Attitude towards Wetlands in Nicoya, Costa Rica

Abstract

It  was  identified  believes,  attitudes  and  values  towards wetlands  of  people  from  the  districts  of  San  Antonio, Quebrada  Honda  and  Mansión  of  Nicoya,  Guanacaste. 210  people  were  interviewed  at  random. The  most  of the  people  knows  the  main  causes  the  deteriorate  these ecosystems:   deforestation,   litter   and   agrochemicals; and they point out: lumbers, farmers, and mainly, human beens  with  no  education,  nor  consciousness  as  the  major responsibles of this damage.  They also coincide that the main consecuences of these changes are: less water availability, less amount of animals and more heat and dust.  Despite Nicoya inhabitants have a possitive valuation towards wetlands, as they are able of identifying their principal benefits, and that they agree in the need of conserving them, it is concluded that there is no real consciousness in this people, translated in a responsible behaviour before the environment, as the deterioration process continues. Therefore, it is recommended to promote in these Nicoya communities processes of strategic planning, which allow them to execute actions aiming to improve the quality of these wetlands, benefiting as well the people living nearby.