Joel Campbell and Costa Rica could not find a way past Paraguay on Saturday. HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images
Joel Campbell and Costa Rica could not find a way past Paraguay on Saturday. HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images
QSPORTS – Costa Rica and Paraguay opened their Copa America campaigns with a testy goalless draw that saw more cards than scoring chances.
In hot conditions in Orlando, the mood was set inside the first 20 seconds when Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda was booked for a foul on Celso Ortiz.
Tempers threatened to spill over after a number of early fouls, with Paraguay’s Jorge Benitez also picking up a booking early in the 13th minute.
The game’s best period of play came immediately afterwards as Benitez was played through into the box but scuffed his shot wide, and Paulo Da Silva’s glancing header missed inches wide following a corner.
Costa Rica then had a chance in the 17th minute when Bryan Ruiz sent a powerful header straight at Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar.
As the second half began, Ronald Matarrita was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a hard foul on Derlis Gonzalez.
Paraguay’s best chance after half-time came when Bruno Valdez’s shot following a corner was saved.
The teams nearly came to blows after Costa Rica’s Kendall Waston fouled Dario Lezcano in the 77th minute.
Costa Rica almost stole the game in the 88th minute when Cristian Bolanos was given plenty of space outside the box, but Villar did well to push his shot aside.
There was more late drama as Costa Rica’s Waston was sent off in the final minute of stoppage time for a challenge from behind on Nelson Valdez, meaning he will miss the next game against the United States.
Colombia lead Group A with three points following their win on Friday, ahead of Costa Rica and Paraguay with a point apiece and the U.S. at the bottom.
Costa Rica will face the United States on Tuesday night at Soldier Field in Chicago.
QCOSTARICA – The Internet is literally full of stories and personal relationship with Muhammad Ali, perhaps the greatest sports figure ever and a man, strong, tall man who had many insights into life itself.
I’m not going into the history of Muhammad Ali and anecdotes with journalists, just my own time memory of his presence.
Some years ago, in the 90s my wife Magaly and I were on business in Washington, D.C., staying in the same hotel as Ali.
From the balcony we saw him and I told my wife, ‘I just have to go and shake his hand.’
After a quick elevator ride down to the main floor, Ali was with two advisors and I walked up and simply said, “Muhammed you might be the greatest sports figure of all time, but I admire you for discovering, before me, that Vietnam was a white man’s war fought by black men and killing people of color.”
Ali smile, shook my hand asked if we would have breakfast with him.
His passing, not unexpected, still touches the strings of my heart.
RIP. Muhammad Ali. I will miss you even if was for that brief encounter. And, I will remember that breakfast in awe and in great detail as you spoke about “life”.
An employee irons at a textile mill in the Industrial Park in the Free Zone in Managua. Getty Images
TODAY NICARAGUA – A Peruvian spinning mill is to invest $15 million in Las Mercedes Industrial Park, and soon three other companies from the call center and textile sectors will be setting up there too.
Dean Garcia, executive director of the Nicaraguan Association of Textile and Apparel (Anitec), told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that “… the Peruvian company Hialpesa, will be investing $15 million in its operation in the country and will supply other free zone factories that produce shirts. Garcia said … they are currently installing machinery, but did not say when they will start operations. ”
Regarding other investments in the free zone, Garcia explained that three companies in the textile and call center sectors are preparing to set up in the country soon. These companies, according to Garcia, are of Central American and Mexican origin.
“… The textile and clothing sector is trying to attract companies to come there to produce the raw materials they need, such as buttons, fabric, zippers, labels, among other things, ‘in order to have, to some extent, the entire supply chain within the country’. ”
Visitors to Havana should visit areas beyond the tourist zones and meet Cuba’s victims of communism. (LinkedIn)
TODAY CUBA (Panampost.com) Havana’s roads received a new layer of asphalt along the beautiful Prado Boulevard and the colorful buildings in Old Havana were shining brighter than ever prior to Barack Obama’s visit to Cuba. The decay and poverty in the city, however, is too prevalent and pervasive to be hidden by a quick make-over in honor of the first visit by a US president in 88 years.
Cuba offers exotic beaches, magnificently colored American vintage cars from the 1950’s, joyous salsa rhythms and iconic cigars. But this is largely a façade, behind which lies a very different reality. During a private trip to Cuba that coincided with Obama’s visit to the island, my wife and I got a small peek into real life under the communist Cuban regime.
My wife and I both speak Spanish, which provided us with ample opportunity to engage with the local Cubans. We gained an insight into the lives of the vast majority of Cubans who do not see as much as one peso of the billions that are now flowing into the country.
Even so, tourism is essential for Cuba. Without it, the country would probably be on the verge of famine. But while the tourism industry has raised the living standards of thousands of Cubans, it does not change the fact that most ordinary citizens still live a life of poverty with very few opportunities to change their fate and improve their general circumstances.
Going Beyond the Tourist Façade
One late afternoon, walking along the Malecón waterfront, my wife and I started a conversation with two Cuban brothers in their 30s. We were so fascinated with their story and their openness that we spent the rest of the evening and the following afternoon with them.
Both brothers were engineering graduates. One earned the equivalent of $16 US dollars a month, the other $22-25 dollars a month. That is less than half of the World Bank’s international poverty line of $1.90 USD a day, and the meager state-funded food rations hardly alleviate the hardship. An average Cuban public servant earns about $20-25 USD a month.
In contrast, the owners of “Casas Particulares” (private bed & breakfasts that rent rooms to tourists) make $25-30 dollars per rented room per night. This obviously creates an unsustainable situation in which the incentive to get an education disappears and where hard-working, well-educated Cubans see the prices of reasonable quality goods increase at such a pace that only those engaged in the tourism sector — or with the right connections to the communist regime — can afford to live a decent life.
The two brothers whom we had befriended invited us into their “home,” which consisted of a 10-12 square meter room on two floors, which they shared with three other family members. There were no shower facilities and the toilet was in a corner of a room only shielded with a sheet to be drawn when Mother Nature called.
The family could not afford to buy bottled water, which in the cheapest stores cost $0.7 USD for 1.5 liters. They only had access to tap water which is unfit for drinking purposes, often causing illness and diarrhea. There, between the shabby mattresses and dubious sanitary conditions, the superficial make-over of Old Havana seemed rather pointless.
Elsewhere, we experienced how an elderly lady with tears in her eyes showered a tourist with a myriad of thanks, hugs, and kisses just because he gave her a small package containing a bit of soap and deodorant. It was heartbreaking and, unfortunately, just another example of the scarcity of resources that is so detrimental to the welfare of the Cuban people.
Unfortunately, extreme poverty is just one of many problems in Cuba. Another issue that pervades Cuban society is the unscrupulous breach of basic human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press.
During our trip I got the chance through some contacts to conduct an interview with graffiti artist and human rights activist Danilo “El Sexto” Maldonado. After several unsuccessful calls, I unfortunately had to give up on getting a hold of him. Due to the limited internet access in Cuba. It was not until I was safely back in Denmark that I learned why I hadn’t been able to reach him: El Sexto had been detained and subsequently jailed by the police. He was arrested without official justification and without any opportunity to contact people outside to let them know how he was or where he was being held. This meant, among other things, that he was reported missing on Twitter by several of his followers.
Human Rights Abuses under the Castro Regime
On March 31, Human Rights Foundation (HRF) issued a press release condemning the Cuban regime’s continued harassment and indiscriminate arrests of El Sexto and other human rights activists. HRF has, due to the serious situation in the country, placed a special focus upon Cuba. For years, it has condemned attacks on Cuban journalists and limitations on doctors’ freedom of movement. The organization has also helped to bring attention to the death of a prominent human rights activist. Another human rights organization, Human Rights Watch, has also criticized the continued repression of human rights in Cuba as detailed in its World Report 2016.
The same report criticizes slave-like conditions in prisons, as well as restrictions on travel both outside of and within Cuba, where dissidents from other parts of the country are often refused entry into Havana. Hence, it is no surprise that Freedom House, in its annual Freedom in the World report, ranks Cuba as the least free country in Latin America with a score of 6.5 out of 7 (with 7 being the least possible freedom). Cuba, in fact, is ranked between South Sudan and Ethiopia on a global scale. This is shameful for a country that fulfills all geographical and cultural prerequisites for being a thriving democracy.
But what about Cuba’s good doctors and its free health care and education systems, the benefits which the Castro regime supposedly offers its subjects? It is true that Cuba has free education for all who have the right skills. Nevertheless, if the end result is that you complete a five-year university degree in order to receive a monthly salary which can easily be quadrupled in a single day if you work in tourism, then such an education is basically worthless. If the first two steps in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (physiological needs and safety) are far from assured, then free education offers little consolation.
And yes, there are many doctors in Cuba, and one should certainly not ignore the fact that everyone has access to free medical care, that the infant mortality rate is low, and that the average life expectancy is on a par with most Western countries. However, this is not the whole story; conditions in several Cuban hospitals leave much to be desired since the buildings are dilapidated, hygiene is terrible, waiting times are exorbitant and all equipment outdated (the latter can to some extent be attributed to the continued embargo against the country).
The fact is that, unless the pay and general conditions of Cuban doctors improve, there is an imminent risk that many of them will leave the country as the relationship with the outside world, and thus the possibility of settling elsewhere, improves.
What can be done?
It’s no easy task to redress the Cuban situation, and it is largely up to Cubans to address these concerns themselves. Many issues need to be dealt with, but I will discuss the three areas that I consider most important.
The first step is to improve the human rights situation. By releasing political prisoners and stopping indiscriminate arrests, allowing freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press, and hopefully establishing democracy, the Cuban people will finally enjoy the rights that all people deserve. If the Cuban government permits civil and political liberties, it will also remove the most important reason for the continued US embargo against the country.
The second step is to make it (much) easier to start private businesses, whether large or small. The rise of private enterprise in a free market as the U.S. embargo is lifted will create a wave of investment in Cuba. This, in turn, will create unprecedented opportunities for the locals. With the growing opportunities (and wages) in the private sector, the poorly paid public sector will also be lifted up to a level that will ultimately entail better living conditions for all.
The third area to be addressed is the complete opening and liberalization of the internet. Internet access has improved slightly over the last few years. Now you can find a few Wi-Fi hotspots in Cuban cities that are controlled and managed by the Cuban authorities. Users must pay a cost of $2 USD per hour. Since this sum exceeds two days’ wages for the average Cuban, one can only conclude that the internet is not freely available to all.
Without internet freedom, knowledge cannot be freely shared, so that Cuba’s economic development is greatly hindered. As President Obama himself declared to the Cuban people, the internet is one of the greatest engines of growth in human history.
President Obama has started to think about his legacy and, with few significant foreign policy victories under his belt, he has sought to improve the United States’ relation. This creates a unique window of opportunity for Cuba. The Cuban leadership needs to seize this moment as there is no telling what the situation will be in less than nine months once there is a new president at the White House.
In a country where political and economic changes take place very slowly, the proposed reforms will be hard to digest for the country’s relatively small power base. The changes will inherently mean less power in the hands of a spoiled communist elite. Well-executed reforms, however, will improve the living conditions dramatically for the vast majority of Cuba’s 11 million citizens. The country has a well-educated population, low crime rates, a favorable geographical location, and a boom in foreign investment. There are no limits to what a democratic Cuba with free and open markets can achieve.
The Challenges Ahead
If we put the dream scenarios aside, and again turn our attention to the current situation in Cuba, one cannot ignore the fact that the country still faces several challenges. It is precisely because of these challenges that I would encourage everyone who chooses to visit the country to meet with the locals outside the colorful tourist areas. Here you will have the possibility to influence the situation by placing some of your tourist money directly in the hands of those who really need it.
Hopefully, the spread of freedom will gradually increase support for the growing number of dissidents and thus help speed up the transition to a genuine, free, and popular revival of Cuban democracy.
Tourists will in turn experience a heartwarming population who, despite poverty, hardship and repression, try to get the best out of life. You will meet a people who sincerely care about you and who can give you an insight into what it really means to live under a communist regime.
So travel to Cuba and enjoy the country. But also make sure to look beyond the façade. Visit the places where clean drinking water is in short supply and soap is a luxury item, where people have never been on the internet, and where the dream of the socialist revolution has turned into the regular nightmare of a planned economy.
Behind its democratic facade, Maduro’s regime in Venezuela controls the population with authoritarian measures. (La Patilla)
TODAY VENEZUELA (PANAMPOST) Some analysts have predicted a popular uprising in Venezuela that could eventually topple the corrupt regime of strongman Nicolás Maduro.
Around the country, people desperate for food and medicine have protested against the government in the face of ever-worsening shortages. Naturally, most pundits believe this situation is untenable.
If the Chavista regime does not provide a solution to the food and medicine shortages, many analysts believe people will eventually rise up. What these pundits fail to understand is that Venezuela’s problems are not caused by a collapse in the price of oil and a resulting lack of funds to provide basic necessities for the population.
At current oil prices, Venezuela has revenues larger than those of Perú, a country with an almost identical population.
These analysts have not come to terms with the fact that, hiding behind an electoral façade, Maduro is the head of a military regime with totalitarian control over the populace.
If at any time a group of people gather or protest, they will almost immediately be violently attacked by Chavista “colectivos”— the local euphemism for Brownshirts — with full support from the para-military Bolivarian National Guard. The main streets of every major barrio in the country are controlled by these modern-day, nazi-style Brownshirts.
Control over basic food staples and medicines are now in the hands of “Local Committees for Supply and Distribution” known by their Spanish acronym, CLAPS. Private supermarkets have now been limited to offering non-essential supplies.
These are local soviets, designed to control the population into submission. If your teenage son throws a rock at a National Guardsman, you do not get milk for your one-year-old.
Under these conditions, it’s almost impossible for the population to organize, rise up and topple a government that has already shown its willingness to shoot at its own citizens.
When will regional and international leaders, including the Obama administration, realize that in Venezuela’s case, doing nothing only results in more death?
Eventually, the attitude held by Venezuela’s neighbors will catch up to them. The worsening humanitarian crisis in the country of Simón Bolívar will destabilize the entire region, beginning with Colombia.
A good chunk of the problems will land on US shores. New York is closer to Caracas than Denver.
(Q24N) The increase will be staggered: 5% from June 1, 2016, 5% from June 1 2017, and 5% from June 1 2018.
From a statement issued by the ANEP:
The private sector represented in the National Minimum Wage Council, agreed to accept the request from workers to increase the monthly basic salary in the sectors of industry, maquila and the various agricultural sectors by 15%.
This increase will be implemented gradually in three stages:
5% from June 1, 2016, 5% from June 1 2017, and 5% from June 1 2018.
The only exception is the trade and services sector where the increase will be 4.5% per year, with the same date of entry into force, taking into consideration the weak situation of small businesses and the risk of an increase in informality being quite high.
Colombia began their Copa America campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over the USA in California.
An early goal from center-half Cristian Zapata and a penalty from captain James Rodriguez just before the break was enough to see the South Americans take all three points in the opening game of the centenary competition.
The win puts Colombia in a commanding position in Group A with the top two teams advancing to the quarter finals of the world’s oldest football competition.
Copa America 2016: Colombia vs USA preview
Colombia took control of the game early on when AC Milan defender Cristian Zapata hammered home a thunderous volley from an Edwin Cardona corner in the eight minute to score his first international goal.
Colombia’s talisman James Rodriguez obliged from the spot to score his 15th international goal sending his team into the half-time break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Seattle Sounders star Clint Dempsey led the US charge to get back into the game in the after the break with a header cleared from the line by Atletico Nacional’s Sebastian Perez early in the half.
Goalkeeper David Ospina frustrated the midfielder further in the 63rd minute with a wonderful save from a free kick destined for the top corner.
That was as close as the US came to scoring with the Colombians in control for large passages of the play in the second half.
Carlos Bacca almost added some gloss to the score line with 14 minutes remaining but the AC Milan striker rattled the crossbar, not that it impacted the result as USA was left victoryless from its last six Copa America appearances, dating back to 1995.
Copa America: Colombia eliminated after losing to Argentina in penalty shootout
While Jose Pekerman will be satisfied a win in the opening game, the Colombian camp will be concerned about the retirement of Real Madrid star James Rodriguez in the 71st minute with a shoulder injury.
Colombia will hope that their captain recovers in time to lead them into upcoming matches against last year’s third place finishers Paraguay on June 7 and 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica on June 11.
Chinese businesses may cause unemployment, but those jobs will be shifted into new sectors over time. (Los Andes)
TODAY COLOMBIA (Panampost.com) In the last two weeks, Chinese store owners in the San Victorino neighborhood of Bogotá have been victims of threats and intimidation from local shop owners. The atmosphere became quite heated during recent demonstrations that took place against the presence of Asians, some of whom have decided to close their shops for fear of being attacked.
Many Colombians claim Chinese people have snatched up a large share of the market, which has led them to bankruptcy.
“They have colonized stores in many cities,” said Juan Martín Duque, one of the leaders of the protest. “They arrive with lots of money, and pay the premiums to stay here with the locals. If this isn’t regulated it’s going to become a big problem.”
Chinese-owned stores tend to sell products at lower prices than Colombian ones. Shop owners admit this openly, and argue that it makes it difficult for them to compete.
The Chinese have explained that their better prices are a result of having contacts in their country, which allows them to get cheaper products. Also, Chinese couples sometimes have their stores open 365 days out of the year, taking turns managing it, because the business comes first.
It’s clear, then, that Chinese businesses are competitive enough and are hurting their Colombian competitors. But is that so bad? Should the state intervene and protect local vendors? Implementing barriers to the entry of Chinese goods damages the economy and undermines competition. New businesses with better prices not only benefits the customer, but also makes everyone else strive to lower their own prices and find new ways of marketing their own products.
When this topic gets discussed in relation to the free market, it always comes back to the harm done to producers and traders. But what often gets ignored is the thousands of consumers who benefit from the importation of cheap goods. The sale of Chinese products in Colombia helps, above all, the humble, middle-class family that now has a way to buy food, clothes, shoes, among other things, at a lower price.
When the business owners of San Victorino claim that they will be put out of work at the fault of the Chinese, it’s easy for everybody to feel compassion for the situation. But it’s important that an economic evaluation of this kind does not become personal, that we look at the bigger picture.
Let’s not focus on the losses, and instead turn our attention to the benefits, of which there are so many. Those arguing against free trade seem to forget that protectionist measures in the face of competition prevents a country from progressing. We cannot lock ourselves up by protecting domestic products when doing so would deprive us of the advantages of eating and living better as a result of foreign exchange.
It’s clear that all these changes create a dent in the employment rate, but it can’t be avoided when society has to advance — and even more when unemployment is only a temporary effect, as those jobs are not lost so much as shifted into different sectors. What should concern us is not whether these people have to change jobs, but if the necessary conditions will allow them to change jobs quickly. The shorter a person stays out of the workforce, the better.
Colombians have to learn to see that the benefits of foreign commerce improves society as a whole, and that even poor families, who might feel the blunt of this at first, will be helped more than they are hurt in the long run.
We can’t play Cain and Abel. The solution is not rooted in killing the virtuous, or harder working. The correct response is to improve yourself and try to compete, even if it will become harder and harder to do so as more foreign business arrives to Colombia.
The Chinese aren’t taking anything from anyone. On the contrary, they have increasingly begun to give back to the country. It’s not right to discriminate against them, especially since they have done so much good for Colombia’s economy. Instead of protesting for them to get out, we should be saying stay, Chinese, stay!
Avianca offers multiple daily flights to and from the San Jose, Costa Rica airport to more than 100 destinations in 26 countries
Avianca offers multiple daily flights to and from the San Jose, Costa Rica airport to more than 100 destinations in 26 countries
QCOSTARICA – United and Delta are evaluating the possible purchase of Avianca, as the Latin American airline explores strategic options for a full or partial sale.
According to Bloomberg, Avianca, Colombia’s largest airline, said in May it would cut aircraft deliveries from Airbus by US$1.4 billion during the next 30 months as part of an effort to reduce indebtedness.
The Wall Street Journal says advisers to Avianca have distributed a document to potential bidders seeking a US$500 million capital injection. The process is in early stages and there may be no deal at all.
Avianca (acronym in Spanish for “Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A.”) has been the national airline and flag carrier of Colombia since December 1919 and now the world’s second oldest airline after KLM. It is the oldest airline in the Western Hemisphere.
In 2009, Avianca would merge with TACA, creating AviancaTaca, which instantly became one of the region’s largest airlines. TACA and all other AviancaTaca airlines, wich included LACSA (Spanish: Lineas Aéreas Costarricenses) Costa Rica’s national airline that in 1999 becoming a subsidiary of Grupo TACA, changed their brand to Avianca on 28 May 2013.
Avianca, the second largest airline in Latin America, serves more than 100 destinations in 26 countries, with 176 airplanes operating 5,400 weekly departures, with hubs in Bogotá(Colombia), San Salvador (El Salvador), and Lima(Peru).
QCOSTARICA – Filling your tank this morning costs more, with the latest hike in gasoline prices that took effect at the 12:01am Saturday.
Although gasoline prices continue to drop around the world, not in Costa Rica.
The price at the pumps this morning are:
Super gasoline ¢518 per litre (an increase of ¢16 )
Regualr gasoline (plus 91) ¢498 per litre (an increase of ¢15 )
Diesel ¢380 (an increase of ¢32)
The increase was in line with the price approval by the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) – the regulator of public prices and services – ealier this week and published in the official government newsletter, La Gaceta, on Friday.
The price hike is based on the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope) request with figures of oil prices of April.
The request, typically responsed to by the Aresep almost immediately, sat in consideration for some 18 days.
President Luis Guillemo Solis, accompanied by his wife attended the inauguration of the clinic this week. The Solón Núñez clinic will benefit thousands of women in Hatillo and Alajuelita.
QCOSTARICA – At 62, doña Virgina will become the first insured on Monday to receive a mammogram at the Clínica Solón Núñez, in Hatillo.
The clinic, inaugurated this week, but opens to the public on Monday, will benefit some 27.000 women between 45 and 70 years of age and women under 45 who have risk factors, residents of Hatillo and Alajuelita.
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. It can be used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. It can also be used if you have a lump or other sign of breast cancer.
Mammograms play a key role in early breast cancer detection and help decrease breast cancer deaths. During a mammogram, your breasts are compressed between two firm surfaces to spread out the breast tissue.
A screening mammogram is used to look for signs of breast cancer when you do not have any breast symptoms or problems. A mammogram can often detect cancer in its early stages, even before a lump can be felt, when treatment can be most successful.
Who invented the mammogram machine? Albert Solomon uses a conventional X-ray machine to produce images of 3,000 gross anatomic mastectomy specimens, observing black spots at the centers of breast carcinomas. Mammography, the resulting imaging, has been used since 1927 as a diagnostic tool in the early detection of breast cancer.
Tranvía, circulando por la Avenida Central (Av. Rogelio Fernández Güell). San José. 1920.
Fuente: Archivo Nacional de Costa Rica.
Colección CIHAC.
The Tranvía on Avenida Central (Av. Rogelio Fernández Güell) today known as the Bulevar (Boulevard) San José c.1920. Source: Archivo Nacional de Costa Rica. Colección CIHAC.
QBLOGS – The video by Costa Rica Antigua E Inedita gives a glimpse of simpler time in San Jose, in 1910, when “Josefinos” could walk the streets and took the “tranvía” (street car).
The remnant of the tranvía are still buried below the asphalt that covers Paseo Colon and many other streets of downtown San Jose. I saw the uncovered rails some years back during the repaving of Paseo Colon.
So why are the politicians today, more than 100 years later, having a hard time bringing back the street car as a solution to the current downtown traffic chaos?
More photos of Costa Rica past can be found at the Universidad de Costa Rica CIHAC portal.
From a post on Genial.guru, here are 155 English/Spanish phrases for everyday life in Costa Rica (and Latin America).
Both languages have many idiomatic expressions that are sometimes difficult to understand, but essential to know. I won’t say they will get you speaking fluent in either language, but they will help you get by.
The following table is a gathering of the most popular expressions.
Flyby of the Turrialba volcano demonstrates the disappearance of flora on the slopes of the volcano caused by ashfall.
QCOSTARICA – A flyby of the Turrialba volcano evidences the disappearance of flora on the slopes of volcano due to ashfall.
The images and video show that vegetation for some 5 kilometres on the western flank of the colossus has been affected.
The grass, plants and trees that used to be on the west side of the Turrialba volcano no longer exist. A change in wind is now beginning to affect the south side as well.
The ash and gases expelled by the colossus since 2010, when the volcano reactivated for the first time, until recent weeks, caused the disappearance of the flora.
This was corroborated by a flyby by the National Emergency Commission (Comisión Nacional de Emergencias – CNE) on Saturday, May 28.
CNE geologist and one of the managers of the flyby, Blas Sanchez, explained that this was done with a drone operator Hernan Siles, high above (about 2.2 kilometers of the active crater) the park ranger post, La Central. That flyby was followed up by another in the area of La Silva, some 1.3 kilometres above the Paredes creek, located within the 2 kilometre restriction ring around the colossus.
The flyby was possible thanks to a lull in the volcano’s activity last week.
The expert explained that the most affected is the Paredes creek, which besides the great amount of ash, fallen tree trunks have caused avalanches. The waters of this creek mainly feeds the Toro Amarillo river, which has also been affected.
After nearly five days of little or no activity, Wednesday night the volcano had an “important” eruption around 10:30pm, followed by two more “important” eruptions Thursday morning, one around 12:30am and the last at 5:10am.
QVIDEOS – Incredible Video of the History of Coffee in Costa Rica and Captain Le Lacheur in 1845.
William Le Lacheur is widely credited in Costa Rica with having transformed the economy of the country by establishing a direct regular trade route for Costa Rican coffee growers to the European market, thereby helping to establish the Costa Rican coffee trade.
The crocodiles below the Tarcoles river bridge. A must stop. Photo from Flickr.com
The crocodiles below the Tarcoles river bridge. A must stop. Photo from Flickr.com
QVIDEOS – The ‘croc bridge’ as the bridge over the Tarcoles river is commonly known is a must stop to and from Playa Jaco, Manuel Antonio or any place in between or to the southern zone.
The crocodile bridge is a unique and very special place where hoardes of crocodiles gather. Their numbers are impressive.
Travel from San Jose to Miami and back starting at US$306 with Avianca
QTRAVEL – Avianca has put Miami on sale this month (June) with fares starting at US$306, return and all taxes in.
The promo price is valid to December 10, with blackout dates from July 23 to August 20 for flights from Costa Rica and July 2 to July 20 leaving Miami.
I did a check on flights from San Jose (SJO) to Miami (MIA) leaving June 20 and returning June 27, total fare is US$321.15.
Avianca is also offering Cartagena (Colombia*) from San Jose starting at US$429.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.avianca.com, or at Avianca customer service centres, at the airport and travel agencies.
There are a couple of things to note.
One, if you purchase your ticket in Costa Rica other than online there will be a US$25 surcharge. Our understanding this is not a surcharge by Avianca, but by the taxman.
Two, flying Avianca from San Jose to Miami is from 5 to 7 hours plus. Avianca does not have direct flights from San Jose to Miami, all flights requiring 1 or 2 stops, through its hub in El Salvador.
*For non Costa Rican nationals, travellers will need a yellow fever certificate to re-enter Costa Rica from Colombia. There is a 10 day incubation period, meaning you will have to plan your trip and obtain your fellow fever shot in advance of your trip to Colombia.
Overflowing rivers, 50 traffic accidents and an overtuned bus were results of the Thursday afternoon heavy rains
Overflowing rivers, 50 traffic accidents and an overtuned bus were results of the Thursday afternoon heavy rains
QCOSTARICA- It was a Thursday afternoon of overflowing rivers and some 50 traffic accidents, that included a overtuned bus, in two hours of rain. And drivers not slowing down.
In downtown Heredia, in the area of the bridge over the Pirro river, rainy conditions was the cause of a bus (from the video going a little too fast) skidding out of control and landing on its side. Eight people suffered injuries, attended to by paramedics and fortunately no deaths to mourn.
All around the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) there were reports of rivers overflowing their banks, in some areas causing temporary flooding, in others alarming residents of the raging waters.
Traffic conditions all around the GAM this afternoon were worse than usual, with some 50 accidents blocking traffic and keeping an understaffed traffic police force busy.
Mario Calderon, head of the Policia de Transito, is calling on drivers to be caution and be patient on the roads to prevent more accidents during the rains.
The flag of diversity flutters at the U.S. Embassy San Jose
The flag of diversity flutters at the U.S. Embassy San Jose
QCOSTARICA – As a show of support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, on Wednesday raised the flag of diversity with that of the U.S.
In addition, on June 28, the embassy building will be illuminated with the colours of diversity.
The U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, S. Fitzgerald Haney, expects Costa Rica to see it a demonstration of the U.S. committment to tolerance, acceptance of equal rights for all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation and be a symbol of support for human rights.
“This has been a keyyear for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) in the United States with the historic decision of the U.S. Supreme Court which states that same-sex couples have the right to marry and enjoy equal benefits year under U.S. law,” said Haney during a ceremony Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday (June 1, 2016), US President Barack Obama proclaimed June as LGBT Pride Month in the United States. According to the Presidential proclamation, LGBT individuals deserve to know their country stands beside them.
“The fight for dignity and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people is reflected in the tireless dedication of advocates and allies who strive to forge a more inclusive society,” President Obama wrote.
V. Turrialba visto desde el Turrialba Lodge. Fotografìa por Daniel Rojas. OVSICORI. 2 junio 2016 05:39 a.m
The Turrialba volcano as seen from the Turrialba Lodge. Photo by Daniel Rojas posted on the OVSICORI FB page June 2, at 5:39am.
QCOSTARICA – Following days of passive, “normal” eruptive activity, that has ongoing for the past weeks, the Turrialba volcano blew its stack this morning, spewing ash one kilometre above the crater.
The 5:10am “important” eruption was the third since Wednesday night, according to the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (Ovsicori) – Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa
Watch the video of this morning’s eruption.
The first eruption occurred at 10:40pm Wednesday, the second at 12:37am Thursday.
The ash and gas expelled by colossus dispersed north and northwest (in the direction of San Jose and surrounding areas) according to the OVSICORI cameras and the weather stations by the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – National Meteorological Institute – located atop the volcano.
The Turrialba has been very active so far in 2016 with eruptions that have exceeded the 3,000 metres high and expulsion of stones.
Experts are not ruling out the possibility the volcano is getting ready for a major eruption, they do feel that the spewing is lava is unlikely. And if it does, the lava flow would be on the north side of the volcano, and travel a distance of not more than one kilometre through an area inhabited.
The Turrialba volcano this Thursday morning. Photo from the OVSICORI Fb page
According to experts in medicine, respiratory tract, eyes and skin are the body parts most affected by falling ash ejected by the Turrialba. Some of the problems are caused by ash mucosal dryness, irritation of the eyes and skin, dry cough and sore throat.
The video was taken on the Ruta 27, where using the shoulder is a common practice and in this case, the SUV and motorcyle end up running into each other.
Please share. Let’s put an end to this dangerous practice.
In 2015, mobile phone users in Costa Rica talked less, used more data
In 2015, mobile phone users in Costa Rica talked less, used more data
QCOSTARICA – Mobile (cellular) phone users in Costa Rica talked less by phone but almost doubled data consumption in 2015, soaring by percent 97% over 2014, according to a report from the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel).
In 2014, users in Costa Rica consumed 37,965 TB, in 2015 had moved over the mobile network the equivalent of 74,933 TB. In contrast, consumption of voice minutes (cellular calls) fell 9% year to year.
The increase in mobile data consumption is directly related to the rise of 82% in subscriptions to mobile Internet users. In 2012, when there were 2.6 million Internet subscriptions, in 2015 they amounted to 4.8 million. This means that there are 101 mobile internet services per 100 inhabitants.
Walther Herrera, director of Markets at the Sutel, also reported that last year there were 7.536 million mobile phone lines. This represents a 156% penetration.
According to the Sutel figures, ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad), operating the Kolbi brand had 52% stake in the mobile Internet market, while Claro and Movistar were 26% and 21% respectively.
Although ICE continues to be the leading mobile operator it has dropped market share, until last year holding 58% of the market.
Meanwhile, Claro Costa Rica that had 1,114,000 lines in 2014 (16% market share) grew to 1,414,000 (270,000 additional lines) at the end of last year, the company now owning 19% of the mobile market.
Movistar closed 2014 with 1,431,000 lines placing it a 20% of the market that year. By 2015, it increased its users to 1,677,000 (246,000 additional) reaching 22% of the entire market.
The Sutel may soon allow operators to start charging post-paid users per data download rather than via a flat rate.
Not expecting the monkeys would take charge and begin directing their own film, Cole Weber, from California, left his GoPro camera in a tree in Manuel Antonio Park in the hope of getting some stealth wildlife footage.
The 18 year-old high school student says the white face Capuchins discovered the camera sitting in a tree and the curiosity got the best of them, one of them nabbing the camera and began filming himself.
“There were a group of ten or 11 monkeys that were sleeping, playing and eating near a trail through the park. I put my GoPro in a tree, hoping that one of them might come near it for a cool video. I honestly had no idea one of them would take it! When I saw him take the GoPro, my immediate fear was that he would go deeper into the forest and I wouldn’t be able to get it back,” Weber said.
After realizing that the camera didn’t taste any good they got tired of it and eventually dropped the GoPro camera, that is when one of the monkey came and picked it up, took it back to the trees, but dropped it soon after.
“I had my phone connected to the GoPro’s wifi, so I was watching the footage live from my phone,” says Weber.
Bayardo Arce, presidential adviser speaking to members of Cetainic. Photo: Henry Padilla
TODAY NICARAGUA – Problems related to lack of infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports could be solved if the bill on public-private partnerships being prepared by the government and the private sector is successful.
The Draft Law on Public Private Partnerships to be presented in the coming days by President Ortega was prepared in conjunction with private sector representatives, explained the president’s economic adviser, Bayardo Arce.
The purpose of this bill is to start solving the problems of lack of infrastructure affecting the country and which is preventing it from achieving greater economic development. “… ‘Much of our future is in infrastructure, we can not develop agribusiness any further, as it is more competitive if we do not grow in terms of infrastructure, this growth has already created enormous pressures, (…) there is pressure on ports, airports and highways ‘ ” Arce said to Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
The president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), Joseph Adam Aguerri, “… explained that the bill is an effort that ‘we have been developing for several months’ and which has involved the Nicaraguan Chamber of Construction, ProNicaragua and the Government. According to Aguerri, the law will allow for investment to be made in the country and for transparent bidding processes to exist. ”
TODAY COLOMBIA – At least one woman is raped every day on average in Colombia as a result of ongoing acts of sexual violence committed in the context of the country’s armed conflict.
Recent figures released by Colombia’s Human Rights Office show that during the sixteen months that elapsed between January 2015 and April 2016, at least 785 women became victims of sexual violence due to the conflict.
Of the 13,600 individuals estimated to have suffered from war-related sexual violence, the Victims’ Unit National Register shows that 93% of those individuals are women, and 560 are minors, reported newspaper El Tiempo.
The figures also show the majority of sex crimes, 53%, were committed by members of paramilitary groups and 39% of the perpetrators were leftist FARC or ELN guerrillas.
A 2012 study by Amnesty International described sexual violence as a “defining part” of Colombia’s conflict; women are often targeted to terrify communities and force them to relocate, to take revenge on enemies, to control the sexual and reproductive rights of female fighters, or to exploit women and young girls as sexual slaves.
Women leaders and human rights defenders are particularly vulnerable, especially those who work with displaced communities and survivors of sexual violence related to the conflict.
Though the FARC and Colombia’s government have almost reached a peace agreement which would end over 50 years of bloodshed, these new figures indicate that sexual violence against women is actually increasing.
The adviser to the gender subcommittee for the peace talks, Pilar Rueda, sees impunity as a major contributor to the continued use of rape as a weapon of war.
“I ask myself why there is 98% rate of impunity. It’s a crime that remains private. Is this not important? We must guarantee a more democratic society,” said Rueda, reported El Tiempo.
Rueda is referencing an international forum on sexual violence from 2014 that showed impunity had reached 98%, and that less than 10% of the perpetrators of the more than 90,000 total cases of sexual violence throughout the conflict have ever been sentenced.
“It’s a silenced, excused, and invisible crime. The blame is placed back on the victims,” said Magda Rocío Martínez, investigator for the National Center of Historical Memory.
This increase in violence is particularly disheartening as the government just passed legislation in 2014 aimed to combat sexual violence and impunity. Law 1719 established security measures for those who reported sexual violence, and created an information system to collect and analyze cases of sexual violence to better identify risk factors and development prevention strategies.
TODAY COLOMBIA – Colombia has identified the remains of approximately 500 children after exhuming the remains of thousands of unidentified minors killed during the country’s 52-year-long armed conflict.
As peace talks between the government and FARC rebels progress in Havana, the locations of numerous burial sites have been revealed, along with the bodies of some 4,000 unidentified children.
In 2013, the Family Welfare Institute and the Medical Examiner’s office set out to start identifying these remains.
We hope that in this way those Colombians whose children have disappeared will have the opportunity to get closer to the truth about the fate of their loved ones, ending the pain and uncertainty that have marked their lives for years and, in many cases, for decades.”
Family Welfare Institute
So far, 500 of the children have been genetically identified and their remains passed on to their families.
Estimates of the figure of children who went missing in the war vary greatly, but some believe that more than 10,000 are yet to be found, according to newspaper El Espectador.
Beyond children, the country still faces the challenge of finding tens of thousands missing adults who were presumably killed in the conflict.
While 2015-16 was a tough year for James Rodriguez, his trademark swagger has returned when suiting up for Colombia.
The Copa America is set to kick off, with Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay and hosts the United States getting things underway.
Arguably the most difficult group of the four, each match in Group A should be tense and hotly contested. Following up on their dazzling display in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, Colombia should be considered the favourite to win the group with James Rodriguez leading the way.
They will be joined by fellow CONMEBOL nation Paraguay, who performed well in the last two editions of the Copa America, reaching the final in 2011 and the semifinals last summer in Chile.
They will also be joined by CONCACAF’s Costa Rica and the host nation United States. Costa Rica’s remarkable era continues under new coach Oscar Ramirez, while Jurgen Klinsmann is in need of a positive display after a disastrous 2015 to placate a disgruntled U.S. fan base.
Without argument James Rodriguez is the key player for Colombia.
With rumors of a move this summer, including a potential transfer to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, James will be keen to spearhead Colombia in attack and show clubs around Europe that he is worth the substantial price tag. James has often mentioned how “supported” he feels when playing for Colombia, and there will certainly be no shortage of backing when they take the field on June 3 against the U.S. in Santa Clara.
The Dark Horse: Costa Rica
Simply put, the Costa Ricans (Ticos) won’t be afraid of anyone, as was the case two years ago in Brazil. Joel Campbell is a handful for any defense. But without Keylor Navas, arguably the best goalkeeper at the Copa America, the expectations may not be met.
Prediction: 1. Colombia, 2. Costa Rica, 3. Paraguay, 4. United States
Colombia’s talent, combined with the experience and savvy of head coach Jose Pekerman, gives Los Cafeteros the edge in this competitive group. After a disappointing quarterfinal exit in penalties to Argentina at the 2015 Copa, Colombia will be eager to show that Brazil 2014 was not a one-off. Costa Rica and Paraguay will battle for the second spot, and when push comes to shove, the Central Americans will have enough to finish above the Guarani.
Perhaps it might have been different for Paraguay, but the unfortunate injury to key midfielder Nestor Ortigoza will see Ramon Diaz’s men on the outside looking in, as his absence will be felt both during the run of play and from the penalty spot. The play of the U.S. in the last 18 months does nothing to suggest that Jurgen Klinsmann’s men will advance. This will be a rough tournament for the hosts.
The Copa America 2016 will be played in 10 citiesa cross the United States, the The 2016 games is the first time being hosted outside of South America.
The Copa America 2016 will be played in 10 citiesa cross the United States, the first time being hosted outside of South America.
QCOSTARICA – The Copa America is the oldest international continental soccer competition with 16 teams of 2 confederations playing 32 games, in 10 cities throughout the U.S. from June 3 to 26, 2016.
The 2016 games is the first time being hosted outside of South America.
Costa Rica is no Copa America slouch, this year marking their fifth appearance in the competition. The Costa Ricans put the world on notice with their run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, becoming a thorn in the side for many bigger soccer nations.
Placed in a group with fellow World Cup quarterfinalist Colombia, hosts the U.S. and Paraguay, the Costa Rica team on the rise sees a chance to advance to their third Copa America quarterfinal. But since Keylor Navas will not be participating, the results may be less than expected.
Q24N (Prensa Latina) Cuba’s ambassador to Panama, Miguel Antonio Pardo, said that multidestination travel is now the main challenge for all countries in the tourist sector, an economic activity that in the case of the island grows exponentially.
In statements to the press, Pardo stated that the two countries have attractions such as the Canal Zone, volcanoes, jungle areas, beaches, museums and rich nature, capable of complementing tourism that moves to one or another side.
The main thing to develop this initiative we have it from the air and sea viewpoint, thanks to Copa Airlines -the most important tourist transport company from Panama and throughout the region- and cruise ships, a possibility that today is opened for the island, the diplomat said.
However, in case of the last modality, the U.S. government has imposed a limitation to the Cuba: cruise ships cannot carry tourists from that country on board, he stated.
With the multidestination travel option, Panama can resolve the low hotel occupancy that is currently showing, despite the large number of facilities it has with excellent conditions for accommodation.
QCOSTARICA – Need to send or receive money overseas? Take note of the proposed changes in banking regulations, where all electronic transfers of US$1,000 or more will have to be justified by customers and registered by banks.
Currently, this requirement only applies in cases in excess of US$10,000.
Article 19bis of Ley 8204 of the regulation that is being considered indicates that any transfer to from other countries in local or foreign currency, which equals or exceeds US$1,000 dollars, must include full details of the person, a short descriptions of the source of the funds and the identification of the processing bank or financial services official.
Javier Cascante, general superintendent of financial institutions, said the change is being promoted in order to respect international recommendations. He told Nacion.com that “… ‘In fact we, with the US$10,000 ceiling, were well above what is recommended’.”
Guillermo Hernandez, former prosecutor specializing in the fight against money laundering, considers the reduction of the amount exaggerated. “The issue here is that the Law 8,204 only sets the threshold of US$10,000,” said Hernandez.
Annabelle Ortega, executive director of the Chamber of Banks, said that banks already ask their clients a brief description of the origin of resources. “The difference now is on supporting documentation requested from financial institutions,” said Ortega.
According to Gabriela Burgués, lawyer specializing in securities and financial law, banks can act by closing accounts of clients who refuse to provide information.“Not only should they (the banks) act when there is suspicion of money, they should also against negative customers,” said Burgués.
80% of consumers Ticos prefer to see and touch the product in stores before buying
80% of consumers in Costa Rica say they prefer to see and touch the product in stores before buying
QCOSTARICA – While a small percentage in Costa Rica make only purchases, estimated around 12%, it is the country in the region with the most online shoppers.
According to data from Kantar Worldpanel, as reported by La Nacion, the country has a 88% internet coverage, twice the average of Central America, at 47%.
Kantar‘s research on e-commerce (online commerce) revealed that only 31% of Latin American householdsshopping online, while 69% prefer to buy directly in stores.
Central America remains the mostconservative regioninshopping online, with 7% in Central America turning to online stores to purchase a product, compared to 93% who preferred buying in traditional stores.
The top countries in Latin America in terms of online shopping are Argentina with 50%, Peru with 38% and Brazil with 34%.
Barriers to e-commerce
While in Costa Rica 80% of consumers prefer to see and touch the product before making the purchase, in the Latin American 76% of respondents said the same, 47% saying they do not know how to use the Internet for shopping and 44% said they distrust enter payment data online.
What is bought online? In terms in orders of most of the purchases made in Central America are appliances, clothing, footwear and vacation.
The Customer Connection 2016 study was based on a mapping of 10,000 households in major cities in Latin America, on trend and consumer habits.
QCOSTARICA via 4traders.com – Costa Rica’s forests are an incredible success story. Following decades of rampant tree clearing for agriculture and livestock production, Costa Rica implemented protective policies in the 1980s that allowed forests to make a remarkable comeback.
Today, Costa Rica is the first tropical country to have stopped and reversed deforestation: over half of its land is covered by forest, compared to just 26 percent in 1983. At the same time, Costa Rica has seen significant growth in sectors like sustainable tourism and hydropower generation.
But the larger story of Costa Rica’s sustainable development doesn’t end there. Urbanization and greater energy needs are putting pressure on Costa Rica’s natural resources, while growing international demand for timber–particularly rare hardwoods–is incentivizing illegal logging. Local timber production, private investments and jobs in the forest sector, and wood craftsmanship have declined significantly. Public budgets for enforcing forest protection policies are being stretched. Due to the limited use of local timber in the construction sector, new houses are often built using cement and metal, which are associated with a high carbon footprint.
Ultimately, forest conservation in Costa Rica will be undermined unless the forestry sector is reformed to address these challenges. Maintaining Costa Rica’s significant forest growth will only be possible if forests are considered a productive asset, and their contributions to the economy accurately reflected in policy.
This is where Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) is crucial in informing policymakers about how forests contribute to the economy beyond what is reflected in GDP.
Since 2012, Costa Rica has worked with the World Bank global partnership on Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES) to get a more accurate representation of the country’s natural resources – forests, water, and energy – and how they interact with the economy. NCA provides policymakers with better information about the alternative uses of land, the economic implications of investments that degrade natural resources, and how to weigh the potential trade-offs.
With support from WAVES, the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE) released Costa Rica’s first forest accounts yesterday. The forest accounts provide data like how much and what types of forest are found in Costa Rica, how much forests and forest products are worth, and how these numbers have changed over time. The results have critical implications for how Costa Rica manages its forest resources, both for conservation and sustainable use.
A major finding from the forest accounts is that forests contribute more to Costa Rica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than previously thought: around 2 percent, including returns from timber, other forest products, and economic activities that make use of forest products. This is in sharp contrast to industry figures from national accounts that only consider timber extraction, which alone added just 0.2 percent to GDP in 2011, and just half of that amount in 2013. Since Costa Rica’s forests are more valuable than expected, it will be crucial for forestry policies to be adjusted to effectively protect and build these resources.
Forests’ Contribution to the Economy of Costa Rica (Percentage of GDP)
‘Natural Capital Accounting is particularly relevant for our country, since we depend on natural resources to grow and create new development opportunities. The compilation of environmental accounts by the Central Bank is an important step in the right direction. We need to better understand the interaction between the economy and the environment, and its implication for fiscal and economic policy in general,’ said Helio Fallas, Minister of Finance and first Vice President of Costa Rica.
The forest accounts also confirmed that Costa Rica continues to gain forest cover, reaching 52.4 percent in 2013, in line with National Forests Inventory data. Plentiful natural forests are now growing on lands that used to be dedicated to crops and pastures. Moreover, this new forest growth accounts for an additional three percent in the amount of carbon stored by forests countrywide, which is increasingly important for addressing climate change such as through the government’s strategy for REDD+ program (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Securing the integrity of Costa Rica’s protected areas and strengthening its Payment for Environmental Services program remain key priorities for maintaining this natural wealth.
As the forest accounts report notes, ‘Viewing forests as a resource allows an appreciation of their value beyond simply being an input for the timber industry’. Providing a value for these resources enables forests to be easily understood as one of many components of a complex economy.
To gain an even deeper understanding of forests’ ‘hidden’ contributions, Costa Rica is currently working on accounts for ecosystem services, to truly capture the value of benefits like water filtration and biodiversity protection. Decision makers will then need to use all of this information in designing policies that put Costa Rica’s forests and its people on a long-term path to sustainable development.
Sources:
Banco Central de Costa Rica (2016). Cuenta de Bosques: Documento de Trabajo. Área de Estadísticas Ambientales. Departamento de Estadística Macroeconómica. División Económica. Mayo 30, 2016.
