Subdividing the Country into Provinces… 7 provinces They include: –Alajuela –Cartago –Heredia –Limon –Guanacaste –San Jose* –Puntarenas** –*San Jose contains the capital city. –**Contains Monteverde community and the Cloud Forest Reserve

Further breakdown. 81 counties There are 11 Counties with Puntarenas Province Esparza Buenos Aires Montes de Oro Osa Aguirre Golfito Coto Brus Parrita Corredores Garabito 421 Districts Monteverde is in the 10 th district of Puntarenas.

Monteverde Residents to Vote for New Government Tico Times November 22, 2002 “Communities should be able to maintain their resources. The decentralization of power is an important thing”- Reinaldo Vargas, mayor of Puntarenas Fight for the district municipal council to control finances. –Plans for financial resources

The ‘Re-Greening’ of Graywater in Monteverde Tico Times January 24, 2003 Graywater. What is it? Actions taken towards treating it.

Organic Vegetables Tico Times Buisness News- Weekly Edition May 6 th -12 th, 2005 “If small farmers don’t work together, they could disappear. Their only option for dynamic production, to understand what the demand is and how to place their products on the mass market, is to become organized in a commercial group. Oro Verde is the answer” – Mayra Lopez, Oro Verde General Manager Organic produce is growing in popularity, therefore they are more widely available. Products claim to be healthier, but are more costly than produce grown non-organically. Frequently increasing variety of organics sold.

Pesticide Use– Poorly Monitored Tico Times February 6, 2004 “I didn’t know it was prohibited… if its illegal, why is it available in every store around here?”- Marco Ramirez, Squash Farmer “There's no control; they sell Tamaron to anybody.”- Response of Alfonso Castillo, Paraiso farmer, to the Ministry of Agriculture’s pesticide registry program. Pesticides are toxic chemicals that can be health hazards when used incorrectly. Regulation of these toxic substances is far too loose in Costa Rica. In order to protect lives Costa Rica must create and enforce more stringent policies.

Tico Coffee Strives for Geographic Label Tico Times February 27, 2004 “The goal is to give the product a value- added that stays with the producer, if quality is controlled and guaranteed, the consumer will be willing to pay extra for a product.” Angel de Jamie Baru, President of the Council of Certified Origin. 7 regions, 7 coffees

Coffee Future Studied Tico Times November 21, 2003 “ We must reestablish a balance in the market that guarantees the sustainability of the coffee industry.”- Nestor Osorio, President of International Coffee Organization International Coffee Week Goals and Promoting

Organic Farms in Costa Rica Produce Mainly For Foreign Markets “To produce environmentally friendly food isn't just a fad, it’s a necessity and it’s shaped in national politics. We need consumers to join us, for people to notice what they are eating and for them to know that if they choose organic lettuce its not just any lettuce but a vegetable that did not harm the environment and will not affect their health.”- Felicia Escheverria, manager of the PNAO program. Alternative to produce grown with pesticides that can endanger health. Ingenious methods for naturally controlling pests

Residents Oppose More Dam Projects Tico Times February 20, 2004 Provides a source of electricity for the country- not without enormous economic impacts. Controversial issue that most Costa Ricans feel strongly against.

Environmental Service Payments: Doubts Aired Tico Times August 4 th, 2000 “Wheres the improvement? Where’s the increase? Lets not fool ourselves. In reality there is none”- Cespedes, director of Costa Rican Forestry Chamber.