Some people’s selfish logic
By Eric Robinson
Officials are investigating the cause of a massive forest fire on the uninhabited Isla Bejuco in the Gulf of Nicoya (dividing Nicoya and Guanacaste from the ‘mainland’).
They believe the fire was set intensionally, and the suspected reason is that development is prohibited on any coastal forested areas. Burn down the forest and development is no longer prohibited, great idea!
20% of the island’s forest was burnt to the ground, and another 20% of the island was affected. It took 30 volunteers from neighbouring Isla Venado to fight the fire for two days starting on March 24th, 2007. Strong winds and tides made the situation difficult to bring under control.