(Newswire.net — November 10, 2014) Los Sueños Playa Herradura, Puntarenas — A little star power can go a long way, especially when it comes to effecting change. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has provided a $2 million grant to Oceans 5, an international funders’ alliance dedicated to preserving and protecting marine life in the world’s five oceans.
The grant will support of a number of oceanic conservation and preservation efforts around the world, from the protection of Antarctica, to the creation of protected wildlife areas in the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Islands.
Costa Rica specifically stands to benefit from DiCaprio’s charitable gift; some funds will go toward improving the country’s fisheries enforcement, and toward the construction of a radar facility on Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco. The facility will be powered by hydroelectricity, and will serve several significant functions, including monitoring marine resources, assisting law enforcement in the prevention of poaching and overfishing, and aiding search and rescue missions.
The business community in Costa Rica is excited about the planned advances in wildlife protection, and for good reason. Improved protection helps ensure that marine resources stay local, which helps any number of industries – particularly tourism and hospitality, from which the country derives much of its revenue.
Mike Hardy, founder and CEO of HRG Properties and Rentals in Los Sueños Resort, underscores how DiCaprio’s generosity is a boon for everyone. “Taking care of our natural resources ensures that our beautiful beaches and oceans can be enjoyed, unspoiled, for generations to come,” he notes. “It ensures that fish and wildlife populations can thrive undisturbed, which, in turn, allows our local community to thrive. And it ensures that the amazing fishing, diving, sightseeing, and even dining and shopping opportunities available in Costa Rica will continue to draw tourists in year after year.”
Costa Rica’s beautiful waters, colorful coral reefs, and rich fish populations do help bring in tens of thousands of tourists each year. The country boasts some of the world’s best fishing, and enthusiasts from around the globe come to try their hand at chasing big game fish like marlin, tuna and dolphin, or and to watch the country’s yearly fishing tournaments. There are also abundant opportunities for commercial fishing in these waters.
Costa Rica is also one of the world’s best places to see ocean wildlife. From watching baby turtles hatch, to taking in colorful underwater coral reef scenes, the country offers travelers a unique glimpse into its unique ecosystem, and hopefully an incentive to respect and protect ocean resources.
In the end, interest and funding from the DiCaprio Foundation and other organizations like it offer hope for the future, both for the well-being of our oceans’ ecosystems, and the industries and local economies they support.
About HRG Properties and Rentals
About HRG Properties and Rentals Hardy Real Estate Group (HRG) provides a myriad of real estate resources and services for real estate investors, second or vacation homebuyers, and expatriates seeking to purchase a condominium or home in the Herradura Beach area or Los Sueños Resort and Marina. In addition to real estate, HRG also provides property management services for distant homeowners, along with Los Sueños vacation rental marketing, sales, and management, providing vacation planning and concierge services for guests.