Ecological Blue Flag (BAE) award (Communities category), and this year earning three stars. This prestigious annual award recognizes the effort and voluntary work of the committees for the Ojochal Blue Flag and the community. It is very special considering that since 2015, Ojochal is the only community participating in this category in the Canton of Osa.
For 2017 the Tortuga and Ventanas Beaches also won blue flags (Beach Category). Winning three blue flags is a great achievement that demonstrates the level of commitment and organization of the committee and the community.
Both categories (Community and Beaches), carry out activities such as monthly trash collection in the Tortuga and Ventanas Beaches, cleanups of the Balso River, environmental education talks, workshops for the community, reforestation activities and forest fire prevention, many in coordination with the BAE committee of Escuela Tortuga, other governmental bodies and NGOs.
The National Blue Flag Program (PNBA) includes 14 categories. The program promotes conservation and development, in accordance with the protection of natural resources, mitigation to climate change, improvement of hygienic sanitary conditions and the health of the inhabitants of Costa Rica, promoting community organization and local committees for the benefit of present and future generations.
Currently the community of Ojochal is committed to promoting actions supporting conservation, registering in three of the categories (Communities, Beaches and Educational Centers). Thanks to all the neighbors who, in one way or another, participated in the activities planned by the different committees. Without the participation of the community, these achievements would not be possible.
By Rita Lucas
INFO: Bandera Azul Ecológica / Ecological Blue Flag Committee – Rita Lucas - fsc.ojochal@gmail.com
