Discover How Bill 22 981 Could Transform the Arenal “Espejo de Agua” into a National Protected Landscape
Costa Rica is moving toward a major environmental and development milestone with the proposed Law for the Creation of the Arenal Reservoir Protected Area, formally known as Bill 22 981 (Expediente N.º 22.981). This legislative initiative seeks to designate the surface of the Arenal Reservoir (Espejo de Agua del Embalse Arenal) and its surrounding buffer zone as a National Landscape Protected Area, while also promoting sustainable economic and recreational activities under a robust legal and environmental framework.
🔗 Full official bill (La Gaceta, 06 Apr 2022):
https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/pub/2022/04/06/ALCA69_06_04_2022.pdf
📌 What Is Bill 22 981 About?
Bill 22 981 proposes a new legal structure centered on two key goals:
- Environmental Protection:
It would create the Área Silvestre Protegida Paisaje Nacional Espejo de Agua Embalse Arenal (National Landscape Protected Area of the Arenal Reservoir), by declaring the reservoir’s surface — up to 548.58 m above sea level — and its islands as a protected space with ecological, biological, and aesthetic significance. - Sustainable Use & Local Development:
The project also promotes regulated, environmentally compatible activities such as subsistence and sport fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and recreational navigation, to support local economies without sacrificing conservation values.
📜 Why This Law Matters
🌊 Recognizing a Strategic Resource
The Arenal Reservoir is much more than a scenic landmark: it is Costa Rica’s largest artificial freshwater body, essential for:
- Hydroelectric power generation (part of the national energy grid),
- Freshwater supply for irrigation systems, and
- Biodiversity conservation as a vital RAMSAR wetland.
The bill’s text underscores that the reservoir’s scale (over 87 km² of surface area) and ecosystem services make it worthy of legal protection and organized management — bridging a long‐standing gap in the country’s environmental governance.
🛠️ Structured Framework for Sustainable Activities
The bill specifies that permitted activities within the protected area — such as tourism infrastructure and sport navigation — must align with a Plan General de Manejo (General Management Plan) and the law’s future Reglamento de Uso Público (Public Use Regulations), ensuring both growth and ecological balance.
🧩 Roles & Responsibilities
Under the law:
- MINAE (Ministry of Environment and Energy) and ICE (Costa Rican Electricity Institute) would lead planning efforts.
- Local governments and community stakeholders are mandated to participate in management planning.
- Existing permits would remain valid while transitioning to the new legal framework.
🏛️ Current Status in the Legislative Assembly
Bill 22 981 is still pending approval in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, having been introduced in March 2022 and updated through committee discussions.
In early 2026, local authorities, business associations, and development organizations petitioned lawmakers to expedite its discussion and voting, emphasizing how the law would provide regulatory certainty and balanced development around the Arenal region.
An important procedural note: the bill is approaching its four-year legislative lifespan and could expire if not finalized by March 29, 2026.
🌟 Why This Is a Turning Point
If passed, Bill 22 981 would:
✔️ Protect freshwater ecosystems at one of Costa Rica’s most important reservoirs.
✔️ Formalize sustainable economic uses that benefit local communities.
✔️ Clarify and modernize land use rules in a region of high environmental and tourism value.
Costa Rica has a long tradition of environmental leadership, and this law would add an essential piece to the puzzle — linking conservation with smart, sustainable development in the Arenal area for generations to come.
