Costa Rica to Require Wildlife Crossings for Roads Impacting Fauna

Costa Rican lawmakers have unanimously approved a measure requiring wildlife crossings for new and existing road infrastructure when evidence shows they interrupt natural connectivity and threaten wildlife safety. The regulation will ensure that new infrastructure projects include wildlife crossings from the earliest stage of development and budgeting. The National Environmental Technical Secretariat will confirm the sufficiency and appropriateness of these plans before granting approval. Existing roads may also require new wildlife crossings if necessary, based on presented information. A citizen science project is planned to compile data from rescue centers and community reports to identify areas where bridges are needed.