Bill will improve the structure and strengthen MINAE

By Minae

This is a machine translation of the original press release issued in Spanish

This Wednesday, the Executive Power presented for the knowledge of the Legislative Assembly, the draft Law, "Strengthening of Competences of the Ministry of Environment and Energy", whose objective is to modify, through a reorganization, the figure of the deconcentration of several of the organs that make up the portfolio, through a structural change that will strengthen their skills and improve the management of their functions.

This work is the result of a joint effort led, under a governance approach, between the Ministries of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN), for which technical support was provided by both institutions.

As detailed by the President of the Republic, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, this proposal responds to the Executive Power Organization Decree, signed weeks ago: "The objective is to make the State more efficient in decision-making and at the same time save resources."

MINAE currently has 11 decentralized bodies; the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the National Commission for Biodiversity Management (CONAGEBIO), the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA), the Regional Environmental Councils (CORAC), the Administrative Environmental Tribunal (TAA), the Commission for the Ordering and Management of the Upper Reventazón River Basin (COMCURE), the Board of Directors of the Marino Ballena National Park, the Board of Directors of the Isla San Lucas National Park, the Board of Directors of the Playas de Manuel Antonio National Recreational Park, the Marine Park del Pacífico (PMP) and the National Forest Financing Fund (FONAFIFO).

The bill aims to eliminate the deconcentration of the Board of Directors of the San Lucas Island National Park and the Board of Directors of the Manuel Antonio Beaches National Recreational Park. As for SETENA, SINAC, and CONAGEBIO, a reform to a minimum degree of deconcentration is intended.

Furthermore, in the case of SINAC, which has a complex internal structure, with several decentralized bodies, the objective is to adjust the degree of deconcentration to allow for more appropriate decision-making. The CORACs are modified, maintaining them as consultative bodies with the communities, but not binding.

In SETENA, the Plenary Commission is eliminated, incorporating an institutional advisory Technical Committee of a consultative nature, to have a more simplified structure.

Laws No. 8023 of the year 2000 and its reform No. 9067 of 20212 on Planning and Management of the Upper Reventazón River Basin and its Board of Directors (COMCURE), which is constituted as a decentralized body for the management of the River Basin, will be repealed. Reventazon River. On the other hand, the Administrative Environmental Court (TAA) will maintain its level of decentralization to guarantee its functional independence. As for the Parque Marino del Pacífico P, it was included in the Bill File No. 23105, Law for the Recovery of Powers and Strengthening of the Hierarchies of the Ministers, so it will not be dealt with in this bill.

In this regard, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Franz Tattenbach Capra indicated, "What we intend with this project is to implement a reengineering of the organizational structure of MINAE, in such a way that the guiding powers of the Ministry are recomposed and strengthened, understanding the vital importance that this institution as rector of the environment and energy sector for the development of our country, its competitiveness and contribution to human well-being".

For her part, the Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy, Laura Fernández Delgado added, "We continue with the development of a State Reform Agenda as a commitment to improve the efficiency of State institutions, giving them back powers, modernizing them, adapting them to the today's needs, with the purpose that Costa Ricans receive better services," he said.

This proposal does not contemplate layoffs. In summary, of the 11 organs, 2 decentralized ones are repealed; deconcentration is reformed to a minimum degree to 3 organs; the deconcentration of 3 bodies is eliminated and they are incorporated into SINAC; TAA and Fonafifo remain unchanged.