Crimes such as illegal logging, timber extraction in forests and private or state lands tend to increase during December and January.
According to the Environmental Agrarian Prosecutor’s Office of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, in most cases, organized crime is behind these activities.
José Pablo González, deputy prosecutor of that office, believes that a very common practice that also occurs during these months is the extraction of wool or moss, to make or renew the portals, with the disadvantage that the material that comes off the tree will not grow again in the same place, which ultimately destroys ecosystems.
There is also an increase in cases of hunting of certain animals, such as tepezcluintles or deer, and, because it is a time for parties and vacations, many people use more plastic, which ends up contaminating the environment,”
said the officer.
González asked the population to report any crime of this nature to the Public Force, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) or the closest Prosecutor.