The Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA) has announced its full support for a new legislative proposal that would permanently protect one of Costa Rica’s most iconic natural treasures, the Pacuare River.
The bill, titled “Law for the Environmental Safeguarding of the Main Channel of the Pacuare River in the Upper and Middle Basin” (Expediente No. 25.189), was authored by Walter Pereira, a cartographer and geographer from Turrialba, and introduced to the Legislative Assembly by Representative María Marta Padilla Bonilla (Alajuela).
If approved, the law would prohibit all hydroelectric development on the Pacuare River and its main tributaries without expiration.
“Passing this law would be a historic step: it would ensure the protection of the Pacuare River beyond the current decree, which expires in 2040 and could be revoked at any time.” – RAFA press release
To raise awareness and build support for the bill, RAFA is organizing an in-person event on the Pacuare River on October 31. The gathering will bring together community members, river guides, and conservation supporters at the river’s entrance, with coverage from national media and news outlets. Afterward, participants, including several legislative representatives, will join a rafting trip down the Pacuare, experiencing firsthand why protecting this river is so vital, just as it was safeguarded during the administration of President Luis Guillermo Solís. Additional event information will be shared on the RAFA website at a later date.
The bill is linked here (Spanish) and a summary of the bill is located below.
Bill: Environmental Safeguard Law for the Main Course of the Pacuare River (Bill No. 25.189)
Date: September 22, 2025
Published by: Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
Overview
The bill proposes the creation of a legal environmental safeguard for the main course of the Pacuare River (in its upper and middle basins) to prohibit the construction of hydroelectric dams or other physical barriers that could affect its ecological, cultural, and touristic value.
Key Points
- The Pacuare River is described as one of Costa Rica’s most valuable natural assets, flowing 136 km from the Talamanca mountain range to the Caribbean coast.
- It hosts rich ecosystems, including montane rainforests and tropical lowland forests, and is home to indigenous Cabécar communities whose culture is closely tied to the river.
- The river’s hydrological system is abundant, with over 5,000 mm of rainfall per year and more than 240 rainy days, making it highly sensitive to large-scale human interventions.
- The area supports around 38,000 inhabitants, with eco-tourism and rafting as key economic activities — Pacuare is ranked among the world’s top five rivers for rafting.
- Hydroelectric dams are identified as a major threat, as they would disrupt sediment transport, river connectivity, biodiversity, and tourism appeal.
Legal and Social Background
- 2005 Plebiscite (Turrialba):
97.3% of voters rejected the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Pacuare River. - Executive Decree 39,199-MINAE (2015):
Declared a 25-year environmental safeguard banning hydroelectric projects (≥500 kW) on the Pacuare and Savegre Rivers.
The new bill seeks to extend and strengthen this protection through law, making the safeguard permanent rather than temporary.
Main Articles of the Proposed Law
Article 1 — Scope of Application
Defines the protected area: the main channel and all tributaries of the Pacuare River, from its origin in the highlands to coordinates 10°07’08.0″N, 83°28’18.0″W, marking the start of the lower basin near Siquirres.
Article 2 — Environmental Safeguard
Explicitly prohibits hydroelectric projects within this protected area to preserve the river’s natural flow and environmental balance.
The law will take effect upon publication.
Sponsors (Legislative Deputies):
María Marta Padilla Bonilla
Cynthia Maritza Córdoba Serrano
Geison Enrique Valverde Méndez
Alejandro José Pacheco Castro
Andrés Ariel Robles Barrantes