René Castro
René Castro Salazar | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Director-General of the FAO | |
| Assumed office 2016 | |
| Minister of Environment and Energy | |
| In office 2011–2014 | |
| President | Laura Chinchilla |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 2010–2011 | |
| President | Laura Chinchilla |
| Minister of Environment and Energy | |
| In office 1994–1998 | |
| President | José María Figueres |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957 San Luis, Potosí, Mexico (Naturalized Costa Rican) |
| Nationality |  Costa Rica |
| Education | Harvard University (MPA, DDes) University of Costa Rica (B.Sc.) |
| Occupation | Civil Engineer, Diplomat |
| Known for | Architect of the PSA program FAO Assistant Director-General |
René Castro Salazar (born 1957) is a Costa Rican civil engineer, politician, and international diplomat. He served as the Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, leading the Department of Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water.[1]
In Costa Rica, he is historically significant for serving as the Minister of Environment and Energy under two different administrations, where he was the principal architect of the country's pioneering **Payment for Environmental Services (PSA)** scheme.
Education
Castro holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Costa Rica. He later studied at Harvard University as a Fulbright Scholar, earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Doctorate in Design (DDes) with a focus on environmental economics.
Career
Costa Rican Government
- **First Ministry (1994–1998):** Appointed Minister of Environment by President José María Figueres, Castro oversaw the transformation of the forestry sector. He implemented the **Gas Tax** (Impuesto único a los combustibles), which funneled revenue directly into forest conservation, creating the financial engine for Costa Rica's green recovery.
- **Foreign Affairs (2010–2011):** He served briefly as Chancellor (Minister of Foreign Affairs) under President Laura Chinchilla during the escalation of the Calero Island border dispute with Nicaragua.
- **Second Ministry (2011–2014):** He returned to the Ministry of Environment (MINAE) to oversee the country's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2021.
United Nations (FAO)
In 2016, Castro was appointed Assistant Director-General of the FAO in Rome. In this capacity, he managed the UN's global strategy on the intersection of agriculture and climate change, advocating for "Climate-Smart Agriculture" to ensure food security in developing nations.[2]
Controversies
During his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Castro faced political scrutiny regarding the construction of the "Trocha Fronteriza" (Route 1856), an emergency road built along the San Juan River. While he defended the road as a national security necessity, the project was later criticized for environmental mismanagement and lack of planning. Castro was not criminally implicated, but the political fallout led to his transfer back to the Environment Ministry.[3]
References
- ↑ René Castro: Assistant Director-General. FAO. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ↑ René Castro asume alto cargo en la FAO. La Nación. 2016.
- ↑ René Castro negó responsabilidad política por la trocha. Semanario Universidad. 2012.
