Sustainability

The World Organization of the Tourism (OMT), in base to the definition of sustainable development established by the Report Brundtland, affirms that:  The development of the Sustainable Tourism responds to the needs of the tourists and of the present host regions, at the same time that protects and improves the opportunities of the future.  It is focused toward the management of all the resources so that satisfy all the social, economic needs and esthetics, and at the same time that respect the cultural integrity, the essential ecological processes, the biological diversity and the systems of backup of the life. 

1. We express our commitment to protect the natural environment and cultural heritage of the country and our región.
   
   
2. We are commited to do everything within our possibilities to protect the biodiversity, protected areas, and the landscape of Costa Rica.
   
   
3. We are dedicated to following all international, national, and local legislation regarding the operating of our company.
   
   
4. We express our interest in communicating our commitments, goals, and acheivements in sustainable tourism practices.
   
   
5. In this company, we will not adquire, use,or sell products or substances which have environmental or social contradictions. Additionally, we promote theuse of biodegradable cleaning products, free of phosphates and corrosive components.
   
   
6. Mapache Tours is commited to avoid and report the removal or captivity of animal and wild plant species, by our service providers.
   
   
7. The Mapache Tours companies are steadily commited to respect all legislation and regulations that ASP (Protected Areas) have in their Plan of Control. In respect to the regulation of capacity; our company will control our impact, through reservations, and will make available for public use,  the registration of documents of all areas visited by this tour operator, as well as provide this information to our internal and external clients.
   
   
8. We will properly care for all waste produced in our tours, and insure its proper finaldisposal.
   
   
9. Our tour operator will organize periodic inspections of our vehicular units, which are maintained in perfect condition, at the same time watch for any fluid waste which may affect nature. In addition, we will promote reasonable usage and safety of operational products (gasoline, diesel, lubricants, etc.). We express our dedication to better use informatics systems, and the reusage of paper in our offices.
   
   
10. We encourage in every posible way equality of opportunities without discrimination of any kind and will discourage  any type of sexual business or exploitation as well any drug related business.
    
    
11. We express our commitment to respect the integrity of the local culture and social institutions.
    
    
12. We incorporate an adequate interpretation of archeological, natural, and cultural attractions in the sites we visit.
    
    
13. We desire to cooperate with the communities and their people, insuring that the are benefitted by our clients visit, and at the same time, we encourage the our clients respect the local way of life.
    
    
14. We actively work with all local and national parties interested in promoting and practicing sustainable tourism.
    
    
15. We avoid and will report the commerialization of any pieces of  archeological or cultral heritage.
    
    
16. Our company is dedicated to encouraging among our coworkers, that each should cultivate, respect, and practice the values and beliefs that stregnthen our Costa Rican idiosyncrasy.

Since 1955 there are several laws relevant to the protected areas:

1955: Costa Rican Institute of Tourism Law, establishing as national park, all surface area with in 2 km of the craters of the volcanoes.

1969: Forestry Law, making available the creation of protected areas. This law has been modified in several occasions. The current version was established in April, 1996.
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1977: The Creation of the National Park Service Law.

1977: Law of the Maritime Territory Zone, indicating that all of the mangroves of our country are protected areas.

1995: Wildlife Conservation Law, creating wildlife refuges.  

1995: Organic Environmental Law, naming the wetlands as a managed category.

1998: Law of Biodiversity, establishing mechanisms for agile handling of protected wilderness areas.