical basis for the preparation and approval of forest management plans on private property. The 8 principles addressed everything from…
Decreto 276941999
Reforma al artículo 89 del Reglamento a la Ley Forestal sobre medios de prueba de propiedad
This decree amends Article 89 of the Regulation to Forestry Law No. 7575 to specify the appropriate means of proving ownership or possession before the State Forestry Administration. The preamble notes that the prior text allowed proof of title through possessory information, perpetual memory, or sworn statements, instruments that did not provide legal…
Decreto 279981999
Principio, criterios e indicadores para el manejo sostenible de Bosques Secundarios y la certificación forestal
This executive decree establishes definitions, principles, criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of secondary forests and forest certification in Costa Rica. It recognizes that secondary forests have become quantitatively and qualitatively important forest resources requiring management that guarantees their viability and sustainability.…
Decreto 262521997
Fija valores mínimos de transferencia de madera no industrializada
This Executive Decree sets the minimum transfer values for different non-industrialized wood species nationwide, pursuant to Article 74 of Forestry Law No. 7575. By establishing these base prices, the regulation aims to govern the market for raw wood and ensure commercial transactions are based on fair and transparent values, thereby contributing to the…
Decreto 257211996
Reglamento a la Ley Forestal
This executive decree develops Forestry Law No. 7575, establishing operational definitions, the organization and powers of the State Forestry Administration, and detailed procedures for forest management and harvesting. It regulates forestry regencies, voluntary forest certification, transport of forest products, and protection against fires and pests. It…
Decreto 251671996
Restricción para el Aprovechamiento Maderable de Árboles de Almendro
Executive Decree No. 25167-MINAE, issued in 1996, imposes a total restriction on the standing timber harvesting of almendro trees (Dipteryx panamensis) within a defined geographic zone between the San Carlos and Sarapiquí rivers on Costa Rica's Atlantic slope. The measure is based on the almendro serving as the critical nesting and feeding habitat of the…
Decreto 257001996
Veda total de aprovechamiento de árboles en peligro de extinción
This executive decree establishes a total and indefinite ban on the harvesting of seventeen timber tree species that are in danger of extinction in Costa Rica. The measure is based on scientific studies demonstrating the threat to these species, which are located outside protected wild areas, and seeks to ensure their protection and conservation. The…
Decreto 253391996
Reglamento a los artículos 5, 20, 21 y 27 de la Ley Forestal
This 1996 executive decree regulated key articles of Forestry Law 7575 pending the final regulations. It designates the Ministry of Environment and Energy as the State Forest Administration and sets out requirements for forest management plans, including minimum technical content, cutting cycles, harvest limits per species, and controls on roads, landings,…
Decreto 198861990
Reglamento a la Ley Forestal
This executive decree details the provisions for implementing Forestry Law No. 7174. It defines the organization and functions of the General Forestry Directorate (DGF), its departments, and regional offices. It regulates essential aspects such as the management, use, and protection of forests, the operation of the Forestry Fund, the National Forestry…
Decreto 168521986
Regulación de Aprovechamiento en Manglares
This decree amends Decree No. 7210, which declared mangrove areas as forest reserves, and Decree No. 2923, the Forestry Law Regulation, to establish a comprehensive regime for protection and controlled use of mangroves. It reaffirms that all continental and insular mangroves are forest reserves, even where mangroves have been removed. The Forestry…
Decreto 61121976
Creación de Zonas Protectoras Caraigres, Carpintera, Tiribí, Escazú y Atenas
This executive decree establishes six protective zones in and around the Greater Metropolitan Area to ensure forest cover preservation and water resource protection: Caraigres, Cerro de la Carpintera, Río Tiribí, Cerros de Escazú, El Rodeo, Río Grande, and Cerro Atenas, covering approximately 14,800 hectares. The zones are delimited by National Geographic…
Decreto 53891975
Reserva Forestal Los Santos
This executive decree establishes the Los Santos Forest Reserve in the Talamanca Mountain Range, spanning approximately 62,000 hectares. It declares national lands within the boundaries inalienable, subjects all private properties and pre-existing national reserves to the Forestry Regime, and requires written authorization from the Forestry Directorate for…
Res. 04267-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra uso no turístico y destrucción de bosque en el Proyecto Papagayo
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the amparo action filed by Gad Amit Kaufman against the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). The plaintiff alleged that the ICT authorized non-tourist uses (subdivision and sale of luxury residential villas) on lands within the Gulf of Papagayo Tourism Project, managed by the ICT, and allowed the destruction of forest…
Res. 17078-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Corta de árboles en El Tirol no viola ambiente sano
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo appeal filed by a company owning land in Residencial El Monte (El Tirol), San Rafael de Heredia, against the Municipality. The appellant claimed that the felling of cypress trees was indiscriminate and violated the right to a healthy environment. The Chamber found that the cutting was carried out in compliance…
Res. 19586-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
SINAC carece de competencia para autorizar tala de árboles urbanos
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo against SINAC for issuing a felling permit for a cedar tree at a condominium entrance in Heredia. The Chamber held that the tree was not in forest land or a forest plantation but in an urban ornamental area, making authorization under Articles 19 and 28 of the Forestry Law improper. Jurisdiction to decide on the…
Res. 17920-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Poda de bambú en ribera del río Torres no es deforestación
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action against the University of Costa Rica for pruning a bamboo clump on the bank of the Torres River. The petitioner alleged deforestation and environmental and health damages, but the Chamber found that the intervention was a pruning requested by a neighbor to protect her safety and property, as the bamboo…
Res. 09221-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Rechazo de inconstitucionalidad de «permanentes» en Art. 33(a) de la Ley Forestal
The Constitutional Chamber rejects a claim of unconstitutionality against the word “permanentes” in Article 33(a) of the Forestry Law. The petitioners argued that distinguishing permanent from intermittent water sources allows reducing protection areas from 100 meters to 50 or 60 meters when a source ceases to be permanent, violating the principles of…
Res. 19249-2017 Sala Constitucional2017 · Sala Constitucional
Corte de árboles en áreas de protección y Parque Recreativo Los Chorros mediante declaratoria de conveniencia nacional
The Constitutional Chamber rejected a writ of amparo against Executive Decree No. 40675-MINAE and a SETENA communication related to the Atenas aqueduct improvement project. The petitioners argued the decree authorized tree felling in Los Chorros Recreational Park, violating Law No. 6126 and prior case law. The Chamber found the decree does not specifically…
Res. 09493-2016 Sala Constitucional2016 · Sala Constitucional
Reiteración a la Asamblea Legislativa de subsanar omisión en artículo 28 de la Ley Forestal
The Constitutional Chamber addressed a disobedience claim against the Legislative Assembly for failing to comply with ruling 2007-003923, which declared a relative unconstitutional omission in Article 28 of the Forestry Law due to the absence of precautionary measures to ensure environmental protection. The Chamber reiterates the order to the new…
Res. 16362-2015 Sala Constitucional2015 · Sala Constitucional
Administración estatal del patrimonio natural no lesiona autonomía municipal
The Constitutional Chamber rejects on the merits an action of unconstitutionality filed by the mayor of San Rafael de Heredia against Article 13, second paragraph, of the Forestry Law, which assigns the administration of the State's natural heritage to MINAE. The plaintiff argued that this provision violates municipal autonomy guaranteed under Articles 169…
Res. 04619-2013 Sala Constitucional2013 · Sala Constitucional
Constitucionalidad de los permisos para tala de árboles no autóctonos y omisión legislativa
The Constitutional Chamber rejects on the merits an unconstitutionality action against Articles 27 and 28 of Forestry Law No. 7575 and Articles 90 and 91 of its Regulation, which regulate the felling of non-native trees. It reiterates the holding of decision 2007-3923, in which the action was granted solely with respect to the relative omission in Article…
Res. 10570-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Constitucionalidad del Decreto 35883-MINAET sobre aprovechamiento de bosques privados
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the unconstitutionality action against Executive Decree 35883-MINAET, which amended the Forestry Law Regulation. Plaintiffs argued the decree exceeded regulatory power by creating a right to log 10% of forests, eliminating legal requirements, and reducing environmental protection. The Court held the decree merely…
Res. 12716-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Anulación de parámetro de pendiente para terrenos de aptitud forestal
The Constitutional Chamber declared unconstitutional Article 2 of Executive Decree 33957-MINAE-MAG, which defined forest-aptitude lands as those with an average slope above 75 % and effective depth of at least 60 cm. The Court accepted the technical objections raised by the Attorney General’s Office, the Ombudsman and the Tropical Science Center, finding…
Res. 02006-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Prohibición de acumular incentivos forestales y PSA no viola la Constitución
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed on the merits an unconstitutionality challenge against Article 65 of the Forestry Law Regulation (Decree 25721-MINAE), which forbids simultaneously claiming fiscal incentives and payment for environmental services (PSA). The petitioner argued the restriction created new law, violated the legislative reserve principle,…
Res. 06801-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Rechazo de inconstitucionalidad contra artículo 65 del Reglamento a la Ley Forestal
The Constitutional Chamber summarily dismisses an unconstitutionality action against Article 65 of Executive Decree 25721-MINAE, the Forestry Law Regulation. The claimant company argued that the norm exceeded the Executive's regulatory authority by preventing simultaneous access to tax incentives (property tax exemption) and environmental services…
Res. 16975-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Decreto de ecoturismo declarado inconstitucional por Sala Constitucional
The Constitutional Chamber ruled Executive Decree 31750-MINAE-TUR unconstitutional in its entirety. The decree regulated ecotourism in forested areas of the maritime-terrestrial zone but was found to violate the right to a healthy environment (Article 50 of the Constitution). The Chamber held that by subjecting State Natural Heritage forests to municipal…
Res. 15443-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Inadmisibilidad de acción de inconstitucionalidad contra el artículo 65 del Reglamento de la Ley Forestal por conflicto de mera legalidad
The Constitutional Chamber flatly rejects the unconstitutionality action filed by Charada S.A. against the final paragraph of Article 65 of the Forest Law Regulation. The company argued that this regulatory provision, by prohibiting simultaneous access to fiscal incentives and payment for environmental services, exceeded the Executive Branch's regulatory…
Res. 17650-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Anulación de autorización de tala en Playa Espadilla por inconstitucionalidad del Decreto 31750-MINAE-TUR
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo against the Ministry of Environment and Energy and annulled resolution R-171-2004-MINAE, which authorized the company Playa Dulce Vida S.A. to cut down 46 trees in Playa Espadilla, Quepos. The decision was based on the prior ruling 2008-16975, which declared unconstitutional Executive Decree 31750-MINAE-TUR, the…
Res. 17659-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Corta de árboles autorizada mediante decreto inconstitucional anulado
The Constitutional Chamber grants an amparo action against the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Municipality of Aguirre. The action challenged resolution R-171-2004-MINAE, which authorized the company Playa Dulce Vida S.A. to fell 46 trees at Playa Espadilla, Quepos, for a tourism development. The Chamber had previously annulled as…
Res. 03923-2007 Sala Constitucional2007 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión legislativa sobre medidas precautorias en tala de árboles plantados
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed a constitutional challenge against Articles 27 and 28 of the Forestry Law and Articles 90 and 91 of its Regulation, which allegedly permitted unrestricted felling of non-native trees like cypress. The Chamber found Articles 27, 90, and 91 were not unconstitutional as they require prior authorization for felling.…
Res. 01038-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Admisión parcial de acción de inconstitucionalidad contra la Ley Forestal
The Constitutional Chamber examines the admissibility of an unconstitutionality action filed against articles 19(b) and 34 of the Forestry Law (No. 7575). The plaintiff argues that these provisions establish a privileged regime for the State by allowing it to pollute forested land under the pretext of national convenience, thus violating the right to a…
Res. 17126-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Constitucionalidad del cambio de uso de suelo en terrenos forestales privados para proyectos de conveniencia nacional
The Constitutional Chamber rejects a challenge to Articles 19(b) and 34 of the Forestry Law, which exceptionally allow tree cutting on private forest land and protected zones for projects declared of national interest. The plaintiff argued these provisions created a state privilege harming the right to a healthy environment, but the Chamber holds that they…
Res. 02473-2004 Sala Constitucional2004 · Sala Constitucional
Principio precautorio obliga a denegar permisos forestales sin estudios científicos
The Constitutional Chamber granted protection to Nicoya residents against forestry permits issued without an ecological diagnosis. The MINAE Subregional Office was authorizing logging despite warnings from its own evaluator about species with reduced or threatened populations. The Chamber reaffirmed the State's duty to safeguard a healthy and ecologically…
Res. 07294-1998 Sala Constitucional1998 · Sala Constitucional
Reducción de la Zona Protectora Tivives sin estudios técnicos
The Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional Article 71 of Forestry Law No. 7575, which had modified the boundaries of Tivives Protected Zone, reducing its area by 14%. The plaintiffs argued that the reduction would cause biodiversity loss, mangrove sedimentation, agricultural frontier expansion, and disintegration of the conservation unit, violating…
Res. 02233-1993 Sala Constitucional1993 · Sala Constitucional
Protección del recurso forestal y exigencia de planes de manejo para permisos en reservas
The Constitutional Chamber annuls a permit granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources to build a road inside the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, finding it was issued without the Management Plan required by the Forestry Law. The petitioner alleged excessive logging and damage to his property, but the court focuses on the violation of the principle of…
C-093-20222022
Remoción de árboles en derecho de vía sin permiso del MINAE
The Attorney General's Office interprets Article 2 bis of the General Public Roads Law, as amended by Law 9789. It concludes that public entities may remove trees located in legally established right-of-way without prior authorization from MINAE, provided it is for maintenance or improvement works on the existing road network and does not involve protected…
C-014-20102010
Ilegalidad del Art. 65 Reglamento a la Ley Forestal sobre incompatibilidad entre incentivos fiscales y PSA
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether Art. 65 of the Forestry Law Regulation, which prohibits simultaneously opting for tax incentives and payment for environmental services (PES), is legal. It concludes that this provision is illegal because it imposes a condition not established by the legislature for exemption from the property tax, violating…
C-200-20092009
Permisos de construcción en zonas boscosas o con presencia de ecosistemas frágiles
The PGR examines whether a municipality may grant construction permits on forested land and under what conditions. It concludes that, under Article 19 of the Forestry Law, construction of the listed structures (houses, offices, ecotourism facilities, etc.) is permissible provided the State Forestry Administration (SINAC) authorizes the activity and an…
C-336-20062006
Afectación registral de inmuebles por pago de servicios ambientales
The National Forestry Office inquired whether the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO) may encumber private properties enrolled in the Environmental Services Payment (PSA) program on the Public Property Registry. The Attorney General’s Office reaffirms the criterion of opinion C-038-2002 and concludes that PSA is a forestry incentive; therefore,…
C-199-20052005
Interpretación del Art. 27 Ley Forestal: permisos de corta en terrenos agropecuarios
The Attorney General's Office analyzes Article 27 of Forestry Law No. 7575, which regulates permits for cutting trees on agricultural land without forest. It concludes that the law establishes a single type of permit: a maximum of three trees per hectare may be cut annually. The difference lies in the competent authority: the Regional Environmental Council…
C-297-20042004
Inconstitucionalidades del Decreto 31750-MINAE-TUR sobre ecoturismo en bosques de la zona marítimo terrestre y administración de dichas áreas
The Attorney General's Office addresses two queries from MINAE. On the first, it concludes that Decree 31750-MINAE-TUR has multiple unconstitutional flaws: it improperly delegates to municipalities the administration and granting of concessions over State Natural Heritage in the maritime-terrestrial zone, violating Forestry Law and Law 6043; it allows tree…
C-323-20042004
Validez del decreto de creación de la Zona Protectora de Tivives frente a la zona de reserva portuaria de Caldera
The Attorney General's Office examines whether Executive Decree 17.023-MAG, which established the Tivives Protective Zone, lost force or validity in light of Law 5582 (Caldera port reserve zone) and its amendments. It holds that the conflict between the law and the decree is one of validity, not repeal. It concludes that, under the principle of normative…
C-339-20042004
Labores de ecoturismo en el artículo 18 de la Ley Forestal
The Attorney General's Office defines 'ecotourism' under Article 18 of Forestry Law No. 7575, distinguishing it from other nature-based tourism by its focus on conservation, environmental education, and local community benefits. It identifies ecological trails, interpretation paths, nature classrooms, and interpretation centers as ecotourism activities.…
C-016-20022002
Alcance de las zonas protectoras y actividades permitidas
This opinion interprets the concept of a protected zone as a category of wild protected area within the State's natural heritage, primarily aimed at soil and water resource protection. The Procuraduría states that, as part of the State's natural heritage, protected zones are subject to a public domain regime—inalienable, unattachable, and…
C-038-20022002
Plazo de contratos por pago de servicios ambientales según Ley Forestal
The Attorney General's Office (PGR) resolves the dispute between FONAFIFO and the Public Registry regarding the duration and registration annotation of environmental services payment (PSA) contracts. It concludes that the minimum 20-year term under Articles 22 and 24 of the Forestry Law applies only to the Forest Conservation Certificate (CCB). For other…
C-234-20022002
Exención del impuesto a bienes inmuebles en reservas forestales y áreas protegidas
This opinion addresses whether the property tax exemption under Article 4(b) of Law 7509 applies only to land or also to buildings within forest reserves or protected areas, and whether the exemption releases owners from formal duties like filing a sworn declaration. The PGR concludes that the non-subjection in Article 4(b) refers only to land, as per the…
C-334-20022002
No son demaniales las áreas de protección del artículo 33 de la Ley Forestal
The Attorney General's Office clarifies that the "protection zones" under Article 33 of the Forestry Law (riparian strips along rivers, creeks, lakes, and aquifer recharge areas) are not part of the State's public domain; rather, they remain private property subject to a social-interest limitation. This limitation only restricts tree cutting, except for…
C-355-20012001
No sujeción tributaria de inmuebles bajo régimen forestal y exenciones de la Ley Forestal
This opinion interprets the scope of the non-subjection to property tax under Article 4(c) of Law 7509 for properties constituting watersheds or declared forest reserve, indigenous reserve, biological reserve, or national park. Under the Regulation, this non-subjection applies only to the land. The incentives granted by Forestry Law 7575 in Articles 22,…
C-266-20002000
Alcances del impuesto forestal sobre madera en troza e importada
The Attorney General's Office interprets Article 42 of Forestry Law No. 7575 in conjunction with Article 53 of the same law and Executive Decree No. 28220-MINAE-H. It concludes that the 3% general forestry tax applies not only to the primary industrialization of roundwood but also to the importation of roundwood, squared, or sawn wood. For primary…
C-061-20002000
Supervivencia del derecho a exenciones del artículo 87 para reforestadores con proyectos aprobados antes de la derogatoria
The Attorney General's Office examines whether reforesters whose projects were approved and registered under Forestry Law No. 7174, but who did not sign the contract before the law was repealed by Law No. 7575 in 1996, retain the right to tax incentives under Article 87. It concludes that the administrative approval act constitutes a consolidated legal…
C-187-20002000
Validez del Decreto Ejecutivo 28220 para el cobro del impuesto forestal
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether Executive Decree 28220-MINAE-H corrects the omissions identified in opinion C-100-97 regarding the determination of the taxable base for the forestry tax. It concludes that the decree clearly and precisely establishes how to determine such base, repealing previous defective regulations. It examines Articles 42…
C-042-19991999
Alcance de los artículos 33 y 34 de la Ley Forestal sobre áreas de protección
The Attorney General's Office responds to an INVU query regarding the application of Articles 33 and 34 of the Forestry Law. It concludes that protection areas constitute social-interest limitations on property that do not require prior compensation, as they serve an imperative public interest without emptying the core of the right. It states that Article…
C-035-19971997
Aplicación del monto de inversión exigido por el Artículo 70 de la Ley Forestal para residentes inversionistas
The Attorney General’s Office analyzes the temporal application of Article 70 of Forestry Law 7575, which raised the minimum investment for obtaining residence as a forestry investor from $50,000 to $100,000. It concludes that foreigners who filed a complete residence application under the prior regime before the new law took effect retain the right to…
C-100-19971997
Cobro del impuesto forestal sin correcta determinación de la base imponible
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether the forest tax under Laws 7174 and 7575 may be collected if its taxable base was not properly determined. It concludes that the taxable base is an essential element of the tax; if the regulatory parameters to set the value per cubic meter of standing timber or the market transfer value were not met, the tax is…
C-121-19971997
Ilegalidad de competencias de corta otorgadas a Concejos de Distrito
The Attorney General's Office reviews an agreement by the Puntarenas Municipal Council authorizing District Municipal Councils to process tree-cutting permits. The opinion concludes that the agreement is openly illegal. It notes that Article 191 of the Municipal Code provides an exhaustive list of powers of district councils, and processing tree-cutting…
C-249-19971997
Insuficiencia de la información para perpetua memoria como prueba de posesión para el aprovechamiento forestal
The Attorney General’s Office analyzes whether the Information for Perpetual Memory procedure under Article 897 of the Civil Procedure Code is sufficient to prove decennial possession and obtain forest harvesting permits on unregistered land. It concludes that this procedure is inadequate and legally inappropriate for proving possession because it lacks…
OJ-037-20252025
Autorización al Cuerpo de Bomberos para intervenir en áreas silvestres protegidas
The Attorney General's Office issues a non-binding legal opinion on Bill No. 24,325, which seeks to amend Article 35 of the Forestry Law to authorize the Firefighter Corps to immediately intervene in wildfires within protected wild areas and to transfer 2% of SINAC's budget to the Firefighters for this purpose. The PGR does not take a position for or…
OJ-188-20252025
Opinión sobre autorización al Cuerpo de Bomberos para atender incendios en áreas silvestres protegidas
The Attorney General's Office issues a non-binding legal opinion on Bill 24325, which would amend Article 35 of the Forestry Law to authorize the Fire Department to intervene immediately in fires within protected wild areas. It notes that approval is a legislative decision but recommends assessing the actual need for the amendment. It emphasizes that,…
OJ-059-20212021
Interpretación auténtica de los artículos 19 inciso b) y 34 de la Ley Forestal, proyecto 21022
The Attorney General's Office analyzes bill 21022 for authentic interpretation of Articles 19(b) and 34 of the Forestry Law (No. 7575), which would limit 'projects of national convenience' to infrastructure or works for public services. It points out a fundamental error: the definition to be interpreted is in Article 3(m) of the same law, introduced by the…
OJ-106-20212021
Reforma de la Ley Forestal — expediente 20516
The Attorney General's Office issues a non-binding legal opinion on Legislative Bill 20516, which proposes amendments to several articles of the Forestry Law (No. 7575). The bill broadens the recognition of ecosystem services, modifies procedures for seized timber, relaxes logging permit limits under Article 27 by removing the cap of three trees per…
OJ-158-20212021
Propuesta de adición de arts. 33 bis y 33 ter a la Ley Forestal sobre áreas de protección
The Attorney General's Office issues a non-binding legal opinion on bill 22401, which proposes adding Articles 33 bis and 33 ter to the Forestry Law. It analyzes the current regulation of protection zones, where tree cutting is prohibited (Art. 34) and the criminal offense of invasion (Art. 58) has been judicially interpreted to cover other works. It notes…
OJ-133-20172017
Aprovechamiento de árboles caídos por el Huracán Otto en Refugios de Vida Silvestre y Patrimonio Natural del Estado
The Attorney General's Office analyzes bill No. 20.433, which seeks to exceptionally authorize the use of trees downed by Hurricane Otto in the Corredor Fronterizo Norte and Maquenque National Wildlife Refuges, and other National Natural Heritage areas. The legal opinion finds that the bill presents constitutional and substantive problems. It questions…
OJ-093-20152015
Interpretación auténtica de los artículos 19 inciso b) y 34 de la Ley Forestal
The Attorney General's Office had already issued legal opinion OJ-067-2012 on the bill for an authentic interpretation of Articles 19(b) and 34 of Forestry Law No. 7575. Since no changes were made to the legislative text, the PGR refers to its previous opinion without adding new analysis, reaffirming that it has already set its position on the matter.
OJ-065-20092009
Adición del inciso e) al artículo 19 de la Ley Forestal
The Attorney General's Office issues a legal opinion on a bill to add subsection e) to Article 19 of Forestry Law No. 7575. The bill aimed to set a maximum percentage of forest impact on private lands to allow housing, tourism, and recreational projects. The Office warns that Article 19 establishes a general prohibition on land-use change in forested…
OJ-118-20092009
Reforma del artículo 28 de la Ley Forestal no subsana inconstitucionalidad por omisión
The Attorney General's Office reviews legislative bill No. 17.472, which seeks to amend Article 28 of the Forestry Law, in light of Constitutional Chamber Ruling 3923-2007. That ruling had declared the relative unconstitutionality of Article 28 for lacking precautionary measures prior to tree felling in forest plantations, agroforestry systems, and…
OJ-021-20082008
Proyecto de nueva Ley Forestal — expediente 16169
The Attorney General's Office analyzes the bill to replace Forestry Law 7575. It points out shortcomings in the current law, such as the restrictive definition of forest that excludes valuable fragments and facilitates illegal logging, and the under-protection of treeless areas. It examines the proposals: modifies the composition of bodies, adjusts…
OJ-097-20072007
Canje de deuda por naturaleza bajo el Tropical Forest Conservation Act
The Attorney General's Office examines four agreements related to a debt-for-nature swap between Costa Rica and the United States under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act. It analyzes the legal nature and obligations of each instrument. It concludes that the agreement between the governments is an international treaty requiring legislative approval; that…
OJ-106-20052005
Reforma del impuesto forestal y precisiones técnicas del tributo
The Attorney General's Office reviews bill 15.904, which amends articles 3, 42, 43, and 44 of the Forestry Law and repeals a provision of the Tax Simplification Law. The bill aims to correct deficiencies in forestry tax collection to generate resources to combat illegal logging and promote reforestation. The PGR notes its opinion is non-binding for the…
OJ-093-20042004
Constitucionalidad del Decreto 31750-MINAE-TUR sobre ecoturismo en bosques de la ZMT
The Attorney General's Office, responding to the unconstitutionality action against Decree 31750-MINAE-TUR, argues that the decree contains constitutional defects. The Decree regulates ecotourism in forested areas of the maritime terrestrial zone (MTC) designated by MINAE, but in doing so it transfers to municipalities the authority to grant concessions…
OJ-077-20012001
Tala de árboles en derecho de vía de caminos vecinales por el MINAE
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether the Ministry of Environment (MINAE) can authorize municipalities to fell trees in the rights-of-way of local roads for donation to third parties. It concludes that MINAE lacks competence to grant such authorizations for private benefit, because rights-of-way are State public domain assets intended for road,…
OJ-022-19991999
Obligatoriedad de requisitos para aprovechamiento forestal y evaluación de impacto ambiental
Legal Opinion 022-1999 from the Environmental Prosecutor addresses concerns from Deputy Célimo Guido Cruz about deforestation in Osa, Limón, and San Carlos. It analyzes three main issues: (1) the absolute prohibition of forest harvesting in protected wild areas under state ownership, except for research, training, and ecotourism; (2) the requirement for…
Res. 00052-2025 Tribunal Agrario2025 · Tribunal Agrario
Aprovechamiento de madera de árboles talados en área de protección dentro de propiedad privada
The Agrarian Tribunal heard a summary tree-felling proceeding in which the plaintiff sought authorization to cut down two trees (espavel and alcornoque) located within the protection zone of a stream on her property, due to safety concerns. The lower court authorized the felling of three trees (espavel, melina, and ojoche) based on a MINAE report, but…
Res. 00173-2025 Tribunal Agrario2025 · Tribunal Agrario
Aprovechamiento de madera producto de derribo autorizado judicialmente
The Agrarian Court confirms the authorization to fell two cedar trees due to imminent danger but denies granting direct use of the timber in court because the land is unregistered. The plaintiff possesses an unregistered property acquired via a private sale agreement, which prevents certainty over ownership. The court distinguishes between the felling…
Res. 00359-2025 Tribunal Agrario2025 · Tribunal Agrario
Derribo por riesgo medio de caída: prevalece derecho a la vida sobre protección de árbol en área de quebrada
The Agrarian Tribunal heard a partial appeal by the plaintiff against a lower court ruling that authorized pruning but denied felling of a tree (Tree No. 2) located on her property, near a stream and a home inhabited by elderly adults. The technical report from SINAC rated the fall risk as “medium” with a “probable” likelihood of failure, citing exposed…
Res. 00433-2025 Tribunal Agrario2025 · Tribunal Agrario
Corta de árbol Guapinol por riesgo moderado futuro
The Agrarian Tribunal upholds the ruling ordering the defendant to cut down a Guapinol tree on her property, at the request of her neighbor who claimed danger to her home and passersby. Although the SINAC technical report indicated no imminent risk or current disease, it found the tree’s root collar was buried, compromising future stability due to…
Res. 11485-2025 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2025 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Nulidad de finca inscrita en manglar y zona marítimo terrestre por demanialidad
The Administrative Litigation Court upholds the State's claim against Grupo Eminova del Pacífico S.A., declaring the nullity of the registration of property [Valor 002], plan [Valor 003], because it includes mangrove and maritime-terrestrial zone lands, which are inalienable and imprescriptible public domain assets. The court rejects the defendant's…
Res. 01079-2024 Sala Primera de la Corte2024 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Improcedencia de indemnización en limitaciones a propiedad por zona de protección de naciente
The First Chamber summarily dismisses the cassation appeal due to lack of proper legal argumentation. The plaintiff sought compensation for property restrictions resulting from a water-spring protection zone that prevented construction. The Administrative Court denied the claim, holding that environmental restrictions are legitimate, of public order, and…
Res. 00008-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Autorización de aprovechamiento de árbol derribado por peligrosidad
The Agrarian Tribunal hears an appeal in a summary proceeding for the felling of a cedar tree located on a property in Nicoya, Guanacaste. The plaintiff, owner of the property, sought judicial authorization to cut down the tree because it posed a danger, and also requested the right to use the timber to offset the costs of felling. The lower court…
Res. 00522-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Aprovechamiento de madera por derribo en área de protección
The Agrarian Court heard a summary proceeding for the felling of a cedar tree on private property, located within a river protection area. The plaintiff sought authorization to fell the dangerous tree and to use the resulting timber. The trial court authorized the felling but denied timber use, requiring administrative proceedings before MINAE. The…
Res. 00532-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Aprovechamiento de madera tras derribo autorizado en propiedad privada
The Agrarian Court hears an appeal against a ruling that authorized the felling of two trees (guanacaste and rain tree) due to their dangerous state but referred the request to use the resulting timber to MINAE. The Court partially overturns the decision and authorizes the plaintiff to use the timber, finding that the trees are located on his property and…
Res. 00627-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Se revoca aprobación de rectificación de medida por falta de posesión ecológica
The Agrarian Tribunal overturns the lower court's ruling that had approved a possessory information proceeding to rectify the boundaries of a property located 100% within the Río Navarro and Río Sombrero Protected Zone, a state-owned protected wild area forming part of the Natural Heritage of the State. The lower court approved the rectification despite…
Res. 03682-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Paralización cautelar de condominio en zona boscosa en Manuel Antonio
The Contentious-Administrative Tribunal, Second Judicial Circuit of San José, partially grants a precautionary measure requested by a citizen against the State, SINAC, the Municipality of Quepos, and the developer Vista Paradise MA SRL S.R.L., to suspend construction of the Condominio Residencial Vista Islas project in Manuel Antonio, Quepos. The court…
Res. 00354-2024 Tribunal de Apelación de Sentencia Penal de Cartago2024 · Tribunal de Apelación de Sentencia Penal de Cartago
Restitución del bosque puede ordenarse pese a absolutoria penal
The Criminal Sentence Appeals Court of Cartago upholds a judgment that acquitted the defendant of land-use change but ordered him to submit a forest restoration plan and refrain from planting coffee in a forested area. The Chamber holds that restoration of the forest to its previous state is permissible even without a criminal conviction, under Article…
Res. 00167-2023 Sala Tercera de la Corte2023 · Sala Tercera de la Corte
Obligatoriedad de portar guía de transporte y certificado de origen al movilizar madera
The Criminal Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice admits for substantive review a cassation appeal filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The prosecution challenges an acquittal issued by the Santa Cruz Court of Appeals, which upheld the acquittal of a defendant for illegal mobilisation and illegal acquisition of forest products. The appeals…
Res. 04939-2023 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2023 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Improcedencia de PSA en terrenos del Patrimonio Natural del Estado
The Administrative Court dismisses a private individual’s claim seeking ratification of possession over an unregistered property and an order for INDER to authorize its enrollment in the Sustainable Biodiversity Fund. The land lies entirely within the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve and constitutes State Natural Heritage under articles 13, 14 and 15 of the…
Res. 00023-2020 Tribunal de Casación Contencioso Administrativo y Civil de Hacienda2020 · Tribunal de Casación Contencioso Administrativo y Civil de Hacienda
Suspensión de regente forestal por certificar sistema agroforestal inexistente
The ruling of the Contentious-Administrative Cassation Court examines the legality of a three-month suspension imposed by the College of Agronomists on a forestry engineer and regent. The plaintiff had certified the existence of an agroforestry system on a property in Osa, Puntarenas, to authorize a logging plan for 25 trees. However, SINAC inspections…
Res. 00081-2010 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección VIII2010 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección VIII
Concesión minera: denegatoria de remoción boscosa no genera responsabilidad por lucro cesante
The Administrative Litigation Tribunal, Section VIII, dismissed the claim of Servicios de Maquinaria Mora de Fraijanes S.A. against the State for damages arising from SINAC's refusal to authorize forest cover removal within a mining concession. The court held that the denial was a lawful, normal act grounded in Article 19 of the Forestry Law, which…
Res. 00019-2009 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección X2009 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección X
Responsabilidad ambiental por omisión de propietario en bosque primario
The Administrative Appeals Court (Sección X) upholds the Environmental Administrative Tribunal (TAA) ruling that fined owners of a primary forest property in Osa for environmental damage caused by a third party. The plaintiffs, owners of 134 hectares of forest, failed to adequately monitor their land, enabling Ronny Monge Castro to illegally fell trees and…
Res. 00075-2008 Tribunal Agrario2008 · Tribunal Agrario
Extracción de madera propia tras vencimiento de contrato de arrendamiento forestal
The Agrarian Tribunal heard an appeal from a defendant in an ordinary proceeding where the plaintiff reforestation company claimed ownership of timber planted on the defendant's land under a lease agreement. The 13-year lease had expired, but uncut timber remained. The Tribunal rejected the nullity claim alleging procedural inconsistency, as the lease's…