Annulment of judgment for non-compliance with agro-environmental regulations in possessory information proceedingsAnulación de sentencia por incumplimiento de normativa agroambiental en información posesoria

“IV.- The agro-environmental limitations on property encompass a great many aspects in the exercise of productive activities and in the realm of conservation of natural resources, biodiversity, soil use and conservation, protection of forests and ecosystems, the use and control of pesticides and chemically synthesized products, plant and animal phytosanitary and health controls, agricultural waste, water conservation, the use and management of wastewater in agriculture, the recovery of soils and watersheds (cuencas hidrográficas), et cetera. Within the context of the constitutional principles and values contained in Articles 45 and 50 of the Political Constitution, a large number of agro-environmental laws began to be enacted, which not only mark the consolidation of a sustainable development model, but also impose a series of agro-environmental limitations on property and freedom of enterprise, also seeking to consolidate a new agrarian and environmental or ecological culture. 1) The Organic Environmental Law (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente) (No. 7554 of October 4, 1995) establishes the State's obligation to promote sustainable economic and environmental development, which necessarily implies imposing environmental limits on the exercise of productive economic activities and on the exercise of property rights. But for those limits to have true application, a cultural change is necessary. From the traditional agrarian culture, where only the economic mattered, we must move to an environmental or agro-environmental culture for sustainable development (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Articles 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16). Among the most important limits imposed on property, to guarantee the economic, social, and environmental function, the following can be highlighted: A.- The exercise of any agro-environmental activity that may alter or destroy elements of the environment necessarily requires an environmental impact assessment (evaluación de impacto ambiental), the approval of which must be prior to the project. The assessment is also required when works or infrastructure may affect marine, coastal, and wetland resources. B.- Territorial planning (ordenamiento territorial), to balance sustainable development, implies the territorial relocation of productive activities, which could mean important limits on property rights, since considerations must be taken into account, among other aspects, of natural resources, predominant economic activities, the land-use capacity (capacidad de uso de los suelos), and zoning by agricultural products and activities, due to ecological and productive considerations. C- The Executive Branch is empowered to include privately owned farms necessary for the fulfillment of the environmental function within protected wilderness areas (áreas silvestres protegidas), or to create legal easements (servidumbres legales) for ecological protection. In cases where the Law requires compensation, individuals may voluntarily submit to the forestry regime, in which case the property is encumbered in the Public Registry (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Article 37). D.- Activities aimed at interrupting the natural cycles of wetland ecosystems, which may cause their deterioration and elimination, are prohibited (Ley orgánica del Ambiente, Article 45). E.- Productive activities must avoid water pollution, treat wastewater, prevent or minimize the deterioration or pollution of watersheds, as well as soil. F.- Organic agriculture, as a form of exercising sustainable agrarian activities, implies a way of fulfilling the economic, social, and environmental function, since an environmental certification is required for organic products obtained without applying chemically synthesized inputs or products (Articles 73-75). G.- Environmental credit: is intended to finance the costs of pollution reduction in productive processes. When they involve land use, a management and land-use plan is required in accordance with the land-use capacity (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Article 113). Undoubtedly, the structure of property and its function is conditioned, in this case, by the environmental element, required in the exercise of business. 2) The Forestry Law (Ley Forestal) (No. 7575 of February 5, 1996, amended by laws No. 7609 of June 11, 1996, 7761 of April 2, 1998, and 7788 of April 30, 1998), guided by the constitutional principles of adequate and sustainable use of renewable natural resources, establishes regulations regarding the conservation, protection, and administration of natural forests, and for the production, utilization, industrialization, and promotion of forest resources, seeking the incorporation of individuals into the sustained exercise of silvicultural activities. Although it is true that MINAE is empowered to create protected wilderness areas on private lands, this requires compensation, unless the owner decides to voluntarily submit to the forestry regime, or they are already property of the State, within its National Reserves patrimony. The Law provides for two clear limits, in the interest of protected areas: a: “In the case of forest reserves, protective zones, and wildlife refuges and in the event that payment or expropriation has not been carried out and while it is being carried out, the areas shall be subject to an environmental management plan that includes the environmental impact assessment and subsequently, to the plan for management, recovery, and replacement of resources.” (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Article 37, in relation to Article 2 of the Ley Forestal. Said amendment was introduced by the Biodiversity Law, in Article 14). Which constitutes a clear limit for the fulfillment of the environmental function of property. B. “When, upon prior scientific and technical justification of public interest, it is determined by law that the land is essential to conserve biological diversity or water resources, a limitation on property shall be constituted that will prevent cutting trees and land-use change (cambio de uso del suelo). This restriction must be registered as an encumbrance in the Public Registry.” (Ley Forestal, Article 2, second paragraph). As observed, this is not an unreasonable limit. On the contrary, the owner could carry out their activity as long as it is compatible with the environmental function that, by nature, is assigned to the property, to conserve water resources or biological diversity. Title III of the Law, referring to private forest property, as special property, establishes a set of rights and obligations for forest owners that condition the fulfillment of the environmental function, taking into account the nature of the asset: a) Holders are not permitted to change the land use, nor establish forest plantations. However, the State Forestry Administration may grant permission to carry out works complementary to agroforestry activity, as long as the forest clearing is limited, proportional, and reasonable (Ley Forestal, Article 19. When necessary, an environmental impact assessment would be required); b) Forest utilization can only be carried out if the owner has a management plan that contains the impact it may cause to the environment, according to scientific sustainability criteria; c) Payment for environmental services (Pago de Servicios Ambientales) (The Law defines environmental services as: “Those provided by the forest and forest plantations that directly affect the protection and improvement of the environment. They are the following: mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions (fixation, reduction, sequestration, storage, and absorption), protection of water for urban, rural, or hydroelectric use, protection of biodiversity for its conservation and sustainable, scientific, and pharmaceutical use, research and genetic improvement, protection of ecosystems, life forms, and natural scenic beauty for tourism and scientific purposes.), constitutes one of the most modern manifestations of exercising the environmental function, since the owner commits to conserving the forest for a period of no less than twenty years, to receive the Forest Conservation Certificate (Certificado de Conservación del Bosque). It is also received by owners who wish to subject their property to forest regeneration, for areas that, due to their deteriorated state and environmental needs, must be converted to forest use. The encumbrances and limitations, as well as the incentives, are registered in the Public Registry as an encumbrance on the property; d) Forest plantations, including agroforestry systems and individually planted trees, do not require a permit for cutting, transport, industrialization, or export, except when there is a management plan derived from a forest contract with the State; e) Every owner is prohibited from cutting or removing trees in the protection areas established by Law for permanent springs (nacientes permanentes), rivers, lakes, and springs (manantiales) (Ley Forestal, Articles 33 and 34.); f) It is prohibited to carry out burns on forest lands, or adjacent lands, without obtaining the respective permit from the State Forestry Administration; g) As part of the environmental function, properties voluntarily subjected to the forestry regime or dedicated to that activity, enjoy special protection regarding invasions, and may request the immediate protection of the police authorities; h) Forest credit is consolidated as an institute to finance small and medium-sized producers, through credits and other mechanisms to promote forest management, reforestation processes, forest nurseries, agroforestry systems, recovery of denuded areas. The financing also includes the payment for environmental services provided by forests and forest plantations. The land with forest and the standing trees shall serve as guarantee for said credits, being recorded as encumbrances on the property (Ley Forestal, Articles 46, 48, and 49). 3).- The Law on Soil Use, Management, and Conservation (Ley de Uso, Manejo y Conservación de Suelos) (No. 7779 of April 30, 1998), is of fundamental importance for the fulfillment of the economic, social, and environmental function of property. It aims to achieve the management, conservation, and recovery of soils in a sustainable manner, integrated with other natural resources, achieving more active participation from communities and producers, and promoting the implementation and control of improved practices in use systems, to avoid erosion and degradation of the resource. Agroecology is proposed as a way to achieve convergence between the objectives of agricultural production and the conservation of soil and water resources. The Law proposes a set of agro-environmental limitations, to achieve the stated objectives: In critical areas of watersheds or sub-watersheds (with severity in soil degradation and its surroundings, as a limitation to any activity), whether of public or private domain, landowners must forcibly apply all measures and practices that lead to soil recovery and the preservation of the environment in general. Any land adjudication carried out by the Institute of Agrarian Development (Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario) shall have as a limitation that the land use cannot go against its land-use capacity, the breach of which becomes grounds for its revocation. As obligations of individuals, the following are established, among others: To promote, contribute to, and execute all practices and activities necessary for soil management, conservation, and recovery; it is a right/obligation to monitor and control compliance with legislation on soil matters; to prevent soil degradation that may be caused by water, for which all practices that increase the infiltration capacity on their lands or the evacuation of excess water towards natural channels must be applied; to prevent or impede the contamination of aquifers and groundwater layers; to allow the entry of authorized technicians to verify the maintenance of soil management, conservation, and recovery practices. 4) Perhaps the most important limitations, established by the Legislator, for the fulfillment of the environmental function of property have been mentioned. The regulation of the Law on Soil Use, Management, and Conservation (No 29375-, MAG-MINAE-S-HACIENDA-MOPT), contains in Title IV "On Punishable Actions," Chapter III "On Agrarian Jurisdiction," in which sufficient powers are granted to the agrarian judge to request, in any proceeding, a study of soil and water use and management, providing that "In the event that non-compliance is demonstrated, regardless of the outcome of the proceeding, they must order the non-complying parties, within the period to be granted for that purpose, to proceed to adapt their activity and practices to the soil management plans..." (Article 159) furthermore, "...may order the agricultural businessperson to adopt the measures established for that purpose by the National Plan, the Area Management Plan, or, as applicable, the study of soil, water, and road use, management, and conservation specific to the farm or micro-watershed in question...." (Article 161), in the event that said warnings are not fulfilled, complying with soil management practices in accordance with the technology approved for that purpose, the proceeding of possessory information (información posesoria) must be denied.

V.- In this specific case, the Court observes that the title claimants submitted the Land-Use Certification (Certificación de Uso de Suelo) (folios 41 and 42), which indicates that CONFORMING USE of the soil HAS NOT BEEN EXERCISED and gives a series of recommendations consisting of: "...lands classified as class VII have severe limitations for which reason only forest management is permitted in case of forest cover (cobertura boscosa). In those cases where the current use is different from forest, forest restoration by means of natural forest regeneration will be sought. Lands determined as class VIII do not meet the minimum conditions for any agricultural or forestry production activities...". Despite the foregoing, the lower court (a-quo) makes no recommendation or warning to the title claimant for the fulfillment of the recommendations and the verification of their compliance, through the provision of a new Soil Study. By reason of the foregoing, as the Court has previously resolved (See Voto No. 87-F-10 of 15:53 hours on January 29, 2010), the proper course is to ANNUL the appealed judgment, for having been rendered prematurely, given that the Court cannot supplement the work of the trial judge, who must verify compliance with agro-environmental regulations and dictate the measures deemed appropriate for that purpose, without this meaning a limitation of the right of access to productive assets” **IV.-** The agro-environmental limitations on property cover a great number of aspects in the exercise of productive activities and in the sphere of natural resource conservation, Biodiversity, the use and conservation of soils, the protection of forests and ecosystems, the use and control of pesticides and synthetic chemical products, animal and plant phytosanitary and sanitary control, agricultural waste, water conservation, the use and management of wastewater in agriculture, the recovery of soils and watersheds (cuencas hidrográficas), etc.

Within the context of the constitutional principles and values contained in Articles 45 and 50 of the Constitución Política, a large number of agro-environmental laws began to be enacted, which not only mark the consolidation of a sustainable development model, but also impose a series of agro-environmental limitations on property and freedom of enterprise, also seeking to consolidate a new agrarian and environmental or ecological culture.

• 1)The Ley Orgánica del Ambiente (No. 7554 of October 4, 1995) establishes the State's obligation to promote sustainable economic and environmental development, which necessarily implies imposing environmental limits on the exercise of productive economic activities and on the exercise of property rights. But for those limits to have genuine application, a cultural change is necessary. From the traditional agrarian culture, where only economic matters were important, we must move to an environmental or agro-environmental culture for sustainable development (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Articles 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16). Among the most important limits imposed on property to guarantee its economic, social, and environmental function, the following can be highlighted: A.- The exercise of any agro-environmental activity that could alter or destroy elements of the environment necessarily requires an environmental impact assessment (evaluación de impacto ambiental), the approval of which must be obtained prior to the project. The assessment is also required when works or infrastructure may affect marine, coastal, and wetland resources. B.- Land-use planning (ordenamiento territorial), to balance sustainable development, implies the territorial relocation of productive activities, which could mean significant limits on property rights, since, among other aspects, natural resources, predominant economic activities, the land-use capacity (capacidad de uso de los suelos), and zoning by agricultural products and activities must be taken into consideration, based on ecological and productive considerations. C.- The Executive Branch is empowered to include privately owned farms within protected wilderness areas (áreas silvestres protegidas) necessary for fulfilling the environmental function, or to create legal easements (servidumbres) for ecological protection. In cases where the Law requires compensation, private individuals may voluntarily submit to the forest regime, in which case the property is recorded as an encumbrance in the Registro Público (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Article 37). D.- Activities aimed at interrupting the natural cycles of wetland ecosystems, which could cause their deterioration and elimination, are prohibited (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Article 45). E.- Productive activities must avoid water contamination, treat wastewater, and prevent or minimize the deterioration or contamination of watersheds (cuencas hidrográficas), as well as the soil. F.- Organic agriculture, as a form of exercising sustainable agrarian activities, implies a way of fulfilling the economic, social, and environmental function, since an environmental certification is required for organic products obtained without applying synthetic chemical inputs or products (Articles 73-75). G.- Environmental credit: is intended to finance the costs of reducing pollution in productive processes. When they involve land use, a land management and use plan in accordance with the land-use capacity (capacidad de uso) is required (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Article 113). Undoubtedly, the structure of property and its function is conditioned, in this case, by the environmental element required in business enterprise.
• 2)The Ley Forestal (No. 7575 of February 5, 1996, amended by laws No. 7609 of June 11, 1996, 7761 of April 2, 1998, and 7788 of April 30, 1998), guided by the constitutional principles of adequate and sustainable use of renewable natural resources, establishes regulations regarding the conservation, protection, and administration of natural forests, and for the production, harvesting, industrialization, and promotion of forest resources, seeking the incorporation of private individuals into the sustained exercise of silvicultural activities. While it is true that MINAE is empowered to create protected wilderness areas on private lands, this requires compensation, unless the owner decides to voluntarily submit to the forest regime, or they are already State property within its National Reserves patrimony. The Law provides two clear limits in the interest of protected areas: a: “In the case of forest reserves, protective zones and wildlife refuges, and in the event that payment or expropriation has not been made and while it is being made, the areas *shall be subject to an environmental management plan that includes the environmental impact assessment and subsequently, the management, recovery, and restoration of resources plan*.” (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, Article 37, in relation to Article 2 of the Ley Forestal. Said amendment was introduced by the Ley de Biodiversidad, in Article 14). This constitutes a clear limit for the fulfillment of the environmental function of property. B. “When, based on prior scientific and technical justification of public interest, it is determined by law that *the land is essential for conserving biological diversity or water resources, a limitation on the property shall be constituted that will prevent cutting trees and changing land use*.

This restriction must be registered as an encumbrance in the Registro Público.” (Ley Forestal, Article 2, second paragraph). As observed, this is not an unreasonable limit. On the contrary, the owner could exercise their activity provided it is compatible with the environmental function that, by nature, is assigned to the property, to conserve water resources or biological diversity. Title III of the Law, referring to private forest property, as special property, establishes a set of rights and obligations for forest owners that condition the fulfillment of the environmental function, taking into account the nature of the asset:

• a)Titleholders are not permitted to change land use (cambio de uso del suelo), nor to establish forest plantations. However, the State Forest Administration may grant permission to carry out works complementary to agroforestry activity, provided that the forest clearing is limited, proportional, and reasonable (Ley Forestal, Article 19. When necessary, an environmental impact assessment would be required); b) Forest harvesting can only be carried out if the owner has a management plan that addresses the impact it may cause on the environment, according to scientific sustainability criteria; c) Payment for environmental services (PSA) (The Law defines environmental services as: “Those provided by forests and forest plantations that directly impact the protection and improvement of the environment. They are the following: mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions (fixation, reduction, sequestration, storage, and absorption), protection of water for urban, rural, or hydroelectric use, protection of biodiversity for its conservation and sustainable, scientific, and pharmaceutical use, research and genetic improvement, protection of ecosystems, life forms, and natural scenic beauty for tourism and scientific purposes.) constitutes one of the most modern manifestations of exercising the environmental function, as the owner commits to conserving the forest for a period of no less than twenty years, in exchange for receiving the Forest Conservation Certificate. It is also received by owners who wish to subject their property to forest regeneration, for areas that, due to their deteriorated state and environmental needs, must be converted to forest use. The encumbrances and limitations, as well as the incentives, are recorded in the Registro Público as an encumbrance on the property; d) Forest plantations, including agroforestry systems and individually planted trees, do not require permits for cutting, transport, industrialization, or export, except when a management plan exists derived from a forest contract with the State; e) Every owner is prohibited from cutting or eliminating trees in the protection areas established by Law for permanent springs (nacientes), rivers, lakes, and water sources (Ley Forestal, Articles 33 and 34); f) It is prohibited to carry out burns on forest lands or adjacent lands without obtaining the respective permit from the State Forest Administration; g) As part of the environmental function, properties voluntarily submitted to the forest regime or dedicated to that activity enjoy special protection against invasions, and the immediate protection of the police authorities can be requested; h) Forest credit is consolidated as an institute to finance small and medium producers through credits and other mechanisms for promoting forest management, reforestation processes, forest nurseries, agroforestry systems, and recovery of denuded areas. The financing also includes the payment for environmental services (PSA) provided by forests and forest plantations. The land with forest and the standing trees shall serve as collateral for said credits, being recorded as encumbrances on the property (Ley Forestal, Articles 46, 48, and 49).

3).- The Ley de Uso, Manejo y Conservación de Suelos (No. 7779 of April 30, 1998) is of fundamental importance for the fulfillment of the economic, social, and environmental function of property.

It seeks to achieve the management, conservation, and recovery of soils in a sustainable manner, integrated with other natural resources, achieving more active participation of communities and producers, and promoting the implementation and control of improved practices in land-use systems to avoid erosion and degradation of the resource.

Agroecology is proposed as a way of achieving convergence between the objectives of agricultural production and the conservation of soil and water resources. The Law proposes a set of agro-environmental limitations to achieve the stated objectives: In critical areas of watersheds or sub-watersheds (with severe soil degradation and its surroundings, as a limiting factor to any activity), whether publicly or privately owned, landowners must forcibly apply all measures and practices that lead to soil recovery and preservation of the environment in general. Any land adjudication carried out by the Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario shall have the limitation that the land use cannot go against its land-use capacity (capacidad de uso), the breach of which becomes grounds for revocation. Among others, the following obligations are established for private individuals:

Promote, contribute to, and execute all practices and activities necessary for soil management, conservation, and recovery; it is a right-obligation to monitor and control compliance with soil legislation; prevent soil degradation that may be caused by water, for which all practices that increase infiltration capacity on their lands or the evacuation of excess water towards natural channels must be applied; prevent or impede the contamination of aquifers and groundwater layers; allow the entry of authorized technicians to verify the maintenance of soil management, conservation, and recovery practices. 4) Perhaps the most important limitations established by the Legislature for the fulfillment of the environmental function of property have been mentioned.

The regulation to the Law on the Use, Management, and Conservation of Soils (No. 29375-MAG-MINAE-S-HACIENDA-MOPT), contains in Title IV "On Punishable Actions," Chapter III "On Agrarian Jurisdiction," in which the agrarian judge is granted sufficient powers to request a soil and water use and management study in any proceeding, providing that "*In the event that non-compliance is demonstrated, regardless of the outcome of the proceeding, the judge must order the non-complying parties to adapt their activity and practices to the soil management plans within the period granted for that purpose...*" (Article 159) furthermore, "*...may order the agricultural entrepreneur to adopt the measures established for that purpose by the National Plan, the Area Management Plan, or, as applicable, the specific study on the use, management, and conservation of soils, waters, and roads for the farm or micro-watershed in question....*" (Article 161), in the event that such warnings are not complied with, by fulfilling soil management practices in accordance with the technology approved for that purpose, the processing of the possessory information (información posesoria) must be denied.

**V.-** In this specific case, the Court observes that the title claimants submitted the Soil Use Certification (folios 41 and 42), which indicates that THE CONFORMING USE of the soil HAS NOT BEEN EXERCISED and provides a series of recommendations consisting of: "*...lands classified as Class VII have severe limitations, therefore only forest management is permitted in the case of forest cover (cobertura boscosa). In cases where the current use is different from forest, forest restoration through natural forest regeneration shall be pursued.* *Lands determined as Class VIII do not meet the minimum conditions for any agricultural or forestry production activities...*".

Despite the foregoing, the lower court (a-quo) makes no recommendation or warning to the title claimant for compliance with the recommendations and the verification of their compliance through the submission of a new Soil Study. Based on the foregoing, as this Court has resolved on other occasions (See Voto No. 87-F-10 at 3:53 p.m. on January 29, 2010), the proper course is to ANNULL the appealed judgment, as it was issued prematurely, given that the Court cannot substitute the work of the trial judge, who must verify compliance with agro-environmental regulations and issue the measures deemed appropriate for this, without that meaning a limitation on the right of access to productive assets.” 4) Perhaps the most important limitations established by the Legislator for the fulfillment of the environmental function of property have been mentioned. The regulation to the Law on Use, Management, and Conservation of Soils (No. 29375-MAG-MINAE-S-HACIENDA-MOPT), contains in Title IV "On Punishable Actions," Chapter III "On the Agrarian Jurisdiction," in which sufficient powers are granted to the agrarian judge to request, in any proceeding, a study of soil and water use and management, providing that "*In the event that non-compliance is demonstrated, regardless of the outcome of the proceeding, the judge must order the non-compliant parties, within the time limit granted for that purpose, to adjust their activity and practices to the soil management plans...*" (Article 159) in addition, "*...the judge may order the agricultural businessperson to adopt the measures established for that purpose by the National Plan, the Area Management Plan, or, as applicable, the specific soil, water, and road use, management, and conservation study for the farm or micro-watershed in question...*" (Article 161), in the event that such precautions are not met by complying with the soil management practices in accordance with the technology approved for that purpose, the possessory information proceeding must be denied.

**V.-** In this specific case, the Tribunal observes that the title applicants submitted the Certification of Soil Use (pages 41 and 42), which indicates that THE CONFORMING USE of the soil HAS NOT BEEN EXERCISED and provides a series of recommendations consisting of: "*...lands classified as class VII have severe limitations for which reason only forest management is permitted in the case of forest cover. In those cases where the current use is different from forest, forest restoration will be sought through natural regeneration of the forest. Lands determined as class VIII do not meet the minimum conditions for any agricultural or forestry production activities...*". Despite the foregoing, the lower court makes no recommendation or precaution to the title applicant for compliance with the recommendations and the verification of their compliance through the submission of a new Soil Study. By reason of the foregoing, as the Tribunal has resolved on other occasions (See Voto No. 87-F-10 of 15:53 hours on January 29, 2010), the appropriate course is to ANNUL the appealed judgment, for having been issued prematurely, given that the Tribunal cannot supplant the work of the trial-level judge, who must verify compliance with the agro-environmental regulations and dictate the measures deemed appropriate for that purpose, without this meaning a limitation of the right of access to productive assets."

“IV.- Las limitaciones agroambientales de la propiedad, alcanzan gran cantidad de aspectos en el ejercicio de actividades productivas y en el ámbito de la conservación de los recursos naturales, la Biodiversidad, el uso y conservación de suelos, la protección del bosque y los ecosistemas, el uso y control de los plaguicidas y productos de síntesis química, el control fitosanitario y sanitario animal y vegetal, los desechos agrícolas, la conservación de las aguas, la utilización y manejo de aguas residuales en agricultura, la recuperación de suelos y cuencas hidrográficas, etcétera. Dentro del contexto de los principios y valores constitucionales contenidos en los artículos 45 y 50 de la Constitución Política, comienza a dictarse gran cantidad de leyes agroambientales, que no solo marcan la consolidación de un modelo de desarrollo sostenible, sino que además, imponen una serie de limitaciones agroambientales a la propiedad y la libertad de empresa, buscando consolidar también una nueva cultura agraria y ambiental o ecológica. 1) La Ley Orgánica del Ambiente (No. 7554 del 4 de octubre de 1995) establece la obligación del Estado de propiciar un desarrollo económico y ambiental sostenible, lo que implica, necesariamente imponer límites ambientales al ejercicio de las actividades económicas productivas y al ejercicio del derecho de propiedad. Pero para que esos límites tengan una verdadera aplicación, es necesario un cambio cultural. De la cultura agraria tradicional, en donde solo importaba lo económico, debe pasarse a una cultura ambiental o agroambiental para el desarrollo sostenible (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, artículos 12, 13, 14, 15 y 16). Entre los límites más importantes impuestos a la propiedad, para garantizar la función económica, social y ambiental, pueden destacarse los siguientes: A.- El ejercicio de toda actividad agroambiental, que pueda alterar o destruir elementos del ambiente, requiere necesariamente de una evaluación de impacto ambiental, cuya aprobación debe ser previa al proyecto. También se exige la evaluación cuando por obras o infraestructura puedan afectarse recursos marinos, costeros y humedales. B.- El ordenamiento territorial, para equilibrar el desarrollo sostenible, implica la reubicación territorial de las actividades productivas, lo que podría significar límites importantes al derecho de propiedad, pues deben tomarse en consideración, entre otros aspectos, los recursos naturales, las actividades económicas predominantes, la capacidad de uso de los suelos y la zonificación por productos y actividades agropecuarias, en razón de consideraciones ecológicas y productivas. C- El Poder Ejecutivo está facultado para incluir dentro de las áreas silvestres protegidas las fincas de particulares necesarias para el cumplimiento de la función ambiental, o crear las servidumbres legales para la protección ecológica. En los casos donde la Ley exija indemnización, los particulares pueden someterse voluntariamente al régimen forestal, caso en el cual la propiedad queda afectada en el Registro Público (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, artículo 37). D.- Están prohibidas las actividades orientadas a interrumpir los ciclos naturales de los ecosistemas de humedales, que puedan provocar su deterioro y la eliminación (Ley orgánica del Ambiente, artículo 45). E.- Las actividades productivas deben evitar la contaminación del agua, dar tratamiento a las aguas residuales, impedir o minimizar el deterioro o contaminación de cuencas hidrográficas, así como del suelo. F.- La agricultura orgánica, como forma de ejercicio de actividades agrarias sostenibles, implica una forma de cumplimiento de la función económica, social y ambiental, pues se exige una certificación ambiental de los productos orgánicos que se hayan obtenido sin aplicar insumos o productos de síntesis química (artículos 73-75). G.- El crédito ambiental: está destinado a financiar los costos de reducción de la contaminación en procesos productivos. Cuando implican el uso del suelo se requiere un plan de manejo y uso de tierras de conformidad con la capacidad de uso (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, artículo 113). Indudablemente, la estructura de la propiedad y su función está condicionada, en este caso por el elemento ambiental, requerido en el ejercicio empresarial. 2) La Ley Forestal (No. 7575 de 5 de febrero de 1996, reformada por leyes No. 7609 de 11 de junio de 1996, 7761 de 2 de abril de 1998 y 7788 de 30 de abril de 1998), orientada por los principios constitucionales de uso adecuado y sostenible de los recursos naturales renovables, establece regulaciones en cuanto a la conservación, protección y administración de los bosques naturales, y por la producción, aprovechamiento, industrialización y fomento de los recursos forestales, buscando la incorporación de los particulares al ejercicio sostenido de actividades silviculturales. Si bien es cierto, el MINAE está facultado para crear áreas silvestres protegidas en terrenos privados, ello requiere indemnización, salvo que el propietario decida someterse voluntariamente al régimen forestal, o sean ya propiedad del Estado, dentro de su patrimonio de Reservas Nacionales. La Ley prevé dos claros límites, en interés de las áreas protegidas: a: “Tratándose de reservas forestales, zonas protectoras y refugios de vida silvestre y en caso de que el pago o la expropiación no se haya efectuado y mientras se efectúa, las áreas quedarán sometidas a un plan de ordenamiento ambiental que incluye la evaluación de impacto ambiental y posteriormente, al plan de manejo, recuperación y reposición de recursos.” (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, artículo 37, en relación con el artículo 2 de la Ley Forestal. Dicha reforma fue introducida por la Ley de Biodiversidad, en el artículo 14). Lo cual constituye un claro límite para el cumplimiento de la función ambiental de la propiedad. B.“Cuando, previa justificación científica y técnica de interés público, se determine mediante ley que el terreno es imprescindible para conservar la diversidad biológica o los recursos hídricos, quedará constituida una limitación a la propiedad que impedirá cortar árboles y cambiar el uso del suelo. Esta restricción deberá inscribirse como afectación en el Registro Público.” (Ley Forestal, artículo 2 párrafo segundo). Como se observa, no se trata de un límite irrazonable. Por el contrario el propietario podría ejercer su actividad siempre y cuando sea compatible con la función ambiental que, por naturaleza, viene asignada al inmueble, para conservar recursos hídricos o diversidad biológica. El Título III de la Ley, referido a la propiedad forestal privada, como propiedad especial, establece un conjunto de derechos y obligaciones para los propietarios de bosques que condicionan el cumplimiento de la función ambiental, atendiendo a la naturaleza del bien: a) No es permitido a los titulares cambiar el uso del suelo, ni establecer plantaciones forestales. Sin embargo, la Administración Forestal del Estado puede otorgar permiso para realizar obras complementarias a la actividad agroforestal, siempre y cuando la corta del bosque sea limitada, proporcional y razonable (Ley Forestal, artículo 19. Cuando sea necesario, se exigiría evaluación de impacto ambiental); b) El aprovechamiento del bosque solo se puede realizar si el propietario cuenta con un plan de manejo que contenga el impacto que pueda ocasionar al ambiente, según criterios de sostenibilidad científica; c) El pago por servicios ambientales (La Ley define los servicios ambientales como: “Los que brindan el bosque y las plantaciones forestales y que inciden directamente en la protección y el mejoramiento del medio ambiente. Son los siguientes: mitigación de emisiones de gases efecto invernadero (fijación, reducción, secuestro, almacenamiento y absorción), protección del agua para uso urbano, rural o hidroeléctrico, protección de la biodiversidad para conservarla y uso sostenible, científico y farmacéutico, investigación y mejoramiento genético, protección de ecosistemas, formas de vida y belleza escénica natural para fines turísticos y científicos.), constituye una de las manifestaciones más modernas de ejercicio de la función ambiental, pues el propietario se compromete a conservar el bosque por un período no inferior a los veinte años, para recibir el Certificado de Conservación del Bosque. También lo recibe los propietarios que deseen someter su inmueble a la regeneración del bosque, para áreas que por su estado deteriorado y necesidades ambientales, deben convertirse al uso forestal. Las afectaciones y limitaciones, así como los incentivos se inscribe en el Registro Público como afectación a la propiedad; d) Las plantaciones forestales, incluidos sistemas agroforestales y árboles plantados individualmente, no requieren permiso de corta, transporte, industrialización ni exportación, salvo cuanto exista plan de manejo derivado de un contrato forestal con el Estado; e) Todo propietario tiene prohibiciones de cortar o eliminar árboles en las áreas de protección establecidas por Ley para las nacientes permanentes, ríos, lagos y manantiales (Ley Forestal, artículo 33 y 34.). f) Está prohibido realizar quemas en terrenos forestales, ni aledaños, sin obtener el permiso respectivo de la Administración Forestal del Estado; g) Como parte de la función ambiental, los inmuebles sometidos voluntariamente al régimen forestal o dedicados a esa actividad, gozan de una protección especial respecto de invasiones, pudiendo solicitar la protección inmediata de las autoridades de policía; h) El crédito forestal, se consolida como instituto para financiar a pequeños y medianos productores, mediante créditos y otros mecanismos de fomento del manejo de bosques, procesos de reforestación, viveros forestales, sistemas agroforestales, recuperación de áreas desnudadas. El financiamiento comprende, además, el pago de los servicios ambientales que brindan los bosques y plantaciones forestales. La tierra con bosque y los árboles en pie servirán como garantía de dichos créditos, quedando anotadas como afectaciones a la propiedad (Ley Forestal, artículos 46, 48 y 49). 3).- La Ley de Uso, Manejo y Conservación de Suelos (No. 7779 de 30 de abril de 1998), es de fundamental importancia para el cumplimiento de la función económica, social y ambiental de la propiedad. Se pretende lograr el manejo, conservación y recuperación de suelos en forma sostenible, integrada con los demás recursos naturales, logrando una participación más activa de las comunidades y los productores, e impulsando la implementación y control de prácticas mejoradas en los sistemas de uso, para evitar la erosión y degradación del recurso. Se plantea la agroecología, como una forma de lograr la convergencia entre los objetivos de la producción agrícola y la conservación de los recursos suelo y agua. La Ley plantea un conjunto de limitaciones agroambientales, para lograr cumplir con los objetivos señalados: En áreas críticas de cuencas o subcuencas (con gravedad en degradación del suelo y su entorno, como limitante a cualquier actividad), sean de dominio público o privado, los dueños de terrenos deben aplicar forzosamente todas las medidas y prácticas que conlleven la recuperación del suelo y preservación del ambiente en general. Toda adjudicación de terrenos que realice el Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario, tendrá como limitación que el uso del terreno no puede ir en contra de su capacidad de uso, cuyo incumplimiento se convierte en causal para revocarla. Como obligaciones de los particulares se establecen entre otras: Fomentar, contribuir y ejecutar todas las prácticas y actividades necesarias para el manejo, conservación y recuperación de suelos; es un derecho obligación vigilar y controlar el cumplimiento de la legislación en materia de suelos; prevenir la degradación de los suelos que pueda ser causada por las aguas, para lo cual deberán aplicarse todas las prácticas que aumenten la capacidad de infiltración en sus terrenos o la evacuación de aguas sobrantes hacia cauces naturales; prevenir o impedir la contaminación de acuíferos y capas de agua subterránea; permitir el ingreso de técnicos autorizados para verificar el mantenimiento de las prácticas de manejo, conservación y recuperación de suelos. 4) Quizás se han mencionado las limitaciones más importantes, establecidas por el Legislador, para el cumplimiento de la función ambiental de la propiedad. El reglamento a la Ley sobre Uso, Manejo y Conservación de Suelos (No 29375-, MAG-MINAE-S-HACIENDA-MOPT), contiene en el Título IV "De las acciones punibles", el capítulo III "De la Jurisdicción Agraria", en la cual se le otorgan suficientes poderes el juez agrario, para solicitar en cualquier proceso un estudio de uso y manejo de suelos y aguas, disponiéndose que "En caso de que se demostrare incumplimiento, indistintamente del resultado del proceso, deberá ordenar a las partes incumplientes que dentro del plazo que se otorgará al efecto, procedan a adecuar su actividad y prácticas a los planes de manejo del suelo..." (artículo 159) además, "...podrá ordenar que el empresario agrario adopte las medidas que a ese efecto establezca el Plan Nacional, el Plan de Manejo del Área o en su caso el estudio de uso manejo y conservación de suelos, aguas y caminos específico para la finca o la microcuenca que se trate...." (artículo 161), en el caso de que no se cumplan dichas prevenciones, cumpliendo con las prácticas de manejo de suelos de acuerdo con la tecnología aprobada al efecto, debe denegarse el trámite de la información posesoria.

V.- En este caso concreto, observa el Tribunal, que los titulantes presentaron la Certificación de Uso de Suelo (folios 41 y 42), en la cual se indica que NO SE HA EJERCIDO el uso conforme del suelo y se dan una serie de recomendaciones consistentes en: "...las tierras clasificadas como clase VII tienen severas limitaciones por lo cual solo se permite el manejo forestal en caso de cobertura boscosa. En aquellos casos en que el uso actual sea diferente al bosque, se procurará la restauración forestal por medio de la regeneración natural del bosque. Las tierras determinadas como clase VIII no reúnen las condiciones mínimas para actividades de producción agropecuaria o forestal alguna...". Pese a lo anterior, al a-quo no hace ninguna recomendación o prevención al titulante para el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones y la verificación de su cumplimiento, mediante la aportación de un nuevo Estudio de Suelos. En razón de lo expuesto, como lo ha resuelto el Tribunal en otras oportunidades (Ver Voto No. 87-F-10 de las 15:53 horas del 29 de enero del 2010), lo procedente es ANULAR, la sentencia apelada, por haberse dictado de manera anticipada, dado que el Tribunal no puede suplir la labor del juzgador de instancia, quien debe verificar el cumplimiento de la normativa agroambiental y dictar las medidas que considere oportunas para ello, sin que eso signifique limitar el derecho de acceso a los bienes productivos”