Conservation Value:

The Osa Peninsula contains the largest mesic rainforest remaining on the Pacific slope of Central America, largely within Corcovado National Park. It has the largest expanse of mangrove wetlands on the Pacific slope of Central America and a unique coastal marine ecosystem—the Golfo Dulce tropical fjord.  The Osa is estimated to house 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity while covering less than 0.001% of its total surface area, and was described by National Geographic in 2016 as “the most biological intense place on earth”.

Threats:

The main threat in the Osa Peninsula is illegal hunting, which is still prevalent in the region.  The concern is greatest with respect to the lowland paca (Cuniculus paca), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) and collared peccary (Pecari tajacu). Other species are hunted to a lesser degree, including game birds such as: tinamou (Tinamus major and Tinamus major castaneiceps) and great curassow (Crax rubra).  Research has identified key areas of hunting pressure, however no concerted effort had been been made to reduce illegal hunting on the peninsula. A presentation at the 21st Mesoamerican Congress in San Jose in 2017 revealed that bushmeat offtake could be around 28.5 kg per year for each family hunting in the peninsula.

Actions & Results:

Osa Conservation (OC) is leading a conservation effort that mobilizes citizen scientists, community members, ecotourism operators, park administrators and multiple NGOs to preserve the globally significant biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula in the face of climate change. To accomplish this, connectivity must be re-established from the Osa lowland rainforests to the Talamanca Mountains. In collaboration with a network of partners and local stakeholders, OC is rebuilding this connectivity via its 'Ridge to Reef' initiative to help protect one of the world’s last wild places. In 2023, OC's Rainforest Protectors and Rangers patrolled 51,743 km of forest using the Earth Ranger application. OC planted 107,565 native, rare, or tree species and 64,000 mangroves in southern Costa Rica. Its Restoration Network—a collaboration with local farmers to restore degraded land and implement wildlife-friendly farming practices across the region—grew from 210 to 346 local farmers in just one year. It deployed 27 arboreal bridges throughout the AmistOsa (Biological Corridor) landscape to facilitate the safe crossing of roads for wildlife. It deployed or monitored 86 transmitters to track key wildlife species throughout the ecosystem including, 83 vultures, 2 Baird’s tapirs, and 1 rehabilitated ocelot released on the Osa Conservation Campus. It welcomed over 1,000 visitors, including 24 early career fellows and interns who will be the next generational cohort of ecologists and conservation leaders. It also opened the region’s first canopy tower, which climbs to 100 feet and connects researchers, students, and visitors to the treetops. And, through its Ridge to Reef Nature Club—which provides free outdoor immersion opportunities for Costa Rica's most impoverished children—OC engaged over 400 local children in hands-on expeditions and educational activities in the wild, and organized 61 nature field experiences focused on different aspects of nature, such as: snorkeling excursions in the Golfo Dulce to see wildlife first-hand; rainforest canopy excursions to learn about treetop biodiversity; sea turtle patrol and hatchling release; rare and native tree planting activities; and, bird monitoring (including participations in official bird counts).

Zero in on one community involved in this project in this short video from the Our Planet series.

See more videos below.