Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 12:14
Updated on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:21 by
City Parrots
Environmentalists warn gold mine would further endanger threatened species like the great green macaw. Image by Matt WyczalkowskiConstitutional Court to rule on open pit gold mine along the Nicaraguan border.
Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 13:00 
Ruffling feathers: A green macaw mascot demonstrates Wednesday outside the San José court building to protest the controversial Crucitas gold mine project near Costa Rica's border with Nicaragua. A group of environmentalists and concerned citizens gathered in front of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) in San José Wednesday to protest the Crucitas open pit gold mine near the Nicaraguan border.
Armed with a petition to stop the project and a green macaw-costumed mascot, the group cited environmental and social concerns as reasons not to continue the project.
The green macaw is a symbol of conservation for this country, and if the Sala IV wants to keep that image they shouldn't approve this mine, said Luis Diego Marín, coordinator for Preserve Planet and of the protest.
Construction of the mine involves clearing forests in northern Costa Rica. Marín said most of the trees that must be cut for the project are government-protected almond trees, a species on which the endangered green macaws depend on heavily for food.
Monday, October 27, 2008 at 10:48 
Close-up of a male great green Macaw (Ara ambiguus). Taman Burung Bali Bird Park, Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Peter NijenhuisCosta Rica's high court has prohibited the cutting of a certain species of tree, in part because a highly endangered type of parrot uses the tree almost exclusively for nesting.
With one decision, the Sala IV constitutional court protected the mountain almond tree and the great green macaw, specifically in a sprawling area in northern Costa Rica. However, the court also ordered the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía to spread the word to all its regional officials, thus protecting the tree throughout the country. The Sala IV also ordered the environmental courts to monitor compliance with the decision.
