Sources indicate that the Union of Friends for Environmental Protection (Union de Amigos para la Proteccion del Ambiente, UNAPROA) was formed in 1995 and is an organization that "promotes organic agriculture, environmental awareness, and workers' rights" (Sierra Magazine Mar./Apr. 2002). More specifically, the UNAPROA is a grouping of farmers' organizations covering communities near the towns of San Pedro, Perez Zeledon, Volcan and Buenos Aires, and in the zone of the La Amistad Pacifico Biosphere Reserve (Sozialdienst n.d.).

According to Sozialdienst, the UNAPROA is involved in a number of activities such as environmental education, conflict resolution, and research (ibid.). In addition, the UNAPROA holds specific events such as training for groups of women in the medicinal use of plants, ecological forums to promote environmental awareness, training workshops in environmental legislation, promotion of community agro-ecotourism activities, and the encouragement of the commercialization of organic products (ibid.).

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported that the UNAPROA was granted US $20,000 for a project called the Promotional Centre of Multiservices for the Organizational Fortification of the UNAPROA (Centro de Promocion de Multiservicios para el Fortalecimiento Organizacional de UNAPROA) (19 July 2002). Categorized as a "demonstration" and "capacity-building project", the goal was to build a multi-service centre in order to facilitate the UNAPROA's work in promoting environmental awareness while improving the socio-economic situation of local communities (UNDP 19 July 2002).

An article in Sierra Magazine listed Beltran Vega as one of the founders of the UNAPROA (Mar./Apr. 2002).

No further information about other officers working for the UNAPROA could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Sierra Magazine. March/April 2002. "Profile: Pineapple Republic." http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200203/profile_printable.asp [Accessed 13 Nov. 2002]

Sozialdienst. n.d. "Union de Amigos Para la Proteccion del Ambiente." http://sozialdienst.auslandsdienst.at/deutsch/groups/costarica/stellen_spanisch.htm [Accessed 13 Nov. 2002]

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 19 July 2002. "GEF-Small Grants Programme." http://www.undp.org/sgp/cty/LATIN_AMERICA_CARIBBEAN/COSTA_RICA/pfs4681.htm [Accessed 13 Nov. 2002]

IRB databases

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites:

La Nacion [San Jose]

Tico Times [San Jose]

Search engine:

Google