Bringing you the latest news, information, and resources from around the web. In the May 24th edition, read more about the following:
Panamanian chef and restaurateur Mario Castrellón blends haute cuisine with local ingredients and indigenous traditions, part of a larger “rainforest-to-table” movement growing across Latin America.
In a recent newsletter, we looked at the continued growth of travel to Cuba. While some worry that tourism dollars are being funneled away from other Caribbean countries, others contend that Cuba’s current high profile benefits the region as a whole.
Nathalie Nagalingum is working to save cycads, a group of plants that date back to the dinosaurs. In this interview, Nagalingum talks about her work in conservation, threats from poaching, and the role of botanic gardens and other organizations in protecting these “living fossils.”
A new report from the World Wildlife Fund shows that poaching, wildlife trafficking, illegal harvesting, illegal logging, and other threats endanger nearly half of UNESCO-designated natural World Heritage Sites. The report urges governments to step up their efforts in addressing these issues.
Discovery Communications Inc.—parent company of the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, among others—is scheduled to break ground on a new adventure park in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region in 2018. Environment minister Édgar Gutiérrez has said the “project will not endanger the water supply in Guanacaste,” despite serious droughts in recent years.
Beginning July 1, tickets to enter Machu Picchu will be issued in two shifts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. “This measure is adopted with the aim of ensuring a better flow of tourism, conservation and preservation of the citadel in accordance with the Master Plan of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu,” according to a statement.
At Corcovado National Park on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, controversial new rules prohibit visitors from camping or bringing in their own food, meaning visitors must rely on the Sirena Ranger Station’s (often more expensive) services.
Photo by Jose R.
