Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly unanimously approved a bill today requiring wildlife protection measures in new and existing public infrastructure projects, a major legal step aimed at reducing animal deaths on roads and reconnecting fragmented habitats. The Wildlife Crossings Bill passed its second and final debate with 56 votes in favor. One lawmaker was absent.
The proposal now moves to the Executive Branch for the president’s signature and publication in La Gaceta, Costa Rica’s official government newspaper. It will take effect once published. The legislation adds to Costa Rica’s Organic Environmental Law that requires appropriate wildlife crossings wherever scientific studies show that a national or municipal road disrupts natural movement or divides aquatic or land habitats.
The requirement applies everywhere, with particular attention paid to protected areas, national parks, forest reserves, state-owned natural areas and locations identified as natural wildlife crossing points. Crossings may include tunnels, culverts, dry underpasses, fencing and elevated bridges or ropes used by monkeys, sloths, squirrels and other tree-dwelling animals. The design will depend on the species, terrain and risks identified at each location.
The bill does not establish a fixed nationwide number of crossings. Instead, technical and scientific studies will determine where structures are necessary, what kind should be installed and how they should be maintained. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport, municipal governments and other state agencies must coordinate with the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), when planning new projects. That process may determine that a wildlife crossing is required or that the project does not need one.
Existing roads are also covered. Wildlife protection measures must be considered when authorities replace road components or carry out rehabilitation, improvements, widening or maintenance in areas where roads have disrupted ecological connections. The law requires wildlife measures to be included during the earliest planning and budgeting stages of public infrastructure projects. The costs of building and maintaining the crossings must be calculated before construction begins rather than added after a project is underway.
Costa Rica’s National Environmental Technical Secretaria (SETENA), will be responsible for verifying that projects include the required wildlife commitments before receiving environmental approval. Developers must conduct technical studies to identify high-risk areas, including places with documented wildlife collisions. SINAC must approve those studies, while the company responsible for the project must install the crossings according to its environmental management plan.
Within 24 months after regulations for the law take effect, SINAC has to begin identifying natural wildlife crossings and other vulnerable points along existing roads and infrastructure. Agencies will then coordinate the measures needed to protect animals at those locations. The regulations must also establish standards for design, maintenance and monitoring so authorities can determine whether the crossings are being used and working as intended.
Wildlife issues have been documented across Costa Rica for decades. More than 19,000 roadkill records were compiled between 1996 and 2025. On a 20-kilometer (12-mile) section of Route 253 between Comunidad and Papagayo, researchers estimated approximately 7,000 wildlife collisions during 2019 alone.
Road construction can also isolate animal populations even when collisions do not occur. By dividing forests and natural migration routes, highways can restrict access to food, breeding areas and other habitat. The new legislation specifically calls for crossings that support animal movement, genetic exchange and healthier ecosystems.
Former Frente Amplio lawmaker Ariel Robles introduced the proposal in June 2022. Lawmakers approved it in its first debate on April 21, 2026, before extending its four-year legislative deadline in June to prevent the bill from being archived. Once signed and published, the legislation will make wildlife connectivity a required part of Costa Rica’s public infrastructure planning instead of an optional environmental measure.
Facts Only
* Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly unanimously approved a bill requiring wildlife protection measures in new and existing public infrastructure projects.
* The bill passed its second and final debate with 56 votes in favor.
* The legislation adds to Costa Rica’s Organic Environmental Law.
* Requirements apply where scientific studies show roads disrupt natural movement or divide habitats.
* Crossings may include tunnels, culverts, dry underpasses, fencing, and elevated bridges for various tree-dwelling animals.
* The necessity and design of crossings will be determined by technical and scientific studies.
* Coordination is required between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, municipal governments, and SINAC during project planning.
* Wildlife measures must be included in the earliest planning and budgeting stages of public infrastructure projects.
* Costs for building and maintaining crossings must be calculated before construction begins.
* SETENA is responsible for verifying wildlife commitments before environmental approval.
* SINAC must identify natural wildlife crossings within 24 months post-implementation.
* Existing roads require wildlife protection measures during replacement or rehabilitation.
Executive Summary
The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica unanimously approved a bill mandating wildlife protection measures in new and existing public infrastructure projects, aiming to reduce animal deaths on roads and reconnect fragmented habitats. The Wildlife Crossings Bill passed its final debate with 56 votes in favor. The legislation requires appropriate wildlife crossings wherever scientific studies indicate that national or municipal roads disrupt natural movement or divide aquatic or land habitats.
The mandate extends to all locations, including protected areas, national parks, forest reserves, and identified wildlife crossing points. Potential structures include tunnels, culverts, dry underpasses, fencing, and elevated bridges for animals such as monkeys, sloths, and squirrels, with designs determined by specific species and terrain risks. Implementation will not involve a fixed number of crossings but will rely on technical and scientific studies to determine necessity, type, and maintenance. Coordination is required between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, municipal governments, and SINAC when planning projects.
Existing roads are also subject to these measures during replacement or rehabilitation. Costs for building and maintaining these crossings must be calculated before construction starts. The National Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA) will verify wildlife commitments before environmental approval. Furthermore, SINAC must identify natural wildlife crossings within 24 months of the law's effect, and standards for design, maintenance, and monitoring must be established.
Full Take
The shift from optional environmental measures to a mandatory component of public infrastructure planning represents a significant move toward embedding ecological connectivity as a fundamental criterion for development, rather than an afterthought. The structure of the law shifts the burden: it mandates proactive identification and mitigation (requiring studies by developers and government agencies) rather than reactive compensation.
The emphasis on scientific determination—where studies dictate necessity, type, and maintenance—introduces a layer of complexity that requires robust governance to prevent arbitrary decision-making. The challenge lies in ensuring that the technical processes for determining necessity are fair, transparent, and adequately resourced across municipal and state levels. The timeline for identifying existing crossings within 24 months suggests an immediate implementation pressure, which tests the administrative capacity of agencies like SINAC.
The documented statistics regarding roadkill and habitat fragmentation underscore a historical divergence between physical infrastructure planning and ecological reality. The legislation attempts to correct this by creating enforceable mechanisms that prioritize genetic exchange and ecosystem health alongside engineering goals. However, the ultimate success depends on whether regulatory oversight can effectively monitor adherence to the process—specifically ensuring that cost calculation precedes construction and that monitoring standards are established for the long term. The framework sets a high standard for connectivity, but realizing the goal requires sustained commitment beyond the initial legislative enactment into effective administrative enforcement.
Bridge Questions: What specific metrics will be used by SETENA and SINAC to define "appropriate" wildlife crossing design? How will potential conflicts between infrastructure needs and ecological preservation be adjudicated when cost-benefit analyses diverge? What mechanisms exist to ensure that public works budgeting systems allocate sufficient, upfront resources for these mandatory environmental requirements?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like factual reporting on a legislative process, grounded by specific details regarding Costa Rican environmental law and infrastructure planning, suggesting a human source focused on policy dissemination.