As part of the Indigenous Territories Recovery Plan, Costa Rica has returned land to indigenous communities across rural areas, the Rural Development Institute (Inder) announced. 

The land recovery process involved negotiations between non-indigenous landowners and indigenous leaders, allowing for the legal transfer of properties back to their original owners.

Under the agreement, the government compensated landowners approximately $2.8 million to facilitate the transition. 

 

As a result,  14 farms were transferred to seven Indigenous Territories, including Cabagra and Rey Curré (Buenos Aires, Puntarenas), China Kichá (Pérez Zeledón, San José), Guatuso (Alajuela), Ngäbe of Conte Burica (Golfito, Puntarenas), Zapatón (Puriscal, San José) and Ngäbe of Osa (Puntarenas). 

Funding for the compensation came from Inder and the Ministry of Finance.

"The initiative marks a significant step in addressing long-standing land disputes between indigenous communities and settlers," authorities noted. 

The Rural Development Institute (Inder) is a state-owned organization in charge of infrastructure development in rural areas around the country.